Language practice as an asset in a multilingual and multicultural context.
Gaffane, Patricia Mapula
Gaffane, Patricia Mapula
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Abstract
The dawn of democracy brought about many changes in many aspects of life, the language fraternity being one. The then South Africa used to have only two official languages, viz. English and Afrikaans. With the adoption of a new constitution the new South Africa now has eleven official languages. The previously marginalised nine indigenous languages, which are Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, IsiNdebele, Siswati, Xitsonga, Tshivenda, IsiZulu and IsiXhosa, are now embraced as official languages of South Africa, effectively meaning that communication must also be made available in these languages. It became pertinent to investigate linguistic issues around this new proclamation; needless to mention the language practitioners themselves as the people privileged to carry forward, and thus be the implementers of, this vision of languages. It is for this reason that the object of this study is to determine the impact of these developments in the field of language practice. The study will determine how language professionals see their role within this multilingualism society. Linked to this, are their opinions on whether they feel optimally utilised to successfully fulfil the vision, and lastly, to solicit opinion on the mechanisms that could be employed to make the profession economically viable. The study comprises six chapters. Chapter one is an introduction to the study, giving an overview of the project by giving the background, stating the purpose and significance of the study, as well as its objectives. There is also a brief outline of the research methodology employed in the study. Chapter two gives a theoretical background by exploring a vast pool of resources that would assist to give new insights, as well as broaden existing comprehension of the different phenomena. In chapter three there is an explicit and scientific presentation of collected data, as well as full details of the chosen research method so as to clearly articulate what data was collected, how and why the data was collected and by whom. Chapter four gives an analysis of the collected data whilst chapter iii five is a presentation of the findings and recommendations of the researcher. Chapter six concludes with a summation of the most important aspects of the study. For the linguistic vision of this country to be achieved, the language practitioner must be awarded a central role with full emphasis on the need to have adequate resources to successfully see this huge, complex, but possible, process through.
Description
Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Magister Technologiae: Language Practice in the Department of Applied Languages Faculty of Social Sciences Tshwane University of Technology.
Date
2005-06-01
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Tshwane University of Technology
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Keywords
Language Practice, Multilingualism, Multiculturalism