ABSTRACT
This research investigates how language affects the livelihoods of migrants and their use
of social networks for income generation in Johannesburg. The study focuses on the
Cameroonians, a community constituted by two main linguistic groups: Francophones
and Anglophones. It explores the historic process of migration into the Republic of South
Africa, the motivations behind the choice of the inner city of Johannesburg by
Cameroonians, and it differentiates the type of social networks in which Cameroonians in
this study engage in. The research report also explores how language shapes social
networks among Cameroonians living in the inner city of Johannesburg.
Findings of this study reveal that language does not have a direct effect on livelihoods as
almost all Cameroonians migrants interviewed in this study are able to speak both
English and French. It nevertheless, shapes the respondents’ opportunities and strategies
as many rely on linguistic communities to access information, get social assistance, and
find jobs. This study found that Cameroonians living in the inner city of Johannesburg
use intra-linguistic social networks more than inter-linguistic group social networks for
their income generating strategies. It also demonstrates the importance that language has
in the lives of these respondents.
The study is based on non-representative sample of Cameroonians living in
Johannesburg. It used a multi-methods approach including in-depth face-to-face
interviews and written sources such as journals, books and research reports were
combined to gather relevant data. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse the data.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/4721 |
| Date | 28 March 2008 |
| Creators | Katende, Kalambay |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 410591 bytes, 47705 bytes, application/pdf, application/pdf, application/pdf, application/pdf |
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