Before one can start discussing the language policy of South Africa, it is important to stress its diversity of language and culture groups. Around 25 languages are used in South Africa by more than 44.8 million people. That is the result of the influx of various groups of people to that region over the last centuries, meaning not only the by the African themselves, but also by people from Europe (Portuguese, Dutch, French, Germans, and British) and also from the East (Malaysia, Indonesia and India). Nevertheless, the majority of South Africans, almost 80% of the population, use an African language as their home language. The language situation in South Africa hasfor a long time been, and still is, quite difficult. Here, the indigenous languages of the South African people met with the European languages of the colonists, intermixed and coexisted with the many languages that were already spoken as mother tongues or as first languages. Like in many other former colonies, the European languages had then been used by those who held political power, and who considered the African languages as inferior. Both the European (English and Afrikaans) and the African languages were therefore distinguished into two varieties of prestige and referred to as H (high) or L (low) languages. [...] However, until today, the linguistic situation in South Africa is still quite difficult. Especially the use of English is a problematic one. Therefore this paper intends to give an overview of the politics of English in South Africa. Even though this paper wants to concentrate on the current status of English in South Africa, it is necessary to make a digression into the language policy of the country first, and to explain its varieties to British English. Moreover, it is important to allude to the history of the use of the English language in South Africa, in order to fully understand why it is so controversially debated, and why English is seen as a bearer of hope for many black people on the one hand, but has failed to fulfil these dreams on the other.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction: A Sociolinguistic Profile of South Africa
- The History of English in South Africa
- The Colonial Period (1806-1885)
- The Era of the New Society (1885-1945)
- The New South Africa (1991-present)
- South Africa's Constitutional Provisions on Language
- The Status and the Function of English in South Africa
- South African English (SAFE) and its varieties
- Pluralingualism in a Democratic South Africa: A Delusion?
- Conclusion: Will South Africa 'live Mandela's Dream'?
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to provide an overview of the politics of English in South Africa. It examines the historical and current use of the English language in the country, specifically focusing on its status, functions, and the complexities of its use in a multilingual and diverse society.
- The historical development of English in South Africa, particularly within the context of colonialism and apartheid.
- The role of English in contemporary South Africa, considering its status as an official language and its impact on various aspects of society, including education, economy, and politics.
- The challenges and complexities of multilingualism in South Africa, including the impact of the language policy and the ongoing debate about the role of English.
- The question of English as a potential unifying force in South Africa and the extent to which it can fulfill the vision of a more equitable and inclusive society.
- The diversity of South African English (SAFE) and its variations, examining the impact of historical and sociolinguistic factors on the development of the language.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The paper begins by highlighting the linguistic diversity of South Africa, emphasizing the presence of over 25 languages spoken by a population of over 44.8 million. The author then delves into the historical development of English in South Africa, tracing its evolution from the colonial period (1806-1885) to the post-apartheid era (1991-present). The colonial period, marked by the British occupation of the Cape, witnessed the emergence of Dutch-English, a non-native variety of English influenced by Dutch. In subsequent periods, the language continued to evolve, influenced by contact with indigenous languages and the emergence of South African English (SAFE). The author also explores the changing status of English in South Africa, from its role as a language of power during colonialism to its status as an official language in a post-apartheid South Africa.
The paper then examines the complexity of multilingualism in South Africa, analyzing the potential of English to act as a unifying force in a diverse society. It discusses the language policy and its impact, highlighting the ongoing debate about the role of English in a multilingual context. The author concludes by considering the possibility of English fulfilling the vision of a more equitable and inclusive society in South Africa.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This preview focuses on the politics of English in South Africa, analyzing the historical and current use of the language in a multilingual and diverse society. Key themes include: colonialism, apartheid, South African English (SAFE), language policy, multilingualism, diversity, identity, and the role of English in a post-apartheid South Africa.
- Quote paper
- Patricia Patkovszky (Author), 2008, The politics of English in South Africa, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/112688
