Against All Odds: The Survival of Fanagalo in South African Mines. Issue 1 (2nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ravyse, Natasha
• Is Part Of: Language matters. Volume 49:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 3
• Page End: 24
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Subjects: language policy -- language planning -- Fanagalo/Fanakalo/Fanekalo -- language maintenance -- unofficial language maintenance; Africa -- Languages -- Periodicals; 496.05
• DOI: 10.1080/10228195.2018.1440319
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1022-8195

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This article explores the position of language planning and policies aimed at phasing out unofficial languages. In the context of the mining industry, Fanagalo has continued to survive long-standing attempts to eradicate its use by means of official language policy. This article investigates the reasons for Fanagalo's continued use by developing a conceptual model in which its maintenance mechanisms and dynamics are explained. In understanding that the maintenance of unofficial languages does not adhere to the conventional rules of maintenance, the application of policies dictated by conformist guidelines is found to be the reason for its ineffectiveness. The article concludes by highlighting the role of South Africa's sociolinguistic character, over-politicisation of language and domain specific influences concerning the ineffectiveness of language policy to eradicate languages on the basis of their unofficial status.