Language policy and planning in Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract This chapter offers an overview of language policy and planning (LPP) in Ethiopia. The Language policy of Ethiopia can be divided into three main periods, namely (i) the era of Geez until the 19th century, (ii) the era of Amharic from the 19th century to 1991, and (iii) the post-1991 era which promotes all Ethiopian languages. Of these three eras, the post-1991 era has seen a lot of language planning and policy activities. More than 50 languages have been reduced to writing, and about 34 languages have become media of instruction or school subjects in primary education. However, these language planning activities have not been supported by strong language planning agencies both at regional and federal level. Recently, there is a move towards implementing a new language policy that introduces four additional languages as the working languages of the federal government and proposes the establishment of central language planning as well as regulating agencies. The implementation of such a policy, however, will depend on constitutional amendments, which is a very contentious issue in Ethiopia today.