Overcoming violence in language in Africa

Abstract

A traditional way to look at violence in language is to examine the structure and style of language and identify the elements that may be responsible for precipitating violence. But that will not tell the whole story or answer all the possible questions. Or, we can look at language as it acts alone or in conjunction with other concepts to precipitate violence. We can simply focus on its content and, therefore, the message that comes from it. Generally, however, the extent to which language guides our lives as members of a social system is not fully appreciated. It is not just a medium of communication for sending and receiving messages. Language is also the message itself, assuming a power of its own, providing authority for some of its users. Language structures the environment for us, creating niches for us to fall into. In doing this, language can create a kind of politic that may provide a basis for conflict and violence. It is within this context that inter‐ethnic communication, language, discourse management and non‐verbal behavior are frequently misunderstood, misinterpreted or used to reinforce negative stereotypes arising out of ethnically determined attitudes. There is a politics of language that has evolved in many parts of the African continent which renders language a vulnerable variable for exploitation by those who stand to gain from the resultant violence. What is the relationship between language and ethnicity within the politics of language in Africa? How can meaning unite with that politic to precipitate violence? And are there ways to overcome such violence?