In translation theory, there is a concept we call ‘false friends’ ( les faux amis).

This refers to words spelt (and at times pronounced) the same in two languages, but carrying totally different meanings.

The current victim of this is the media and the official nomenclature in Rwanda, following adoption of English as an official language: key among the false friends in official use include:

 1. Secretary-General (translated directly from Secretaire-General) and used to refer to an office commonly referred to as Permanent Secretary in the EAC English application.

Secretary-General exists in the English usage, with a totally different meaning and office from the way it is used in Rwanda, in reference to the senior-most civil servant.

 2. Deputy (translated from Depute) which in the standard EAC usage refers to Member of Parliament (MP).

3. Director-General (from Directeur-General): This normally translates General Manager in business circles.

Director-General in English use has a totally different connotation from General Manager

 4. Office (picked from the French ‘office’ as in ORTPN). In English, this is ‘Authority’ as in Rwanda Revenue Authority/Office Rwandais des Recettes. So ORTPN in English would be Rwanda Tourism and National Parks Authority.

It is quite often referred as ‘Rwanda Office of Tourism and National Parks ....”

 As we merge under the bigger EAC it would ease communication and transactions if Rwanda took to usage of the standard meanings as we have them in the old EAC.  The media can lead the way in this.
 

Kampala.