The Role of Languages in Development

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the role of languages in development. In approaching contemporary problems of political and social conflict, it is believed that it is the tribes and the languages in themselves that are responsible for the social ills in the country. In much of the current socio-linguistic and related literature, it is commonplace to attribute to language inherent qualities, whether positive or negative, which it does not possess. There are two statements that could be made about language with a measure of absolute certitude. The first is that whether at local, regional or international level, a common language facilitates communication. The second is that to the extent that a group of people sentimentally identify with it, language can be a source of social solidarity. A language as a unifying or disintegrative factor is conditional and contingent upon many social factors. From the point of view of national unity or disunity, a national language alone is not the answer.