Abstract:
This paper considers a number of pertinent sociolinguistic aspects of a distinct process of language
shift recently noted in some historically Afrikaans first language (L1) communities established in the
Cape Metropolitan area. Particularly, it considers qualitatively how a number of families made
deliberate choices to change the family language from Afrikaans L1 to English L1. It elaborates on an
exploratory study undertaken in 2003, adding data collected in 2008 and 2009, investigating linguistic
repertoire and language choice in a number of families where there has been contact between English
and Afrikaans over a number of generations. The aim, eventually, is to characterise the nature of the
perceived process of language shift. The paper considers how widespread use of both English and
Afrikaans in communities that until recently were predominantly Afrikaans, impacts on linguistic
identities. It reports on structured interviews with members of three generations of families who
currently exhibit English-Afrikaans bilingualism where members of the younger generation are more
fluent in English. It finds that there is evidence of language shift, it reports on the circumstances that
motivate such shift, and concludes that the third generation presents either a monolingual English
identity where Afrikaans has a decidedly second language status, or a strong English-dominant
bilingual identity.
