Susan McKenna explained how English came to Southern Africa — primarily through British colonial rule, settler migration, and economic power. Over time, it shifted from being a foreign administrative language to a widely used lingua franca, especially in education, government, and commerce — a role it continues to play today.

She also spoke about the ways in which its use has been influenced by the numerous tongues of Black African peoples, by Afrikaans which descended from the vernacular of earlier Dutch settlers, and by the languages of other immigrant groups.

Photo: Tobias Reich