GLOBALISATION AND AFRICAN LANGUAGES links African language studies to the concept of 'globalisation' which increasingly undergoes critical review. Hence, African linguists of various provenience can make valuable contributions to this debate.In cultural matters, which by definition include language, there is often a sense that globalisation leads to a major trend of homogenisation, which results in a reduction of diversity on the one hand and, on the other, in new themes being incorporated into global (cultural) patterns. However, often conflicting and overlapping particularistic interests exist which have a constructive as well as destructive potential.This aspect leads directly to the first of three sections of this volume, Language Use and Attitudes, which addresses some of the burning issues in sociolinguistic research. Since this research area is tightly linked to the educational domain these important issues are addressed in articles that comprise the second section of this volume: Language Policy and Education. The third section of the volume presents articles dealing with Language Description and Classification demonstrating which parts of different language systems are affected through contact under historical and modern conditions.The contributions of all the well-known scholars in this volume show that globalisation is a two-way street, and to ensure that all sides benefit in a reciprocal manner means the impacts have to be monitored globally, regionally, nationally and locally. By disseminating and emphasising these linguistic findings as part of the global cultural heritage, African language studies may offer urgently needed new perspectives towards a rapidly changing world.FROM THE CONTENTSForewordVICE CHANCELLOR OF UNAM PETER KATJAVIVIKarsten Legère - African language studies on the move:A short biographyBIRGIT SMIEJA AND KATRIN BROMBERKarsten Legère: A bibliography IntroductionKATRIN BROMBER AND BIRGIT SMIEJASection I: Language use and attitudesDer übergeordnete ideologische Rahmen der Sprachkonflikte weltweitRENÉ DIRVEN AND MARTIN PÜTZIndianer und andere Minderheiten - Überlegungen zu einer sprachplanerischen MinoritologiePETER HANS NELDESetswana: An under-exploited national resource?HERMAN M. BATIBOCan a 'foreign' language be a national medium of education?Linguistic ecology and equality in NamibiaMARTIN PÜTZRevisiting reversing language shift: African languages in high modernityCHRISTOPHER STROUDTriglossia: African privilege or necessityRAJMUND OHLYSection II: Language policy and educationUsing Northern Sotho as medium of instruction in vocational trainingVIC WEBB, BIKI LEPOTA AND REFILWE RAMAGOSHIDeveloping a language policy in an African country: The case of MalawiAL MTENJEWriting and reading in English and L1: Attitudes among pupils in Lira and Mpigi, UgandaMECHTHILD REHSection III: Language description and classificationThe impact of Kiswahili on Kiluguru DANIEL J. MKUDELoan words in SwahiliARVI HURSKAINENThe noun phrase in the Kerebe languageCHRISTINA THORNELLThe infinitive as a part of speech in SwahiliNELLI V. GROMOVAOn vowel systems in the southern Bole-Tangale languagesRUDOLF LEGER !Xun as a type B languageBERND HEINE AND CHRISTA KÖNIGHow many languages are there in Africa, really?JOUNI FILIP MAHOLanguages and language names in Mozambique, 150 years ago and nowTORE JANSONObservations on Swahili and Midzichenda plant names FRANZ ROTTLAND AND RALF GROSSERHODE