Preface
Date
2009
Authors
Altmayer, Claus
Wolff, H. Ekkehard
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Open Journal Systems
Abstract
This publication is evidence of a highly successful international research collaboration
initiative that took place over the last two years between African alumnae and alumni and
academics in Africa and in Germany within the framework of a structured and thematically
focused alumni network. The most important feature of this alumni network, ganaa (German
African Network of Alumni and Alumnae) is its thematic focus on theoretical and practical
aspects of multilingualism and language policies in Africa (and, comparatively, in Europe).
The network is innovative in several ways, specifically also through its special emphasis on
second and foreign language instruction and by taking into special account the mediation of
the respective "other" cultures. This was achieved through a trialogue between
Germany/Europe, Arabic/Islamic North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. Although the
thematic focus might in the first place interest linguists and language mediators – especially
researchers in the fields of sociolinguistics, Arabic Studies, African Languages and
Linguistics, German Studies (the latter specifically including specialists in German as a
Foreign Language) – and possibly also educators and social scientists, in principle the
network aims to address all researchers and practitioners whose professions confront them
with the daily routines of practised multilingualism in Africa. The latter range from
researchers in the education and media sectors to teachers of mathematics and ministerial
officers in State departments, from research oriented political advisers to those directly and
politically responsible for implementation of policy. The ganaa-network is open to all of them
because, on the one hand, they can be regarded as "alumni/alumnae" (i.e. they actually have
an academic and/or professional affiliation with a university in Germany) and, on the other
hand, they are interested, for whatever reason, in exploring multilingualism and language
policies in Africa (and, comparatively, in Europe).
Description
The original publication is available at http://spilplus.journals.ac.za/pub
Keywords
Linguistics, Preface, multilingualism
Citation
Altmayer, C. & Wolff, H. E. 2009. Preface. Stellenbosch Papers in Linguistics PLUS, 38, i-viii, doi: 10.5842/38-0-64.