A critical analysis of the linguistic and educational challenges facing Border-straddling speech communities, with special reference to the Nyanja-Chewa-Mang'anja cluster of Southeastern Africa

The dissertation argues for the adoption of a new socio-linguistic concept, the "Border-Straddling Speech Community" in place of the more commonly used 'cross-border' or 'trans-border languages'. The concept is to be understood to refer to socially defined speech communities divided by political borders, and implicitly in Africa almost always applies to perceived 'minority' languages. Such African languages are partially invisible, disguised or hidden by the arbitrary nature of the colonial borders of African states. The dissertation examines some European and some African examples of border-straddling speech communities and identifies some of their typical characteristics. The fractured Nyanja-Chewa-Mang'anja speech community of Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique is examined in detail, in terms of its history and its present educational potential. The language is also spoken in Tanzania and Zimbabwe. In this case, the total number of speakers, although spread across five countries, would justify the wider use of the language in education if meaningful inter-state co-operation could be achieved. Finally the dissertation discusses the possible application in Africa of an educational policy favouring mother tongue education across state borders.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

School of Education

Year dc:date.issued

2003

Author dc:creator

• Nkhoma-Darch, Agnes Georgina Che-Jika

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Esterhuyse, Jan

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/11659

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/11659