global-journal-of-human-social-science-g-linguistics-education Global Journal of Human-Social Science - G: Linguistics & Education 0975-587X 2249-460X Global Journals Publishing Group Incorporated 89176 On the Decolonisation of African Languages DellalMohamed MOROCCO, Mohamed I University, Oujda 15 01 2013 13 12 5 17

The present paper argues – against all odds – that advocating the rehabilitation of national languages (NL) in ―ex-colonized countries‖, as the case may be with Ngugy‘s call in his now famous book Decolonising of the Mind: the Politics of Languages in African Literature (1981) is a slight of hand as it overlooks a number of factors namely the political, economic, social and ethnic hazards that could follow from such an endeavor. Several arguments are brought forth in support of the claims made by the present paper notably the shortcomings of the arguments brought by such advocates as well as examples of failuresof linguistic nationalization policies in ex-colonial countries. Among the basic arguments advanced to that effect are: (i) the language market dominated by the Western languages especially English; (ii) the legacy of the past as an economic factor that should be looked at as an asset rather than a liability; (iii) the politicization of the linguistic issue considered as a stunt done more in pride than in realistic and pragmatic considerations.

 rehabilitation – national languages – ex-colonized- colonial languages – language market – decolonizing the mind – african languages – mar rehabilitation – national languages – ex-colonized- colonial languages – language market – decolonizing the mind – african languages – mar Full Text

The present paper argues – against all odds – that advocating the rehabilitation of national languages (NL) in ―ex-colonized countries‖, as the case may be with Ngugy‘s call in his now famous book Decolonising of the Mind: the Politics of Languages in African Literature (1981) is a slight of hand as it overlooks a number of factors namely the political, economic, social and ethnic hazards that could follow from such an endeavor. Several arguments are brought forth in support of the claims made by the present paper notably the shortcomings of the arguments brought by such advocates as well as examples of failuresof linguistic nationalization policies in ex-colonial countries. Among the basic arguments advanced to that effect are: (i) the language market dominated by the Western languages especially English; (ii) the legacy of the past as an economic factor that should be looked at as an asset rather than a liability; (iii) the politicization of the linguistic issue considered as a stunt done more in pride than in realistic and pragmatic considerations.