Description
Empowering
Communities through Language Research and African Linguistics for Sustainable
Development
In their search for
solutions to the development problems of Africa in general and the Eastern
Africa region in particular, stakeholders such as politicians and researchers
have often ignored or downplayed the question of languages, linguistics, and
other sociocultural resources (see Prah 1993 & 2012). This problem is
further compounded by the sheer multiplicity and complexity of languages and
cultures in Africa which is often seen as a hindrance to the development of the
continent. However, over the past
few decades, it has become clear that empowering communities
through culture, language, and linguistics research is crucial to sustainable development.
Moreso in
the current context where researchers in the region either seem disinterested
or have inadequate capacity. In this regard, the following
questions emerge: What are the relevant contextual language,
cultural and linguistic realities of contemporary Africa? How do they affect
the issues associated with Sustainable Development? How do the dominant
assumptions in theoretical and applied linguistics relate to the challenges
that face Africa in general and the Eastern Africa region in particular today? What
should be done to build capacity among researchers to enhance research output? This conference, therefore, brings together
language researchers, educationalists, linguists, experts in cultural studies,
and communicators as key stakeholders to deliberate language and linguistic-related
matters that affect the development of the African continent. This will be done through presentations
of study findings, current language debates,
collaborative research, linguistic projects, and graduate students’ work from
all over the world. It is envisaged that this conference will promote knowledge creation
and sharing, collaborative and interdisciplinary research in the Eastern Africa
Region, and beyond.