Family language policy in a xenophobic context: The case of Kalanga transnational families in South Africa

- Maseko, Busani, Nkomo, Dion

Title
Family language policy in a xenophobic context: The case of Kalanga transnational families in South Africa
Creator
Maseko, Busani
Creator
Nkomo, Dion
Subject
To be catalogued
Date Issued
2024
Date
2024
Type
text
Type
book chapter
Identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/10962/468053
Identifier
vital:77003
Identifier
ISBN
Identifier
https://hdl.handle.net/10413/23289
Description
Due to globalisation and people’s mobility, transnational families have become a common feature worldwide. As they settle in host countries, a diminished need and opportunities to use their heritage languages usually follow. This tendency places pressure on immigrant languages, particularly in countries that do not support their teaching in education. In highly ethnicised and racialised contexts like South Africa, parents’ transnational experiences impact decisions regarding language use in identity construction in the host country. This study examines the family language policies of three transnational Zimbabwean Kalanga families in South Africa. It reveals how their language transactions, negotiations and contestations are enmeshed with considerations of the everpresent xenophobic sentiment in South African society. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with parents from three focal Zimbabwean families of Kalanga heritage. The findings show that parents’ experiences of xenophobia in South Africa shape their language acquisition decisions for their children in considerable ways. The preference for acquiring and using Zulu and English at the expense of Kalanga is motivated by parents’ desire and aspiration for their children’s assimilation into a South African identity to minimise exposure to xenophobic attacks, for children’s schooling and general upward social mobility.
Format
27 pages
Format
pdf
Publisher
CSSALL Publishers (Pty) Ltd
Language
English
Relation
Maseko, B. and Nkomo, D., 2024. Family language policy in a xenophobic context: The case of Kalanga transnational families in South Africa. The diasporean 1: The Southern African perspectives, 15, pp.111-138
Rights
Publisher
Rights
Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the University of KwaZulu-Natal Press Statement (http://ukznpress.bookslive.co.za/about/)
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RU DST/NRF SARChI for Intellectualisation of African Languages, Multilingualism and Education
Nkomo, Dion (Prof)
RU School of Languages and Literatures
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