Languages in Africa: Multilingualism, Language Policy, and Education (Georgetown University Round Table on Languages and Linguistics)

People in many African communities live within a series of concentric circles when it comes to language. In a small group, a speaker uses an often unwritten and endangered mother tongue that is rarely used in school. A national indigenous language—written, widespread, sometimes used in school—surrounds it. An international language like French or English, a vestige of colonialism, carries prestige, is used in higher education, and promises mobility—and yet it will not be well known by its users. The essays in Languages in Africa explore the layers of African multilingualism as they affect language policy and education. Through case studies ranging across the continent, the contributors consider multilingualism in the classroom as well as in domains ranging from music and film to politics and figurative language. The contributors report on the widespread devaluing and even death of indigenous languages. They also investigate how poor teacher training leads to language-related failures in education. At the same time, they demonstrate that education in a mother tongue can work, linguists can use their expertise to provoke changes in language policies, and linguistic creativity thrives in these multilingual communities. "The volume offers a major contribution to multilingualism scholarship and opens up unexplored dimensions of the phenomenon. It provides fresh insight into the sociolinguistics of multilingualism by bringing together a wide range of case studies, especially those on languages whose critical status has not been reported before. Its coverage is enhanced by contributions from scholars that work both within and outside Africa. It will interest a wide range of readers, including African linguists, language educators, policy makers, and graduate students interested in multilingualism research."—African Studies Quarterly People In Many African Communities Live Within A Series Of Concentric Circles When It Comes To Language. In A Small Group, A Speaker Uses An Often Unwritten And Endangered Mother Tongue That Is Rarely Used In School. A National Indigenous Language--written, Widespread, Sometimes Used In School--surrounds It. An International Language Like French Or English, A Vestige Of Colonialism, Carries Prestige, Is Used In Higher Education, And Promises Mobility--and Yet It Will Not Be Well Known By Its Users.the Essays In Languages In Africa Explore The Layers Of African Multilingualism As They Affect Language Policy And Education. Through Case Studies Ranging Across The Continent, The Contributors Consider Multilingualism In The Classroom As Well As In Domains Ranging From Music And Film To Politics And Figurative Language. The Contributors Report On The Widespread Devaluing And Even Death Of Indigenous Languages. They Also Investigate How Poor Teacher Training Leads To Language-related Failures In Education. At The Same Time, They Demonstrate That Education In A Mother Tongue Can Work, Linguists Can Use Their Expertise To Provoke Changes In Language Policies, And Linguistic Creativity Thrives In These Multilingual Communities. -- Publisher's Description Layers Of Language : Some Bad News And Some Good News On Multilingualism, Language Policy, And Education In Africa / Elizabeth C. Zsiga, One Tlale Boyer, And Ruth Kramer -- Early Reading Success In Africa : The Language Factor / Barbara Trudell And Carolyn Temple Adger -- Multilingualism As A Sociolinguistic Phenomenon : Evidence From Africa / Eyamba G. Bokamba -- Classroom Discourse In Bilingual And Multilingual Kenyan Primary Schools / Lydiah Kananu Kiramba -- Investigating Teacher Effects In Mother-tongue-based Multilingual Education Programs / Stephen L. Walter -- Ghana's Complementary Education Program / Kingsley Arkorful -- Language Contact And Language Attitudes In Two Dagara-speaking Border Communities In Burkina Faso And Ghana / Richard Beyogle -- Language And Education Policy In Botswana : The Case Of Sebirwa / One Tlale Boyer And Elizabeth C. Zsiga -- Ethnic Language Shift Among The Nao People Of Ethiopia / Samson Seid -- The Role Of Language And Culture For Ethnic Identity Maintenance : The Case Of The Gujarati Community In South Africa / Sheena Shah -- The Palm Oil With Which Words Are Eaten : Proverbs From Cameroon's Endangered Indigenous Languages / Eyvoi Njwe -- The Linguistic Glocal In Nigeria's Urban Popular Music / Tolulope Odebunmi -- Language Use In Advertisements As A Reflection Of Speakers' Language Habits / Leonard Muaka -- The Persuasive Nature Of Metaphors In Kenya's Political Discourse / Leonard Muaka -- African Languages On Film : Visualizations Of Pathologized Polyglossia / Anjali Pandey. Edited By Elizabeth C. Zsiga, One Tlale Boyer, And Ruth Kramer. Contributors To This Volume Came Together To Discuss The Problems And Promise Of African Multilingualism At A Joint Meeting Of The Annual Conference On African Linguistics And The Georgetown University Roundtable On Languages And Linguistics In Washington, D.c., In March 2013. As Part Of That Joint Conference, A Workshop On Language And Education In Africa Was Organized By Carolyn Adger Of The Center For Applied Linguistics. That Workshop Became The Inspiration For This Volume.--introduction. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Text In English. Introduction: Layers of Language—Some Bad News and Some Good News on Multilingualism, Language Policy, and Education in Africa 1 Early Reading Success in Africa: The Language Factor Elizabeth C. Zsiga, One Tlale Boyer, and Ruther Kramer 2 Multilingualism as a Sociolinguistic Phenomenon: Evidence from Africa Eyamba G. Bokamba 3 Classroom Discourse in Bilingual and Multilingual Kenyan Primary Schools Lydiah Kananu Kiramba 4 Investigating Teacher Effects in Mother-Tongue-Based Multilingual Education Programs Stephen L. Walter 5 Ghana's Complementary Education Program Kingsley Arkorful 6 Language Contact and Language Attitudes in Two Dagara-Speaking Border Communities in Burkina Faso and Ghana Richard Beyogle 7 Language and Education Policy in Botswana: The Case of Sebirwa One Tlale Boyer and Elizabeth Zsiga 8 Ethnic Language Shift among the Nao People of Ethiopia Samson Seid 9 The Role of Language and Culture in Ethnic Identity Maintenance: The Case of the Gujarati Community in South Africa Sheena Shah 10 "The Palm Oil with Which Words Are Eaten": Proverbs from Cameroon's Endangered Indigenous Languages Eyovi Njwe 11 The Linguistic "Glocal" in Nigeria's Urban Popular Music Tolulope Odebunmi 12 Language Use in Advertisements as a Reflection of Speakers' Language Habits Leonard Muaka 13 The Persuasive Nature of Metaphors in Kenya's Political Discourse Leonard Muaka 14 African Languages on Film: Visualizations of Pathologized Polyglossia Anjali Pandey Contributors Index "People in many African communities live within a series of concentric circles when it comes to language. In a small group, a speaker uses an often unwritten and endangered mother tongue that is rarely used in school. A national indigenous language--written, widespread, sometimes used in school--surrounds it. An international language like French or English, a vestige of colonialism, carries prestige, is used in higher education, and promises mobility--and yet it will not be well known by its users. The essays in Languages in Africa explore the layers of African multilingualism as they affect language policy and education. Through case studies ranging across the continent, the contributors consider multilingualism in the classroom as well as in domains ranging from music and film to politics and figurative language. The contributors report on the widespread devaluing and even death of indigenous languages. They also investigate how poor teacher training leads to language-related failures in education. At the same time, they demonstrate that education in a mother tongue can work, linguists can use their expertise to provoke changes in language policies, and linguistic creativity thrives in these multilingual communities."--Publisher's description

