Reconceptualising multilingualism on African radio: a multilingual accommodation theory.

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Title: Reconceptualising multilingualism on African radio: a multilingual accommodation theory.
Authors: Mathe, Limukani1 (AUTHOR) limukanimathe@yahoo.com, Motsaathebe, Gilbert1 (AUTHOR)
Source: International Journal of Multilingualism. May2025, Vol. 22 Issue 2, p558-573. 16p.
Subject Terms: *Dialects, Radio programming, Radio broadcasting, Radio (Medium), Public radio
Abstract: Media organisations in radio broadcasting are gradually fine-tuning to accommodate multilingual socio-cultural identities. Africa presents unique challenges of lingual diversity which some of the media, particularly public radio have struggled to accommodate. This article advocates for multilingual accommodation on radio to foster more liberating and inclusive ways for multilingual speakers. It is a conceptual paper informed by the Afrikology perspective which we find more useful in tackling African issues from a more realistic perspective. Using radio as a medium of ethnic lingualism, we argue that Africans should tackle their own multilingualism issues. We chose radio because it is the most used medium of communication in Africa, reflective of grassroots social identities. We cite cases of multilingualism in Southern Africa to propose what we refer to as multilingual accommodation in radio broadcasting. The article argues that majority languages in Africa are not monolingualism but family languages of numerous dialects reflecting the co-existence of diverse ethnolinguistics in the pre-colonial era. We define multilingualism as abilities of co-existence in African contexts and the reflection of this co-existence in radio broadcasting. By multilingual accommodation, we suggest sustenance of multilingual programmes by radio hosts, guests and participants in both minoritised and majorised indigenous languages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of International Journal of Multilingualism is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: Reconceptualising multilingualism on African radio: a multilingual accommodation theory.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mathe%2C+Limukani%22">Mathe, Limukani</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> limukanimathe@yahoo.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Motsaathebe%2C+Gilbert%22">Motsaathebe, Gilbert</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22International+Journal+of+Multilingualism%22">International Journal of Multilingualism</searchLink>. May2025, Vol. 22 Issue 2, p558-573. 16p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Dialects%22">Dialects</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Radio+programming%22">Radio programming</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Radio+broadcasting%22">Radio broadcasting</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Radio+%28Medium%29%22">Radio (Medium)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Public+radio%22">Public radio</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Media organisations in radio broadcasting are gradually fine-tuning to accommodate multilingual socio-cultural identities. Africa presents unique challenges of lingual diversity which some of the media, particularly public radio have struggled to accommodate. This article advocates for multilingual accommodation on radio to foster more liberating and inclusive ways for multilingual speakers. It is a conceptual paper informed by the Afrikology perspective which we find more useful in tackling African issues from a more realistic perspective. Using radio as a medium of ethnic lingualism, we argue that Africans should tackle their own multilingualism issues. We chose radio because it is the most used medium of communication in Africa, reflective of grassroots social identities. We cite cases of multilingualism in Southern Africa to propose what we refer to as multilingual accommodation in radio broadcasting. The article argues that majority languages in Africa are not monolingualism but family languages of numerous dialects reflecting the co-existence of diverse ethnolinguistics in the pre-colonial era. We define multilingualism as abilities of co-existence in African contexts and the reflection of this co-existence in radio broadcasting. By multilingual accommodation, we suggest sustenance of multilingual programmes by radio hosts, guests and participants in both minoritised and majorised indigenous languages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of International Journal of Multilingualism is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1080/14790718.2024.2316847
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 16
        StartPage: 558
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      – SubjectFull: Dialects
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Radio programming
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Radio broadcasting
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Radio (Medium)
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      – SubjectFull: Public radio
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              Text: May2025
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              Y: 2025
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