Description
Language has emerged as both a powerful bridge and a formidable barrier in the realm of public health communication. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a significant challenge faced by minority and indigenous communities, particularly in regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. It's a challenge deeply rooted in the historical use of colonial languages—English, French, and Spanish—to disseminate critical health information. For many, this has translated into a linguistic exclusion, depriving them of access to essential resources and a voice in matters of national interest. This issue transcends mere communication; it touches upon the fundamental rights of individuals to participate in their own healthcare decisions and influences their sense of belonging and citizenship.
Public Health Communication Challenges to Minority and Indigenous Communities proposes a solution with a transformative potential. This groundbreaking edited volume invites scholars from diverse fields to contribute their research, shedding light on the linguistic dimensions of public health communication during the COVID-19 era. By investigating the impact of language on various aspects of society, from medical information to education, this book seeks to synthesize the wealth of sociolinguistic research into an accessible framework. It's an invitation to explore the role of language in shaping our perceptions of citizenship, belonging, and empowerment.
Author's/Editor's Biography
Kealeboga Aiseng (Ed.)
Kealeboga Aiseng
holds a PhD in African Languages and Linguistics from the University of the Witwatersrand. He is a senior lecturer in journalism and media studies at Rhodes University, Makhanda. Aiseng’s research interests are sociolinguistics, language policy, African popular culture, new media, and film studies. Aiseng is the author of "The Sociolinguistics of South African Television: Language Ideologies in Selected Case Studies" and a co-editor of "Political Economy of Contemporary African Culture: The Political Interplay."
Israel Fadipe (Ed.)
Israel Fadipe
is lecturer at Ajayi Crowther University, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Oyo, Nigeria. He specialises in communication, cultural and gender studies, and has published articles, chapters and books in both local and international journals and publishers such as Palgrave Macmillan, Springer International, Taylor and Francis Ltd, Malthouse Press Limited, Lexington Books, IGI Global, Ibadan Journal of Humanistic Studies, Journal of Communication and Media Research, International Journal of Communication, Muziki-Journal of Music Research in Africa, Africology: Journal of Pan-African Study, Journal of Culture and Environment, Journal of Communication and Language Arts, EJOTMAS and The Journal of Society and Media, Catalan Journal of Communication and Cultural Studies, Gender and Behaviour, Communicare, Journal of African Films and Diaspora Studies, Performance Arts and Communication Studies in these areas. He graduated from the Department of Communication and Language Arts, University of Ibadan, with BA, MA and PhD in Communication and Language Arts.