The politics of the English language in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This article explores the politics of the English language in Zimbabwe, as reflected in the country's language policy, language practices and language scholarship. English is the country's sole official language. The majority of Zimbabweans who speak it learn it as an additional language. Those who are incompetent in it are disadvantaged because the language is the main medium of instruction throughout the education system, a measure of educational achievement and an important qualification for higher education and employment. With notable exceptions, mainstream language planning scholarship regards English as the medium of oppression and a killer language as far as indigenous languages are concerned, subsequently pushing for the status elevation and development of the latter as the only possible solution to the country's language problems. The authors suggest that a multilingual language policy will also need to devise strategies of directly addressing problems associated with English, in addition to promoting indigenous languages as alternatives.