'Hayi, they don’t know Xhosa’: Comparative isiXhosa teaching challenges in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng
- Kaschula, Russell H, Kretzer, Michael M
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H , Kretzer, Michael M
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/${Handle} , vital:42499 , https://doi.org/10.1080/02572117.2019.1672318
- Description: Language-in-education policy in South Africa is underpinned by the Constitution. The gap that this research addresses is the inconsistency of policy implementation and the actual teaching of isiXhosa in primary schools. It analyses the official and overt language policy and the (covert) language practices at schools. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with language teachers and principals. Data were also gathered from classroom observations and document analysis in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng. On the one hand, there are standard language policy documents that exist. These advocate for English as a language of learning and teaching and isiXhosa as a subject. On the other hand, the daily reality in classrooms partly reflects this policy implementation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H , Kretzer, Michael M
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/${Handle} , vital:42499 , https://doi.org/10.1080/02572117.2019.1672318
- Description: Language-in-education policy in South Africa is underpinned by the Constitution. The gap that this research addresses is the inconsistency of policy implementation and the actual teaching of isiXhosa in primary schools. It analyses the official and overt language policy and the (covert) language practices at schools. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with language teachers and principals. Data were also gathered from classroom observations and document analysis in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng. On the one hand, there are standard language policy documents that exist. These advocate for English as a language of learning and teaching and isiXhosa as a subject. On the other hand, the daily reality in classrooms partly reflects this policy implementation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
'Meaningful engagement’: Towards a language rights paradigm for effective language policy implementation
- Docrat, Zakeera, Kaschula, Russell H
- Authors: Docrat, Zakeera , Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174812 , vital:42512 , https://doi.org/10.1080/02572117.2015.1056455
- Description: This article aims to develop the concept of ‘meaningful engagement’ in terms of the contemporary language policy implementation framework in South Africa. By exploring the current language policies, implementation and the current lack of effectiveness, the authors offer a new implementation focus drawn from the legal concept of ‘meaningful engagement’. ‘Meaningful engagement’ is a concept within the socio-economic rights sphere. This article expands and advances the concept within a language policy framework. Against the enabling legislative environment created by the Use of Official Languages Act 12 of 2012 and the overarching Constitutional framework which embeds the rights of all official languages, ‘meaningful engagement’ is developed and applied to selected language policies and practices.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Docrat, Zakeera , Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174812 , vital:42512 , https://doi.org/10.1080/02572117.2015.1056455
- Description: This article aims to develop the concept of ‘meaningful engagement’ in terms of the contemporary language policy implementation framework in South Africa. By exploring the current language policies, implementation and the current lack of effectiveness, the authors offer a new implementation focus drawn from the legal concept of ‘meaningful engagement’. ‘Meaningful engagement’ is a concept within the socio-economic rights sphere. This article expands and advances the concept within a language policy framework. Against the enabling legislative environment created by the Use of Official Languages Act 12 of 2012 and the overarching Constitutional framework which embeds the rights of all official languages, ‘meaningful engagement’ is developed and applied to selected language policies and practices.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
(Latent) Potentials to Incorporate and Improve Environmental Knowledge Using African Languages in Agriculture Lessons in Malawi:
- Kretzer, Michael M, Kaschula, Russell H
- Authors: Kretzer, Michael M , Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174717 , vital:42503 , ISBN 978-3-030-32897-9 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32898-6_23
- Description: In their official language policy, nearly all Sub-Saharan African states use their indigenous language(s) as Language of Learning and Teaching (LoLT) only at the beginning of primary schools. This is also the case in Malawi. The curricula in the various school subjects are also highly dominated by ‘Western’ ideas and include very little Indigenous Knowledge (IK). Nevertheless, indigenous languages are frequently used during lessons. This research focused on answering the following questions: How is a meaningful Science Education for pupils in Malawi possible? Does the inclusion of IK and teaching through African Languages assist pupils in any way? Research was done in the Northern Region of Malawi. To obtain a better understanding, semi-structured interviews and ethnographic observations were conducted. The main focus of these interviews was on the subject of ‘Agriculture’.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Kretzer, Michael M , Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174717 , vital:42503 , ISBN 978-3-030-32897-9 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32898-6_23
- Description: In their official language policy, nearly all Sub-Saharan African states use their indigenous language(s) as Language of Learning and Teaching (LoLT) only at the beginning of primary schools. This is also the case in Malawi. The curricula in the various school subjects are also highly dominated by ‘Western’ ideas and include very little Indigenous Knowledge (IK). Nevertheless, indigenous languages are frequently used during lessons. This research focused on answering the following questions: How is a meaningful Science Education for pupils in Malawi possible? Does the inclusion of IK and teaching through African Languages assist pupils in any way? Research was done in the Northern Region of Malawi. To obtain a better understanding, semi-structured interviews and ethnographic observations were conducted. The main focus of these interviews was on the subject of ‘Agriculture’.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
