University of London

Examine the representation of the relationship between language and
power in South African literature

by

Evelyn Naudorf

Content:

1. Introduction

2. Language problems in South Africa

3. Literature and language in South Africa

a) White writing
b) Black writing

4. Background of authors and plot

a) Sol Plaatje
b) Nadine Gordimer

5. Language and power in South African literature

a) Mhudi
b) The House Gun

6. Conclusion

7. Bibliography

1. Introduction

‘The choice of language and the use to which language is put is central to a people’s definition of themselves in relation to their natural and social environment, indeed in relation to the entire universe.’¹

This quote by the Kenyan writer Ngugi expresses the exceedingly important relationship between language and the individual in general. This relationship is gaining even more importance for a continent such as Africa, in which large parts of the native population were oppressed by European colonial powers for centuries. One important instrument of oppression was definitely language and the feeling of European superiority resulting out of cultural traditions, such as literature. In South Africa, where two major colonial powers were fighting for supremacy and many different native ethnic groups were combined in one state, the question of language would almost naturally provoke conflicts and crisis. In this essay, I should like to have a closer look at this delicate relationship between language and power in South African literature with the example of a Black and a White African writer, Sol T. Plaatje and Nadine Gordimer.

2. Language problems in South Africa

In his historical overview, Leonard Thompson already describes the South Africa of the 18th century as a ‘linguistic Babel’². Afrikaans, a simplified form of Dutch and at first only used in oral communication, would gradually develop into the lingua franca of South Africa. Today, its greatest competitor among European languages is English and both languages, together with nine African languages, belong to the eleven official languages of the postapartheid South African State. The right of every South African to use the language of his or her choice is now embedded in the constitution. However, the situation of having eleven official languages is truly unique world-wide. One of the most pressing question is whether there is a necessity to agree on a single language as the official one, with the other ten languages receiving an equally high status, in order to support the current process of nation-building? If so, should it be English, Afrikaans or one of the African languages? A decision for English or Afrikaans would include many advantages because a high percentage of people in South Africa already speak one of these languages, although not as a first language and, of course, they would offer the possibility to communicate internationally, especially English. On the other hand, English and Afrikaans are the languages used for oppression during the last centuries and many Africans refuse this idea. However, there would arise as many problems with the choice of an African language as with one the European languages. They are usually regional languages and spoken only within a restricted area. Thus, people with Zulu as native tongue would have to be convinced to learn Tswana for example, in order to make a national communication possible.

How strong individual feelings about languages are, were clearly demonstrated in the Soweto uprising of 1976. It was triggered off by the former apartheid government, who tried to enforce Afrikaans as the official language in schools and decided that half of all subjects should be taught in Afrikaans. The townships of Soweto were inhabited predominantly by Blacks and the uproar against governmental plans to introduce the language of the oppressors in high schools developed into nation-wide protests after a thirteen-year-old was killed by the police. This uprising showed for the first time that the problem of language should be taken seriously and how closely it is related to other forms of apartheid such as social inequality and the questions of democratic rights for everyone. Finally, the Ministry of Bantu Education gave in and left the decision in what language pupils should be taught with the schools. In the postapartheid South Africa of today, flexible concepts for education have to be found and the general policy of bilingualism is supposed to be maintained.

3. Literature and language in South Africa

The next question to be asked is: what does this complicated and complex situation imply for the position of any writer in South Africa and how is the relationship between languages and people reflected in his or her work? Or why is still the majority of South African literature published in English and by white writers although less than ten per cent of South Africans speak English as their main language? In order to have a closer look at the position of the writer, I should like to make a distinction between Black and White writing.

a) Black writing

 [...]

1 Ngugi wa Thiong’o. Decolonising the Mind, page 4

2 Leonard Thompson. A History of South Africa, page 52