Aspects of the English language in South Africa - focusing on language identity and language varieties

Aspects of the English language in South Africa - focusing on language identity and language varieties PDF Author: Hildegard Schnell
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
ISBN: 3638615235
Category : Literary Collections
Languages : en
Pages : 16

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Book Description
Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: 1,7, University of Duisburg-Essen, course: English in Africa, language: English, abstract: Due to the spread of English to so many parts of the world which was triggered during the colonial era and by migration of English-speaking people, the importance of English not only as a language of commerce, science and technology but also as an international language of communication has been realized (Platt, Weber, Ho 1984: 1). In my research paper I will provide an overview of the English language in South Africa by looking at its origins concerning the historical background. Furthermore, I am going to focus on the English language in South Africa in more detail in order to point out the influence of the immigrants’ speech from England and Scotland on some phonetic features of South African English. Eventually, I am going to discuss whether the spread of English can be seen as an evidence of a “killer language” which has been used as a tool for subtle linguistic imperialism, occurring at the expense of local languages, stabilizing hierarchical structures and reinforcing existing status differentials (de Klerk 1996: 7-8). So, the main purpose of my paper is to show that the English language in South Africa before, during and after apartheid policy is one of the official languages since there is more than one local language in a multilingual nation. While English in South Africa is seen by many “as a medium of achieving and announcing independence and maturity, for many others English represent colonialism, power and elitism, and acts as a vehicle of values not always in harmony with local traditions and beliefs” (de Klerk 1996: 7). In this chapter, I will focus on the historical and social background of the English language in South Africa in regard to different language varieties. In the following, based on Roger Lass’s article “South African English”, I will, as I mentioned before, refer to the historical background of the English language in South Africa and so discuss the aspect of different language varieties that were influenced by the English language. Then, concerning L.W. Lanham’s The Standard in South African English and its Social History, I will point out in which way the English language developed there. By referring to the historical background in more detail, I will eventually focus on Josef Schmied’s English in Africa, thus stressing the strategic importance of South Africa for the British.

Aspects of the English language in South Africa - focusing on language identity and language varieties

Aspects of the English language in South Africa - focusing on language identity and language varieties PDF Author: Hildegard Schnell
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
ISBN: 3638615235
Category : Literary Collections
Languages : en
Pages : 16

Get Book Here

Book Description
Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: 1,7, University of Duisburg-Essen, course: English in Africa, language: English, abstract: Due to the spread of English to so many parts of the world which was triggered during the colonial era and by migration of English-speaking people, the importance of English not only as a language of commerce, science and technology but also as an international language of communication has been realized (Platt, Weber, Ho 1984: 1). In my research paper I will provide an overview of the English language in South Africa by looking at its origins concerning the historical background. Furthermore, I am going to focus on the English language in South Africa in more detail in order to point out the influence of the immigrants’ speech from England and Scotland on some phonetic features of South African English. Eventually, I am going to discuss whether the spread of English can be seen as an evidence of a “killer language” which has been used as a tool for subtle linguistic imperialism, occurring at the expense of local languages, stabilizing hierarchical structures and reinforcing existing status differentials (de Klerk 1996: 7-8). So, the main purpose of my paper is to show that the English language in South Africa before, during and after apartheid policy is one of the official languages since there is more than one local language in a multilingual nation. While English in South Africa is seen by many “as a medium of achieving and announcing independence and maturity, for many others English represent colonialism, power and elitism, and acts as a vehicle of values not always in harmony with local traditions and beliefs” (de Klerk 1996: 7). In this chapter, I will focus on the historical and social background of the English language in South Africa in regard to different language varieties. In the following, based on Roger Lass’s article “South African English”, I will, as I mentioned before, refer to the historical background of the English language in South Africa and so discuss the aspect of different language varieties that were influenced by the English language. Then, concerning L.W. Lanham’s The Standard in South African English and its Social History, I will point out in which way the English language developed there. By referring to the historical background in more detail, I will eventually focus on Josef Schmied’s English in Africa, thus stressing the strategic importance of South Africa for the British.

English in Multilingual South Africa

English in Multilingual South Africa PDF Author: Raymond Hickey
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108425348
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 443

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Book Description
An innovative and insightful exploration of varieties of English in contemporary South Africa.

