Language Policy in Tanzania Mainland

In this chapter I examine the language policy of mainland Tanzania as is currently written on paper as an official statement given by the government. I give a historical background of language planning since colonial period till independence. I explore language practices on the ground in various areas of the public domain namely schools; media; government spaces: parliament, law courts, hospitals, and offices; business spaces: markets and stores; and religious spaces: churches and mosques. Also, I discuss the effectiveness of language policy and how it influences each of these domains. Additionally, I show how indigenous languages and former colonial languages shape the language policy in mainland Tanzania; subsequently, I discuss ways in which the language policy impacts both indigenous languages and former colonial languages.