[lg policy] South Africa: Language, Knowledge and the Stellenbosch Dilemma

[Harold Schiffman]

South Africa: Language, Knowledge and the Stellenbosch Dilemma



<https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Fallafrica.com%2Fstories%2F201604221449.html&title=South%20Africa%3A%20Language%2C%20Knowledge%20and%20the%20Stellenbosch%20Dilemma%20-%20allAfrica.com&description=Analysis%20-%20On%20Tuesday%2022%20March%2C%20Stellenbosch%20University%20released%20a%20new%20draft%20language%20policy%2C%20with%20a%20call%20for%20comments%20that%20will%20feed%20into%20developing%20the%20final%20draft.%20This%20article%20serves%20both%20as%20a%20submission%20to%20this%20process%20and%20a%20more%20general%20reflection%20on%20the%20Stellenbosch%20taaldebat%20or%20language%20debate%2C%20analysed%20against%20the%20backdrop%20of%20the%20language-related%20conflict%20that%20has%20broken%20out%20in%20recent%20months%20on%20numerous%20South%20African%20campuses.%20By%20LLOYD%20HILL.>

*On Tuesday 22 March, Stellenbosch University released a new draft language
policy, with a call for comments that will feed into developing the final
draft. This article serves both as a submission to this process and a more
general reflection on the Stellenbosch taaldebat or language debate,
analysed against the backdrop of the language-related conflict that has
broken out in recent months on numerous South African campuses. By LLOYD
HILL.*

Language policy and practice at Stellenbosch University have been the
subject of heated disputes for years, but the national student protests
that began in 2015 have brought the matter to a head. Consequently,
Stellenbosch University finds itself under contrasting pressure to either
maintain/implement the current policy - which was adopted in December 2014
and gives English and Afrikaans equal status as undergraduate mediums of
instruction - or to replace it with a new policy.

The pressure to maintain and implement the current policy comes in the main
from Convocation, the Afrikaans press and various Afrikaans interest groups
- notably Afriforum and a new initiative called "Gelyke Kanse" (equal
opportunities). Pressure for change comes most notably from the Senate,
Student Representative Council, Open Stellenbosch, a new collective known
as the "Language...
South Africa
Migration in the Developing World
<http://allafrica.com/stories/201604230069.html>

While the West is fixated with migration to Europe from the developing
world, it's just as common for people looking for… Read more »
<http://allafrica.com/stories/201604230069.html>

*Read the full story
<http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-04-21-op-ed-language-knowledge-and-the-stellenbosch-dilemma/>
on the Daily Maverick website.*




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