(Unused) potentials of educators’ covert language policies at public schools in Limpopo, South Africa:
- Kretzer, Michael M, Kaschula, Russell H
- Authors: Kretzer, Michael M , Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174679 , vital:42500 , DOI: 10.1039/D0PP00075B
- Description: Language policy is an influencing factor of the educational outcome for pupils in Africa. Colonial languages have been largely used and African Languages are neglected. Despite this, the South African Constitution (1996) declares eleven official languages. However, curricular developments favour Afrikaans and English. To analyse the implementation of the official language policy, we focus on Limpopo Province. Over 1000 questionnaires were answered by teachers. This approach aimed to analyse the language practices and language attitudes of teachers. Schools in Limpopo showed significant differences between the official language policy and the daily language practices. Some teachers implement the official language policy; others use one or more African languages in their oral communications during the lessons in the form of Code Switching.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Kretzer, Michael M , Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174679 , vital:42500 , DOI: 10.1039/D0PP00075B
- Description: Language policy is an influencing factor of the educational outcome for pupils in Africa. Colonial languages have been largely used and African Languages are neglected. Despite this, the South African Constitution (1996) declares eleven official languages. However, curricular developments favour Afrikaans and English. To analyse the implementation of the official language policy, we focus on Limpopo Province. Over 1000 questionnaires were answered by teachers. This approach aimed to analyse the language practices and language attitudes of teachers. Schools in Limpopo showed significant differences between the official language policy and the daily language practices. Some teachers implement the official language policy; others use one or more African languages in their oral communications during the lessons in the form of Code Switching.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
A case for the adoption of Swahili as a language of early school literacy instruction in Ekegusii-speaking areas of western Kenya:
- Mose, Peter, Kaschula, Russell H
- Authors: Mose, Peter , Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174645 , vital:42497 , https://www.njas.fi/njas/article/view/433
- Description: Swahili, a national and official language in Kenya, is in wide use in the country as an inter-ethnic medium of communication and, generally, as a lingua franca. The operative language policy for lower primary–up to grade three–provides for the use of languages of the catchment as languages of instruction. The languages of the catchment refer to the more than 42 indigenous languages spoken in the country. The purpose of this study was to determine and discuss institutional and extra-institutional factors that might favour adoption of Swahili as the best medium–in the current sociolinguistic realities–in the ‘language-of-the-catchment-based’ literacy learning in Ekegusii-speaking areas of western Kenya. Data were obtained through classroom observations, teacher and church leaders’ interviews, observation and analysis of language trends at church worship services, and critical literature review.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Mose, Peter , Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174645 , vital:42497 , https://www.njas.fi/njas/article/view/433
- Description: Swahili, a national and official language in Kenya, is in wide use in the country as an inter-ethnic medium of communication and, generally, as a lingua franca. The operative language policy for lower primary–up to grade three–provides for the use of languages of the catchment as languages of instruction. The languages of the catchment refer to the more than 42 indigenous languages spoken in the country. The purpose of this study was to determine and discuss institutional and extra-institutional factors that might favour adoption of Swahili as the best medium–in the current sociolinguistic realities–in the ‘language-of-the-catchment-based’ literacy learning in Ekegusii-speaking areas of western Kenya. Data were obtained through classroom observations, teacher and church leaders’ interviews, observation and analysis of language trends at church worship services, and critical literature review.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Alice in Wonderland: translating to read across Africa
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174901 , vital:42520 , https://doi.org/10.1080/13696815.2016.1160827
- Description: This article comments on various translation strategies aiming at equivalence used by translators when reworking Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland into nine African languages. The back translations provided by the translators form the basis for the discussion [Lindseth, Jon, ed. 2015. Alice in a World of Wonderlands. Volume 1: Essays. Delaware: Oak Knoll Press]. This article provides examples and discussion of how African language translators deviated from the original text and it analyses the possible reasons for doing so, both linguistic and socio-cultural. The way in which translators created an African voice in the target languages is discussed by analysing their reflective essays and back translations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174901 , vital:42520 , https://doi.org/10.1080/13696815.2016.1160827
- Description: This article comments on various translation strategies aiming at equivalence used by translators when reworking Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland into nine African languages. The back translations provided by the translators form the basis for the discussion [Lindseth, Jon, ed. 2015. Alice in a World of Wonderlands. Volume 1: Essays. Delaware: Oak Knoll Press]. This article provides examples and discussion of how African language translators deviated from the original text and it analyses the possible reasons for doing so, both linguistic and socio-cultural. The way in which translators created an African voice in the target languages is discussed by analysing their reflective essays and back translations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
