Zimbabwean language policy pdf

Impact of the zimbabwean language policy on the shona. Makoni college of liberal arts, pennsylvania state university busi. This article explores the politics of the english language in zimbabwe, as reflected in the countrys language policy, language practices and language scholarship. The sample for the information was drawn from the shona. Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in southern africa bordered by south africa to the south. The zimbabwe science and technology policy was adopted in 2002. Submitted february 2017 by patrick makokoro, acei country liaison, zimbabwe zimbabwe considers access to highquality and relevant education for all children to be both a basic right and the foundation that underpins the cultural, social, economic, and democratic growth of our nation. It is a government authorised long term sustained conscious effort to alter a language itself or to change a language.

The legal status of languages in zimbabwe is stipulated in the 1987 education act. Zimbabwe colonial and postcolonial language policy and planning practices article pdf available in current issues in language planning 74. Zimbabwean foreign policy introduction if foreign policy is the diplomatic policy of a nation in its interactions with other nations1, and diplomatic refers to skilled in negotiating between states2, then, can one refer to zimbabwe s interaction with other states as foreign policy. Pdf zimbabwe colonial and postcolonial language policy and. Eric ej764040 language policy in zimbabwean education. The paper explores how the zimbabwean language policy s promotion of the english language to the official language status at the expense of the local languages has impacted on the shona language and culture. In education, english continues to be the dominant language. Shonaspeaking people made up of the karanga, korekore, manyika, ndau, rozwi and zezuru tribes live mainly in the eastern twothirds of the country, including the capital of harare. This article analyses issues pertaining to language policy in zimbabwean education beginning with the establishment of formal education under colonial rule. The majority of zimbabweans who speak it learn it as an additional language. This act may be cited as the constitution of zimbabwe amendment n o. In our country, english continues to dominate, not only as the. Apr 25, 2017 what languages are spoken in zimbabwe. Official policy, before and after independence, has been characterised by continuities, rather than change, providing limited.

This article examines the extent to which the language rights regime in s 6 of the zimbabwean constitution affirms and accommodates linguistic diversity in zimbabwe. However, it is a contradiction of what the zimbabwean market dictates. Inclusive education in zimbabwe inclusive education in zimbabwe. Zimbabwe that provides for the care and education of children from 0 to 6 yearsan endeavour to. Youll receive credits toward complimentary access to ethnologue for every contribution that is vetted and accepted by our editors. The general assumption in this study was that the status of native languages in zimbabwe was deteriorating while that of the english language was fast growing. Mar 21, 20 the population is consisted african 98%, mixed and asian 1%, and white less than 1%. An exploration of multilingualism and zimbabwean language policy as an impact to childs holistic development. That means it pursues a language policy that gives a foreign language english an official status.

The impact of zimbabwean higher education policies on access. Language policy and linguistic rights in postcolonial zimbabwe. The use of indigenous languages shona as a medium of instruction in primary schools. A national language policy for zimbabwe in the twentyfirst century. Zimbabwe colonial and postcolonial language policy and. This syllabus is intended for use by both formal and nonformal learners. Language situation in zimbabwe from the precolonial era to date at the moment zimbabwe has more than eleven indigenous languages and these include shona, ndebele, tonga, nambya, kalanga, sotho, hwesa, sena, chikunda, doma, tswana.

Doreen tarirai moyo, university of nebraska lincoln. Based on these dimensions, the paper proposes a generic framework and a complementary set of questions and principles for action that can guide policy makers to design, analyse and carry out their education policy. This article begins by looking at the language situation and the language planning activities that have taken place in zimbabwe dating back to the precolonial era. Considering the zimbabwean language policy, it is likely that the wellbeing of local languages and cultures are being threatened by the prominence of english. The reliance on the education act of 1987 as a language policy document in the absence of a national language policy. This paper looks at the language planning activities that are taking place in zimbabwe and the possibility of having a clear national language policy. On its attainment of independence in 1980, the country adopted a colonial language policy that regarded english as the official language to be used. The education act which is the only official policy document concerning language in zimbabwe is scrutinized by focusing on how it is being implemented and. The paper reports on results of a qualitative research that employed interview and observation as the two data collection methods. The reliance on the education act of 1987 as a language policy document in the absence of a national language policy, leaves african languages open to neglect. An exploration of multilingualism and zimbabwean language. For example, the zimbabwe education act education act, 1996, the disabled persons act disabled persons act, 1996, and various ministry of education circulars education secretarys policy circular no. Global database on the implementation of nutrition action gina submit. Zimbabwe and its richer neighbor south africa are in the throes of an electricity crisis.

Let us accept for the moment a preliminary definition of lp see section 4 below for further discussion as the planning of deliberate changes in the form or use of a language or a variety, or languages or varieties. The impact of languagepolicy and practice on childrens. Implementing educational policies in zimbabwe english the. The syllabus equips learners with skills such as creativity, critical thinking, research and problem solving. Fortyfive countries are represented, and understandably, the languages are listed on the map close to the. In this policy, the medium of education at primary school level is in the childs home language up to grade 3.

First, the article provides a brief look at preindependence education in zimbabwe. Zimbabwe population 2020 demographics, maps, graphs. Current language policy under the 1987 education act, language policy in. Zim needs coherent indigenous language policy celebrating. The glottolog, a language database maintained by the max planck institute for the science of human history in germany, lists seven varieties of indigenous zimbabwean sign language. Implementing educational policies in zimbabwe english abstract. Zimbabwe educational systemoverview school, primary. Zimbabwe colonial and postcolonial language policy and planning practices. Furthermore, the capacity to support the development of indigenous languages has declined in recent years. April 22, 2012 zimbabwe s indigenisation policy africa possesses vast mineral resources, from diamonds to platinum, which remain untapped. The study adopted the descriptive survey design since. The piece of legislation acts as if as if minority languages did not exist.

