Language, Culture, Identity and Nativity

Godfrey B. Tangwa (University of Yaounde I) [BIO]

Email: gbtangwa@yahoo.com

 

ABSTRACT:

In this presentation I propose to explore the relationship between language, culture, identity and nativity. Language certainly is an important aspect of personal identity. It is, however, less clear whether a person’s native language fulfills this function better than any other language. Africa presents a paradigm case of indigenous linguistic diversity which has been further complexified by colonialism and the phenomenon of globalization. Within that context it would be most interesting and, perhaps, rewarding to explore the language problematic and to probe through empirical evidence the relationship between language and culture, identity and nativity.