L720/G731 Language in Contemporary African Politics and Jurisprudence

This course explores language in contemporary African politics and
jurisprudence.  The course is divided into two broad (but related)
sections.  The first section examines the discourse structure of
political talk and text on the African continent.  We will analyze
the speeches of traditional and contemporary African politicians and
diplomats, party propaganda, slogans, political criticism, political
campaigns, parliamentary sessions, traditional public forums,
promises and threats, persuasion, derogation, among others.  Also to
be discussed in the first section are issues associated with the
politics of languages such as language choice, language planning,
linguistic imperialism, lingua franca, and minority languages.

The second part of the course deals with the language of traditional
African courtroom, the role of Christianity, Islam, and African
Traditional Religions in constructing juridical discourse, the
speakable and unspeakable, as well as the language of agreements and
disagreements, persuasion, derogation, among others, in the African
Courtroom.  Also examined in this second part of the course are such
issues as language and gender, language and power, the language of
oath taking and of curse and aspects of discourse structure and
sequencing in African jurisprudence.