The Cambridge Handbook of African Linguistics

An in-depth and far-reaching account of the study of 'African languages' and 'language in Africa' as an autonomous academic discipline.

For scholars, students, and readers interested in African affairs and development studies, this book looks at past and current research on 'African languages' and addresses the role and functions of language, African and other, in 'traditional' and postcolonial African societies in terms of sociocultural modernization and economic development.This book provides an in-depth and comprehensive state-of-the-art study of 'African languages' and 'language in Africa' since its beginnings as a 'colonial science' at the turn of the twentieth century in Europe. Compiled by 56 internationally renowned scholars, this ground breaking study looks at past and current research on 'African languages' and 'language in Africa' under the impact of paradigmatic changes from 'colonial' to 'postcolonial' perspectives. It addresses current trends in the study of the role and functions of language, African and other, in pre- and postcolonial African societies. Highlighting the central role that the 'language factor' plays in postcolonial transformation processes of sociocultural modernization and economic development, it also addresses more recent, particularly urban, patterns of communication, and outlines applied dimensions of digitalization and human language technology.