Language Ideology and Practice on the Aflao-Lome Borderland: The Case of Two Border Schools

ABSTRACT

This paper explores language practices in the school domain in Aflao-Lome on the Ghana/Togo border. Here, the boundary line bisects the Ewe thus creating two contrasting communities: French-speaking Ewe and English-speaking Ewe. Our study investigates language practices in two schools located on either side of the border since the school as a sociolinguistic domain is a contested site of language practice where tensions abound between medium of instruction policy, home language practices and cultural routines. The data analyzed comprised reports and observations of adherence to state medium of instruction policy in the classroom by teachers and pupils, and language in activities outside the classroom when formal “language policing” is negligible or in fact non-existent. It was discovered that the English and French languages were viewed differently on either side of the border and that school policies on language had to make room, in some cases, for the local language.

KEYWORDS:

• English
• French
• Ewe
• border schools
• medium of instruction

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 We use L1 to indicate the language first acquired by an individual.

2

 Interviewer:

Vous utilisez quelles langues en salle de classe?

 Student:

Moi, français.

 Interviewer:

Mais avec les profs si on vous pose des questions?

 Student:

Anglais.

 Interviewer:

Et si vous ne comprenez pas?

 Student:

On pose en éwé.

 Interviewer:

… . Si vous ne comprenez pas vous posez en éwé et le prof vous explique avec quelle langue?

 Student:

Éwé.

3 Ok lorsqu’on est en français, les profs nous parlent le français, on répond en français. En anglais, on nous parle l’anglais, en éwé on nous parle éwé, en allemand on parle allemand.

4 … depuis l’enfance j’ai toujours aimé l’anglais, parler l’anglais parce que je crois que l’anglais est la langue la plus parlé du monde.

5 The information is correct.