Language Policy in Congo-Brazzaville

Abstract

The richness of linguistic diversity in Congo-Brazzaville deserves an empirical examination so as to determine the extent to which language policy affects negatively or positively the development process of the country. This chapter overviews the status of language policy in the country. The aim of the chapter is to draw a picture of the different stages of language policy throughout history as well as examine the strengths and weaknesses of the current state of language policy. Accordingly, and although the status of language policy remains unchanged both during and after the colonial era, with French enjoying all high-status and transactional privileges among elites, there is a growing awareness among scholars (especially academics) that having French as the sole official language in Congo-Brazzaville is inadequate. Voices are now being heard in Congress urging and encouraging the use of local languages. This inadequacy is also the reason why on the scale of the most and the least valued languages in Congo-Brazzaville, French and ethnic languages tend to be associated with the two extremes of the same spectrum, where, on the one hand, French is overly the most valued, and, on the other hand, ethnic languages are the least valued. On the practical level, however, the linguistic diversity in the country has turned codeswitching into the norm in almost every conversation. The absence of any provision regarding language use allows the mix of languages, mainly French, Kituba, Lingala, and other ethnic languages, in almost all unofficial business.