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South Africa has arguably the most progressive language policy on paper. This fact is acknowledged by most people who are familiar with the sociology and the politics of language.

In spite of this, however, if one reads only the Afrikaans press, one would have to conclude that this language policy is a total failure and that we are moving rapidly to a situation where the de facto sole official language is the “hated” Queen’s English. The reader would be surprised, therefore, to hear that some of us hold the unpalatable view that, because of what we call our “languish policy”, this country is in fact simply carrying out in practice a neo-apartheid language policy. For, in spite of the fact that Afrikaans is being driven out of many domains of social life and being replaced by English, it is still the most favoured official language next to English.

Why is language policy important? And why is it a bad idea that we should all be forced to operate in English only when we transact business or are involved in any public domain?

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South Africa has arguably the most progressive language policy on paper. This fact is acknowledged by most people who are familiar with the sociology and the politics of language.

In spite of this, if one reads only the Afrikaans press, and so many of us do, one would have to conclude that this language policy is a total failure and that South Africaners (?) are moving rapidly to a situation where the de facto sole official language is the “hated” Queen’s English.

The reader would be surprised, therefore, to hear that some hold the unpalatable view that, because of what is called the “languish policy”, this country is in fact simply carrying out in practice a neo-apartheid language policy. For, in spite of the fact that Afrikaans is being driven out of many domains of social life and being replaced by English, it is still the most favoured official language next to English.

Why is language policy important? And why is it a bad idea that people should all be forced to operate in English only when they transact business or are involved in any public domain? Good bloody questions.

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South Africa: Speaking the Language of Hope by Teaching English

Through training the Themba women in English, Neilson Young Consulting (NYC) hopes to do more than teach them the basics of a new language. Rather, through building communication ability and confidence, the company seeks to further the Themba mission of instilling hope and dignity. It brings a tear to the eye, it really does.

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In Nigeria’s Ornate Brand of English, Victorian Words Dance With African Grammar

Nigerian English melds Victorian-era vocabulary inherited from long-gone British colonialists with the grammatical structures and syntax that underpin indigenous languages in Africa’s most populous nation. The results can be ornate, oddly understated, or remarkably apt. But in a rapidly globalizing world, some worry that Nigerians will be handicapped by an English that differs from the language of board rooms and Internet bulletin boards. Get rid of the bloody chat rooms if you ask me.

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Uganda: Teaching in Local Languages Good Policy

The idea of teaching in local languages in lower primary school classes followed recommendations from a number of researchers. The 2004 Tony Reed report on the review of primary curriculum pointed out that “generally children learn faster if early education is conducted in a familiar language”.Er, perhaps I am missing something here, or is someone getting paid for stating the bleeding obvious?

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Ghana: New English Teaching Techniques Out

A new methodology (ooooh, I’m foaming at the mouth with excitement) for the teaching and learning of the English language has been launched in Accra by the International English Language Teaching Commission. The commission seeks to replace the present methodology which it considers cumbersome and full of technicalities (with another equally cumbersome and full of technicalities, if my experience is anything to go by).

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Yemen: Curriculum Reform Project to train English language teachers

Graduation ceremonies for English language teachers participating in the Curriculum Reform Project was (sic) held on Tuesday afternoon at the headquarters of the Ministry of Education. Participants in the project received certificates of qualification for the first and second stages of teaching English language to students at the elementary, preparatory and secondary levels of education. Very proud we are of them, too.

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