Asymmetrical Power Relations within Local, Regional and International Languages in Rwanda: In whose Favour and at what Expense?

Abubakar Kateregga

Abstract


This paper argues that the new role and status currently ascribed to English in Rwanda is tending towards creating ‘asymmetrical power relations’ between English, on the one hand, and other languages used in the country on the other. The study identifies the latter to include Kinyarwanda, Kiswahili and French. In short, the implementation of a policy of promoting English as one of Rwanda’s official languages and language of instruction may end up being successful though at a regrettable cost, in the future. Accordingly, the promotion of English will lead to three major problems. The first one is to relegate the use of other languages to a position of inferiority and ‘endangerment’. The second imminent problem is that of excluding local and regional
languages (Kinyarwanda and Kiswahili) from the epicenter of Rwanda’s national development. The third problem could be a conflicting situation between various language speaking communities, leading to unnecessary polarizations and tension among different language-speaking communities. The paper develops the problems of language conflicts between major and minor languages borrowing some examples from the US, Canada, Belgium, the European Union and South Africa. It analyses language planning mechanisms and suggests a way forward for Rwanda. It is inspired by Patten’s (2002) three-stage model of ‘language recognition’ by states characterized by ‘official multilingualism’, ‘language rationalisation’ and ‘language maintenance’. The model analyses the challenges of giving public recognition to a particular language or set of languages.


Key words: multilingualism, bilingualism, mother-tongue instruction, language policy and planning, language functions, language education


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