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are tried out in the constant attempt to elaborate effective
communication strategies (Davies et al.,1984).
Interlanguage, normally a transitory phase in the acquisition of
L2 at individual level, seems established in Mozambique Ias a
rather permanent feature], becoming itself the pattern.(Gonςalves
et al.,1982:6).
Portuguese is the language of the public administration, of the school, of
political mobilization and development projects: the exposure to it, even
in rural areas, should increase if the country is to continue in her
'difficult road to Socialism' (Saul, 1985). Meanwhile, the problem remains
of how people make their voice heard in the political process, which
rely so much on communication (Marinis,1982).
3.1.2 Language policies of colonial Portugal
The backwardness of Portuguese colonialism is well known, as the country
that was at the centre of the 'Empire' was in turn one of the poorest of
Europe, while properties and investments in the colonies were heavily
controlled by British and South African interests. However, the Portuguese
were very proud of their records and theories on the colonial question
and eager to stress their differences with the British.
All colonial powers were interested in safeguarding their supremacy in
the African continent, yet aims and methods differed: while British
imperialism was based on the philosophy of 'separate development', the
Portuguese insisted in the 'assimilation' model, similar to the French
policy of forming "6volu6s" (Azevedo,1980; Mateene 1980; see 2.1.1). The
'structural Catholicism' (Ferreira Rosa,1973) of the Portuguese compelled
them to accept the basic equality of men as a principle, but did not
prevent the ranking of men on a scale of civilization : from the bottom
end (the primitives, indigenas) to the top (the civilized, the Portuguese).