An investigation of the language attitudes, identity and power perspectives of isiZulu home-language-speaking students towards isiZulu and other Black South African languages

Abstract

IsiZulu is the most widely spoken language in South Africa, and most of its home language (HL) speakers reside in KwaZulu-Natal. Outside this province, there are significant isiZulu HL speakers who reside in Mpumalanga and Gauteng provinces. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to explore the thoughts of isiZulu HL speakers on their language in relation to identity and power. Furthermore, the study investigates the attitudes held by isiZulu HL students towards their language and other Black South African languages (BSALs). This study used a mixed-methods approach supported by a concurrent triangulation design. Quantitative data were collected through the use of a survey questionnaire, whereas a semi-structured interview was used to collect qualitative data. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. From the sample of 60 isiZulu HL speakers selected from university students studying isiZulu at first- to third-year levels, anecdotal evidence suggests that most isiZulu HL speakers perceive there to be a correlation between the home language that a person uses and their identity. Furthermore, the majority of isiZulu students indicated a positive attitude towards other BSALs. The study thus recommended that BSALs should be introduced at all primary schools, with the purpose of exposing every learner to the various BSALs at a young age.