On language and identities in the Seychelles

Ronia Anacoura

ImagePer Melander

The thesis highlights the importance of language in the construction of Seychellois identity

The dissertation is a sociolinguistic study of language ideologies in the Seychelles, which has English and French as national languages ​​alongside Seselwa, which is the country's first language. The focus is on the roles that Seselwa, English and French have played in language policy over time and within different sociopolitical domains throughout the country's history to date.
 
Ronia Anacoura says she has used various methods to investigate the continuing interaction between declared and actual language policy in the Seychelles. Her thesis highlights the importance of language in the construction of Seychellois identity, as well as the ongoing negotiation between dominant and subordinate languages ​​in public sector domains , including the judiciary, the parliament and politics, the public space, the public media and public education.
 
Ronia Anacoura uses Shohamy’s De Facto Language Policy Framework, formulated around the postcolonial concepts of language hegemony and the formation of Creole identities, my study aims to uncover the ideologies that underpin language policy, the historical and social factors that shape it, and their practical impact on national identity, social inclusion and language governance in Seychelles.”
 
She concludes by highlighting that the thesis aims to contribute to academic debates on language hegemony, Creole identity and policy development, while offering insights for future language governance in multilingual postcolonial societies.