Taalkommunikasie en taalbeplanning op die myne van Namibië / Jacoba Johanna Fourie

• Main Author: Fourie, Jacoba Johanna
• Published: Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education 2010
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10394/3796

In this study it proved by means of a short historical review that Afrikaans is the oldest Western "African" language in Namibia. During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries Afrikaans was introduced, and established in the country by Oorlams, Basters, Colourds and trekking farmers. Probably because of the fact that from the beginning Afrikaans was not exclusively a language of whites only, and because of destabilization factors aiding the spreading and establishment of the language, Afrikaans today is the lingua franca of more than 80% of the Namibian population. The language situation at the mines was investigated against this background in order to formulate a language policy by using the language planning theory to arrive at suggestions for the solving of communication problems experienced at the mines. Information about the language situation at the mines was gathered by means of observation visits, informal interviews, group discussions an questionnaires, and this was analized by using a communication and misunderstanding model. The conclusion was that communication problems experienced by the three minegroups investigated, operate on different levels. The more Afrikaans was used in the job situation, the less serious communication problems were experienced, and vice versa. At predominant English mines where the unskilled and semi-skilled workforce consists of mainly one cultural group, prejudice and stereotyping were the main cause of bad communication. Solutions for communication problems would only be found if both linguistic and non-linguistic causes for bad communication are taken into account. At all the mines the best solution will be that of a multilingual approach. If any of the mines strive for successful planning, it would mean that a choice of language would have to be made to fit into the linguistic context of this country as well as satisfying instrumental and symbolic needs. In a situation as such, Afrikaans could be used to fulfil the instrumental and internal needs, and English the symbolic and external needs. === Thesis (DLitt)--PU for CHE, 1992.