Majority and Minority Languages in South Africa.

[Harold Schiffman]

Majority and Minority Languages in South Africa.
Posted by sociolingo on December 17, 2007

Majority and Minority Languages in South Africa.
Alexander, Neville

This paper discusses three categories of languages in post-apartheid
South Africa: high-status, low-status, and endangered. The first
section presents demolinguistic profiles and their representation in
the media, offering data on the relative numerical importance of the
main languages used in South Africa and the average and proportional
allocation at three South African Broadcasting Corporation stations in
1996. The second section examines the sociolinguistic status of South
Africa's languages, noting the processes that shaped language policy
and attitudes during the past 50 years. The third section discusses
language in education, explaining that most educators in South Africa
continue to think of the indigenous African languages as impediments
to be overcome on the way to mastering the English language. The
fourth section describes prospects for African languages in South
Africa and its education system. The paper concludes that a series of
language planning steps is necessary to ensure that the theoretically
unchallengeable policy positions of the new South Africa are realized.
Recommendations include large scale generalized critical language
awareness campaigns, multilingual or bilingual signposts and
nameboards for all government buildings and roads, and large-scale
training for interpreters, translators, journalists, media
practitioners, and teachers. (SM)

Eric full-text link:
http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/80/1a/cf/be.pdf

http://sociolingolinguistics.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/majority-and-minority-languages-in-south-africa/
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