African Englishes : Contemporary Trends and Sociolinguistic Shifts

This book investigates the functions and linguistics of African Englishes, and what this means for languages indigenous to Africa.

It considers the historical imposition of English on the continent, its evolution and contemporary usage patterns, and its likely future directions. The colonial imposition of the English language on African communities is evidence of a broader project of cultural imperialism, beyond political and economic domination. In this regard, the book investigates how this led to a cross pollination of languages and a range of different linguistic variations, from second language varieties, through to pidgins and creoles. The book historically locates these developments, demonstrating how diverse African linguistic and cultural contexts have impacted the patterns of use of the English language. Drawing on case studies from across West, East, and Southern Africa, the book goes on to explores contemporary English language practices in contact spaces of cultural and linguistic plurality. Taking a critical approach, the book considers what the future of African Englishes is likely to be, and what this means in turn for the future of African languages.

This book’s call for urgent reconsideration and retheorisation of African Englishes will be an important read for scholars across linguistics, African Studies, and world Englishes.