Difference between revisions of "Language struggle"
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| − | + | = The notion of a [[language struggle]] or a [[language movement]] = | |
Language has long been a very contentious issue, and still is, in South Africa, part of the search for identity and recognition by the various communities and cultural groups. An important element in this has been the various efforts over the years to [[Anglicise]] or enforce the use of English in the country - notably under the British colonial rule in the 19th century, the early part of the 20th century and again under the new democratic dispensation after 1994, when English was gradually being pushed as a ''lingua franca'' in the country. | Language has long been a very contentious issue, and still is, in South Africa, part of the search for identity and recognition by the various communities and cultural groups. An important element in this has been the various efforts over the years to [[Anglicise]] or enforce the use of English in the country - notably under the British colonial rule in the 19th century, the early part of the 20th century and again under the new democratic dispensation after 1994, when English was gradually being pushed as a ''lingua franca'' in the country. | ||
| − | == [[Afrikaanse Taalstryd]] ("[[Afrikaans]] language struggle") | + | =Root causes= |
| + | |||
| + | ==Various efforts to enforce language use== | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Efforts at [[Anglicisation]]=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Enforced [[Afrikaans]] in schools=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===[[English as ''lingua franca''=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | =The reactions= | ||
| + | |||
| + | == The [[Afrikaanse Taalstryd]] ("[[Afrikaans]] language struggle") == | ||
The "language struggle" referred to here, is the '''Afrikaanse Taalstryd''' (="Language Struggle for [[Afrikaans]]") of the late 19th century and early 20th century, in which the descendents of the [[Dutch]]-speaking population in the country fought to have the local version of [[Dutch]] (originally termed "[[Kitchen Dutch]]", as it was spoken by slaves and "backward" farmers, but gradually named Afrikaansch [*?] or [[Afrikaans]]) accepted as an official language, instead of or alongside English (in this case rather than official or "High" Dutch). The battle was finally won in 1925 when a motion by [[C.J. Langenhoven]] was approved in parliament, declaring [[Afrikaans]] one of the two official languages of the [[The Union of South Africa]], replacing Dutch. | The "language struggle" referred to here, is the '''Afrikaanse Taalstryd''' (="Language Struggle for [[Afrikaans]]") of the late 19th century and early 20th century, in which the descendents of the [[Dutch]]-speaking population in the country fought to have the local version of [[Dutch]] (originally termed "[[Kitchen Dutch]]", as it was spoken by slaves and "backward" farmers, but gradually named Afrikaansch [*?] or [[Afrikaans]]) accepted as an official language, instead of or alongside English (in this case rather than official or "High" Dutch). The battle was finally won in 1925 when a motion by [[C.J. Langenhoven]] was approved in parliament, declaring [[Afrikaans]] one of the two official languages of the [[The Union of South Africa]], replacing Dutch. | ||
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| − | === The | + | === The recognition and preservation of the African languages === |
| − | |||
| + | === The [[Anglicisation]] of Education under the new democratic dispensation 1994-)=== | ||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
Latest revision as of 05:50, 4 July 2021
Contents
This article needs expansion
The notion of a language struggle or a language movement
Language has long been a very contentious issue, and still is, in South Africa, part of the search for identity and recognition by the various communities and cultural groups. An important element in this has been the various efforts over the years to Anglicise or enforce the use of English in the country - notably under the British colonial rule in the 19th century, the early part of the 20th century and again under the new democratic dispensation after 1994, when English was gradually being pushed as a lingua franca in the country.
Root causes
Various efforts to enforce language use
Efforts at Anglicisation
Enforced Afrikaans in schools
[[English as lingua franca
The reactions
The Afrikaanse Taalstryd ("Afrikaans language struggle")
The "language struggle" referred to here, is the Afrikaanse Taalstryd (="Language Struggle for Afrikaans") of the late 19th century and early 20th century, in which the descendents of the Dutch-speaking population in the country fought to have the local version of Dutch (originally termed "Kitchen Dutch", as it was spoken by slaves and "backward" farmers, but gradually named Afrikaansch [*?] or Afrikaans) accepted as an official language, instead of or alongside English (in this case rather than official or "High" Dutch). The battle was finally won in 1925 when a motion by C.J. Langenhoven was approved in parliament, declaring Afrikaans one of the two official languages of the The Union of South Africa, replacing Dutch.
The arts - including a vibrant theatre - were employed actively and consciously to attain these ends.
In history books it has become traditional to divide this into two periods or taalbewegings ("language movements"), Die Eerste Taalbeweging and die Tweede Taalbeweging, which began in 18** and ended with the acceptance of Afrikaans as an official language, alongside English, in 1925. There are those who see this as a somewhat artificial periodisation. There are strong signs of a new struggle emerging, even a new language movement, particularly in Universities and other tertiary training institutions, since 1990, coming to a head with riots and protests in 2015-2016 and evolving further into the 2020s.
The Eerste Taalbeweging
The Tweede Taalbeweging
The Derde Taalbeweging? (1990-)
Other language struggles
Preservation of the Xhoisan languages
The South African English language movement
The battle to establish South African English (SAE) as the local version of English, to argue for recognition of English Speaking South Africans (ESSAs) as a distinctive cultural group, and to recognise writing in English by South African authors. Key figures here included Jean Branford, William Branford Guy Butler, Stephen Gray, Jack Cope,
A number of bodies have involved themselves in the issues surrounding SAE
- The English Academy of Southern Africa
- The Dictionary Unit for South African English
- The 1820 Settlers' Foundation
- The Grahamstown Foundation
- The Institute for the Study of English in Africa
Another influential
Kaaps and the "Coloured" identity
The recognition and preservation of the African languages
The Anglicisation of Education under the new democratic dispensation 1994-)
Sources
For more information
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