The challenges of language planning and language policy in Tanzania: Investigating language attitudes and language shift in Zanzibar

There have been several studies based on Fishman's (1964, 1991) domain theory on language shift. Based on this theory when a language gets expanded by getting a new domain which was originally dedicated for another language, then there is a tendency of speakers to shift to the new language. This study identifies and examines signs of language shift emerging in Zanzibar which is part of Tanzania. English language has been making inroads into one of the domains (primary education) which has been Swahili dominated for many years. Tanzania has been portrayed as an example of successful language policy (Abdulaziz, 1980) and also the ideal of the mother tongue education in African languages (Mazrui & Mazrui, 1998).;Data collected in Zanzibar through a questionnaire survey shows that both the ministry of education and the majority of the people support English to be used as a medium of instruction in both primary (elementary) and higher education. The study also found that there are positive attitudes among the people in favor of bilingualism. However the qualitative analysis of data shows that the people's positive attitudes towards English are based on the fallacy of linking English language.;The finding of this study largely corroborate earlier studies that economic changes and growing bilingualism are major factors which can lead to language shift. The implication of this study means that, in the wake of globalization where English is considered to be the lingua franca of the economy, Zanzibar and Tanzania in general are facing a major challenge on their language policy in maintaining Swahili as the medium of instruction.