‘Our greatest enemy is ourselves’: A critical analysis of the internal challenges of the Kalanga language revitalisation initiative

This article analyses the influence of an endangered language’s speech community’s internal challenges with the language revitalisation initiative. Deploying theories on the controversial relationship between language and identity, the article examines how diverse language preferences for the speech community’s individual members influence their participation in and support of the language revitalisation initiative/programme. Using a qualitative research methodology that involved key informant interviews and focus group discussions, we found that the different groups from the Kalanga speech community expressed their views and fears on how language choices and preferences negatively influence language revitalisation initiatives. The article concludes that before considering the external challenges and enemies, the speech community must critically examine and address its internal challenges. While external challenges affect progress, the internal challenges make the language speakers their own enemies.