Resumen de Status of “women’s language” in a multilingual jurisdiction: power and ethics in legal monolingualism
Drawing from Fishman’s ideas on language planning and multilingualism, the aim of this article is to explore isihlonipho sabafazi ‘women’s language of respect’, a variety of the Ndebele language spoken in Zimbabwe, as a minority language by analyzing the attitudes and ideologies directed at female isihlonipho speakers by not only male but also female legal experts in rape trials. In analyzing data consisting of interview transcripts with male and female attorneys on how they view and respond to isihlonipho in the courtroom, the focus is on the societal biases, ideologies, and attitudes towards isihlonipho use that are demonstrated. The findings suggest that language planning is an elitist enterprise that conceals inequalities and leads to injustice under the guise of law. Use of isihlonipho in the courtroom allows insight into how language planning is based on hegemonic discourses that permit discriminatory language practices. Given that speakers of isihlonipho do not adapt to the dominant language ideology, they then face dual marginality and are denied access to justice. This, in turn, raises important questions about power and ethics in language planning in that while language planning may address issues of multilingualism, at minimum it addresses diversity from without and not within.
