The implementation of an institutional language policy in a multilingual South African higher education society

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to show, as so aptly put by Bamgbose (1996:111) that, given the ‘inheritance situation’ and the colonial legacy that continue to dominate education policies and practices in Africa, language policies are essentially characterised by the following features: avoidance, vagueness, arbitrariness, fluctuation, and declaration without implementation. The South African government has declared eleven languages as official to replace the former apartheid legislation which privileged English and Afrikaans as the sole languages of the country. The post apartheid eleven official language policy has been described by Bamgbose (1996 111) as, ‘the new enlightened South African language policy on languages,’ ‘a very progressive policy’ and ‘Africa’s best ticket’. The major concern raised was whether the language policy could be implemented. An attempt will be made to undertake a critical review of language planning under a democratic dispensation.