Abstract

The present study investigated the use of the English Language in multilingual contexts. It focussed on communication between English speaking expatriate and local doctors from public and private hospitals with their Namibian and non-Namibian patients. The study’s aims were firstly, to determine the multilingual communicative resources and needs in the selected public health centres and private practices in Windhoek Khomas region. Secondly, the study sought to determine how communication is managed, from the perspective of the doctors. Finally, the study sought to determine the role played by the use of the English Language in a multilingual communicative context. The study utilised a qualitative research design and in order to achieve the above objectives, a qualitative questionnaire was completed by 17 medical doctors based in Windhoek. The data collected through the questionnaire was analysed by content analysis methods of coding and categorising. The findings revealed insights regarding linguistic profiles as well as the communicative aspects of multilingual doctor patient communication. Most of the respondent doctors are multilingual. However, it was realised that there are a few expatriate doctors who communicate solely in the English Language, while others use the English Language as well as one or more Namibian languages. Regarding communication between doctors and patients, it was realised that there is language discordance between doctors and some of their patients, especially in the public health facilities. In instances when the doctor cannot get-by as some referred to it, interpretation, is done by nurses, friends or other patients. However, while some did not object to interpretation, others reported of interpreters lacking in contextual knowledge which misleads the doctor’s judgement. Thus, while working in the Namibian multilingual healthcare system is rewarding for the multilingual doctors, the challenges experienced by the doctors who solely communicate in the English Language or by bilingual (the English Language and a local Namibian language) doctors persist.