This book examines the intersections between education, identity formation, and language in post-apartheid South Africa with specific attention to higher education. It does so against the backdrop of the core argument that the sector plays a critical role in shaping, (re)producing and perpetuating sectoral, class, sub-national and national identities, which in turn, in the peculiar South African setting, are almost invariably analogous with the historical fault lines determined and dictated by language as a marker of ethnic and racial identity. The chapters in the book grapple with the nuances related to these intersections in the understanding that higher education language policies--overt and/or covert--largely structure institutional cultures, or what has been described as curriculum in higher education institutions. Together, the chapters examine the roles played by higher education, by language policies, and by the intersections of these policies and ethnolinguistic identities in either constructing and perpetuating, or deconstructing ethnolinguistic identities upon which the sector was founded. The introductory chapter lays out the background to the entire book with an emphasis on the policy and practice perspectives on the intersections. The middle chapters describe the so-called "White Universities", "Black Universities" and "Middle-Man Minorities Universities." The final chapter maps out future directions of the discourses on language and identity formation in South Africa's higher education.
Author(s): Leketi Makalela
Series: Language Policy 27
Publisher: Springer Nature
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: xiii,161
City: Cham
Series Editor Foreword
Language Policy Book Series: Our Aims and Approach
Acknowledgement
Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction: Language, Identity and African Universities
Introduction
Linguistic Apartheid
Post-apartheid Legislative Framework on Multilingualism
A Multilingual Promise
Chapters in the Volume
References
Chapter 2: Institutional Language Policy and Identity Construction at a Former Afrikaans Medium University
Introduction
Language Policy and Institutional Identity
Institutional Identity, Language Policy and Transformation in Higher Education
Situating Institutional Identity and Language Policy within Transformation in Higher Education in South Africa
The Historical Context of the North-West University, Language Policy and Institutional Identity at Potchefstroom Campus
Methodology in Selected Studies
The Interplay Between Language Policy, Institutional Identity and Epistemic Access at Potchefstroom Campus
Institutional Identity and Language Policy Prior to 2015 #FeesMustFall Protests at Potchefstroom Campus
Institutional Identity and Language Policy After 2015 #FeesMustFall Protests at Potchefstroom Campus
Implications for Institutional Identity
Conclusion
References
Chapter 3: Institutional Identity and Multilingualism at University of Limpopo
Introduction
Setting the Scene
Theorising University Spaces as Social and Cultural Structures
The Study
Discussion and Analysis
Institutional Planning and Identity
Language Policy and Practice at UL
The Degree: BA CEMS
Finding Solutions for Africa
Agency and Transformation
Pathways for Intellectualizing African Languages
Conclusions and Implications for Institutional Identity
References
Chapter 4: From ‘Black’ to ‘Kaleidoscope’: Institutional Curriculum and Linguistic Reforms at a Historically Black University
Introduction
The Context of the Study
Developments on Multilingualism in Higher Education
Languages as Social Cohesion in Multilingual Contexts
Languages Policies at some South African Universities in Promoting and/or Inhibiting Social Cohesion
Pedagogical Practices at Universities Promoting and/or Inhibiting Social Cohesion
Linguistic and Cultural Diversity: Lessons from UNIVEN
Implications for Institutional Identity
Conclusion
References
Chapter 5: The Carry-over Effect of Monolingual Teacher Education Programmes: Towards a Decolonized University
Introduction
More than Two Languages as a Resource
The Study
Participants
Research Instruments
Data Analysis
Findings
Monolingual Pedagogy
Linguistic Xenophobia
Multilingual Contestation
Disconnect Between in and out of School Learning
Discussion
Implications for Institutional Identity Transformation
Conclusion
References
Chapter 6: IsiZulu as the Medium of Instruction at University: Shifting Institutional Identities
Introduction
Language Management Framework
Methodology
Language in Higher Education Policy
Status Quo of Language in Higher Education Policy
Identity Loss Through Marginalization of Indigenous African Languages
Developing an Institutional Language Policy
Viability of IsiZulu as Medium of Instruction in a South African University
Implications for Institutional Identity Reform
Conclusion
References
Chapter 7: “You Dare Not Bring the What Do you Calls…”: Marginalization of Indigenous Languages in Higher Education
Introduction
The Locus of South African Multilingual Language Policies
Language, Power and Ideology
Methodology
Presentation of Data and Analysis
Roadshow
Glossary Development Project
Language Policy Review and Resourcing Plan of Implementation Structure
Quadrilingual Language Policy Implementation Shorn of a Strategem
Implications for Institutional Identity
Conclusion
References
Chapter 8: From Fixity to Fluidity: A Critique of Higher Education Language Policy
Introduction
The Study
Method
Test Design
Results and Conclusions of the Study
Languages in Motion
University Context
History of the Institution and Its Past Language Policy
Languages of Instruction
‘Oneness’ Ideology Complication
Misrepresentations in Language Policy
Translingual Alternatives for Language Policy
Changing Monolingual Epistemic Bias in Institutional Identity
Translingual Communicative Practices: A Norm for African Languages Speakers
Translanguaging Offers Hope
Moving from Fixity to Fluidity
Implications for New Institutional Identity
Conclusion
References
Chapter 9: To Be and to Know: Towards a Decolonized Multilingual University
Introduction
Multilingual Policy Developments
The Speaker and Hearer in Multilingualism: A Contemporary Perspective
Beyond Apartheid Universities
Decolonization of Knowledge and the Making of an African University
Reforming New Multilingual Language Policies: A Horizontal Angle
Ubuntu Translanguaging: Disruption and Order
Concluding Remarks
References
