Exploring multilingualism at the national department levels in South Africa post the Use of Official Languages Act of 2012

Abel L Mohlahlo,Thabo Ditsele

doi:10.4102/lit.v43i1.1819

Abstract

The main objective of this article is to explore how multilingualism (i.e. the use of three or more languages) is practised at the level of national departments in South Africa since the passing of new language legislation called the Use of Official Languages Act (No. 12 of 2012). In support of this main objective, the article seeks to establish the attitudes held towards languages and official multilingualism (i.e. multilingualism which is recognised by government) by national departments’ employees responsible for matters related to language and communication. It also seeks to establish the perception of the general public on how public servants treat language when communicating with them. Data were gathered through document analyses, survey questionnaires (completed by employees at two national departments), and face-to-face interviews (with members of the public). Participants (i.e. national departments’ employees and members of the public) held positive attitudes towards official multilingualism by supporting the development and use of all 11 official languages, particularly the historically marginalised Black South African languages (BSALs). Also, as far as these two national departments are concerned, the Use of Official Languages Act (No. 12 of 2012) was yet to be fully implemented as per its objects set out in its Preamble, as the language policies developed by these national departments were yet to be implemented.

Highlights

Before Act 200 of 1993 was passed, Afrikaans and English were the only official languages in South Africa. This Act changed this scenario by giving official status to the following nine Black South African languages or BSALs: isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho sa Leboa, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga
Mutasa (2003:290) observed that BSALs have a place in the new South Africa as official languages, their home language (HL) speakers have a high regard for English
The main objective of this article is to explore how multilingualism is practised at national departments in South Africa since the passing of new language legislation called the Use of Official Languages Act (No 12 of 2012), and to achieve that objective, two research questions were asked and are answered

Summary

Introduction

Before Act 200 of 1993 (known as the Interim Constitution of South Africa) was passed, Afrikaans and English were the only official languages in South Africa. Mutasa (2003:290) observed that BSALs have a place in the new South Africa as official languages, their home language (HL) speakers have a high regard for English. He further indicated that many HL speakers still believe that only English can effectively serve as an official or national language. Such communication patterns have created an impression that to be part of the national economy, one needs to have communication skills in these two languages, and not in the nine BSALs

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Conclusion