Englishising African cultures: revisiting acculturated forms of English in Botswana

Abstract

Many ‘African English’ researchers (see Kachru, B. B. (1983). The Indianization of English. The English language in India. Singapore: Singapore University Press.) have argued that when English is used in non-native environments, many aspects of its lexicon, grammar and pronunciation are modified and ‘acculturated’ to suit the local culture. However, Bagwasi challenges such an interpretation of the modifications that the English language undergoes in non-native environments. She argues that most of these modifications of English in African settings support englishisation of African culture rather than africanisation of the English language. She argues that some of the acclaimed acculturated forms fall short of representing local culture and local practices, but instead represent English practices and value systems. She further argues that in situations where English is used in African contexts, African values, perspectives and viewpoints are compromised and distorted while English values, perspectives and viewpoints are adopted and promoted. The current paper is a follow-up and further development of that argument. It lends further evidence to the argument by analysing English and Setswana terms referring to kinship, colours and seasons. The findings contradict the commonly held belief that speakers of English in Africa are able to shift, extend or restrict English forms so that they are able to express African meanings and culture.