An intercultural approach to implementing multilingualism at Rhodes University, South Africa
- Kaschula, Russell H, Maseko, Pamela, Dalvit, Lorenzo, Mapi, Thandeka, Nelani, Linda, Nosilela, Bulelwa, Sam, Msindisi S
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H , Maseko, Pamela , Dalvit, Lorenzo , Mapi, Thandeka , Nelani, Linda , Nosilela, Bulelwa , Sam, Msindisi S
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Multilingualism -- South Africa , Intercultural communication , Education, Higher -- South Africa , Language and culture -- South Africa , Language and education -- South Africa , Rhodes University
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59390 , vital:27579 , doi: 10.5842/39-0-74
- Description: The work of intercultural communication theorists such as Ting-Toomey (1999) and Gudykunst (2003) has informed curriculum design and teaching methodology of the courses developed for teaching isiXhosa for vocational purposes to second language (L2) learners. This seems to be an appropriate theoretical paradigm within multilingual South Africa, where intercultural communication is becoming a daily reality for a growing portion of the population. We make use of this theory to introduce and develop experiential understanding of multilingualism at Rhodes University in various departments and, more generally, on campus.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H , Maseko, Pamela , Dalvit, Lorenzo , Mapi, Thandeka , Nelani, Linda , Nosilela, Bulelwa , Sam, Msindisi S
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Multilingualism -- South Africa , Intercultural communication , Education, Higher -- South Africa , Language and culture -- South Africa , Language and education -- South Africa , Rhodes University
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59390 , vital:27579 , doi: 10.5842/39-0-74
- Description: The work of intercultural communication theorists such as Ting-Toomey (1999) and Gudykunst (2003) has informed curriculum design and teaching methodology of the courses developed for teaching isiXhosa for vocational purposes to second language (L2) learners. This seems to be an appropriate theoretical paradigm within multilingual South Africa, where intercultural communication is becoming a daily reality for a growing portion of the population. We make use of this theory to introduce and develop experiential understanding of multilingualism at Rhodes University in various departments and, more generally, on campus.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Analyzing, digitizing and technologizing the oral word: the case of Bongani Sitole
- Kaschula, Russell H, Mostert, André M
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H , Mostert, André M
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Sitole, Bongani, 1937- , Xhosa (African people) -- South Africa , Xhosa poetry , Folk poetry, Xhosa
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59368 , vital:27566 , https://doi.org/10.1080/13696810903259384
- Description: This article analyzes the oral poetry, izibongo, produced by Xhosa oral poet Bongani Sitole (both in book and technological form). It will trace this poetry from the moment it was orally produced, through to the technologizing and publication of this poetry in book form and on a website. The initial part of this article looks at the life and work of the poet. A contextual analysis of selected poetry is provided. The latter part of the article concentrates on issues related to technology and its relationship to the oral and written word. The term ‘technauriture’ has been coined in order to refer to this process. The contribution of eLearning4Africa (www.elearning4africa.com) to the digitization process of Sitole’s poetry is acknowledged.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H , Mostert, André M
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Sitole, Bongani, 1937- , Xhosa (African people) -- South Africa , Xhosa poetry , Folk poetry, Xhosa
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59368 , vital:27566 , https://doi.org/10.1080/13696810903259384
- Description: This article analyzes the oral poetry, izibongo, produced by Xhosa oral poet Bongani Sitole (both in book and technological form). It will trace this poetry from the moment it was orally produced, through to the technologizing and publication of this poetry in book form and on a website. The initial part of this article looks at the life and work of the poet. A contextual analysis of selected poetry is provided. The latter part of the article concentrates on issues related to technology and its relationship to the oral and written word. The term ‘technauriture’ has been coined in order to refer to this process. The contribution of eLearning4Africa (www.elearning4africa.com) to the digitization process of Sitole’s poetry is acknowledged.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Challenging the forked tongue of multilingualism: scholarship in African languages at SA Universities with specific reference to Rhodes
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:586 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018946 , https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5481-6748
- Description: [From the text] Effective multilingualism will aid SA in creating Social Cohesion (cultural, linguistic), a National Government initiative forming part of language planning. Languages should be seen as part of our environment and “resource package” within an intercultural paradigm. All students exiting School and University must be proficient in an African language and English or Afrikaans.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:586 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018946 , https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5481-6748
- Description: [From the text] Effective multilingualism will aid SA in creating Social Cohesion (cultural, linguistic), a National Government initiative forming part of language planning. Languages should be seen as part of our environment and “resource package” within an intercultural paradigm. All students exiting School and University must be proficient in an African language and English or Afrikaans.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Communicating across cultures in South African law courts: towards an information technology solution*
- Kaschula, Russell H, Mostert, André M
