Language board calls Theron comments 'disturbing'

A South African language organization has criticized Charlize Theron for being "disturbing" and "inaccurate" in her definition of Afrikaans as a dying language, adding to the criticism she has already faced recently.

The Pan South African Language Board claims that because it is the Hollywood actress' mother tongue, she completed all of her schooling in it, "building the foundation of her quite distinguished career" (PanSALB).

An effort by the government called PanSALB seeks to promote multilingualism and all 11 of Afrikaans, South Africa's official languages.

The group stated that because "Afrikaans is the third-most spoken language" and is still used in "several cross-governmental communications" as well as "as a medium of instruction in South African schools," her recent comments are "not only disheartening but disturbing, as they are inaccurate and misleading."

It went on to say that "Theron is held in such high respect by the country of her origin" and praised her history of using her platform to discuss socio-economic issues.

However, he also urged her to "pay due consideration to the constitutional imperatives that foster social cohesion" and contribute to bringing attention to the "value of participating in public life using one's mother tongue."

Theron has not responded to the criticism she received after her remarks from some South Africans.