Language Policy in Namibia: An Outlook from a Pre-colonial to Post-independence Era

Namibia is a multicultural country, with its population consisting of various ethnic groups, each with its language and sometimes dialects within each of these languages. The history of Namibia can be broken down into four major periods during which different authorities ruled; these include the missionary era, the period of German rule, the period of South African rule, and the post-independence era. This chapter examines the development of Namibia’s language policy and the implications that result from it. The official language of Namibia today is English, and being proficient in it facilitates access to discussions and information in a variety of settings. However, for everyday conversation among family and friends, it is the native languages or languages of particular regions that are used. The decision to designate English as the sole official language impacts language development in the country, which makes the contextual discussion this chapter offers useful for further debate on language policy.