Postcolonial Language Planning in Tanzania
What Are the Difficulties and What is the Way Out?
In: The Politics of English as a World LanguageSearch for other papers by Safari T.A. Mafu in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Purchase instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):
Abstract
The essay discusses the language policy of Tanzania and shows how the ideals of the immediate postcolonial period have been eclipsed by the aspirations of the socially dominant groups, whose desire to protect their interests brings them into conflict with the government’s ‘swahilization’ policy. Instead of a forced choice between Kiswahili and English, the essay advocates a third way, of not rejecting English, but of reconstituting it in a more inclusive, ethical and democratic way so as to bring about economic and social harmony in society. In this way, it is hoped that all young learners from different social and economic strata currently in the education system will be empowered for their future productive role in society.