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H , Mostert, André M
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Language policy -- South Africa , Courts interpreting and translating -- South Africa , Translating and interpreting -- Technological innovations , Intercultural communication -- South Africa , Conduct of court proceedings -- South Africa , Linguistic rights -- South Africa , Multilingualism -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59423 , vital:27599 , doi: 10.5842/36-0-39
- Description: Language rights in South Africa are entrenched in the Constitution of South Africa (Chapter 1, Section 6, Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996). However, the concomitant infrastructure and organisational realities make this policy difficult to implement, especially in law courts (Kaschula and Ralarala 2004). Creating effective communicative environments has historically been constrained by lack of effective training of legal practitioners and by the lack of capacity for building translation structures. With the advancement of technology, potential solutions are becoming more apparent and it is incumbent upon the academic community to embark on a rigorous investigation into possible solutions and how these Information Communication Technology (ICT) solutions could be applied to the execution of justice in South African law courts. This article aims to open the discourse of possible solutions, via assessments of computer based translation solutions, ICT context simulations and other potential opportunities. The authors hope to initiate the interest of other language and legal practitioners to explore how the new technological capabilities could be harnessed to support the entrenchment of language rights in our law courts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H , Mostert, André M
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Language policy -- South Africa , Courts interpreting and translating -- South Africa , Translating and interpreting -- Technological innovations , Intercultural communication -- South Africa , Conduct of court proceedings -- South Africa , Linguistic rights -- South Africa , Multilingualism -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59423 , vital:27599 , doi: 10.5842/36-0-39
- Description: Language rights in South Africa are entrenched in the Constitution of South Africa (Chapter 1, Section 6, Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996). However, the concomitant infrastructure and organisational realities make this policy difficult to implement, especially in law courts (Kaschula and Ralarala 2004). Creating effective communicative environments has historically been constrained by lack of effective training of legal practitioners and by the lack of capacity for building translation structures. With the advancement of technology, potential solutions are becoming more apparent and it is incumbent upon the academic community to embark on a rigorous investigation into possible solutions and how these Information Communication Technology (ICT) solutions could be applied to the execution of justice in South African law courts. This article aims to open the discourse of possible solutions, via assessments of computer based translation solutions, ICT context simulations and other potential opportunities. The authors hope to initiate the interest of other language and legal practitioners to explore how the new technological capabilities could be harnessed to support the entrenchment of language rights in our law courts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Cross-cultural communication in a north-eastern Cape farming community:
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 1989
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175313 , vital:42564 , https://doi.org/10.1080/02572117.1989.10586786
- Description: Cross-cultural communication is dealt with and more specifically, the communicative competence of 15 white English-speaking farmers when they speak Xhosa to their labourers is assessed. This research was conducted in the Elliot, Ugie, and Maclear areas of the north-eastern Cape. A broad sociolinguistic framework drawing on both ethnographic and ethnomethodological principles was used; complications caused by cross-cultural differences which are reflected in language, and which may lead to possible communication breakdown, were isolated. The actual analysis of speech in terms of ethnomethodological principles, such as turn-taking and the co-operative principle, was undertaken.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1989
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 1989
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175313 , vital:42564 , https://doi.org/10.1080/02572117.1989.10586786
- Description: Cross-cultural communication is dealt with and more specifically, the communicative competence of 15 white English-speaking farmers when they speak Xhosa to their labourers is assessed. This research was conducted in the Elliot, Ugie, and Maclear areas of the north-eastern Cape. A broad sociolinguistic framework drawing on both ethnographic and ethnomethodological principles was used; complications caused by cross-cultural differences which are reflected in language, and which may lead to possible communication breakdown, were isolated. The actual analysis of speech in terms of ethnomethodological principles, such as turn-taking and the co-operative principle, was undertaken.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1989
Culture, language and productivity in the workplace within the BRICS Nations:
- Kaschula, Russell H, Mostert, André M, Wolff, H Ekkehard
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H , Mostert, André M , Wolff, H Ekkehard
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174624 , vital:42495 , https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.25159/2663-6697/5009
- Description: The changing economic environment globally carries challenges and opportunities for business. Cross-cultural environments and financial integration call for greater understanding of the workplace. The authors assess the usage and status of language and culture in workplaces within the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) countries through a light touch survey to assist in framing further and deeper research activities. The objective is to develop a suitable research framework regarding the place of language and culture in the workplace in multilingual and multicultural contexts. The authors argue for the inclusion of a cultural dimension linked to multilingual strategies in the workplace. The inextricable link between language and culture is explored in this article.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H , Mostert, André M , Wolff, H Ekkehard
