Lakhasly

The role of language in socio-economic development cannot be overemphasised.We contend that it is possible for Malawi to align education with national unity and socio-economic development and still mandate language use.It is a means to achieving set aspirations or inducing cooperation, to use Aristotle's term, "adherence of the minds" (Aristotle 1954).However, the mere presence of a language does not entail facilitation of the primary purpose of language which is communication.In the case of Malawi, these aspirations could be national unity or identity of a nation, socioeconomic interaction and education.In fact, language use facilitates socio-economic development, unity and attainment of education.These set goals in this case, would be education, national unity and/or identity, and socio-economic development.When one is communicating, one has objectives to be accomplished or aspirations to be realised.

The role of language in socio-economic development cannot be overemphasised.
Where there is no language there is no development, and this is a fact. However,
the mere presence of a language does not entail facilitation of the primary
purpose of language which is communication. The primary purpose of language
is communication. In turn, effective communication facilitates development.
Communication is an important prerequisite of development and this is
manifested through language. Language must be seen to be communicating the
intended meaning as a vehicle to achieving set goals, and not an end in itself.
These set goals in this case, would be education, national unity and/or identity,
and socio-economic development.
As already pointed out, communication is not an end in itself. It is a means
to achieving set aspirations or inducing cooperation, to use Aristotle’s term,
“adherence of the minds” (Aristotle 1954). When one is communicating, one
has objectives to be accomplished or aspirations to be realised. In the case of
Malawi, these aspirations could be national unity or identity of a nation, socioeconomic interaction and education. We contend that it is possible for Malawi
to align education with national unity and socio-economic development and
still mandate language use.
As economists say, a genuine choice is made on entities which are similar; not
those which are not at par. To use an Economics concept, one can have things
which are not equal without any opportunity cost. Specifically, national unity,
education and socio-economic development, on one hand, and language use
on the other, are not equal. In fact, language use facilitates socio-economic
development, unity and attainment of education. These can be achieved without
undermining the other.