Decolonizing African Communication Systems
November 13, 2019 - Africana Studies
As part of the Cortez Williams Lecture Series for the 2019/20 academic year, Dr. Emmanuel Asonye spoke on the topic "Decolonizing African Communication Systems, Creating Language Access for the Culturally and Linguistically Marginalized Groups." Watch the full talk in the video below:
Lecture abstract:
Evidence of poor linguistic attitudes and identity crises are demonstrated in the Nigerian Deaf Community (NDC) and the African Refugee Community (ARC) of New Mexico. In this presentation, Dr. Emmanuel Asonye will discuss his research on culturally and linguistically marginalized groups in Africa and the American Southwest. Through his work, Asonye presents a pathway towards decolonizing the linguistic and communication systems of African communities. The NDC and ARC share in their experience of cultural and linguistic marginalization. Some common features of this marginalization include linguistic/communication barriers, identity crises, forceful hybridization, and a neocolonial mentality. Asonye will present recommendations for stringent policy changes in education curricula that directly affect these two communities in positive ways – curricula that incorporate the indigenous languages of the two communities as a pathway to literacy and education.
