Language In South Africa Essay

Language is one of the trademarks characteristics of human culture. It allows for complex communications, storytelling and discussion of abstract ideas. Words in many ways help form human identity. In addition to these fundamentals, there is often a secondary meaning imposed on language, that being a socio-political labeling. The history of a country or people is frequently reflected in language. Often the evolution or extinction of native tongues are hastened by new, imposing powers. Such is the case with the languages of South Africa, a land with a rich linguistic history. South Africa’s linguistic landscape was heavily influenced by colonization from Holland and Great Brittan, the resulting changes in language would later be used by the …show more content…
This shift of government meant English became the official language of public discourse in South African. During this time, most whites were urged to conduct affairs in British English as it was the language in which politics, schools and news were to be conducted. Despite this divide, Afrikaans remained as the mother tongue of thousands of South Africans. The language remained a vernacular in lower classes and was still spoken at home and in church amongst most blacks as well as between white South Africans whose households were established during Dutch …show more content…
Nonwhites were also forced to carry identification cards in case they were stopped by authorities for being in areas deemed unsuitable. Strict rules were implemented as to where each ethnicity group could live, work and attend school. Conditions in white only neighborhoods were much more privileged than other living areas. Interracial marriage was illegalized and mixed race children were often forcible removed from their homes by government officials and their parents