Foreign Languages for Specific Purposes and Sustainable Human Development in Africa

Owoeye, Samuel T. (2011) Foreign Languages for Specific Purposes and Sustainable Human Development in Africa. Research Journal of International Studies. pp. 53-59.

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Abstract

It would not be preposterous to opine that language and communication play a paramount role in the quest for development, be it human, social, political, technological and any other form of development. A paramount role because knowledge, which is the life wire of any development effort, is acquired through information. Information comes through communication powered by language. Looking at Africa as a continent, the plurality of official languages or languages of instruction, through which information flows, undoubtedly constitutes a barrier to effective human development processes. It is based on this background that this paper aims at exploring the concept of Foreign Languages for Specific Purposes (FLSP), a paradigm of human development, which has not been optimally activated in African educational settings, as against what obtains in the developed world. The paper begins by defining the concept of Language for Specific Purposes (LSP), goes further to critically analyse the dividends of international bilingualism and the possible impact of the learning of FLSP on sustainable human development in Africa. To conclude, the paper recommends various practical and pragmatic approaches, which include the establishment of FLSP centers in African universities and other equivalent institutions of higher learning, as steps towards the optimal activation of the concept in the continent.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	L Education > LG Individual institutions (Asia. Africa)
Divisions:	Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences > School of Humanities
Depositing User:	Mr Samuel T. Owoeye
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2012 22:12
Last Modified:	13 Sep 2016 11:19
URI:	http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/id/eprint/808

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