Amid signs of change: language policy, ideology and power in the linguistic landscape of urban Rwanda

Abstract

In this paper we explore the nexus of language policy, ideology and power in the linguistic landscape of urban Rwanda. In post-genocide Rwanda, English has been promoted and gained status. This has led to an increased usage of English on shop signs in the streets of Kigali and other towns in Rwanda at the expense of both French and Kinyarwanda. Unique quantitative language data documented in streets before 2008 are in this study compared to data collected in 2018, in the same streets. This forms the background for analysis of official discourse, targeting language policy changes, especially after the 2008 decision to appoint English as the language of administration as well as the medium of instruction throughout the educational system from grade 1 on. This decision was made despite the fact that Rwanda has a national language, Kinyarwanda, known by 99.4 per cent of the population. The analysis shows that political aspects of language policy decisions are downplayed. Officially, both discursively and in practice, the Rwandan government, that is the English speaking elite in power, legitimize their decisions by pretending that imposing English is an inevitable, pragmatic and rational measure for economic development. This narrative reveals ideas about inherent qualities of specific languages while simultaneously discarding others. Additionally, in public discourse all four official languages are equal. Reality is different. In a society where the status language is only acquired through education and used as medium of instruction, power differences and socioeconomic inequalities are neglected and obscured.