Some of the metaphors about language, in language planning discourses in Sohth Africa: Boundaries, frontiers and commodification
Since April 1994, when eleven languages (instead of two) were given official recognition, language planning debates have focilsed on implementabilty rather than policy options. This paper explores three of the metaphors which influence language planning discourses in South Africa: the boundaries met...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Afrikaans |
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Stellenbosch University
2013-02-01
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| Series: | Per Linguam : A Journal of Language Learning |
| Online Access: | http://perlinguam.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/230 |
| Summary: | Since April 1994, when eleven languages (instead of two) were given official recognition, language planning debates have focilsed on implementabilty rather than policy options. This paper explores three of the metaphors which influence language planning discourses in South Africa: the boundaries metaphor, the frontiers metaphor and the commodity metaphor, and the effect they have on the way language is constructed The discussion centres on the tensions between a "bounded" view of language and a frontier view of language. Aspects such as frequency of usage and the distribution of languages would be significant in language planning discourses based on a frontier view of language, whereas the number of mother tongue speakers would be significant in a "bounded" view of language. Finally, the paper stresses that commerce influences discourses about language. Sedert April 1994, met die verlening van amptelike status aan 11 tale (in plaas van 2), het die debatte oor taalbeplanning 'n klemverskuiwing van beleidsmoontlikhede na implementeringsopsies ondergaan. In hierdie artikel word drie van die metafore wat taalbeplanningsdiskoerse in Suid-Afrika beinvloed, ondersoek: die metafoor van afbakening, die metafoor van vooruitstrewing en die metafoor van verhandelbaarheid, asook die invloed wat hulle het op die metode van taalonderrig. Die bespreking sentreer om die spanning wat bestaan tussen 'n afgebakende en 'n vooruitstrewende benadering tot taal. Aspekte soos gebruiksfrekwensie en die verspreiding van tale sou belangrik wees vir taalbeplanningsdiskoerse wat op 'n vooruitstrewende benadering gebaseer is, terwyl die aantal moedertaalsprekers belangrik sou wees vir 'n afgebakende benadering tot taal. Ten slotte word beklemtoon dat handel 'n invloed het op die diskoers oor taal |
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| ISSN: | 0259-2312 2224-0012 |