grammatical constraints and motivations for - University of the ...
grammatical constraints and motivations for - University of the ...
grammatical constraints and motivations for - University of the ...
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1.0 Introduction<br />
Chapter 1<br />
Background to <strong>the</strong> Study<br />
This chapter deals with <strong>the</strong> statement <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> problem <strong>and</strong> provides background<br />
in<strong>for</strong>mation on <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> Afrikaans <strong>and</strong> its speakers, as well as <strong>the</strong><br />
current linguistic situation in South Africa.<br />
1.1 Current Linguistic Situation in South Africa<br />
South Africa is a culturally <strong>and</strong> linguistically diverse society <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> government<br />
seeks to promote pride in <strong>the</strong> eleven <strong>of</strong>ficial languages <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Republic. The<br />
National Constitution (1996) declares that all languages should have equal status<br />
<strong>and</strong> that conditions shall be created <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir development <strong>and</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> promotion<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir equal use <strong>and</strong> enjoyment.<br />
However, not all languages have equal status in <strong>the</strong> country’s multilingual society.<br />
Although approximately 75 percent <strong>of</strong> South Africans are mo<strong>the</strong>r-tongue speakers<br />
<strong>of</strong> an African language, English is <strong>the</strong> language <strong>of</strong> employment <strong>and</strong> education,<br />
<strong>and</strong> is also <strong>the</strong> language associated with upward social mobility (Kaschula &<br />
Anthonissen, 1995). As <strong>the</strong> following graph (Graph 1) reveals, <strong>the</strong> majority <strong>of</strong><br />
South Africans speak indigenous African languages, including Afrikaans, while<br />
English as a first language is only spoken by about 9% <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> total population.<br />
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