Paradigm shift in language planning and policy : game-theoretic solutions / by Ettien Koffi.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Koffi, Ettien N'da, 1963-

Series:

Contributions to the sociology of language ; 101.

Contributions to the sociology of language, 1861-0676 ; 101

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Language planning--Africa.

Language planning.

Language policy--Africa.

Language policy.

Sociolinguistics--Africa.

Sociolinguistics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (348 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Berlin ; Boston : De Gruyter Mouton, 2012.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The book proposes a paradigm shift in language planning and language policy in Africa. For the past fifty years, the dominant model has been the hegemonic model whereby a language of wider communication (LWC) is imposed on minority languages. It is now time for a paradigm shift in favor of a more egalitarian model in which all the languages spoken in the same country, irrespective of their size, are planned. The paradigm shift concerns four critical areas: status planning, cost-benefit planning, acquisition planning, and corpus planning. Such a shift is justified for the following reasons: First, the hegemonic model has a dismal track record of success in Africa and elsewhere. Second, the hegemonic model exacerbates linguistic conflicts in many countries. Consequently, policy makers shun it for fear of jeopardizing the fragile social fabric in their respective countries. Last, a shift away from the hegemonic model is recommended because it is too costly to implement. The "democratic model" is undergirded by the Strategic Game Theory proposed by David Laitin. It forecasts a 3±1 language outcome for most African countries. This outcome supports the "three language formula" now called for by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

Contents:

Frontmatter

Acknowledgments

Preface

Contents

Abbreviations

Chapter 1. Ten deadly impediments to language planning in Africa

Chapter 2. The strategic Game theory and 3±1 language outcome

Chapter 3. A Game-theoretic assessment of language of education policies in French and Portuguese colonies

Chapter 4. A Game-theoretic assessment of language of education policies in Belgian, British, and German colonies

Chapter 5. Case study: Rethinking mother-tongue education in Côte d'Ivoire

Chapter 6. Game-theoretic assessment of language of education policies in African megacities

Chapter 7. Framework and rationale for literacy planning in rural Africa

Chapter 8. Planning multiple languages on a shoestring budget for profit

Chapter 9. Individual efforts in language planning

References

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9786613626844

9781280597015

1280597011

9781934078112

1934078115

OCLC:

775302023