Issues in Defining Ghanaian Language-English Bilingualism : A Sociolinguistic Perspective
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2013-12-09
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Abstract
In this paper, I re-examine Sey’s (1973) categorisation of Ghanaian language-English bilingualism in Ghana in the light of issues of definition and terminology of bilingualism in the literature. The paper situates Ghanaian language-English bilingualism in the broad sociolinguistic (multilingual) milieu in Ghana and argues that the sociolinguistic situation, including language policy in Ghana, creates different kinds of Ghanaian Language-English bilingualism that are not adequately accounted for by definitions and categorisation terminology of bilingualism literature. Specifically, the paper argues that Sey’s (1973) categorisation of Ghanaian Language-English bilingualism, which is informed by competence-based approaches to defining bilingualism, is inadequate in addressing the complex patterns of bilingualism that exist in highly multilingual communities such as Ghana. Finally, the paper concludes that in highly multilingual communities the adoption of sociolinguistic approaches to defining bilingualism and categorising different kinds of bilinguals. This is because such approaches are better able to address and account for the complex nature of bilingualism patterns in highly multilingual communities.