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Die debat rondom die vertolking van die amptelike taalbeleidsbeginsels van die oorgangsgrondwet in die gedrukte media:'n inhoudsontleding


Johan Lubbe
Theo du Plessis

Abstract

Debate around the interpretation of the official language policy principles of the interim constitution in the printed media — a content analysis. The concept of language and culture is of great importance in the world today. It is obvious that it would also be the case in South Africa with its diversity of languages and cultures. Using a number of national newspapers and periodicals as basis a content analysis of the debate around language policy principles of the Interim Constitution was undertaken. The point of departure was the three orientations distinguished by Ruíz (1988), viz. language-as-problem, language-as-right, and language-as-resource. Within each of these three orientations two further orientations can be distinguished, viz. 'language as sentimental attachment', and 'language-as-means'. In analysing the data a distinction was made between 1) reporting of events; 2) editorial comment on events; 3) comment of freelance co-workers in columns and in-depth articles, and 4) spontaneous comment in letters to the press. Twelve categories of arguments were distinguished and a number of tendencies established. On the basis of the analysis a correlation between language orientation and language policy was determined. Any discussion of language planning must first take into account the underlying orientation.


Die bevordering van eie kultuurgoedere word wêreldwyd belangrik geag. Dat dit in Suid-Afrika met sy verskeidenheid tale en kulture ook die geval sal wees, is eintlik vanselfsprekend. Aan die hand van 'n aantal nasionale koerante en tydskrifte word 'n inhoudsontleding van die debat rond-om die vertolking van die taalbeleidsbeginsels van die Oorgangsgrondwet gegee. Die uitgangspunt is die drie oriënterings wat deur Ruíz (1988) onderskei is, naamlik taal-as-probleem, taal-as-reg, en taal-as-hulpbron. By elk van hierdie oriënterings kan twee verdere oriënterings onderskei word, naamlik 'n sentimentalistiese en 'n instrumentalistiese visie van taal. By die ontleding van die data is onderskei tussen 1) beriggewing van gebeure; 2) redaksionele kommentaar op die gebeure, 3) kommentaar deur ongebonde medewerkers in rubrieke en diepte-artikels, en 4) spontane kommentaar in briewe aan die pers. Twaalf kategorieë argumente is onderskei, en 'n aantal tendense vasgestel. Op grond van die ontleding is 'n verband tussen taaloriëntering en taalbeleid vasgestel. By enige bespreking van taalbeplanning moet die onderliggende oriëntering eers vasgestel word.


(S/ern Af Linguistics & Applied Language Stud: 2001 19(1&2): 23-41)

Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 1727-9461
print ISSN: 1607-3614