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Research Areas
His research interests encompass multidisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and interdisciplinary initiatives within Applied Linguistics and Communication Studies, with a particular emphasis on discourse analysis, language in environmental contexts, political communication, and social change communication. He has co-authored a book titled 'Communication for Social Change in Sub-Saharan Africa - Amplifying the Marginalized Voices,' issued by Routledge, Taylor & Francis.,
Profile
Victor Chikaipa, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics in the Department of Language, Linguistics, and Classical Studies, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, at the University of Malawi. His interdisciplinary scholarship spans applied linguistics, language policy and planning, media and communication studies, and environmental and social change communication, with a particular focus on multilingual societies. His research examines how language policies facilitate or constrain equitable access to public services and institutional participation in multilingual contexts. He also investigates the central role of language in environmental, crisis (disaster), and political communication in the public sphere, exploring how communication practices shape public engagement, governance, and social transformation. Through this work, he seeks to advance inclusive language and communication policy frameworks that promote linguistic equity, social inclusion, and meaningful civic participation. Associate Professor Chikaipa is the co-author of Communication for Social Change in Sub-Saharan Africa: Amplifying Marginalised Voices (Routledge, 2026) and co-editor of Education, Communication and Democracy: A Democratic Pedagogy for the Future (Routledge, 2022). He has published extensively in internationally recognised peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes on the intersections of language, communication, media, and social transformation, with particular emphasis on language policy, environmental governance, political communication, public participation, and inclusive development in Africa.
Publications
- Book
Chavinda, C., Chikaipa, V., Kainja, J., Mchakulu, J., & Ndasauka, Y. 2026. Communication for Social Change in Sub- Saharan Africa: Amplifying the Marginalized Voices. Routledge - Taylor & Francis. (2026)
https://www.routledge.com/Communication-for-Social-Change-in-Sub-Saharan-Africa-Amplifying-the-Marginalised-Voices/Chavinda-Chikaipa-Kainja-Mchakulu-Ndasauka/p/book/9781041047865
- Book Chapters
Chikaipa, V. (2026). “(Re)-Imagining Discourses of Corruption in Malawian Newspapers. In U. Akpojivi and T. Chari, Media Accountability and Corruption in Africa. Contestations and Controversies. London: Bloomsbury (2026)
https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/media-accountability-and-corruption-in-africa-9781350587311/
- Journal Article
Chikaipa, V. (2025). Print Media Coverage and the Socio-Contextual Representation of Single-Use Plastics Ban in Malawi. Cogent Arts and Humanities Journal, 12(1) (2025)
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23311983.2025.2460314
- Journal Article
Chandilanga, H.C. & Chikaipa, V. (2025). ‘No Flowers for the New Boss’: Interrogating Malawian Newspapers Political Cartoon Stereotypical Representations of a Woman Anti-Corruption Bureau Director. Agenda Journal (2025)
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10130950.2025.2504905?src=exp-la
- Journal Article
Chikaipa, V. (2023). Preserving indigenous minority languages through community radio in development programmes in Malawi. Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies. (2023)
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2989/16073614.2022.2128382?journalCode=rall20
- Conference Papers
Multilingualism, Mobility and Space in Urban Public Environments in Southern Africa: Reflecting on Methodological Improvements (2023)
Spatial Methods for Urban Sustainability Conference - SMUS Conference India 2023
- Journal Article
Chikaipa, V. (2022). Riding on Slogans and Mottos: Bicycle Taxis as Mobile Bodies of Meaning in Malawi, Language Matters, 53:3, 133-153, (2022)
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10228195.2022.2141829
- Book
Manthalu, C.H., Chikaipa, V. and Gunde A.M. (Eds.) 2022. Education, Communication and Democracy in Africa. A Democratic Pedagogy for the Future. London: Routledge – Taylor & Francis Publishers. ISBN 9780367646097 (2022)
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003125440
- Book Chapters
Chikaipa, V., Chirwa, J.A., Manthalu, C.H., and Gunde, A. M. (2022). “Re-imagining discourses of disability at higher education institutions in democratic Malawi.”, In Manthalu, C.H., Chikaipa, V. and Gunde A.M. (Eds.) 2021. Education, Communication and Democracy in Africa. A Democratic Pedagogy for the Future. London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Publishers. (2022)
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003125440-16/re-imagining-discourses-disability-higher-education-institutions-democratic-malawi-victor-chikaipa-john-chirwa-chikumbutso-manthalu-anthony-gunde
- Book Chapters
Manthalu, C.H., Gunde, A.M. and Chikaipa, V., (2022) Towards communication for equality: reconfiguring pedagogical relations in teacher education, In Manthalu, C.H., Chikaipa, V. and Gunde A.M. (Eds.) Education, Communication and Democracy in Africa. A Democratic Pedagogy for the Future. London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Publishers. (2022)
- Book Chapters
Gunde, A.M., Chikaipa, V., and Manthalu, C.H., (2022). A rhetorical analysis of affirmative action debate towards higher education access in Malawi’s democracy, In Manthalu, C.H., Chikaipa, V. and Gunde A.M. (Eds.) Education, Communication and Democracy in Africa. A Democratic Pedagogy for the Future. London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Publishers. (2022)
- Book Chapters
Manthalu, C.H., Chikaipa, V. and Gunde, A.M., (2022) “Concretizing democratic deliberation through education”, In Manthalu, C.H., Chikaipa, V. and Gunde A.M. (Eds.) Education, Communication and Democracy in Africa. A Democratic Pedagogy for the Future. London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Publishers. (2022)
- Journal Article
Chikaipa, V., and Gunde, A. (2021). The Role of Community Radio in Promotion of Indigenous Minority Languages and Cultures in Malawi, Journal of Radio and Audio Media, 28 (2), 327-343. (2021)
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19376529.2020.1751633?journalCode=hjrs20
- Book Chapters
Gunde, A. & Chikaipa, V. (2021) “Popular Culture as Alternative Media: Reggae Music, Culture and Politics in Malawi’s Democracy,” In H. S. Dunn, D. Moyo, W. O. Lesitaokana and S. B. Barnabas, (Eds.). Re-imagining Communication in Africa and the Caribbean. Global South Issues in Media, Culture, and Technology. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. (2021)
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-54169-9_16
- Journal Article
Chikaipa, V. (2019). Caring Mother or Weak Politician? A Semiotic Analysis of Editorial Cartoon Representations of Joyce Banda in Malawi Newspapers. Critical Arts, South-North Cultural and Media Studies, 33:2, 14-28, DOI: 10.1080/02560046.2019.1655583. (2019)
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02560046.2019.1655583