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174624 , vital:42495 , https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.25159/2663-6697/5009
- Description: The changing economic environment globally carries challenges and opportunities for business. Cross-cultural environments and financial integration call for greater understanding of the workplace. The authors assess the usage and status of language and culture in workplaces within the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) countries through a light touch survey to assist in framing further and deeper research activities. The objective is to develop a suitable research framework regarding the place of language and culture in the workplace in multilingual and multicultural contexts. The authors argue for the inclusion of a cultural dimension linked to multilingual strategies in the workplace. The inextricable link between language and culture is explored in this article.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Developing Mother Tongues as Academic Languages in Primary Schools in Kenya: Exploring Extent and Indispensability
- Mose, Peter N, Kaschula, Russell H
- Authors: Mose, Peter N , Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174793 , vital:42510 , https://doi.org/10.1080/15348458.2019.1645605
- Description: The language in education policy in Kenya recommends mother tongue education in primary school learning. The purpose of this study was to explore the development of mother tongues as academic languages at the lower primary section in which the languages are supposed to be used. The exploration was on the functions they play in classroom instruction and if they are dispensable or otherwise. Ekegusii was used as a case study. Data were obtained through classroom observations and administration of semi-structured interviews with lower primary teachers. The findings indicate that mother tongues play important pedagogical functions in grades 1 up to 3, but not exactly as contemplated in the language policy. Secondly, mother tongues are indispensable in classroom teaching in spite of negative attitude towards their use.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Mose, Peter N , Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174793 , vital:42510 , https://doi.org/10.1080/15348458.2019.1645605
- Description: The language in education policy in Kenya recommends mother tongue education in primary school learning. The purpose of this study was to explore the development of mother tongues as academic languages at the lower primary section in which the languages are supposed to be used. The exploration was on the functions they play in classroom instruction and if they are dispensable or otherwise. Ekegusii was used as a case study. Data were obtained through classroom observations and administration of semi-structured interviews with lower primary teachers. The findings indicate that mother tongues play important pedagogical functions in grades 1 up to 3, but not exactly as contemplated in the language policy. Secondly, mother tongues are indispensable in classroom teaching in spite of negative attitude towards their use.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Econo-Language Planning and Transformation in South Africa: From Localisation to Globalisation
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174657 , vital:42498 , ISBN 9781108425346
- Description: This chapter seeks to create an understanding of the historical, sociopolitical and economic context within which language planning has taken place in South Africa (Alexander 1992). Furthermore, the extent to which government agencies and other stakeholder bodies have taken language planning into account when developing economic and development policies within the contemporary global reality will be assessed (Edozie 2004). Policies (if one can call them policies) such as the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), as well as the National Development Plan (NDP) in South Africa are analysed against the backdrop of language policy planning and implementation, to see if there are linkages between opportunity language planning on the ground (Antia 2017) and economic development. In other words does language planning create work opportunities through policy creation and implementation where our languages are seen as resources to be used appropriately in the market place?.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174657 , vital:42498 , ISBN 9781108425346
- Description: This chapter seeks to create an understanding of the historical, sociopolitical and economic context within which language planning has taken place in South Africa (Alexander 1992). Furthermore, the extent to which government agencies and other stakeholder bodies have taken language planning into account when developing economic and development policies within the contemporary global reality will be assessed (Edozie 2004). Policies (if one can call them policies) such as the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), as well as the National Development Plan (NDP) in South Africa are analysed against the backdrop of language policy planning and implementation, to see if there are linkages between opportunity language planning on the ground (Antia 2017) and economic development. In other words does language planning create work opportunities through policy creation and implementation where our languages are seen as resources to be used appropriately in the market place?.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Emthonjeni:
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 2006
- Language: isiXhosa
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175351 , vital:42567 , ISBN 9781869285012
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 2006
- Language: isiXhosa
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175351 , vital:42567 , ISBN 9781869285012
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
From linguistic determinism to technological determinism
- Kaschula, Russell H, Mostert, André M
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H , Mostert, André M
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67062 , vital:29027 , https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-5888-2.ch447
