The Transformative Power of Language: From Postcolonial to Knowledge Societies in Africa

Language has played a pivotal role in societal transformation in postcolonial Africa towards the creation of globally competitive knowledge societies; however so far, this role has been under-researched and under-estimated. This volume addresses this gap in the literature, by bringing together a team of globally-recognised scholars to explore the effect of language on African postcolonial societies, and how it has contributed to achieving 'mental decolonisation'. A range of languages are explored, both imported (ex-colonial) and indigenous African, and case studies from different spheres of public discourse are investigated, from universities to legal settings. Demonstrating that multilingualism is a resource for, rather than barrier to, successful transformation, this book brings the intellectualisation and institutionalisation of African languages to the forefront of development discourse, and provides an insightful snap-shot of how current academic research, public discourse, political activism and social community engagement have contributed to societal transformation in South Africa.

Russell H. Kaschula is Professor of African Language Studies at Rhodes University. He holds the NRF SARChI Chair in the Intellectualisation of African Languages, Multilingualism and Education. His most recent edited volumes include Multilingualism and Intercultural Communication (2017) and New Frontiers in Forensic Linguistics (2019). In 2019 he was selected as the Mellon Global South Senior Fellow at AUC, Cairo.

H. Ekkehard Wolff is Professor and Chair Emeritus of African linguistics, Leipzig University. Recently published works include The Cambridge Handbook of African Linguistics (2019), A History of African Linguistics (2019), and Language and Development in Africa: Perceptions, Ideologies and Challenges (2016).