Social Media and the Integration of Minority Indigenous Languages in Political Participation: Challenges and Prospects

Abstract

This study explores the integration of minority indigenous languages in political participation on social media in Lesotho. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with minority language speakers. Findings reveal that there is no language diversity on social media platforms because only Sesotho and English are dominant, thus leaving out the other minority languages such as siPhuthi, isiZulu and isiXhosa. This suggests that minority language speakers do not participate in political matters that affect them. The study argues for the integration of minority languages in all social media platforms so that information can be accessible in all languages spoken in Lesotho.

Keywords

Knowledge gap minority languages political communication political participation social media

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