African Linguistics and the Development of African Communities

Dakar, CODESRIA, 2006, 272 p., ISBN 9782869781603

This diverse and comprehensive collection of essays embraces the main discourses in the field of African languages and linguistics. Overall, it argues for the absolute necessity of developing African languages as a condition of socio-economic development. The work further advocates the involvement of all sectors of society in language development efforts, language identification, and the imperative of validating African languages as equal to the colonial languages.

This edited collection of papers in both English and French offers a continent-wide approach to matters linguistic, focusing in particular on countries such as: Chad, Nigeria, Gabon and Cameron. It highlights the historic role African languages must play in the realisation of NEPAD to jumpstart social and economic development on the continent. The authors provide in-depth analysis of subjects such as: the development of African languages and their role in African renaissance; the difficulties and controversies around African mother tongue education; and endangered minority languages threatened with extinction.