The Palgrave Handbook of Language Policies in Africa

This handbook explores language policies and their impacts in Africa, examining the different language policies in each country from pre-colonial to post-colonial times. Most African countries are multilingual, apart from a handful which are said to be quasi-monolingual. The authors in this handbook investigate language policy in education, media, legal courts, government documents and other public domains, and show how these policies shape learning and delivery of services to the citizens. The volume also pays special attention to the roles assigned to minority languages in Africa, most of which are endangered. The contributions also investigate how these language policies are influenced by the history of colonialism and language attitudes emanating from colonial rule. This handbook will be of interest to a diverse audience of readers, including those interested in African languages, language planning and policy, and African history and education.

¿Esther Mukewa Lisanza isan assistant professor in the Department of African Studies at Howard University, USA. Her main research focuses on African languages, African education, and language policy in education. She is currently completing a co-authored book on the interplay between African languages and indigenous knowledge.

Leonard Muaka is an associate professor at Howard University, USA. His main research focuses on African linguistics, language maintenance and shift, political discourse and language use and choice in urban and rural Africa. He is currently co-editing a special volume on Language Planning and Healthcare in Africa.