The Impact of the Lesotho Language Policies on Indigenous and Former Colonial Languages Usage in Public Domains in Lesotho

Language is essential for effective communication between and among members of a society or community. This is because language is a tool to convey customs and values that bind a specific group of people together. It is imperative that language used in public domains and settings such as schools, government, and business spaces be friendly and accommodating to all members of society. However, failure to comply can lead to poor communication among community members. This may result in barriers in communication and conflicts among members. As such, this chapter seeks to review the impact of the Lesotho language policies on indigenous and former colonial languages in public domains and settings in Lesotho. A qualitative literature review, document analysis, and semi-structured interviews were used to achieve this aim. Findings from the literature review, document analysis, and interviews suggest that a colonial language is still predominantly used in all spheres of public domains such as courts of laws, parliament and schools in Lesotho, while indigenous languages appear to be side-lined. The chapter thus makes recommendations for political will from public office bearers responsible for promulgation and implementation of public policies, to allocate sufficient resources to promote the use of indigenous languages to improve communication, service delivery, and the quality of life of the Basotho people.