Repertoires and Choices in African Languages

Repertoires and Choices in African Languages

Author: Friederike Lüpke

Publisher: Walter de Gruyter

Published: 2013-05-28

Total Pages: 434

ISBN-13: 1614511942

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Most African languages are spoken by communities as one of several languages present on a daily basis. The persistence of multilingualism and the linguistic creativity manifest in the playful use of different languages are striking, especially against the backdrop of language death and expanding monolingualism elsewhere in the world. The effortless mastery of several languages is disturbing, however, for those who take essentialist perspectives that see it as a problem rather than a resource, and for the dominating, conflictual, sociolinguistic model of multilingualism. This volume investigates African minority languages in the context of changing patterns of multilingualism, and also assesses the status of African languages in terms of existing influential vitality scales. An important aspect of multilingual praxis is the speakers' agency in making choices, their repertoires of registers and the multiplicity of language ideology associated with different ways of speaking. The volume represents a new and original contribution to the ethnography of speaking of multilingual practices and the cultural ideas associated with them.


Principles and Practice of South African Lexicography

Principles and Practice of South African Lexicography

Author: R. H. Gouws

Publisher: AFRICAN SUN MeDIA

Published: 2010-10-01

Total Pages: 215

ISBN-13: 1919980903

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Principles and Practice of South African Lexicography is directed at experts in the field of practical and theoretical lexicography in South Africa, applying the general theory of lexicography to the South African lexicographic environment. The authors of this book are leaders in the field of South African lexicography and active participants in the international lexicographic arena, publishing regularly in national and international journals and giving papers at international conferences and workshops.


Investing in Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue

Investing in Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue

Author: Unesco

Publisher: UNESCO

Published: 2009-01-01

Total Pages: 418

ISBN-13: 9231040774

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This report analyses all aspects of cultural diversity, which has emerged as a key concern of the international community in recent decades, and maps out new approaches to monitoring and shaping the changes that are taking place. It highlights, in particular, the interrelated challenges of cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue and the way in which strong homogenizing forces are matched by persistent diversifying trends. The report proposes a series of ten policy-oriented recommendations, to the attention of States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, international and regional bodies, national institutions and the private sector on how to invest in cultural diversity. Emphasizing the importance of cultural diversity in different areas (languages, education, communication and new media development, and creativity and the marketplace) based on data and examples collected from around the world, the report is also intended for the general public. It proposes a coherent vision of cultural diversity and clarifies how, far from being a threat, it can become beneficial to the action of the international community.


THE EARLY GRADE READING ASSESSMENT

THE EARLY GRADE READING ASSESSMENT

Author: Amber K. Gove

Publisher: RTI Press

Published: 2011-09-28

Total Pages: 296

ISBN-13: 1934831085

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The Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) measures students' progress towards reading. EGRA gauges early literacy skills through a 15-minute individual oral assessment of five fundamental reading skills. RTI worked with education experts to develop the EGRA in 2006, and it has been piloted and implemented in more than 40 countries. This volume aims to take stock of the substantial amount of information and experience generated through the use of EGRA, and to share this knowledge with practitioners, policymakers, and international donors. Chapters cover not only particular applications of the instrument but also put EGRA in the context of broader issues and developments in literacy and education.