Language use and language attitudes in multilingual and multi-cultural South - PowerPoint Presentation

Language use and language attitudes in multilingual and multi-cultural South Africa Moyra Sweetnam Evans, University of Otago, New Zealand

Bonjour Sanibonani (Zulu, Swazi)Molweni (Xhosa) Dumelang (Sotho, Tswana)Avuxeni (Tsonga)Goeie more (Afrikaans)Good morning (English)Thobela (Pedi – N. Sotho)Ndaa (Venda)Lotjani (Ndebele)

Other languages Khoisan (Nama, Griqwa & others)Indian languages (Urdu, Guajarati, Hindi, Tamil) European languages (Portuguese, Greek, French, German, Dutch, Bulgarian, Croatian, Spanish, Italian ...) Other African languages – recent immigrants

Dominant population group (race) by ward, 2011 Census salmon: Blacks green: Coloureds beige : Whites blue: Asians

Nine provinces Distribution of first languages

Khoisan languages

San Bushman languages

Post-apartheid South African constitution -1996 promotion of multilingualism enhancement of the status and use of South African indigenous languagestwo existing official languagesEnglish, Afrikaansnine new official languages addedZulu, Xhosa, Swazi, Ndebele, Northern Sotho (Pedi), Southern Sotho, Tswana, Venda, Tsonga

Changes in language useConstitution (1996) aimed to protect and enhance status of all languages In last 20 years English more dominantgovernment & public serviceeducation (more schools use English as language of learning/instruction)business advertising & packagingmedialingua franca – among Blacks and among Blacks & Whites home (more parents are speaking it to their children)

Change in L1 speakers over 10 years 2011 2001Zulu 23.8% 22.7% - 1.1% Xhosa 17.6% 16 % - 1.6% Afrikaans 13.3 % 13.5 % +0.2% N. Sotho 9.4% 9.1% -0.3% English 8.2% 9.6% +1.4% Tswana 8.2% 8% -0.2% S. Sotho 7.9% 7.6% -0.3% Swazi 2.7% 2.6% -0.1% Tsonga 4.4% 4.5% +0.1% Venda 2.3% 2.4% +0.1% Ndebele 1.6% 2.1% +0.5% Other 0.5% 1.6% + 1.1%

February to March 20147500 km 6 of 9 provinces33 focus groups What are the language attitudes of people round the country 20 years after the end of Apartheid? How do they use their languages?

Methodology University of Otago ethical approvalconvenience sampling approximately 200 participants (about 7 per group) M, F, 14 to 90 yrs. education: nil to Ph.D. working class to professionalsL1 speakers variety of languagesall know and use more than one language

Focus group research Benefitsrelatively naturalistic settings koek en tee, social activityparticipants conversed freelymore information Variety of topicsDiscussions were guided by focus group questions, covered other ground too.

Preliminary findings Language practices & home languagesLanguage preferences – English “advantage”, dominance of English Language avoidanceLanguage attitudes Language and identityNegative aspects of living in a multilingual/multicultural societyPositive aspects of being multilingual

Individual language practices Everyone is bilingual or multilingual2 or 3-9 languagesTelevision – “soapies” and sitcoms, newsNewspapers & magazinesOther

Home languages Spousal choicesParent choicesparent language(s) EnglishSibling choices

Whites learning African languages Early acquisition in childhoodLate acquisitionMuch interest expressedSceptism amongst Blacks

The English “advantage” Acknowledged instrumental value for all groupsLingua francafor White Afrikaners, Coloured Afrikaners, BlacksEnglish schools

Dominance of English More English in workplaceMore English in public placesGreater English requiredResentment But also accommodation

Language avoidance Avoiding Afrikaans Avoiding English Avoiding own L1

Conflicting language attitudes English-Afrikaans rivalry CoconutsTwangingModel CsPerceived arrogance of different groups

Language & identity – cultural perceptions Afrikaner vs. English-speaker perceptionsYoung Black people moving away from traditional culture

Negative aspects of multilingual society FrustrationMiscommunicationExpenseOne language and culture starts to dominate

Despite everything, we code-switchSpectrum of attitudes Use “pure” languageProfessed abhorrence but still it is usedAccepted in spoken languageAccepted as naturalChampioned as truly South African

Positive aspects of being bilingual/multilingual Making contactShowing respect, gaining respectStrategic asset Making friends Winning people overBeing “colourful”

Siyabonga Ke a lebogaEnkosiDankie Thank youJe vous remerci

References Billson, J.M. (2006). Conducting focus group research across cultures: Consistency and comparability. WeD Working Paper 27. Bath, U.K.: Economic & Social Research Council. Crystal, D. (2003). English as a Global Language . 2nd Edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Lubbe , J. & Du Plessis, T . (2013). South African Language Rights Monitor 2009. Eighth report on the South African Language Rights Monitor Project. Bloemfontein: Sun Press. Morgan, D.L. (1997). Focus Groups as Qualitative Rese arch. Thousand Oaks: Sage. Posel, D. and Casale, D . (2011). Language proficiency and language policy in South Africa: Findings from new data. International Journal of Educational Development 31 , 449–457 Republic of South Africa. (1996). Constitution of the Republic of South Africa . Government Printer, Pretoria. Statistics South Africa. ( 2012). Census 2011 Census in brief . Pretoria: Statistics South Africa, Report 03-01-41. Tracy , S.J. (2013). Qualitative Research Methods: Collecting evidence, Crafting Analysis, Communicating Impact . Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell .

Acknowledgements for imagesImage for dominant home language http://www.oulitnet.co.za/taaldebat/smag.asp accessed 29 October, 2014Image for dominant population group by ward http://welections.wordpress.com/guide-to-the-2014-south-african-election/race-ethnicity-and-language-in-south-africa/ accessed 28 October 2014Image for San languages http://www.kalaharipeoples.net/uploads/photos/South%20African%20San%20copy.jpg accessed 29 October 2014 accessed 28 October 2014 Image for South African provinces http://southafricamaps.blogspot.co.nz/2013/11/south-africa-map-provinces-pictures_18.html/ accessed 29 October 2014 accessed 28 October 2014