Between Distinction
& Extinction

The second African-published book in the collection, and the one that speaks most directly to the Library’s own work. Edited by KWESI KWAA PRAH for Witwatersrand University Press, 1998; ISBN 1 86814 330 9; cover design and typesetting by Sue Sandrock. The preface, “The Relevance of African Languages for Education and Development”, is by GOVAN MBEKI. Nineteen chapters in two parts. Nigeria opens the case studies: S. OLUWOLE OYETADE on the harmonisation and standardisation of YORÙBÁ in Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, followed immediately by E. NOLUE EMENANJỌS — Director of the National Institute of Nigerian Languages at Aba — on the modernisation of IGBO. Then Chumbow and Tamanji on the Cameroon triangle, Krampah and Gyekye-Aboagye on Akan, Mekuria Bulcha on Oromo, Nyombe on Nilotic, Arnold Temu on Kiswahili, Sinfree Makoni on “the European invention of an African language” in Shona, Themba Msimang, Tshimpaka Yanga, Nkonko Kamwangamalu, Machobane and Mokitimi on Sesotho orthography, Langa and Chambale-Mshotola on Mozambique, Satyo and Alberts on Nguni. Part Two ranges wider — Sipho Seepe on teaching mathematics and the sciences in African languages, Roy-Campbell on attitudes in Tanzanian and Zimbabwean schools, Miyamoto comparing Japanese with Swahili, and GENEVA SMITHERMAN on the study of African languages in the United States.