- Description: publisher version , From Introduction: This article seeks to analyse the link between linguistic determinism, the notion that language determines our thought and the way we perceive our reality, as espoused by the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, and contemporary technological determinism. Arguably this link takes place within a global context where equal access to technology is not yet guaranteed. Ellul (1964) and Lawson’s (2004) observations create an interesting metaphor in terms of the technological beast staring down human society. The overwhelming response if we accept Lawson’s observation is complacency at best or downright naivety at worst regarding the impact of technology on our thinking. Lawson made his observation in the pre-Facebook era and subsequent literature is now much more focused on all aspects of technology within our contemporary milieu. Technology is now totally ubiquitous in the developed world and becoming more so in developing countries, albeit with a much stronger mobile bias for early technology adopters. That technology is rushing ahead of many individuals and institutions is almost an aphorism with many lagging in its wake. This lag as recognised by Brynjolfson and McAfree (2011) has wide social and economic implications for all members of society, in the case of business those that do not keep up go under. A further pertinent question revolves around how individuals who start from low technological literacy levels or do not keep pace with technological developments are impacted. Dlutu (2013) assesses for example the impact of social network sites on the isiXhosa language and culture in both a rural and urban area of South Africa. Furthermore one may then ask how this technological milieu impacts on the general aspects of the day to day lives and thinking of all members of a society. This gives rise to the concept of technological determinism which in its simplest form states ‘that technology has important effects on our lives’ (Adler, 2008, p. 537). This is far too simplistic when the contemporaneous technological developments are assessed. Adler (2008, p. 537) goes further and recognizes ‘that technology itself is socially determined…and social structures co-evolve in a non-deterministic, emergent process…the effects of any given technology depend mainly on how it is implemented which in turn is socially determined’ (Adler, 2008, p. 537). Engaging this socially determined application of technology can be advanced when the relationship with language and language determinism is considered. Moreover, it is the interplay between technology and language that gives rise to the emerging concept of a language singularity which is brought about by a form of technological determinism. This article seeks to explore the possible effects of rapid technological development on human interaction, language and culture in a ‘globalized’ world which has unequal access to literacy and technology. Furthermore, the article explores the link between language, culture, thought and technology and the type of linguistic and technological determinism that we can anticipate.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H , Mostert, André M
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67062 , vital:29027 , https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-5888-2.ch447
- Description: publisher version , From Introduction: This article seeks to analyse the link between linguistic determinism, the notion that language determines our thought and the way we perceive our reality, as espoused by the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, and contemporary technological determinism. Arguably this link takes place within a global context where equal access to technology is not yet guaranteed. Ellul (1964) and Lawson’s (2004) observations create an interesting metaphor in terms of the technological beast staring down human society. The overwhelming response if we accept Lawson’s observation is complacency at best or downright naivety at worst regarding the impact of technology on our thinking. Lawson made his observation in the pre-Facebook era and subsequent literature is now much more focused on all aspects of technology within our contemporary milieu. Technology is now totally ubiquitous in the developed world and becoming more so in developing countries, albeit with a much stronger mobile bias for early technology adopters. That technology is rushing ahead of many individuals and institutions is almost an aphorism with many lagging in its wake. This lag as recognised by Brynjolfson and McAfree (2011) has wide social and economic implications for all members of society, in the case of business those that do not keep up go under. A further pertinent question revolves around how individuals who start from low technological literacy levels or do not keep pace with technological developments are impacted. Dlutu (2013) assesses for example the impact of social network sites on the isiXhosa language and culture in both a rural and urban area of South Africa. Furthermore one may then ask how this technological milieu impacts on the general aspects of the day to day lives and thinking of all members of a society. This gives rise to the concept of technological determinism which in its simplest form states ‘that technology has important effects on our lives’ (Adler, 2008, p. 537). This is far too simplistic when the contemporaneous technological developments are assessed. Adler (2008, p. 537) goes further and recognizes ‘that technology itself is socially determined…and social structures co-evolve in a non-deterministic, emergent process…the effects of any given technology depend mainly on how it is implemented which in turn is socially determined’ (Adler, 2008, p. 537). Engaging this socially determined application of technology can be advanced when the relationship with language and language determinism is considered. Moreover, it is the interplay between technology and language that gives rise to the emerging concept of a language singularity which is brought about by a form of technological determinism. This article seeks to explore the possible effects of rapid technological development on human interaction, language and culture in a ‘globalized’ world which has unequal access to literacy and technology. Furthermore, the article explores the link between language, culture, thought and technology and the type of linguistic and technological determinism that we can anticipate.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2015
From Oral Literature to Technauriture: What’s in a Name?
