Research event explores African linguistics

Language in Africa is to be explored during a special research seminar at Edge Hill University.

The event, Language in Africa: an Inter-University Research Seminar Exploring Language Usage and Values in a Range of Contexts, takes place on 24^th November and is the first in a series to be organised as part of a wider sociolinguistic project.

Earlier this year, Dr Jo Shoba, of the Edge Hill Department of English and History, received a prestigious grant from the British Academy for a UK-Africa Academic Partnership. The collaborative three-year project involves Edge Hill, the University of Ghana and the University of Education Winneba, also in Ghana, investigating language practices among young people in contemporary Ghana.

As part of the initiative, the partners have organised their first seminar which will address the complex issues around use of language in Africa, with a particular emphasis on gender and youth.

Dr Shoba said: "This initiative has been developed by the British Academy's Africa Panel to support the development of ongoing links between UK and African institutions within the humanities and social sciences. Our research aim over the next three years is to investigate language practices and values among young people in contemporary Ghana.  We will focus on three interrelated sociolinguistic areas - bilingual language choices in conversation, the forms and functions of Ghanaian English, and a variety known as ‘student pidgin', which is spoken by young educated males in Ghana."

"This seminar will bring together scholars with interests in language in different parts of Africa, providing a forum for the exchange of research knowledge and experience. Topics will be wide-ranging, from issues of language policy in education, to issues of identity construction through language."

Speakers at the event will include Professor Kari Dako of the University of Ghana and who is Principal Africa Partner for the British Academy project, on the topic of how words of Ghanaian ethno-cultural significance enter English, the colonial language.

Paul Kerswill, Professor of Sociolinguistics at Lancaster, will focus in his talk on youth language in Africa and Europe, while Dr Jane Sunderland, also at Lancaster University and an acknowledged expert in the field of language and gender, will talk about the textual construction of femininity in advertising texts in Botswana.

The free event on 24^th November takes place from 1pm to 5pm. Although it is aimed at academics and postgraduate students, members of the public are welcome to attend by prior registration. Forfurther information, email Dr Jo Shoba at shobajo@edgehill.ac.uk.