Multilingualism as a developmental resource: Framework for a research program

Abstract

This paper is, essentially, a description of the conceptual framework for an on-going research program on Multilingualism as a developmental resource, which seeks to contribute to the development of a genuinely multilingual policy for democratic South Africa. The paper argues that multilingualism can make a positive contribution to development. It discusses the role of language in development, illustrating this role in four fields of national development. The necessity for a strategy to inform policy decision makers in the private and public sectors is then discussed, and the need for applicable case studies and empirical research is pointed out. After this the importance of a definition of the central concepts in the equation multilingualism as a developmental resource (multilingualism and development) is discussed. The paper ends with the view that the revalorization of the African languages is essential if national development is to occur in a meaningful way.

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