Introduction

Background

Multilingualism as a term is coined from two Latin words, “multi’ which denotes many and “lingua” which stands for language. Subsequently, multilingualism is defined as the use of more than one language, either through speaking or in writing or the ability of a person to express themselves using several languages with native-like proficiency (Clyne 308; Aronin and Laoire 18). However, hypotheses on comparable proficiency in different languages often attract criticism due to evidence indicating that for both verbal and written communication, proficiency in one language in multilingual situations tends to dominate more compared to others (Okal). Also, multilingualism can imply the co-existence of several languages (can be native, official, national, native, foreign or international) within a community or societal setting. Each of these definitions explicates the broad-spectrum nature of multilingualism, but the most important part of this investigation will be on how multilingualism influences the nature of literature. In most cases, Zubaidi argues that contemporary African writers who author their work using English often face challenges when expressing their experiences, feelings or worldview in English (17). In these situations, they often tend to incorporate native dialects that resonate well with local audiences. It is pivotal to understand that linguists have often paid less attention to written compared to conversational literature. This study will attempt to bridge this gap by examining multilingualism in contemporary Gambian literature.

Problem statement

The official language of Gambia is English, which was imposed by the British colonialists (Sey). However, the English language is spoken by about 0.5% of the Gambians, which represents an extremely challenging situation for writers who desire to use English in their works. There are other prominent languages such as Mandinka, Fula, Wolof, including numerous other indigenous vernaculars. Although there is literature written in Gambian native languages, the majority of Gambian writers have focused on writing books and stories using the English language. Nonetheless, most of these books have not been written in pure English language, but they often constitute internal multilingualism characterised by local dialects, jargon, idioms amongst other tools. The incorporation of these dialects often seeks to offer first-hand narratives of the writers’ experiences, feelings and world view through these books, though translations by audiences from non-Gambian contexts may always be a difficult task. However, in these situations, the aspects of multilingualism, which implies the use of English and native language assumes a “free” concept that involves mixing English with the local dialects for better expression of opinions, experiences or feelings. Such intersectionality of multilingualism and literature will form the basis for this study.

Research Questions

In this research proposal, I will concentrate with the following research questions:

What are the effects of multilingualism Gambian Literature?

How the authors use of Multilingualism helps in relaying information to readers?
How the use of local dialects helps in avoiding misunderstanding of religious, economic and political terms?

Hypotheses

H1: Multilingualism in contemporary Gambian literature has enhanced the creation and appreciation of cultural awareness and local languages.

H2: The use of local dialects/languages in literature enhances writers’ sense of independence, which contributes to improved cultural diversity.

H3: The use of local dialects/languages enables writers to bring characters they have created to life which enhances the characterisation of Gambian literature.

Aim

The aim of this study will embody examining the role of multilingualism in Gambian literature, the reasons for using different dialects/languages and the impacts of these languages/dialects on the Gambian literature. Examining this topic is expected to provide solid insights on the role of multilingualism when it comes to influencing not only writers’ sense of ownership and cultural identity, but also explicating how adopting multilingualism may help in enhancing local languages and universal appreciation of cultural diversity. Besides, the study will guide further developments in linguistics models and theories seeking to explore the often-overlooked impacts of dialects in literature. Such models may guide on future translations to literary works written with multilingual perspectives or styles.