Research and Collaboration
CALCH builds upon an established record of research projects and international collaboration by members of the Department of Languages and Literature. Existing and recent initiatives include research on Datooga lexicogrammar, language and food production, medicinal plants, Hadzabe ethnolinguistics and culture, Bantu syntax and information structure, and language contact in Tanzania.
The Centre will further strengthen national, continental, and international partnerships. Existing academic collaborations include institutions such as the University of Hamburg, Ghent University, and the University of Warsaw.
Academic and Research Strength
The Centre draws on a multidisciplinary team of researchers with expertise spanning African linguistics, Bantu linguistics, morphology, syntax, phonology, sociolinguistics, ethnolinguistics, language documentation, lexicography, translation and interpretation, African literature, oral literature, cultural studies, history, ethnography, and language technology.
The Department of Languages and Literature also offers an established PhD programme in African Languages and is currently developing an MA programme in African Languages. CALCH will provide a platform for postgraduate research, scholarly publications, research projects, capacity building, and international collaboration.
Digital Repository and Archives
A significant component of CALCH will involve developing a searchable digital repository and physical archive for linguistic and cultural heritage materials. The repository will preserve recordings, oral narratives, linguistic data, dictionaries, manuscripts, and other resources for researchers, educators, students, and communities.
Why CALCH Matters
Africa possesses exceptional linguistic and cultural diversity; however, many African languages face pressures arising from globalisation, urbanisation, evolving language practices, and limited representation in education, technology, and public life. The loss of a language can also entail the loss of indigenous knowledge, oral histories, cultural practices, and distinctive ways of understanding the world.
CALCH responds to this challenge by connecting language preservation with education, research, cultural heritage, technology, innovation, and community development. Its work aligns with national priorities on language and intangible cultural heritage, continental aspirations to promote African languages, and international efforts to safeguard linguistic and cultural diversity.
Strategic Contribution
CALCH will contribute to:
Preserving Africa’s linguistic diversity
Strengthening African language scholarship
Supporting multilingual education
Safeguarding intangible cultural heritage
Advancing digital inclusion of African languages
Developing language professionals and researchers
Promoting African languages in creative industries
Strengthening community participation in heritage preservation
Facilitating national and international research collaboration
Positioning African languages at the centre of education, innovation, identity, and development
Our Approach
CALCH adopts an interdisciplinary, collaborative, community-centred, and technology-enabled approach. We will integrate linguistic research with history, anthropology, literature, education, cultural studies, translation, and digital technologies to ensure African languages are studied not merely as systems of communication but as repositories of knowledge, identity, history, and cultural heritage.
Looking Ahead
The Centre is envisioned to grow progressively through research, publications, language documentation, community engagement, postgraduate support, professional training, international partnerships, cultural programmes, and digital innovation. Its five-year implementation framework envisages the gradual expansion of research projects, documentation of endangered languages, community outreach, professional training, international collaboration, creative-industry activities, and language technology initiatives.
CALCH is committed to ensuring that African languages are not only preserved for future generations but are also developed and empowered to participate fully in contemporary education, scholarship, technology, culture, and development.