VEJOH - VERITAS JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES

Language barriers pose significant challenges to trade relations in Africa, affecting communication, market access, and economic integration. With the continent being home to over 2,000 languages, linguistic diversity often leads to increased transaction costs, trade inefficiencies, and limited participation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in cross-border trade. The study explores key economic and sociolinguistic theories, including Transaction Cost Theory, Comparative Advantage Theory, and the Gravity Model of Trade, to analyze the impact of language barriers on trade. The data for this study were collected from secondary sources such as textbooks, journals and other internet sources while content analysis was used to analyse the data collected. The findings of the study revealed that language differences hinder trade negotiations, reduce trust among traders, and create information asymmetries that are disadvantage to local businesses. Furthermore, countries with shared official languages tend to engage in higher trade volumes, emphasizing the role of language in economic interactions. To mitigate these challenges, policy recommendations include promoting multilingual trade policies, leveraging digital translation technologies, and fostering regional language harmonization. The implication of addressing language barriers will enhance intra African trade, strengthen economic cooperation, and support the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

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