Resumen de Language and literacy in West Africa

Clifford N. Fyle

• Thispaper looks at language and literacy in West Africa from the viewpoint of the realities of economic and social development. Literacy in the subregion is far from being äs drastically low äs the statistics would indicate;

  but, nevertheless, literacy efforts have been inadequate, haphazard, and unplanned, because they do not take into account practical communication requirements. Such requirements demand that literacy be organized according to need and levels of need, first, for general purposes in the Community languages and lingua francas; then, for specialized purposes, in the adopted international language; and last, äs a human right, in the languages ofminority groups. Planning and coordination are essential, äs well äs the Herculean but not inachievable task of changing national attitudes and providing the necessary structures, facilities, and materials.

  The matter is urgent.