Asymmetrical Power Relations within Local, Regional and International Languages in Rwanda: In whose Favour and at what Expense?

Abstract

This paper argues that the new role and status currently ascribed to  English in Rwanda is tending towards creating ' asymmetrical power  relations ' between English, on the one hand, and other languages used  in the country on the other. The study identifies the latter to include  Kinyarwanda, Kiswahili and French. In short, the implementation of a  policy of promoting English as one of Rwanda ' s official languages and  language of instruction may end up being successful though at a  regrettable cost, in the future. Accordingly, the promotion of English  will lead to three major problems. The first one is to relegate the use of  other languages to a position of inferiority and ' endangerment ' . The  second imminent problem is that of excluding local and regionallanguages (Kinyarwanda and Kiswahili) from the epicenter of  Rwanda ' s national development. The third problem could be a  conflicting situation between various language speaking communities,  leading to unnecessary polarizations and tension among different  language-speaking communities. The paper develops the problems of  language conflicts between major and minor languages borrowing some  examples from the US, Canada, Belgium, the European Union and  South Africa. It analyses language planning mechanisms and suggests  a way forward for Rwanda. It is inspired by Patten ' s (2002) three-stage  model of ' language recognition ' by states characterized by ' official  multilingualism ' , ' language rationalisation ' and ' language  maintenance ' . The model analyses the challenges of giving public  recognition to a particular language or set of languages.Key words: multilingualism, bilingualism, mother-tongue instruction,  language policy and planning, language functions, language education