Promoting the use and teaching of African languages in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This paper is a discussion of the work that has been done by the Zimbabwe Government and This The African Languages Research Institute in trying to promote the use and teaching of African languages in the coubtry. It briefly discusses the colonial and post-colonial language policies that resulted in the marginalisation of African languages. The discussion also focuses on the challenges and constraints that have been encountered in trying to use an African language as a language of wider communication and medium of instruction. The paper finally gives some practical suggestions on how Zimbabwe and other African countries can promote indigenous languages.

Zimbabwe Journal of Educational Research Vol. 17 (1) March 2005: pp. 54-68