The Constitution of Botswana recognizes a monolithic, homogeneous Tswana state; the twenty-five or more non-Tswana groups are thus marginalized. This article traces the beginnings of this detrimental misconception and demonstrates how it has been perpetuated through other policies. (Se)Tswana language dominance and its use in the building of a Tswana nation state in the context of linguistic and cultural diversity are discussed, along with the role of the education system, and in particular, the language-in-education policy, in the building of a nation state. The dire consequences of this dominance are noted, and a survey of developments on marginalized languages in the country as a preservation and survival measure is presented.

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