Politics, Language, and Thought: The Somali ExperienceWhen the Somali Republic received independence, its parliamentary government decided to adopt three official languages: English, Italian, and Arabic—all languages of foreign contact. Since the vast majority of the nation's citizens spoke a single language, Somali, which then had no written form, this decision made governing exceedingly difficult. Selecting any one language was equally problematic, however, because those who spoke the official language would automatically become the privileged class. Twelve years after independence, a military government was able to settle the acrimonious controversy by announcing that Somali would be the official language and Latin the basic script. It was hoped that this choice would foster political equality and strengthen the national culture. Politics, Language, and Thought is an exploration of how language and politics interrelate in the Somali Republic. Using both historical and experimental evidence, David D. Laitin demonstrates that the choice of an official language may significantly affect the course of a country's political development. Part I of Laitin's study is an attempt to explain why the parliamentary government was incapable of reaching agreement on a national script and to assess the social and political consequences of the years of nondecision. Laitin shows how the imposition of nonindigenous languages produced inequalities which eroded the country's natural social basis of democracy. Part 2 attempts to relate language to political thought and political culture. Analyzing interviews and role-playing sessions among Somali bilingual students, Laitin demonstrates that the impact of certain political concepts is quite different when expressed in different languages. He concludes that the implications of choosing a language are far more complex than previously thought, because to change the language of a people is to change the ways they think and act politically. |
Contents
the Somali People | 20 |
Foreign Influence in Somalia | 67 |
Somali | 84 |
3 | 96 |
Conclusion | 221 |
Notes | 225 |
247 | |
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administration Afgoy Africa Arabic language Arabic script argued asked in Somali attempted Axmed B. W. Andrzejewski Benaadir Berbera British British Somaliland Cabdille Xasan Cali chap Cismaan Cismaaniya script clan family coast colonial Corriere della Somalia Daarood democracy Egyptian elite English language Ethiopia European foreign language Galaal Geledi Hawiya headmaster hypothesis Ibid important independence Islamic issue Isxaaq Italian Italy Kenya language policy Latin script Lewis linguistic relativity literacy Luling Majeerteen Maxamuud modern Muqdisho Muuse national language nomadic official language Ogaadeen participation political culture problem proverb question Qur'an religious reprinted in Somaliya role role-playing sessions Sayid secondary school Sheekh social Somali clans Somali culture Somali dialogues Somali language Somali nation Somali political Somali Republic Somali society Somali students Somali Youth League Somaliland speakers speaking Somali speech suggested Swahili teacher traditional University Waajeer wadaads Whorf word Xaaji Xuseen Yaasiin Yuusuf