Archive: past updates

This time, just a few interesting pieces of news…

Second issue of Language Policy in Africa now published!

We have decided to call the second issue a wrap and are now preparing for Volume 2. The interesting addition to the five articles already published is an editorial, entitled ‘Five paradigms about language use in Africa’. In it, the editors try to list five different types of response to issues on language use in Africa, ranging from attempts to improve the teaching of former colonial languages to pleas for the gradual introduction of African languages in all formal domains. Your views on this are welcome! The Journal continues to accept new submissions (research articles, book reviews, or opinion pieces) on an ongoing basis.

Webinar Series – save the date.

Dear members of our informal Circle,

Webinar Series

After two successful webinars in our new series ’Conversations on Language Policy in Africa’, we are now taking a short break. The next one will take place on Friday, 9 January at 4 pm CET (that is also the time in Morocco, but  – check your time zone!)  Speaker will be Dr Yassine Boussagui of the Ibn Zohr University of Agadir, Morocco, who will talk about his article on Language Policy and Power Dynamics in Post-Independence Morocco.

After that, the conversations will take place on 6 February; 6 March; and 10 April.

Dear members of our informal Circle,

After a first successful webinar in our new series ’Conversations on Language Planning in Africa’, we are now preparing for the second in the series, which will take place on Friday, 7 November at 4 pm CET (that’s 5 pm in Johannesburg – check your time zone!)  Speaker will be Dr Menzo Thangi of the University of the Witwatersrand, who will talk about his article on Workplace Communication in banks in South Africa.

The series will take a break in December and continue in the new year, on 9 January, with Yassine Boussagui and Yamina El Kirat El Allame speaking on language policy in Morocco. After that, the conversations will take place on 6 February; 6 March; and 10 April.

Dear members of our informal Circle,

As announced, the first webinar in our new series will take place Friday, 3 October, at 4 pm CEST. The format will be a short talk, followed by the opportunity for dialogue – approximately one hour in total.

The webinar will be hosted by Initiative Afrique of the University of Bern (Switzerland) and will use MS Teams. Prior registration is required.

Moderator this time will be Dr Djouroukoro Diallo of the University of Bern. Our first speaker is Caroline Story of Texas State University. She will speak on Postcolonial Language Imperialism in Africa – The Latter-day Saints Missionary Program.