SOME PECULIARITIES OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA

The article deals with the specificities of the English language in the Republic of Namibia. Bearing in mind the history of the country, its multilingual population, the author makes a hypothesis that the English language in the Republic of Namibia should have a number of specific features on different levels. The purpose of the study is to identify peculiarities of the English language on the territory of Namibia. Observation and empirical analysis constitute the methodological basis of the research, enabling the author to reveal some specific features of the English language in Namibia on the level of phonetics, lexis and grammar. The identified peculiarities make the speech of Namibians (both oral and written) different from “classical” British English taught at schools and universities. Despite small size and low density, Namibian population is ethnically, linguistically and culturally diverse. Thirteen languages in Namibia have the status of national languages. Of these: three are Indo-European languages, namely German, English and Afrikaans and ten are indigenous African languages which include: Oshiwambo (Ndonga, Kwanyama, Kwambi, Mbalantu and Ngandjera dialects), Kwangali (RuKwangali), Otjiherero (Herero), Gciriku (Diriku), Mbukushu (Thimbukushu), Lozi and Tswana (Setswana) belonging to bantu languages; Khoisan languages particularly Khoekhoegoab (or Nama) and Ju/'hoan; and some others. The article discusses historical, ideological and linguistic prerequisites for such differences. German colonial occupation, South African and apartheid rule had a significant impact on further language policy and linguistic situation in the Republic of Namibia. Although German and Afrikaans considered the languages of oppressors could never contest for the status of an official language of the country, the described historical events have undeniable consequences for the linguistic situation in modern Namibia. Thus, these languages are still actively used in central and southern parts of the country as mother tongues and affect the way their speakers use the official language i.e. English. The same refers to other national languages of Namibia: it seems logical that indigenous languages historically used as a means of communication influence the way Namibians use the English language which has never been spoken in the country before adoption of Constitution and establishment of monolingualism policy in 1990.