Gevalle van positiewe taalbeplanning soos gerapporteer in die gedrukte media

Abstract

Opsommimg: Gevalle van taalmiskenning, vermeend en werklik, kom algemeen voor, en word, tereg, wyd in die pers bespreek. Die teenoorgestelde, naamlik gevalle van positiewe taalbeplanning van tale van veral minderheidsprekers, kom gelukkig ook voor. In opdrag van en met befondsing van PanSAT moniteer die Eenheid vir Taalbestuur aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat vir die afgelope drie jaar die taalregtesituasie in Suid-Afrika soos in die gedrukte media gerapporteer. In hierdie bydrae word gevalle van positiewe taalbeplanning soos in die gedrukte media gerapporteer in die periode 1 Januarie tot 31 Desember 2003 bespreek. Dit sluit onder andere in die skep van omstandighede wat bevorderlik is vir die instandhouding, ontwikkeling en uitbreiding van die gebruik, en bevordering van respek van nie net al die amptelike tale nie, maar ook die tale van die Khoi en San, Suid-Afrikaanse Gebaretaal, en ander tale wat algemeen deur gemeenskappe gebruik word. Daar word onderskei tussen positiewe taalbeplanning deur amptelike en privaat instansies. Terwyl amptelike instansies statutêr verplig word om die taalkousules van die Grondwet na te kom, is die privaat instansies nie aan hierdie voorskrifte gebind nie. In vergelyking met die oorwig van gevalle van taalmiskenning is die voorbeelde van positiewe taalbeplanning juis bevestiging van die oorheersing van Engels. Indien die bevordering van veeltaligheid algemeen, heelhartig en entoesiasties deel van 'n algemene taalbeleid was, sou die bespreekte voorbeelde nie spesifiek uitgesonder hoef te word nie. Abstract: Cases of the disregard of languages, whether perceived or actual, have received wide coverage in the print media. Conversely, however, cases of positive language planning in respect of the languages of minority speakers also occur. The Unit for Language Management at the University of the Free State receives funding from PanSALB in order to monitor the situation regarding language rights, as reported on in the print media. In this article, cases of positive language planning, as reported on in the print media for the period 1 January to 31 December 2003, are discussed. Positive language planning includes, inter alia, the creation of circumstances that are conducive to the maintenance, development and extended use of, and the promotion of respect for, all the official languages, as well as the Khoi and San languages, South African Sign Language, and the other languages generally used by linguistic communities. A distinction is made between positive language planning by official and private institutions. Official institutions are statutorily compelled to comply with the language clauses of the Constitution, while private institutions are not bound by these stipulations. The relatively small proportion of cases of positive language planning, in comparison to the numerous cases of language neglect, provides a clear confirmation of the dominance of English. If the promotion of multilingualism was generally and enthusiastically treated as part of a general policy, it would not have been necessary to discuss individual cases of language planning.

Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies 2007, 25(4): 557–574