University Students’ Beliefs on Communicating Meanings: Justifying the Language Policy

Joseph Kimoga

East African School of Higher Education Studies and Development, College of Education, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

DOI: 10.4236/ojml.2014.42018                

Abstract

Language is about passing on meanings. This implies a speaker’s level of proficiency and fluency and a level of comprehension by the listener. English, a widely used medium, has been deeply researched on in how it is used by non-native speakers to inform native speakers, and by native speakers to inform non-native speakers. However, little research is done on non-native speakers using it to inform non-native speakers. This article draws on the research done with university students carrying out their practicum using English as the medium suggested in the government policy. Their voices indicate that despite their limited proficiency and fluency, linguistic choices are based on their beliefs. Therefore, utterances should not be judged on the basis of proficiency and fluency but on beliefs which are shaped by their culture, policies and interactive situation.

Keywords

Beliefs, Practice, Language Policy, Open Questions, Closed Questions, Chorus Answer Questions

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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