African Languages, Media, and Communication

Mobility and migration between Africa and Europe, practices of digital communication, and increased media coverage have created a growing demand in Europe for expertise on Africa across various professional fields. This expertise must meet new content-related, linguistic, and methodological requirements. The degree program “African Languages, Media, and Communication” (Asmek) is guided by the core idea of providing foundational training in sociolinguistics, media linguistics, and structural linguistics with a focus on African languages. A key component of this program is practical language training in two languages, including one African language, over a two-year period to develop essential communication skills. Students also gain critical foundational knowledge in various areas of linguistic and cultural production in Africa and the African diaspora. This includes understanding linguistic diversity, basic cultural and linguistic historical principles, and especially the current social and technological-media contexts of (offline and online) communication in African languages.

The program aims to equip students with fundamental African linguistic analysis methods, ranging from transcription techniques and the evaluation of ethnographic data to the sociolinguistic description of human communication behaviors and discourse analysis, as well as intercultural interpretation. The overarching goal of this comprehensive curriculum is to integrate African linguistic practice with relevant aspects of sociolinguistics, digital communication, and intercultural communication.

This degree program, which addresses modern societal topics such as digital media and intercultural communication in Africa while combining them with structural linguistic training and the acquisition of African language skills, was developed in cooperation with the Institute of Ethnology and African Studies (IfEAS) at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. Students participate in courses and earn credits at both universities connected through the established RMU cooperation.

The minor "African Languages, Media, and Communication" comprises 60 CP. The curriculum begins with an introductory module, "The Languages of Africa," which represents the core subject of the field. This is followed by advanced mandatory modules that can be completed at both GU and JGU, covering complementary topics and African languages depending on the focus. Module 2 and Module 3 provide a solid foundation in knowledge production and theory development. In Module 4, students learn an African language over the course of one year. Subsequently, students choose either Module 6 (a second year in the same language) or Module 5 (a first year in another African language). Module 7, "Cultural Practice, Media, and Communication," allows for specialization, with complementary offerings available at GU and JGU.

For more information about the minor in African Languages, Media, and Communication, please visit the department's webpage.