The implementation of language management project for previously marginalised South African indigenous languages in the office of the chief state law adviser

Abstract

This thesis concerned itself with the implementation of Language Management Project in the Office of the Chief State Law Adviser (hereinafter OCSLA). The study was aimed at investigating the challenges that are associated with the practicality of multilingualism in South Africa with reference to the implementation of National Language Policy Framework: Implementation Plan 2003 (hereinafter NLPF: IP). Wherein the researcher dealt with the implementation of Language Management Project in the OCSLA in line with the requirements of the NLPF: IP 2003. The researcher examined the issue of language management, a model that was established and promulgated by sociolinguists Neustupny and Jernudd in 1987 and later by others. In 2011, Mwaniki introduced a new model to language management called the Language Management Approach (hereinafter LMA). LMA constitutes of language management variables, language management strategies and methodologies. The aim of the study was to investigate the challenges that are associated with multilingual policies implementation and planning in the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (hereinafter DOJ&CD) with special reference to the OCSLA.The implementation of Language Management Project in the OCSLA attempted to incorporate methodologies and strategies as recommended in the LMA to ascertain whether multilingualism policies implementation and planning could be a success if these strategies were considered to an applicable degree. The Implementation of Language Management Project in the OCSLA was an implementation (process) evaluation. An implementation (process) evaluation that aimed to answer the question of whether an intervention such as the NLPF: IP 2003 was properly implemented. An implementation evaluation design was appropriate for this study because the researcher aimed to answer the question of whether the NLPF: IP 2003 was properly implemented in the OCSLA in line with the requirements of Section 6 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, (Act No. 108 of 1996). The study also attempted to answer whether the target group who were citizens of South Africa who were not conversant with English and Afrikaans have access to legislation i.e. Draft Bills, Bills, Amendment Bills and Acts into indigenous languages. The Language Unit in the OCSLA was the sample population for the study. The selection of the Language Unit in the OCSLA was based on the basis that the Language Unit in the OCSLA is the only entity in South Africa at national level that is assigned with executive task to provide second language Acts in all the official languages of South Africa. In the study qualitative method of data collection was used wherein all the available modes of observation i.e. structured and less structured mode of observation were adopted. The findings in this research demonstrated that the implementation of NLPF: IP 2003 in the OCSLA was the preservation, protection of cultural and linguistic legacy of all official languages. The recommendations applauded that language management variables, methodologies and strategies must be consolidated in any project for multilingual implementation to succeed.