The study investigated language policy and planning in relation to minority languages and
specifically Tshwao, a Khoisan language, in Zimbabwe. The purpose of the study was to
establish its impact on the current sociolinguistic status of Tshwao. The ultimate goal was to
suggest guidelines for the implementation of the Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment No.
20) Act, 2013 which officially recognised sixteen languages including ‘Koisan’ and to make
recommendations for future language planning for endangered languages in general. The
study is qualitative in nature. It used interviews, document analysis, observation and focus
groups to gather data. Critical Discourse Analysis and Ethnolinguistic Vitality were the main
theories which guided the study. The study showed that even though Tshwao is the Khoisan
language that is popular, there are several other varieties such as Jitshwa, Xaise, Cirecire and
Ganade and they are all endangered with very low demographic, status and institutional
support. The Khoisan people have shifted to Ndebele and Kalanga, languages which are
spoken by their neighbours. Both linguistic and extra-linguistic factors were shown in the
study to have affected the maintenance of Khoisan languages. Numerical domination of the
Khoisan by the Bantu people, subjugation by Mzilikazi during his conquests as well as
selective development of languages by missionaries led to assimilation and language
marginalisation. The implementation of discriminatory land, wildlife and language polices by
the colonial government also resulted in relocations, language contact situations and
dispersed settlements, all of which affected language maintenance. In the post-independence
era, political instability, official and unofficial language policies were shown as having
perpetuated the plight of Khoisan languages, including Tshwao. The constitution emerged as
a milestone towards upholding minority languages. Its effectiveness is however compromised
by inaccuracies and ambiguities in the manner in which provisions are crafted. The study
concludes that Khoisan language endangerment spans from history. Formal and informal
language policies contributed to the current state of endangerment. It further concludes that if
effective revitalisation is to be done in line with implementing the constitution, all the factors
which contributed to endangerment have to be taken into account. The study also suggests a
separate guideline for the promotion of minority languages in general and displaced and
endangered languages like Tshwao in particular. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / D. Phil. (Linguistics)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/27459 |
| Date | 01 1900 |
| Creators | Gotosa, Kudzai |
| Contributors | Phaahla, P., Ngcobo, M. N. (Monica Nomkhosi), 1946- |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 1 online resource (approximately 314 leaves), application/pdf |
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