Zimbabwe's Postcolonial Language Policy Formulation Paradigms 1987-1998: another Recipe for the Marginalisation of Minority Languages

Abstract

Zimbabwe's postcolonial language policy formulation initiatives are punctuated with numerous undemocratic tendencies that constitute fertile ground for the marginalisation of minority languages. The period 1987-1998 witnessed concerted efforts towards the fashioning of a nationalist-oriented language policy for Zimbabwe. All language policy formulation initiatives have so far been characterized by intolerance to linguistic pluralism and cultural diversity, insensitivity to minority languages and cultures as well as the over-politicization of the language policy formulation process. The institutional and functional status of Zimbabwe's minority languages are presently at low ebb, with the country's 'major' languages dominating in the media, education, law and administration, business and commerce. Under these circumstances, the future of minority languages in Zimbabwe has turned out to be quite bleak as they are increasingly becoming marginalised in all these spheres of national life. This paper provides a critique of the philosophical and pragmatic foundations of Zimbabwe's language policy formulation paradigms with the view to exposing their implications for the maintenance and survival of minority languages. It utilizes the conceptual framework of historical-structural approaches, which emphasize on the need to look at language policies within the context of the broader issues of power, ideology, the nation-state, hegemony, dominance and social structure.