A32=Barbara Trudell
A32=Carolyn T. Adger
A32=Elizabeth C. Zsiga
A32=Lydiah K. Kiramba
A32=One Tlale Boyer
A32=Ruth Kramer
A32=Stephen L. Walter
African languages
Age Group_Uncategorized
Age Group_Uncategorized
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B01=Elizabeth C. Zsiga
B01=One Tlale Boyer
B01=Ruth Kramer
Category1=Non-Fiction
Category=CFB
Category=CFDM
code-switching
colonialism
COP=United States
Delivery_Delivery within 10-20 working days
eq_bestseller
eq_dictionaries-language-reference
eq_isMigrated=2
eq_nobargain
eq_non-fiction
indigenous language
international language
Language_English
linguistic diversity
national language
PA=Available
Price_€50 to €100
PS=Active
sociolinguistics
softlaunch
Product details
- ISBN 9781626161528
- Weight: 318g
- Dimensions: 152 x 229mm
- Publication Date: 03 Mar 2015
- Publisher: Georgetown University Press
- Publication City/Country: US
- Product Form: Paperback
- Language: English
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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.
Elizabeth C. Zsiga is a professor in the linguistics department at Georgetown University. One Tlale Boyer is a postdoctoral research associate in the linguistics department at Georgetown University. Ruth Kramer is an assistant professor in the linguistics department at Georgetown University.
