Language shift within two generations : Afrikaans mother tongue parents raising English mother tongue children

Date
2015-04
Authors
Beukes, Johannes Daniel
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The community of Paarl, in the Western Cape, is traditionally Afrikaans-speaking. This research investigated whether a language shift has occurred in some middle-class communities in Paarl. Certain Coloured neighbourhoods were identified. The emphasis was also on whether Afrikaans-speaking parents chose to raise their children in English. It was found that a language shift, predominantly towards English, has indeed occurred where Afrikaans first language (L1) parents were raising their children in English. This finding differs from earlier studies by Anthonissen and George (2003) and by Fortuin (2009), in which only two or three families were studied, whereas this study engaged with 50 households. This study focused mainly on the parents and their views about their decisions. Not only was the occurrence of a language shift confirmed, but the complexity of the matter was also highlighted. An attempt to preserve Afrikaans as heritage language was also noted.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die gemeenskap van Paarl, in die Wes-Kaap, is tradisioneel Afrikaanssprekend. Hierdie navorsing ondersoek of daar ’n taalverskuiwing in die middelklasgemeenskap in Paarl plaasgevind het. Die klem is ook laat val op die vraag of dit Afrikaanssprekende ouers is wat kies om hulle kinders in Engels groot te maak. Die bevinding was dat ’n taalverskuiwing wel plaasgevind het waar ouers met Afrikaans as moedertaal verkies om hulle kinders in Engels groot te maak. Die verskuiwing is derhalwe hoofsaaklik na Engels. Hierdie bevindings verskil van vroeëre studies deur Anthonissen en George (2003), asook Fortuin (2009), wat twee of drie spesifieke families ondersoek het; daarteenoor het hierdie studie 50 huisgesinne betrek. Die studie fokus hoofsaaklik op die ouers en hulle siening oor die rede vir hulle besluit. Die studie het nie net bevestig dat ’n taalverskuiwing plaasgevind het nie, die kompleksiteit van die kwessie is ook uitgelig. Daar is ook waargeneem dat ’n poging aangewend word om Afrikaans as moedertaal te behou.
Description
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.
Keywords
Linguistic change, Code switching (Linguistics), English language -- Study and teaching, UCTD
Citation