Language of instruction policy and practice in africa. Government policies lead to collapse of zimbabwe economy the former southern african breadbasket of zimbabwe is in the midst of an economic and social meltdown. The intergovernmental conference on language policies in africa, which was held in harare zimbabwe from 17 21 march 1997, was the first meeting of its kind involving language specialists attending as governmental experts and doing the preparatory work for and advising. In zimbabwe, the report of the national language policy advisory panel nlpap 1998 pointed out the need to upgrade the status of the previously marginalised african 27. It states that english is the official language, and shona and ndebele are national languages with restricted official use. Manicaland sign, mashonaland sign, masvingo school sign, matabeleland sign, midlands sign, zimbabwe community sign, and zimbabwe school sign. With your download, get the 29 best papers relevant to this one, including 20 top related papers. The general assumption in this study was that the status of native languages in zimbabwe was deteriorating while that of the english language. Colonial language policies in zimbabwe language planning in this country started in 1920s as an activity consciously tailor made by missionaries who embarked on translating the bible into african languages, in order to reach the souls of africans in the most. The impact of languagepolicy and practice on childrens learning. Zimbabwean foreign policy introduction if foreign policy is the diplomatic policy of a nation in its interactions with other nations1, and diplomatic refers to skilled in negotiating between states2, then, can one refer to zimbabwes interaction with other states as foreign policy. Language policy, mother tongue, codeswitching, indigenous language medium of instruction 1.

Historical antecedents and contemporary issues article pdf available in compare 372. Language of instruction policy and practice in africa ayo bamgbose preliminary information and comments this text is intended to accompany the map entitled african community languages and their use in education. Current language policy under the 1987 education act, language policy in zimbabwe favours three languages for use in education. Nevertheless, in zimbabwe there is no clear language policy although the importance of the subject was emphasized by ngara 1982, 9, quoting from the bulletin of the survey of language use and language teaching in eastern africa \967. Using indigenous languages for teaching and learning in zimbabwe 33 the senate and as a language of instruction in lower primary education, english continues to dominate as the national official language. To embark upon a program of national development without careful consideration of the. Zimbabwes language policy in education is enshrined in the 1987. Pdf zimbabwe colonial and postcolonial language policy. The language policy of zimbabwe observes all 16 languages as official.

The 1979 education act, which has undergone various amendments, defines aims and objectives, structures, and types of school programs, as well as evaluation and assessment procedures and ongoing scheduling. Using indigenous languages for teaching and learning in. It has, however, attempted to change significantly the inherited educational policies, which it considers to be inappropriate to the nations adopted socialist ideology. More than twothirds of the population speaks shona as their first language. Implementing educational policies in zimbabwe english. This chapter aims to make an inquiry into the language question in africa with a special focus on language planning and language policy practiced in zimbabwe. Zvoushe hardlife university of zimbabwe department of political and administrative studies, p. Document resume ed 233 562 fl 0 652 title note 22p. Zimbabwe has attained independence more than two decades ago but there is no clear language policy. At the moment zimbabwe has more than eleven indigenous languages and these include shona, ndebele, tonga.

There has been no language planning debate as yet, but we have merely inherited british linguistic policies that derive from a colonial policy, which emphasised separate. South africa, a country that got its independence yesterday, has got a sound language policy. The status of education and early childhood development. The paper explores how the zimbabwean language policys promotion of the english language to the official language status at the expense of the local languages has impacted on the shona language and culture. Statement of the problem studies on language death indicate that people are usually eager to acquire and use languages that have societal value. You want to make your own sign language sentences using the basic structure, but are struggling with how to actually do it. This study examines language policy and practice in zimbabwe, particularly the. Zimbabwean foreign policy toward south africa when investigating the foreign policy of zimbabwe one has to consider the ruling party zanu pf, and how it rules and governs.

He acknowledges and evaluates contributions of ordinary people in the creation and implementation of a coherent language policy. However, it is a contradiction of what the zimbabwean. English is the official language of business, government and education, and the dominant language in the media. P36, 1990 require that all students, regardless of race. The foreign policy of a country can be defined as a set of goals that seek to outline how that country will interface at an official level with other countries of the. Government policies lead to collapse of zimbabwe economy. The study further suggests ways in which zimbabwe could practically implement the language rights norms in s 6 of the constitution. A discourse analysis of internationalization policy in canadian and. An estimated 75 per cent of the zimbabwean population speaks shona, and another 17 per cent speak ndebele. Using indigenous languages for teaching and learning in zimbabwe. English is not the language of the masses as yet, however, it. This monograph focuses on the development of colonial and postcolonial language policies and practices in zimbabwe, attributing changes to evolving philosophies and politics in colonial and postcolonial zimbabwe.

Jun 30, 2016 he critically examines the sources of zimbabwean societys negative attitude towards the use of indigenous languages in economic and educational activities. It shares a 125mile 200km border on the south with the republic of south africa and is bounded on the southwest and west by botswana, on the north by zambia, and on the northeast and east by mozambique. Zimbabwe holds the guinness world record for being the country with the highest number of official languages, having 16 languages officially designated as such. If so, we invite you to join our contributor program. The job market dictates that the english language should be passed to either access the higher institution of learning, the higher secondary education and the. Zimbabwe colonial and postcolonial language policy and planning practices sinfree b. Language planning and policy should be a deterrent factor in preventing the disappearance of indigenous languages in the course of human history. Language policy and linguistic rights in postcolonial.