English In South Sudan
A project by Billy Gardner
Winter 2018
With thanks to Emmanuel Bol Kuanyin-Agoth
Introduction
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/7/7/117798578/editor/ss.jpg?1519036663)
The Republic of South Sudan is located in east-central Africa. It is landlocked by Sudan to the north, the Central African Republic to the west, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south-west, Kenya and Uganda to the south-east and Ethiopia to the west. The population is more than 13,000,000. South Sudan is a multilingual nation where, according to the interim constitution, “all indigenous languages are national languages and shall be respected, developed and promoted” and where English is the “official working language,” as well as “the language of instruction at all levels of education.” Arabic is also widely spoken throughout the country. On July 9, 2011, after decades of civil war, South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan. More than 98 percent of the population voted in a referendum to separate from the north, officially making South Sudan its own nation.
In the 1870s, Egypt colonized the area that is now South Sudan. However, by the 1890s, Britain overthrew the Islamic regime in power, establishing Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Christian missionaries soon began converting the locals and facilitating the spread of English throughout the region. As Sudan fell to a joint Egyptian-British rule, the ethnic, cultural and religious customs in the northern and southern areas began to diverge. The North primarily taught Arabic in schools and most people in the area identified as Sunni Muslims, whereas English was widely spoken in the South and an increasing number of the population was converting to Christianity. In 1956, Sudan gained its independence from Britain. However, with growing conflicts between Northerners and Southerners, the country quickly fell into civil war. Fighting would last for nearly 60 years until South Sudan finally gained independence.
In the 1870s, Egypt colonized the area that is now South Sudan. However, by the 1890s, Britain overthrew the Islamic regime in power, establishing Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Christian missionaries soon began converting the locals and facilitating the spread of English throughout the region. As Sudan fell to a joint Egyptian-British rule, the ethnic, cultural and religious customs in the northern and southern areas began to diverge. The North primarily taught Arabic in schools and most people in the area identified as Sunni Muslims, whereas English was widely spoken in the South and an increasing number of the population was converting to Christianity. In 1956, Sudan gained its independence from Britain. However, with growing conflicts between Northerners and Southerners, the country quickly fell into civil war. Fighting would last for nearly 60 years until South Sudan finally gained independence.
The Republic of South Sudan became the world's newest nation in 2011 but the celebration would not last long. The young country began fighting a civil war of its own. President Salva Kiir claimed his Vice President Riek Machar attempted to overthrow the government in 2013 and since then, the country has been overcome with infighting. The South Sudanese Civil War continues to this day.
English is an important aspect of South Sudanese identity. In fighting with the North for more than half a century, freedom to use English, as well as their native tribal languages, remains important to the people of this region. In her book Global Englishes: A Resource Book for Students, Jennifer Jenkins (2015) notes that standard languages are a deliberate intervention by society that begins with the selection process. She says selection is "social and political since it is invariably led by those in power, and subsequently reinforces and further promotes their interests over those of speakers of other (by definition 'non-standard') varieties" (22). South Sudan represents a story of a society rebelling against language standardization. While Arabic continues to be widely used throughout the country, it is not the official language. The people of South Sudan represent a unique example of revolt in language. |
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