---

The study interrogates the factors underlying the problematics around multilingual language planning implementation with specific reference to South Africa. The study identifies four categories of explanations for non-implementation in South Africa namely political; economic; sociolinguistic; and theoretic explanations. Of interest is the adequacy of these explanations in explaining non- implementation of multilingual language plans. Using Grounded Theory Method, the study identifies the theoretic category as the core category to explain the non-implementation of multilingual language plans in South Africa, i.e. the inherent epistemological weaknesses of contemporary language planning theory and method constrain this paradigm´s ability to formulate optimal implementation approaches. To remedy this epistemological dilemma and the accompanying practical multilingual planning implementation dilemma, the study, using data from multilingual language planning implementation settings in South Africa, develops an alternative approach to multilingual planning implementation, namely the Language Management Approach (LMA).

---

Dr. Munene Mwaniki is a Senior Lecturer/Researcher at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. His research focuses on the development of the Language Management Approach; and language and public sector dynamics, constitutionalism, supranational organisations´ dynamics; and economics of language - in Africa.

---