- Kaschula, Russell H, Mostert, André M
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H , Mostert, André M
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175201 , vital:42552 , ISBN 978-0-9566052-3-8 , https://aspace.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/237322
- Description: Oral traditions and oral literature have long contributed to human communication, yet the advent of arguably the most influential technology—the written word—altered the course of creative ability. Despite its potential and scope, the development of the written word resulted in an insidious dichotomy. As the written word evolved, the oral word became devalued and pushed to the fringes of society. One of the unfortunate consequences of this transition to writing has been a focus on the systems and conventions of orality and oral tradition. Although of importance, a more appropriate focus would be on ways of supporting and maintaining the oral word, and its innate value to human society, in the face of rampant technological development. Yet it is ironic that technology is also helping to create a fecund environment for the rebirth of orality. This paper offers an overview of the debate about the relationship between oral literature, the written word and technology, and suggests that the term technauriture may offer a suitable encompassing paradigm for further engagement with the oral word and its application to modern society. We discuss the late Bongani Sitole, a poet whose oral works were transformed into public and educational resources through the application of technology, and we consider the utility of the term technauriture for describing the relationship between orality, literature and technology.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H , Mostert, André M
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175201 , vital:42552 , ISBN 978-0-9566052-3-8 , https://aspace.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/237322
- Description: Oral traditions and oral literature have long contributed to human communication, yet the advent of arguably the most influential technology—the written word—altered the course of creative ability. Despite its potential and scope, the development of the written word resulted in an insidious dichotomy. As the written word evolved, the oral word became devalued and pushed to the fringes of society. One of the unfortunate consequences of this transition to writing has been a focus on the systems and conventions of orality and oral tradition. Although of importance, a more appropriate focus would be on ways of supporting and maintaining the oral word, and its innate value to human society, in the face of rampant technological development. Yet it is ironic that technology is also helping to create a fecund environment for the rebirth of orality. This paper offers an overview of the debate about the relationship between oral literature, the written word and technology, and suggests that the term technauriture may offer a suitable encompassing paradigm for further engagement with the oral word and its application to modern society. We discuss the late Bongani Sitole, a poet whose oral works were transformed into public and educational resources through the application of technology, and we consider the utility of the term technauriture for describing the relationship between orality, literature and technology.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
From Technauriture to Cultauriture: Developing a Coherent Digitisation Paradigm for Enhancing Cultural Impact
- Mostert, André M, Lisney, Bob, Maroko, Geoffrey M, Kaschula, Russell H
- Authors: Mostert, André M , Lisney, Bob , Maroko, Geoffrey M , Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124528 , vital:35625 , http://www.ijscl.net/article_26650.html
- Description: Developing suitable frameworks and paradigms (theoretical and practical) is a challenge for all disciplines in the face of rapid technological changes. Technological advances are fundamentally changing discourse in many well-established areas of research; from advances in understanding the brain, questioning the informed wisdom of sectors of the brain, through to impacts of social networks on sociology, to digitisation of culture. Technology’s potential is a double-edged sword which calls for coherent and reflective practices, to avoid the many pitfalls which abound. Kaschula recognised this as far back as 2004 in terms of orality, oral societies, and developed Technauriture as a framing solution. Drawing from this experience, the authors aim to expand the concept to offer a framing paradigm for culture in the form of Cultauriture. In this article the concept of Cultauriture is introduced and expanded to create a base for further research and dialogue with and between cultural practitioners, artists and policy makers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Mostert, André M , Lisney, Bob , Maroko, Geoffrey M , Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124528 , vital:35625 , http://www.ijscl.net/article_26650.html
- Description: Developing suitable frameworks and paradigms (theoretical and practical) is a challenge for all disciplines in the face of rapid technological changes. Technological advances are fundamentally changing discourse in many well-established areas of research; from advances in understanding the brain, questioning the informed wisdom of sectors of the brain, through to impacts of social networks on sociology, to digitisation of culture. Technology’s potential is a double-edged sword which calls for coherent and reflective practices, to avoid the many pitfalls which abound. Kaschula recognised this as far back as 2004 in terms of orality, oral societies, and developed Technauriture as a framing solution. Drawing from this experience, the authors aim to expand the concept to offer a framing paradigm for culture in the form of Cultauriture. In this article the concept of Cultauriture is introduced and expanded to create a base for further research and dialogue with and between cultural practitioners, artists and policy makers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Gaming culture: what lessons for pedagogy in South Africa?
