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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:African languages and education: the Malian case
Author:Ouane, AdamaISNI
Year:1980
Periodical:Educafrica: Bulletin of the Unesco Regional Office for Education in Africa
Issue:6
Pages:66-75
Language:English
Geographic term:Mali
Subjects:language instruction
African languages
language policy
Abstract:Like most African countries, the language situation in Mall features two faces: local multilingualism (numerous unwritten languages) co-existing with exoglotism, or the use of a foreign language, in particular French, as the country's official language. Set against the language maps of the various West African countries, Mali's seems modest with its dozen or so languages (Bambara, Fula, Songhay, Tamesheq, Soninke, Seyna-Minianka, Bozo, Dogon, Somono, Bivamu, Wolof, Mauretanian). Depending on their place in the communication sphere and their social prominence, some of these languages, such as Bambara and Fula, are multi-functional and serve as vehicular languages for different ethnic groups; others are unifunctional and are routinely used almost exclusively by a given ethnic group (Dogon, Bozo). In devising its language policy, Mali adopted from the outset the principle of impartial development of all national languages. Though initially a choice had to be made, with inter-state and inter-ethnic communication, to create alphabets for Bambara, Fula, Songhay, Tamasheq, research is presently being undertaken on every Malian language. Notes, photogr.
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