The panel is interested in the language profile of the Africans in diaspora in Germany, especially the transition from the original immigrants to the next young generation. The panel is particularly interested in the use of colonial and African languages and the interface with the host language.
Long Abstract:
Most African immigrants to Europe (Germany in comparison) enter a completely strange linguistic environment. They are faced with limited choices as they attempt to adapt into the unaccustomed linguistic ecology. They speak their "African" languages (which may be a colonial language like English or French, a pidgin or an indigenous African language) when they can, and their host language, in whatever form, when they must. None of these languages in contact ever remains the same again in this compulsive multilingual situation. However, there are different generations involved, the original adult immigrant generation with well-formed linguistic habits prior to immigration, and the next young generation comprising those who arrived as children with the adults or who are born in the host country. The language or languages spoken will depend on the host language and related social policies, and the language attitudes of the parents. The latter will determine for example whether they are exposed to their natal African languages or the degree of linguistic immersion or integration within the host culture.
This panel is interested in the language profile of the Africans in diaspora in Germany and especially the transition from the original adult immigrants to the next young generation. The panel is particularly interested in the use of colonial and African languages and the interface with the host language. Obvious lines of enquiry include the developing contact phenomena, language attitudes, the structure of the African languages, issue of interference and the developing multi-competencies.
The paper examines data of Nigerian English in Germany for parallel influences and for differences with the home variety. The study is conducted at the levels of lexis, structure and use. Issues of language transfer and the stability or fluidity of linguistic practices in the diaspora are discussed.
Paper long abstract:
This paper comparatively investigates features of Nigerian English as used in Nigeria and as used in the Nigerian Diaspora in Germany. Nigerian English in Germany is seen here as a sociolinguistic variety with triangular input factors – geographic, ethnographic/sociologic and linguistic – and whose effect may be examined at different levels of linguistic and sociological analysis. Scholars have often established the variety called “Nigerian English” at linguistic levels, whereby the variety is said to manifest creativity/ influence and interference from three sources: English, Nigerian Pidgin, and indigenous Nigerian languages. However, the adequacy of this model for the analysis of Nigerian English in the German diaspora is yet to be established, given the multilevel, multilingual and international context of contact in the latter environment. The paper examines data of Nigerian English in Germany (NEG) for parallel influences and for differences with the home variety (NEN). Drawing corpus from the existing International Corpus of English (ICE)-Nigerian corpus, and NEN mini-corpus (being collated in the study), this comparative examination is carried out at the levels of lexis, structure and the pragmatics of use, in order to be able to suggest an encompassing model of classification and analysis. The degree of similarities and differences would also lead to relevant statements regarding the nature of language transfer and the relative stability or fluidity of linguistic practices in this “inter-multi-lingual” diasporic environment.
The paper investigated the allegation of racial consideration in job placement in Germany. It was discovered that African Diasporas in Germany are not properly placed in position because of their identity which affects their efficiency. Application of merit is recommended.
Paper long abstract:
Racial consideration is a challenge to the realization of peaceful co-existence and motivations of citizens in job process in a State which can affect the expected levels of development. Thus, discrimination in economic activities in a state on identity factor tends to slow down the 'will power' and motivations of the affected citizens in achieving the set goals of the organization and or the state. The paper examined the allegation of racial identity factor in job placement in Germany with regard to Africa Diasporas. Utilizing secondly source of data, Content Analysis and Structural Functionalism Theory, the paper made the following findings. Firstly, that identity discrimination in job placement in Germany is real. Secondly, Africa Diasporas in Germany are not properly placed in job positions because of their identity and this has affected their motivations and dedication to their jobs. The paper recommended among others that to get the best from Africa Diasporas in job process in Germany, merit should be the determining factor and not the consideration of colour, race or identity. Also, equal treatment should be given to all in job situation for the sake of social justice and efficiency.
This paper examines how language is deployed interculturally in the transmission of cultures and ideologies through modern technological media. The paper considers examples of African films with German subtitles and German films with English subtitles.
Paper long abstract:
Intercultural and ideological transmission is very much evident in cultural products such as film and music which are consumed across cultures. Africans in the diaspora take the main cultural products of home to their new abodes. Nollywood films like Omo Germany, Mimi, and her German Husband, Nigeria's Mafia in Germany, Ozoemena the German Machine, etc., speak to intercultural transmissions through the film medium. Reciprocally, host elements in the diaspora also consume African cultural products in the form of film, music, and skits. Language is the main mode of transmission within these genres. This paper examines how language is deployed interculturally in the transmission of cultures and ideologies through modern technological media. The paper is interested in how the language used in subtitles are not just mechanical vectors of dialogue and their denotative meanings, but how they serve as vectors of culture and ideology. Employing critical discourse and critical stylistic perspectives, the paper examines how subtitles perform both of these functions. Cognate perspectives include those of AVT (audiovisual translation) and TE (translation equivalents) in their various theoretical forms. Three classic African films with German subtitles - Lumumba (2000); What a Wonderful World (2006), and No Time to Die (2007) are analysed in line with the perspectives highlighted above. The German film with English subtitles, Nirgendwo In Afrika (Nowhere in Africa) is also examined along the stated perspectives. This paper observes that language plays both intercultural and ideological functions in these forms.
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