Language Pluralism in Botswana - Hope or Hurdle?

The Author: Birgit Smieja, born in 1962, studied English, French and Spanish Linguistics at the University of Duisburg. After having worked on Tanzanian languages for her M.A. thesis, she went to Botswana where, since 1996, she has conducted sociolinguistic field research, always attached to the University of Botswana. In 1998 and 1999 a field research grant by the DAAD enabled her to finalize her data collection in Botswana and prepare her Ph.D. in Linguistics.

The aim of this study about the plurilingual language situation in Botswana is to show tendencies in the attitudes of Botswana citizens towards the ca. 25 languages that are still in use. Results are presented on questions like "which differentiated roles do the official language English, the national language Setswana, and the so-called minority languages play in the present Botswanan society?" The overall question of which language will win the race, which ones will survive in the language contest and which ones will not, will be analysed and discussed on the basis of extensive survey data. Based on socio-historical background information, language phenomena like bi- and multilingualism, diglossia, language shift, code switching, language status and power structures, and ethnic stereotypes triggered by language are explored and linked to the current language policy and its implementation in the educational system.

Contents : Brief historical profile and sociolinguistic account - Bi- and multilingualism - Diglossia - Language shift and language maintenance - Code switching - Language status - Language stereotypes.