Acknowledging diversity: The need to promote African languages

Abstract

Multilingualism has become fashionable. However, the complexity of the concept is not widely recognized. Multilingualism is best addressed by extending the use of African languages beyond the fourth year at school. However, it is possible that this could frustrate learning, since at present it is difficult to develop CALP abilities in the L2 via the Ll, because of facts such as the low status of its speakers. Research should be done into the BJCS and CALP abilities of the pupils concerned at std 4 and std 9 level to determine the factors which influence language proficiency. Multilinguisme het 'n modewoord geword, maar die kompleksiteit van die konsep word nie allerwee begryp nie. Die beste manier om multilinguisme aan te spreek is om die gebruik van Afrikatale te verleng tot na die vierde skooljaar. Dit is egter moontlik dat so 'n stap leer kan belemmer, aangesien dit tans moeilik is om kognitiewelakademiese taalbevoegdheid deur middel van die eerste taal in die tweede taal te ontwikkel omrede faktore soos die lae status van sy sprekers. Die kognitiewe/akademiese taalbevoegdheid en basiese interpersoonlike kommunikasievaardighede van die betrokke leerlinge op st 4- en st 9-vlak behoort nagevors te word om vas te stel watter faktore taalbevoegdheid bei"nvloed.