Language in South Africa

The role of language in national transformation, reconstruction and development

Author

Victor Webb | University of Pretoria

Hardbound – Available

ISBN 9789027218490 (Eur) | EUR 120.00

ISBN 9781588111890 (USA) | USD 180.00

e-Book –

ISBN 9789027297631 | EUR 120.00 | USD 180.00

Language in South Africa (LiSA) debates the role of language and language planning in the reconstruction, development and transformation of post-apartheid democratic South Africa. The 1996 constitution of South Africa is founded on the political philosophy of pluralism and is directed at promoting democratic values, equity and non-discrimination, human rights, national unity and the development of all the country’s communities. The question asked in LiSA is how language planning can contribute towards the attainment of these national ideals. Set against the language political realities of the country — the a-symmetric power relations between the languages; the striking differences in the structural; functional and symbolic adaptation of the official languages; and the many language-related problems in the country — it debates the role of language in state administration, national integration, educational development and economic development. The volume concludes with a discussion of language development and language management.

[IMPACT: Studies in Language, Culture and Society, 14] 2002. xxviii, 357 pp.

Publishing status: Available

https://doi.org/10.1075/impact.14

Table of Contents

List of figures, tables, abbreviations, notes on terms, examples of languages, acknowledgements and maps | p. xi

Preface | pp. 1–3

1. Invisible voices: The problem of language in South Africa | pp. 5–35

2. Exploring the maze: Language policy and language planning for South Africa: the frameworks | pp. 37–61

3. The nature of things: A sociolinguistic profile of South Africa | pp. 63–98

4. For the people, by the people: Language and state administration | pp. 99–135

5. The power of one: Language and nation | pp. 137–168

6. Growing potential: Language in education | pp. 169–216

7. Spreading the wealth: Language and economic development | pp. 217–241

8. Giving voice: Language promotion | pp. 243–280

9. Steering the course: Language management | pp. 281–313

Index | pp. 347–356

“This volume is an impressive piece in many ways. It is well-intentioned, comprehensive and contains a wealth of useful detail and good ideas. Its main contribution is to firmly situate language planning in South Africa in an encompassing sociopolitical and economic framework, and its main failing the lack of an adequate theorisation with which to do this. Perhaps most importantly, it could be read as a statement on the limitations of trying to pursue a politics of democratic social transformation within a framework of conventional language planning.”

Christopher Stroud, National University of Singapore, in Language and Education 19:4, 2005

“The book does offer a wealth of information about the South African context and those interested in the ins- and- outs of language planning will undoubtedly learn a lot from Webb's (2002) arguments, ideas, and suggestions.”

Aneta Pavlenko, Temple University, in Estudios de Sociolingüística 6:1, 2005

“Webb's Language in South Africa is an important contribution to the study of language policy and planning in this country. It will most definitely be used as a standard textbook in this field for quite some time.”

L. Theo Du Plessis, University of the Free State, Tydskrift vir Letterkunde, Jan. 2005

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