Innovations and Reproductions in Cultures and Societies
(IRICS) Vienna, 9 - 11 december 2005

 
<< Postcolonial innovations and transformations: Putting language in the forefront

Deconstruction/Reconstruction of English in Postcolonial Writings: A Gateway to Multiculturalism

Divine Che Neba (University of Burundi)

 

ABSTRACT:

This work anchors on the tentative conjecture that the cataloguing of shared and disparate features (linguistic, literary, ethnographic and others) and accentuating local colour by Postcolonial African writers of English expression is inadvertently the avenue of dissipating pure native English models in African writings. This paper also charts the argument that the new lingua-franca and hybrid style of the Postcolonial African writers celebrates a new Africa (of producers and consumers) and to some extent dwarfs the colonial construction of a puppet Africa. In this light, the question of overriding the identity of the colonised and relegating indigenous languages, which was part of the imperial agenda becomes polemical. It is in this deconstructive/reconstructive limelight that native English lexicons, without any option, are fast integrating African indigenised words, idioms or style as a whole, as a means of cultural dialogism (and vice versa). The literary scenario in Postcolonial Africa in this vein, does not only feed or embellish the native English but proceeds to advertise its culture in this world language, which was imposed by colonial agents in plantations, schools (through the whip), churches, and through parliamentary acts. The paper finally settles on the note that the embroidered and indigenised varieties of English in Postcolonial writings catalyse the dynamic process of native English. Both forms of English become different paths leading to the same milieu (global milieu), with each participant serving as producer and consumer.


Innovationen und Reproduktionen in Kulturen und Gesellschaften (IRICS) Wien, 9. bis 11. Dezember 2005

H O M E
WEBDESIGN: Peter R. Horn 2005-09-29