Join us on Wednesday, October 15th for “From instrument to essence: The Political Linguistics of the Portuguese Language in Post-Colonial Cabo Verde,” a talk by Abel Djassi Amado (Simmons University). This event is part of a series hosted by the Department of Portuguese & Brazilian Studies, Commemorating 50 Years of Independence in Lusophone Africa.
About the Presentation
Language ideology is symbiotically linked to language policy and language practices. Beliefs, ideas, and views about the uses, functions, and value of language inform and often shape state decisions on the uses of language. This paper focuses on the Portuguese language in post-colonial Cabo Verde. The main argument is that there has been a shift in the dominant discourse on the Portuguese language in Cabo Verde (and presumably in other PALOP). Against the notion that the Portuguese language constituted an important instrument in sociopolitical life, as advocated by the “generation of Cabral,” a new view has emerged in the past few decades: that of co-ownership. Such a view places the Portuguese language as a significant and defining element of Cabo Verdean national identity. Through a critical analysis of speeches and writings of political actors and public intellectuals, the paper highlights the fabrication of this language ideological consensus. The paper concludes by discussing the consequences of such a hegemonic discourse and the extent to which it has impacted the quality of democracy, development, and Creole language policy.
About the Presenter
Abel Djassi Amado is an associate professor of political science and international relations at Simmons University. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science/African Studies from Boston University. He researches on the politics of language in West Africa/Cabo Verde, Amílcar Cabral, and the political history of national liberation in Africa. His works have been published in Lusotopie, The Journal of Cape Verdean Studies, Desafios, and Portuguese Literary and Cultural Studies. His book Creole Language, Democracy, and the Illegible State in Cabo Verde was published in 2023. Amado is currently the president of the Cabo Verdean Center for Applied Research, a Boston-based think tank that advances Cabo Verdean studies.
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This event is hosted by the Department of Portuguese & Brazilian Studies and co-sponsored by the Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD).
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