South Africa has 11 official languages, English, Afrikaans and 9 indigenous languages such as Xhosa, Zulu etc. These are not, however, all the South African languages - there are 25 - 30 languages spoken here in total. Not like the Czech Republic :)
Before 1994, only English and Afrikaans had the official status and languages were used as tools of oppression during the apartheid. Thus it makes sense that with the end of apartheid, changes needed to be done, and the official policy of multilingualism was adopted. The Constitution says that all languages must be treated equally. It also says that the government must take practical steps to promote the indigenous languages (as they were given an inferior position during the apartheid era).
Knowing this, come to Stellenbosch and be surprised. :) The official language policy of the Stellenbosch University is this: Afrikaans is the only language of tuition at the undergraduate level. Forget about the policy of multilingualism, forget about equal access to education. Most South African unviersities have English as the language of tuition. And I think it's right. It seems that there were 2 options after 1994: to have one academic language, or to make all the indigenous languages academic. Now, what makes more sense... I think English is the right choice, as it is easier, cheaper, and students will need it anyway.
But here, in Stellenbosch, the birthplace of apartheid, some Afrikaaners are afraid that once Afrikaans stops being an academic language, nobody is going to use it anymore. It's interesting that, for example, Xhosa, has never been an academic language and people still use it. So their argument makes no sense. And the funny thing is that nobody ever asked the students what they think.
What do I think? I think it isn't fair. People who don't speak Afrikaans can't study here, and thus they don't have access to probably the best unviersity in South Africa. Just because of language. As in the past... Why do I think that English is better than Afrikaans? It's not really about the language, no language is good or bad, but English is still considered a neutral language by majority of the population, whereas Afrikaans is not.
I know it is a very complicated situation. But the educational system of South Africa needs to be changed anyway. If everyone has access to bilingual education on primary and secondary level (by bilingual I mean education in English and mother language), then English should be the only language of tuition at the tertiary level of education. And then everyone would have equal access to education, and later to job opportunities. It would have more advantages, such as the fact that every South African would be able to communicate with all South Africans, no matter what ethnic group they belong to, what language is their mother tongue.
Or everyone should just learn all the 11 languages :))) (though it is a joke, they say that there are people who really speak all the official languages, wow...)
And thus, being influenced by the policy of multiculturalism, I proclaim this blog bilingual! :) (Well, not really, just partially, English is still going to be the language with inferior position here :)))
Before 1994, only English and Afrikaans had the official status and languages were used as tools of oppression during the apartheid. Thus it makes sense that with the end of apartheid, changes needed to be done, and the official policy of multilingualism was adopted. The Constitution says that all languages must be treated equally. It also says that the government must take practical steps to promote the indigenous languages (as they were given an inferior position during the apartheid era).
Knowing this, come to Stellenbosch and be surprised. :) The official language policy of the Stellenbosch University is this: Afrikaans is the only language of tuition at the undergraduate level. Forget about the policy of multilingualism, forget about equal access to education. Most South African unviersities have English as the language of tuition. And I think it's right. It seems that there were 2 options after 1994: to have one academic language, or to make all the indigenous languages academic. Now, what makes more sense... I think English is the right choice, as it is easier, cheaper, and students will need it anyway.
But here, in Stellenbosch, the birthplace of apartheid, some Afrikaaners are afraid that once Afrikaans stops being an academic language, nobody is going to use it anymore. It's interesting that, for example, Xhosa, has never been an academic language and people still use it. So their argument makes no sense. And the funny thing is that nobody ever asked the students what they think.
What do I think? I think it isn't fair. People who don't speak Afrikaans can't study here, and thus they don't have access to probably the best unviersity in South Africa. Just because of language. As in the past... Why do I think that English is better than Afrikaans? It's not really about the language, no language is good or bad, but English is still considered a neutral language by majority of the population, whereas Afrikaans is not.
I know it is a very complicated situation. But the educational system of South Africa needs to be changed anyway. If everyone has access to bilingual education on primary and secondary level (by bilingual I mean education in English and mother language), then English should be the only language of tuition at the tertiary level of education. And then everyone would have equal access to education, and later to job opportunities. It would have more advantages, such as the fact that every South African would be able to communicate with all South Africans, no matter what ethnic group they belong to, what language is their mother tongue.
Or everyone should just learn all the 11 languages :))) (though it is a joke, they say that there are people who really speak all the official languages, wow...)
And thus, being influenced by the policy of multiculturalism, I proclaim this blog bilingual! :) (Well, not really, just partially, English is still going to be the language with inferior position here :)))
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