In the context of South African society, one cannot properly discuss identity without talking about language. With 11 official languages, language diversity is celebrated in all aspects of South African culture. Even the South African national anthem is sung in all five of the most widely used South African languages: Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans, and English. While much emphasis is put on the importance of retaining the native language of one's culture, what struck me most during my time in South Africa was the widespread multilingualism, especially among my generation. Almost every student I came across spoke not one, but multiple languages other than their native tongue. By studying the treatment of language in South Africa, I believe American students could learn a great deal about the importance of language in relation to becoming more active citizens of the world.
During the trip, our professors were constantly encouraging us to spend more time watching television. While this seemed like an unusual request at the time, some of the most prominent examples of South African's attitude towards language and culture can be found in their television programs. This is precisely the point Ian Barnard sets out to make in one of our assigned articles. The modern South African soap opera or sitcom features characters from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds, with actors often speaking their lines in multiple languages. Barnard praises this model of entertainment, which "mirrors official policy in South Africa in eschewing identitarian essentialisms by favouring multilingual hybridity and democratic commitment over linguistic purity and ethnic exclusivity" (Ian Barnard, "Multiculturalism in South African Soaps and Sitcoms"). By featuring multiple languages, these television programs not only inspire pride in minority language speakers, but present a picture of South Africa in which a multicultural, multilingual national identity is shared by all. In an interview, the cast and crew of Isidingo (one of South Africa's most popular soap operas) discuss how the program uses multilingualism as a tool to create a more authentic, uniquely local voice. Such shows stand in stark contrast to those featured in America, where the question of lingual diversity is rarely a topic, let alone a concern.
Most of my knowledge of language politics in South Africa comes from the mouths of people themselves. Much of our trip was spent on university campuses, granting us many opportunities to interact with our South African peers both in and out of the classroom. At the University of South Africa (UNISA), the first campus we visited, we were fortunate enough to have a few students come in and assist us in our Xhosa language classes. I was impressed (though admittedly somewhat embarrassed) that many of them were proficient in five or six languages while I was only fluent in English. They talked about how they often used different languages when at home, at school, at work, church or when they are out with friends. The fact that so many different languages are used for different aspects of South African society suggests a diverse, richly nuanced national language identity not often displayed in American culture.
In order to truly become a "world citizen," one possess the desire and ability understand foreign cultures. Because language and culture are so closely intertwined, those who are multilingual are more likely to understand what it means to live in a global community. By studying language politics in South Africa, hopefully students would learn to use language as a tool to break down cultural barriers and create a more unified world.
During the trip, our professors were constantly encouraging us to spend more time watching television. While this seemed like an unusual request at the time, some of the most prominent examples of South African's attitude towards language and culture can be found in their television programs. This is precisely the point Ian Barnard sets out to make in one of our assigned articles. The modern South African soap opera or sitcom features characters from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds, with actors often speaking their lines in multiple languages. Barnard praises this model of entertainment, which "mirrors official policy in South Africa in eschewing identitarian essentialisms by favouring multilingual hybridity and democratic commitment over linguistic purity and ethnic exclusivity" (Ian Barnard, "Multiculturalism in South African Soaps and Sitcoms"). By featuring multiple languages, these television programs not only inspire pride in minority language speakers, but present a picture of South Africa in which a multicultural, multilingual national identity is shared by all. In an interview, the cast and crew of Isidingo (one of South Africa's most popular soap operas) discuss how the program uses multilingualism as a tool to create a more authentic, uniquely local voice. Such shows stand in stark contrast to those featured in America, where the question of lingual diversity is rarely a topic, let alone a concern.
Most of my knowledge of language politics in South Africa comes from the mouths of people themselves. Much of our trip was spent on university campuses, granting us many opportunities to interact with our South African peers both in and out of the classroom. At the University of South Africa (UNISA), the first campus we visited, we were fortunate enough to have a few students come in and assist us in our Xhosa language classes. I was impressed (though admittedly somewhat embarrassed) that many of them were proficient in five or six languages while I was only fluent in English. They talked about how they often used different languages when at home, at school, at work, church or when they are out with friends. The fact that so many different languages are used for different aspects of South African society suggests a diverse, richly nuanced national language identity not often displayed in American culture.
In order to truly become a "world citizen," one possess the desire and ability understand foreign cultures. Because language and culture are so closely intertwined, those who are multilingual are more likely to understand what it means to live in a global community. By studying language politics in South Africa, hopefully students would learn to use language as a tool to break down cultural barriers and create a more unified world.
~Ryan Lakin
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