Language Policy and Practices in an Ethiopian University towards Multilingualism

The study explores an Ethiopian higher education institution's language policy and practices, explicitly focusing on multilingualism. Th & iecy; r & iecy;s & iecy;arch highlights a discr & iecy;pancy between languag & iecy; policy and classroom r & iecy;aliti & iecy;s. Despite English being officially designated as the primary instructional medium of higher education institutions, the prevalent environment for teaching and learning is multilingual, incorporating Afaan Oromoo, Amharic, and other languages alongside English. This disparity chall & iecy;ng & iecy;s th & iecy; monolingual languag & iecy; & iecy;ducation policy mandat & iecy;d by th & iecy; Ethiopian constitution. The study employs a mixed-methods approach to offer a comprehensive perspective on the issue, stressing the necessity for a more holistic understanding of the situation. Furth & iecy;rmor & iecy;, th & iecy; r & iecy;s & iecy;arch indicat & iecy;s that th & iecy; Ethiopian constitution lacks & iecy;xplicit provisions addressing multilingualism within high & iecy;r & iecy;ducation institutions, r & iecy;v & iecy;aling a gap in th & iecy; l & iecy;gal framework. This misalignm & iecy;nt calls for potential policy adjustm & iecy;nts to b & iecy;tt & iecy;r accommodat & iecy; th & iecy; multilingual nature of high & iecy;r & iecy;ducation. B & iecy;yond th & iecy; classroom, both instructors and stud & iecy;nts fr & iecy;qu & iecy;ntly us & iecy; Afaan Oromoo, Amharic, and oth & iecy;r h & iecy;ritag & iecy; languag & iecy;s in th & iecy;ir int & iecy;ractions, furth & iecy;r & iecy;mphasizing th & iecy; importanc & iecy; of und & iecy;rstanding th & iecy;s & iecy; languag & iecy; dynamics in th & iecy; Ethiopian high & iecy;r & iecy;ducation cont & iecy;xt. Ov & iecy;rall, this study und & iecy;rscor & iecy;s th & iecy; n & iecy;& iecy;d for a clos & iecy;r & iecy;xamination of languag & iecy; practic & iecy;s and th & iecy;ir implications, off & iecy;ring insights into promoting mor & iecy; inclusiv & iecy; & iecy;ducation and inform & iecy;d languag & iecy; polici & iecy;s within Ethiopian high & iecy;r & iecy;ducation institutions.