Language Death in Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID5012944
AuthorsMatthias Brenzinger, Bernd Heine (0000-0002-9304-7814), Gabriele Sommer
Year1991
Volume39
Issue153
Pages19-44
Publication date1991-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueDiogenes (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0392-1921 • E-ISSN: 1467-7695
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/039219219103915303
OpenAlexW2062054304
LanguageEN
Citations received16
References cited17

Africa, along with Asia, is the continent with the highest number of 'living' indigenous languages. European languages, mainly English, French and Portuguese, have spread throughout all African nations during the last 200 years; however, until today, the use of these 'foreign' languages has been mostly restricted to certain domains, such as higher education, politics and business, and also to a relatively small number of people. According to Scotton (1982: 68) only 10 per cent or less of the rural African population have a considerable competence in the imported languages, even though these are in many instances the official languages of their home countries. African vernaculars are generally not in danger of being replaced by European languages. However, we observe a diminishing use of African vernaculars, not only in an increasing number of domains, but also with regard to the absolute number of indigenous languages; that means, in short, that linguistic vitality and variety on the African continent is decreasing

Geography · Linguistics · Political science · African history and culture analysis · African history and culture studies · History · Language, Linguistics, Cultural Analysis · Philosophy

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