The sociolinguistics　of development in Africa

摘要

In The sociolinguistics of development in Africa from 2008, the author Paulin G. Djite investigates the role of African languages in development, more specifically in education, health, economy, and governance. He emphasizes on the role of language in societies as vehicle for the transfer of knowledge and thus as important means for sustainable development. To approach the fundamental research question, Djite adopts a constructivist perspective and locates his study in the discipline of pragmatic linguistics. Following to this, he understands language as action with which to shape reality and power relations as well as to express ideological positions.