African Englishes (Routledge African Media, Culture and Communication Studies)

This book investigates the functions and linguistic forms of African Englishes, and what this means for languages indigenous to Africa.

It examines the historical imposition of English on the continent, as part of a broader project of cultural imperialism, and traces its transformation from a colonial tool to a dynamic and diverse language, examining its set of contemporary usage patterns, and its likely future directions. Thorough diverse critical approaches, this book unpacks how language contact has given rise to distinct variations including second language varieties, pidgins and creoles, that are moulded by Africa´s linguistic and cultural diversity. Drawing on case studies from West, East, and Southern Africa, this book illuminates contemporary English usages in multilingual spaces, where cultural and linguistic plurality drive ongoing shifts in communication. More than just being a study of language change, this book calls for a reassessment of the future of African Englishes and their impact on indigenous languages.

Thus, the book is an essential read for scholars and students in linguistics, African Studies, and World Englishes, as it contributes fresh insights into the intersections of language, culture, identity, and power in modern-day African lifeworlds.

Collen Sabao is an Associate Professor Linguistics, Literature and Communication in the Department of Humanities and Arts at the University of Namibia. Prof. Sabao’s research interests lie in the areas of Phonetics and Phonology, Political Discourse, Media Discourse, Pan Africanism, Afrocentricity, Appraisal Theory, Argumentation, World Literatures and Rhetoric. He has published extensively in these areas, with quite a sizeable number of journal articles and chapters in internationally referred publications.

Esther Mavengano, is a lecturer who teaches Linguistics and Literature in the Department of English and Media Studies, Faculty of Arts at Great Zimbabwe University in Masvingo, Zimbabwe. She holds a PhD in Linguistics and Literary Studies obtained from North West University in Mafikeng, South Africa. Her research areas maintain the interface of applied linguistics, sociolinguistics and Anglophone African literary studies.