TITLE:
Language Planning Mechanisms towards Kiswahili as a Trade Language of the East African Community in Rwanda
AUTHORS:
Jean Wycliffe Mawike Masezerano, Paul Zang Zang
KEYWORDS:
Kiswahili, Language Planning Mechanisms, Trade Language, East African Community, Rwanda
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.10 No.3,
March
31,
2023
ABSTRACT: Language can be said to be one of the factors of regional integration. The integration of an individual into a community can be measured among other things through language. However, this factor is neglected when it comes to scholarships concerning regional integration. Language planning mechanisms of Rwanda do not favour the effective learning and acquiring Kiswahili as a trade language of the East African Community. To address this, the study used secondary data and primary data collected from participants found in the Rwandan bordering and urban communities. The data collected about language planning mechanisms that people see around them were statistically processed and analysed by use of hierarchical linear regression. Results showed the significant effectiveness of language planning mechanisms at the p-value below 0.05. It was found that language planning mechanisms are not enough to have a significant influence in promoting Kiswahili. Therefore, the study suggested that government of Rwanda and its partners put in place some language mechanisms that promote Kiswahili as a language of trade and integration in the EAC.