Challenges and Mechanisms for the Implementation of Language Right under Ethiopian Federalism: The Case of Guraghe Zone, SNNPR
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Date
2017-02
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Language is an indispensable attribute of human race not only because it is a medium of
communication but also it is a source of pride, self-esteem and identity in the sense that it is a
defining characteristic of human society. It plays valuable role for harmonic coexistence
societies. Language is an intrinsic element of identity of human person. Ethnic identity becomes
impoverished without the linguistic dimension. It serves as store house of minorities’ culture,
history, and tradition and, in effect of their identity. It is also a means to access to resources,
employment and even public authority in addition to being a means of preserving one’s ‘pathos
and ethos’. Political empowerment and access to resource is guaranteed, people want to reflect
their own culture, values and preserve their history through language. In order to practice
culture there must be a right to use one’s own language hence language and culture are
indispensable. Because of that reason, language right is guaranteed not only under the
international human right laws but also it is protected under the 1995 of Federal Democratic
Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) Constitution. Although the language right is constitutionally
guaranteed under Ethiopia federal system, the right to language is not implemented in Gurage
Zone. In this perspective, this study identifies the challenges for implementation of language
right in Gurage zone. The finding reveals that the implementation of language right in Gurage
zone is hampered due to several factors including historical factor, language vitalization,
Amharic dominance and literary development.
The main issue addressed in this paper is, identify the challenge of the implementation of
language right under Ethiopian federalism particularly in Gurage zone. The thesis, also
recommend the possible mechanisms of the implementation language right in Gurage Zone. In
doing so the writer has try identify the relationship between federalism and language right and
explore the experience of other federal state. The writer has also collect data by using structure
and semi structure interview guide.
Finally, having made critical analysis of a collected data the writer identify the dialectical
language diversity and the negligent of the speaker is the main challenge for the implementation
of language right in Guraghe zone. Also the study, recommend that by standardize one
Guragigna language and by develop the awareness of the society for the advantage of the use of
mother tongue language can implement language right in Gurage Zone.
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Keywords
Language Right,Federalism,SNNP,Guraghe