Rethinking the Role of English in Multilingual Countries: The Case of Ethiopia

Abstract

This article addresses the unspoken mantra of English in multilingual countries with a particular focus in Ethiopia. Moving a part from the everyday academic role of English in Multilingual country's educational system, this paper presents the untold unifying, reconciling, and mediating role of English in countries with linguistically diverse population. The cases of Nigeria and India were addressed in an effort to make a comparative analysis of the role of English, being a tribally neutral language, in reconciling linguistic diversity in multi-ethnic countries. The study also reveals that the question of language and power over media and education is escalating the high demand for English in multilingual countries. The question of having a national/official language in a linguistically diverse country is always the center of politics and power struggle. It seems apparent though that in order to minimize this political tension in multilingual countries such as Ethiopia, the very wise budge will be not to pick up the gun in a hurry and declare that one of the local languages is from now on acclaimed to be both the national/official and academic language of that country. Hence, relying on English is a politically safe move for now.