Language Use and Language Preference in an African University

LANGUAGE USE AND PREFERENCE IN AN AFRICAN UNIVERSITY The aim of the study was to investigate the language use and language preference of Accounting and Management students in the University of Botswana. The study sought, among other things to investigate the relationship between language use and language preference.There were a number of general findings. First, all students are bilingual in English and Setswana or another language. Second, students' mother tongues were fewer than the languages they could speak.In terms of language use in the various domains, some interesting conclusions have been made. First, the family is the domain where all languages, including mother tongues are used.But Setswana is much more widely used than all the others. Other domains such as school, office and shop are completely dominated by the use of Setswana and English. The findings on language preference almost replicate those of language use in the various domains. English and Setswana are preferred to other languages in all domains. In general,it is evident that the students' language preference is based on either formal or informal context of use.