African Englishes
Contemporary Trends and Sociolinguistic Shifts
Published on 25. September 2025
286 pages
978-1-040-41119-3 (ISBN)
Description
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.
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.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
48 Tables, black and white; 3 Line drawings, black and white; 3 Illustrations, black and white
File size
131,92 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-040-41119-3 (9781040411193)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
09/2025
1st Edition
Routledge
€208.00
Shipment within 10-20 days
Persons
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.
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.
Content
1. The English Language in Africa: Contemporary Trends and Sociolinguistic Shifts 2.The Complicated Dynamic History of African Englishes and Challenging Linguistic Pyramids. 3. Towards Assimilation and Elision in English language in Cameroon: A Study of the University of Dschang 4. Rejecting Narratives of Marginalisation and Endangerment: The Future of Zambian Indigenous Languages in the Era of Supposed English Domination 5. The Sociolinguistic Description of Tanzanian English: A Perspective on Nativisation 6. The Future of the English Language in South Africa: Protest and Promise of a New Dispensation 7. Extralinguistic and Pragmalinguistic Sociolinguistic Characterisations of Namibian English (Namlish) Across Ethnolinguistic Groups 8. Tanzanian English and the Ideological Politics of Language in Concepts, "Good" and "Bad" English (es) in Public Secondary Schools 9. Exploring 'Namlish' as an English second language variety in Namibia 10. The Future is Bright: The Dominance of English and the Decline of Sesotho in a Changing Society, Lesotho 11. The 'English' Divide: Navigating Linguistic Hierarchies in the Post-Colony, Botswana 12. Englishisation of the Oshiwambo language in Namibia 13. Semantics of Selected Social Media Expressions and Their Impact on Students Learning Skills: A Case Study of Bertoua University Learners 14. Acceptability of Grammatical Features in Educated Ghanaian English, Using Tolerability Scale 15. Western "Standard Englishes" and "Cameroon Englishes": Why not partners? 16. Beyond Language Blends in New Englishes: Rethinking Cultural Linguistic Empowerment and Exploring True Emancipation in African Literature 17. The Transformative Influence of Indigenous Languages on African Englishes 18. African Englishes: Through Our Voices, We Reclaim Our Narrative
