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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Can a Three-Tier Policy Model Work in Tanzania? A New Perspective
Author:Rubanza, Y.I.
Year:1996
Periodical:Ufahamu
Volume:24
Issue:1
Period:Winter
Pages:82-97
Language:English
Geographic term:Tanzania
Subjects:language policy
Education and Oral Traditions
Abstract:Tanzania's Swahilization policy of 1967 adopted Swahili as the country's national and official language. Yet English has continued to be the language of education, and at the same time the government has avoided making any statement on the status and role of the approximately 120 ethnic community languages. There is, however, a growing demand for the use of Swahili as a result, amongst others, of the extinction of the major functions associated with English, apart from its use by a minority, and the feeling of dependency that follows from the use of an alien language. In addition, Swahili and other ethnic community languages are used widely in everyday activities by most, if not all, Tanzanians. In view of the trend of language use in education and the current language situation in Tanzania at large, the author argues for the adoption of a three-tier language policy in Tanzania. This would involve a switch from English to Swahili as the language of instruction at primary and secondary levels of education, the compulsory study of English as a subject up to university level, and the use of ethnic community languages in instruction for the first four years of primary school where applicable and desirable. Bibliogr.
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