This paper addresses the impact of an official usage or non-usage of African Languages within education systems. Therefore the border region between Malawi and Zambia is the research area as both countries differ regarding the application of indigenous languages within their education systems. Both countries changed their language policy recently. Hence, the impact on teaching and the African Languages are researched. Within this context a mixed methodology approach was selected. The author conducted different semi-structured interviews with parents and with teachers. A questionnaire was delivered to pupils to get a holistic idea about daily language practices. Code alternation (CA) was used frequently by teachers and pupils. Nevertheless differences between Malawi and Zambia appeared as well. Hence, in Malawi the long-lasting legacy of the dictatorship of Banda and his Kwanunkwanu-Policy (let everyone work in their home area) has negative impacts up until today on African Languages. They are stigmatized and connected to this policy and people fear a revival of it if African languages are used. His policy focused only on Chichewa and clearly preferred it over all other indigenous languages. This preference was very obvious as he named the language institution Chichewa Board. Furthermore this policy focused on ethnic and linguistic homogeneity.
In Zambia the reputation of English remains very high and affects negatively a further educational usage of African Languages, too. Data analysis will be done by coding of the transcribed interviews. The questionnaires will be analysed using SPSS and maps will help to visualize the results.
References
Kamwendo, G. H. (2008). The bumpy road to mother tongue instruction in Malawi. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 29 (5), 353-362.
Kretzer, M. M. and Kumwenda, J. (2016). Language policy in Malawi: a study of its contexts, factors for its development and consequences. Marang: Journal of Language and Literature, 27, 20-38.
Posner, D. N. (2004). The political salience of cultural difference: Why Chewas and Tumbukas are allies in Zambia and adversaries in Malawi. American Political Science Review, 98 (4), 529-545. William, E. (1998) Investigating Bilingual Literacy: Evidence from Malawi and Zambia. London, DFID Education Research Series.
