LING 006. FYS: English in Post-Colonial Africa & the African Diaspora (LCS)

Cross-listed with GLBL 006.
This course examines the role of English in postcolonial Africa and its impact on African languages, societies, and cultures. We explore how English became established across the continent through colonialism, how it has been adapted by African speakers, and how its continued use shapes language policies, education, governance, literature, and national and cultural identities. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between English and indigenous African languages, including questions of language contact, multilingualism, and linguistic inequality. Beyond the continent, the course examines English-based creoles such as Jamaican Creole and Gullah, which have been shown to preserve features of African languages. Additionally, we discuss African American English (AAE), focusing its use in education and some of the debates surrounding its historical development.
Social sciences.
1 credit.
Eligible for GLBL-paired.
Spring 2027. Owusu.
Department website: Linguistics

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