How the English language influenced African literature Essay

The social function of the face words plays a pivotal and dominant role in Afri female genitalia literary works. In contemporary African literature the use of slope is often the key element for achiever as an African spell outr. This enables them to express their views across a larger flying field of todays global demesne. However writing in side instead of their native tongues may come at a uplifted price for these African writers. By them replacing their native quarrels with English could at long last lead to the eradication of their native tongues. The aim of this essay is to address the chase key elements which influence the role of English in African literature. settlement played a leading role in placing English at the forefront of African literature. English can be viewed as a necessary evil, especially by close of those African writers who did not inherit the English spoken communication.The English language forms the core of African literature, passim most parts of Africa. This is often evident in our everyday experiences. For example, the absolute majority of the instructional institutes in Africa, use English as a modal(a) for engaging in learning activities. English has long been the language of administration. Furtherto a greater extent, in the media and in literature, English is clearly the dominant language.In order for us to gain an understanding as to why English is the dominate language in African literature we need to address the of import federal agent which has placed English at the centre of African literature. The effects of colonialism had the most influence over this situation.In 1884, Europe divided the African countries into screen out colonies and shaped the African res publicas under their colonial powers. These separate colonies were classified consort to the languages of Europe, English- speaking, Portuguese-speaking and french-speaking African countries.Colonialism controlled and limited the use of Afr ican languages by noble negative and stereotypical views upon these African languages. This is clearly stated by S.N.Dlamini..an contrary(prenominal) interpretation of the use of the Zulu language comes from itsassociation with illiteracy and ignorance. This interpretation was historic, and a typical example of how British colonisation and a British education system impacted on language use. With colonialism, African languages were downgraded, and the language of the colonising country, English became the language of commerce, education and an instrument with which to measure knowledge(Dlamini200516)The use of English in African literature can most definitely be viewed as a necessary evil. On the one hand, the English language plays a complete part in many aspects of communication. For instance, those African writers who choose to write in English can express their opinions, views, experiences and the like, across a more global scale. On the another(prenominal) hand, its a dist inguishable scenario totally for those whom have had to acquire English as their entropy language. Obviously, people would primarily feel more comfortable writing in their home language as opposed to an additional language.Chinua Achebe wroteThose of us who have inherited the English language may not be in a berth to appreciate the value of the inheritance. Or we may go on resenting it because it came as part of a package deal which included many other items of doubtful value and the positive atrocity of racial arrogance and blemish which may yet set the world on fire. entirely let us not in rejecting evil throw out the superb with it. (Achebe200531)There is no use in ignoring the fact that most literature will continue to be written in English. There are many reasons as to why it would not be feasible to throw away the use of European languages in Africa, in replace of an African language. Firstly, this would usurp the levels of communication within Africa and in relation with the rest of the world, as there are very few individuals in other parts of the world that understand one of the African languages.Secondly, this process would entail many spendings and complications. Forinstance, the ever-changing of educational institutions into ones with and African language as a medium for learning.those African writers who have chosen to write in English or French are not unpatriotic smart Alecs with an eye on the main chance-outside their own countries. They are the by-products of the same process that made the new nation states of Africa (Achebe200531)Clearly, there are many advantages of writing in a commencement exercise world language. Firstly, this would cultivate Africa to be a part of the global engagement of communication. For instance, this would allow African writers to express their views across a broader scale of the globe. Mazizi Kunene stated, African literature is no literature unless it is used as a fomite of ideas. Furthermore, the us e of a universal language helps to destroy the barriers between different social or cultural groups by creating the link of communication.Secondly, with the ability to communicate, this allows these different social and cultural groups to interact, thus creating realisation for these different cultural groups. Charles Taylor creates a clear indication of the importance of recognition in his article The politics of recognition.The demand for recognition in multiculturalism is given urgency by the supposed(a) links between recognition and identity, where this multiculturalism designates something like a persons understanding of who they are, of their fundamental defining characteristics as a human being. The thesis is that our identity is partly shaped by recognition or its absence, often by the misrecognition of others, and so a person or a group of people can suffer real damage, real distortion , if the people or guild around them then mirror back to them a confining or demeanin g or contemptible picture of themselves. Nonrecognition or misrecognition can jaw harm, can be a form of oppression, imprisoning someone in a false, distorted, and reduced mode of being.In other words, communication helps to facilitate the recognition of groups,which is especially crucial for those smaller cultural groups from being oppressed and viewed as inferior, due to peoples ignorance.On the other hand, one require to address the obstacles facing the African writer. For those who have acquired English as their second language, often feel that they are incapable of expressing themselves in the correct background when writing in English. Some feel they have to first stand for in their native tongue and then translate it into English and in the process their writing looses its meaning.Achebe stated in his article, The English language and the African writerThe real question is not whether Africans could write in English but whether they ought to. Is it right that a man should abandon his mother-tongue for someone elses? It looks like a dreadful betrayal and produces a guilty feeling. But for me there is no other choice. I have been given this language and I intend to use it. (Achebe,C200533)Firstly, in order to retain ones self identity, the sense of who you are and where you came from, one must first define themselves in relation to their language and their environment. This should be a crucial element, before adopting other languages. Ngugi wa Thiongo stated,The choice of language and the use to which language is put is primaeval to a peoples definition of themselves in relation to their natural and social environment, so in relation to the entire universe.(200525)Hopefully there will until now be writers who choose to write in their native languages, to ensure the humankind and the development of African literature.Evidently as the above evaluation states, African literature will continue to be dominated by the use of the English language. Altho ugh this is the reality to date, those Africans should not do so at the expense of abandoning their mother-tongue.