Interactions across Englishes

Interactions across Englishes PDF Author: Christiane Meierkord
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107375657
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 265

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Book Description
English is a language at the centre of research into language contact, because its global spread has resulted in contact with an enormous variety of different languages worldwide, leading to the creation of many new varieties of English, including second language varieties, and also pidgins and creoles. This book takes an original look at what happens when speakers of these different varieties interact with one another. Using her own rich fieldwork data from diverse international and South African contexts, Meierkord proposes an innovative approach to how Englishes merge and blend in such interactions, creating further new forms of English and further changes to the language. Through skilful analyses and descriptions, the book provides fascinating insights into where and who the users of English as a lingua franca are and what English then looks like at the levels of phonetics, morphosyntax, the lexicon and discourse.

Language Policy and Identity Construction

Language Policy and Identity Construction PDF Author: Eric A. Anchimbe
Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing
ISBN: 9027218730
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 277

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Book Description
The (dis)empowerment of languages through language policy in multilingual postcolonial communities often shapes speakers identification with these languages, their attitude towards other languages in the community, and their choices in interpersonal and intergroup communication. Focusing on the dynamics of Cameroon s multilingualism, this book contributes to current debates on the impact of politic language policy on daily language use in sociocultural and interpersonal interactions, multiple identity construction, indigenous language teaching and empowerment, the use of Cameroon Pidgin English in certain formal institutional domains initially dominated by the official languages, and linguistic patterns of social interaction for politeness, respect, and in-group bonding. Due to the multiple perspectives adopted, the book will be of interest to sociolinguists, applied linguists, pragmaticians, Afrikanists, and scholars of postcolonial linguistics."

Focus on South Africa

Focus on South Africa PDF Author: Vivian de Klerk
Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing
ISBN: 9027276048
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 328

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Book Description
This volume brings together a range of studies on various aspects of English and its use in Southern Africa. Experts in their field have written chapters on topics including the history and development of English in South Africa, the characteristics of particular pan-ethnic varieties of English which have evolved in South Africa (including black, Indian and colored varieties) as well as the unique features of the English of South Africa’s southern neighbours: Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. Other contributions focus on English in relation to issues such as standardisation, lexicography, education, language planning, language attitudes and interaction patterns. The book will be of primary interest to students of linguistics and language, but should also be relevant to educationists, sociologists and historians.

Language and Identity in Englishes

Language and Identity in Englishes PDF Author: Urszula Clark
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1135904804
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 224

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Book Description
Language and Identity in Englishes examines the core issues and debates surrounding the relationship between English, language and identity. Drawing on a range of international examples from the UK, US, China and India, Clark uses both cutting-edge fieldwork and her own original research to give a comprehensive account of the study of language and identity. Key features include: Discussion of language in relation to various aspects of identity, such as those connected with nation and region, as well as in relation to social aspects such as social class and race. A chapter on undertaking research that will equip students with appropriate research methods for their own projects An analysis of language and identity within the context of written as well as spoken texts With its accessible structure, international scope and the inclusion of leading research in the area, this book is ideal for any student taking modules in language and identity or sociolinguistics.

English as a Global Language

English as a Global Language PDF Author: David Crystal
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107611806
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 227

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Book Description
Written in a detailed and fascinating manner, this book is ideal for general readers interested in the English language.

Standards of English

Standards of English PDF Author: Raymond Hickey
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 0521763894
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 445

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Book Description
The first book-length exploration of 'standard Englishes' with contributions by the leading experts on each major variety of English discussed.

Language and Literature in a Glocal World

Language and Literature in a Glocal World PDF Author: Sandhya Rao Mehta
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9811084688
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 250

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Book Description
This collection of critical essays investigates the intersections of the global and local in literature and language. Exploring the connections that exist between global forms of knowledge and their local, regional applications, this volume explores multiple ways in which literature is influenced, and in turn, influences, movements and events across the world and how these are articulated in various genres of world literature, including the resultant challenges to translation. This book also explores the way in which languages, especially English, transform and continue to be reinvented in its use across the world. Using perspectives from sociolinguistics, discourse analysis and semiotics, this volume focuses on diasporic literature, travel literature, and literature in translation from different parts of the world to study the ways in which languages change and grow as they are sought to be ‘owned’ by the communities which use them in different contexts. Emphasizing on interdisciplinary studies and methodologies, this collection centralizes both research that theorizes the links between the local and the global and that which shows, through practical evidence, how the local and global interact in new and challenging ways.

Sociolinguistics Around the World

Sociolinguistics Around the World PDF Author: Martin J Ball
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1135261059
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 449

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Book Description
Offers a survey of research trends in sociolinguistics around the world. This work focuses on traditional variationist sociolinguistics and on the areas of bi- and multilingualism together with diglossia and code-switching, language and culture, language and power and language planning.