Language and Development in Africa: Perceptions, Ideologies and Challenges
Cambridge University Press
Edition: Illustrated, 5/26/2016
EAN 9781107088559, ISBN10: 1107088550
Hardcover, 376 pages, 22.9 x 15.2 x 2.2 cm
Language: English
Development is based on communication through language. With more than two thousand languages being used in Africa, language becomes a highly relevant factor in all sectors of political, social, cultural and economic life. This important sociolinguistic dimension hitherto remains underrated and under-researched in 'Western' mainstream development studies. The book discusses the resourcefulness of languages, both local and global, in view of the ongoing transformation of African societies as much as for economic development. From a novel 'applied African sociolinguistics' perspective it analyses the continuing effects of linguistic imperialism on postcolonial African societies, in particular regarding the educational sector, through imposed hegemonic languages such as Arabic and the ex-colonial languages of European provenance. It offers a broad interdisciplinary scientific approach to the linguistic dimensions of sociocultural modernisation and economic development in Africa, written for both the non-linguistically trained reader as much as for the linguistically trained researcher and language practitioner.
1. Introduction
approach, questions and themes
2. Background
Africa and the 'West' - a difficult relationship
3. Perception
between ignorance, half knowledge and distortion
4. De-marginalisation
the cradle of mankind and home of human language
5. Re-conceptualisation
the overdue linguistic turn in development discourse
6. Challenges
linguistic plurality and diversity - problem or resource?
7. Future
synopsis and options for language planning
8. Agenda
arguments and steps
9. Basic sociolinguistic facts
'languages', 'dialects', numbers of speakers.