Language and national integration: the case of Malaysia and Uganda

Abstract

This paper attempts to discuss the major functions of language. Basic among these is the integrated role of language and culture, language and worldview, language and values, and language and national integration. By way of example, the paper pays special attention to the language situation in Malaysia and Uganda. Both countries share the similarity of being multi-ethnic and multi-cultural, in addition to the fact that both countries were ex-British colonies. With respect to Uganda, the questions the paper seeks to answer are: (a) To what degree is language part of the problem of cultural sub-nationalism in Uganda? and (b) To what degree can language be part of the solution, if indeed there is any? Unlike Uganda which has adopted the colonial tongue as a national language, Malaysia, owing to various factors, has adopted a local language as a lingua franca. The paper contends that while Malaysia's choice of Bahasa Malaysia fosters the spirit of national integration, Uganda's choice of English as a national language may have far-reaching negative ramifications, senior among them is the fact that it may slow the movement towards national integration.