- Kaschula, Russell H, Mostert, André M
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H , Mostert, André M
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175189 , vital:42551 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC30895
- Description: Gaming culture is becoming increasingly ubiquitous. Whereas before it was the reserve of those who were prepared to invest in the latest gaming hardware, increasingly powerful entry level machines coupled with more powerful mobile technologies are impacting on how young learners and students assimilate information. This evolving characteristic exhibited by the learners across South Africa must generate a serious reflection of education and training methodologies. Historically, education structures have been slow to embrace the changes that are imperative if the products of the process are to be adequately prepared for the future that faces them. One of the most telling realities of the modern era, or the planetary phase as it is now being tagged, is rapid change. The question that all educators need to ask is 'how is my pedagogic approach evolving'?.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H , Mostert, André M
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175189 , vital:42551 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC30895
- Description: Gaming culture is becoming increasingly ubiquitous. Whereas before it was the reserve of those who were prepared to invest in the latest gaming hardware, increasingly powerful entry level machines coupled with more powerful mobile technologies are impacting on how young learners and students assimilate information. This evolving characteristic exhibited by the learners across South Africa must generate a serious reflection of education and training methodologies. Historically, education structures have been slow to embrace the changes that are imperative if the products of the process are to be adequately prepared for the future that faces them. One of the most telling realities of the modern era, or the planetary phase as it is now being tagged, is rapid change. The question that all educators need to ask is 'how is my pedagogic approach evolving'?.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Identity in the Siyagruva Series of novels: Toward an intercultural
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175159 , vital:42548 , DOI: 10.4314/tvl.v44i2.29792
- Description: This article explores the notion of changing South African youth identity and how it is depicted in the Siyagruva [We are Grooving] Series of novels for young adults. The article highlights the need for a broadening of literary theory in order to include an appropriate theoretical approach for new South African youth literature. This theory explores intercultural literary discourse by making use of, for example, the work of intercultural theorists such as Ting-Toomey (1999), Gudykunst (2003) and others. It is argued that this form of literary discourse is now appropriate as a theoretical paradigm within multilingual South Africa where intercultural communication is becoming a reality. There is also reference to intracultural communication where differences are beginning to appear between young people who are perceived to come from the same cultural group, for example, the character Brunette in the Siyagruva Series who is perceived as a “coconut” by her friends, and thus finds herself having to justify her belonging within a particular in-group or culture. The article concentrates on selected novels, though reference is made to many of the twenty three published novels in the Siyagruva Series, twenty in English, and three translated into isiXhosa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/175159 , vital:42548 , DOI: 10.4314/tvl.v44i2.29792
- Description: This article explores the notion of changing South African youth identity and how it is depicted in the Siyagruva [We are Grooving] Series of novels for young adults. The article highlights the need for a broadening of literary theory in order to include an appropriate theoretical approach for new South African youth literature. This theory explores intercultural literary discourse by making use of, for example, the work of intercultural theorists such as Ting-Toomey (1999), Gudykunst (2003) and others. It is argued that this form of literary discourse is now appropriate as a theoretical paradigm within multilingual South Africa where intercultural communication is becoming a reality. There is also reference to intracultural communication where differences are beginning to appear between young people who are perceived to come from the same cultural group, for example, the character Brunette in the Siyagruva Series who is perceived as a “coconut” by her friends, and thus finds herself having to justify her belonging within a particular in-group or culture. The article concentrates on selected novels, though reference is made to many of the twenty three published novels in the Siyagruva Series, twenty in English, and three translated into isiXhosa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007