Taalvariasie by 'n groep laag-besoldigde Afrikaanssprekende mans en vroue

Date
1990
Authors
Jooste, Gerrit Hendrik
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Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate marked linguistic phenomena in the spoken language of a group of (elderly) white Afrikaans-speaking men and women who were economically active in Johannesburg and surrounding areas between 1920 and 1940. For this purpose, tape recordings of twelve male railway workers and twelve female factory workers who fall into a lower socio-economic group were transcribed and analysed as faithfully as possible. Tape recordings of five white male and five white female Afrikaans-speaking teachers of more or less the same age as the first group, but belonging to a higher socio-economic category, were also analysed and transcribed as a basis for comparison. Distinct phonological, syntactical and lexical phenomena indicating signs of language contact were observed in the language of the speakers in the various groups under investigation. Significant differences may also be observed in the language of the men and women in the different socio-economic groups, with the language of the men and women in the lower socio-economic group and that of those in the higher socio-economic group clearly exhibiting gradual differences. Contrary to what was initially expected, men do not necessarily adhere more strictly to standardised language in speech than do women, and few significant characteristics typify the language of men and women in this period. The original expectation of finding relics of spoken Afrikaans from the pre-standardisation phase amongst the speakers selected was not fulfilled since the linguistic phenomena recorded are generally still heard in colloquial Afrikaans today. Furthermore, no traces of Dutchification were to be found in the case of the speakers selected. Dutchification apparently did not take place at lower socio-economic levels. From this study it is clear that the interaction between social stratification and language variation plays an important role, as do the problems surrounding language norms and social norms. In this study of variation, attention is also paid to language normalisation and standardisation, and to language variation and social stratification prior to a discussion of the language of men and women.
Description
PROEFSKRIF VOORGELe TER VERVULLING VAN DIE VEREISTES VIR DIE GRAAD PHlLOSOPHIAE DOCTOR IN AFRIKAANS EN NEDERLANDS IN DIE FAKULTEIT VAN LETTERE AAN DIE UNlVERSITEIT VAN DIE WlTWATERSRAND
Keywords
Afrikaans language -- Social aspects., Afrikaans language -- Usage.
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