Finding one's own linguistic space: views on English, Afrikaans and identity in a semi-urban Australian context

Abstract

The use of the Afrikaans and English in South Africa is well documented in the literature, but little is known about the ideologies attached to these languages in diasporic contexts. In light of the large scale immigration of South Africans into English-speaking countries, this paper aims to explore the dynamics of identity formation of 17 Afrikaans-speaking South African families with respect to both Afrikaans and the South African English accent. Data from semi-structured interviews provide insights into how the two languages compete for space in this Australian English-speaking context. The findings point to links between home language policies, views towards the South African English accent, and identity construction. They also indicate the importance of considering the entire linguistic repertoire of communities, and the diversity of opinion within them.