People in many African communities live within a series of concentric circles when it comes to language. In a small group, a speaker uses an often unwritten and endangered mother tongue that is rarely used in school. A national indigenous language—written, widespread, sometimes used in school—surrounds it. An international language like French or English, a vestige of colonialism, carries prestige, is used in higher education, and promises mobility—and yet it will not be well known by its users.

The essays in Languages in Africa explore the layers of African multilingualism as they affect language policy and education. Through case studies ranging across the continent, the contributors consider multilingualism in the classroom as well as in domains ranging from music and film to politics and figurative language. The contributors report on the widespread devaluing and even death of indigenous languages. They also investigate how poor teacher training leads to language-related failures in education. At the same time, they demonstrate that education in a mother tongue can work, linguists can use their expertise to provoke changes in language policies, and linguistic creativity thrives in these multilingual communities.

People in many African communities live within a series of concentric circles when it comes to language. In a small group, a speaker uses an often unwritten and endangered mother tongue that is rarely used in school. A national indigenous language - written, widespread, sometimes used in school - surrounds it. An international language like French or English, a vestige of colonialism, carries prestige, is used in higher education, and promises mobility - and yet it will not be well known by its users. The essays in Languages in Africa explore the layers of African multilingualism as they affect language policy and education. Through case studies ranging across the continent, the contributors consider multilingualism in the classroom as well as in domains ranging from music and film to politics and figurative language. The contributors report on the widespread devaluing and even death of indigenous languages. They also investigate how poor teacher training leads to language-related failures in education. At the same time, they demonstrate that education in a mother tongue can work, linguists can use their expertise to provoke changes in language policies, and linguistic creativity thrives in these multilingual communities