Language and Institutional Identity in the Post-Apartheid South African Higher Education: Perspectives on Policy and Practice

Description

This book examines the intersections between education, identity formation, and language in post-apartheid South Africa with specific attention to higher education. It does so against the backdrop of the core argument that the sector plays a critical role in shaping, (re)producing and perpetuating sectoral, class, sub-national and national identities, which in turn, in the peculiar South African setting, are almost invariably analogous with the historical fault lines determined and dictated by language as a marker of ethnic and racial identity. The chapters in the book grapple with the nuances related to these intersections in the understanding that higher education language policies--overt and/or covert--largely structure institutional cultures, or what has been described as curriculum in higher education institutions. Together, the chapters examine the roles played by higher education, by language policies, and by the intersections of these policies and ethnolinguistic identities in either constructing and perpetuating, or deconstructing ethnolinguistic identities upon which the sector was founded. The introductory chapter lays out the background to the entire book with an emphasis on the policy and practice perspectives on the intersections. The middle chapters describe the so-called "White Universities", "Black Universities" and "Middle-Man Minorities Universities." The final chapter maps out future directions of the discourses on language and identity formation in South Africa's higher education. Series Editor Foreword Language Policy Book Series: Our Aims and Approach Acknowledgement Contents Chapter 1: Introduction: Language, Identity and African Universities Introduction Linguistic Apartheid Post-apartheid Legislative Framework on Multilingualism A Multilingual Promise Chapters in the Volume References Chapter 2: Institutional Language Policy and Identity Construction at a Former Afrikaans Medium University Introduction Language Policy and Institutional Identity Institutional Identity, Language Policy and Transformation in Higher Education Situating Institutional Identity and Language Policy within Transformation in Higher Education in South Africa The Historical Context of the North-West University, Language Policy and Institutional Identity at Potchefstroom Campus Methodology in Selected Studies The Interplay Between Language Policy, Institutional Identity and Epistemic Access at Potchefstroom Campus Institutional Identity and Language Policy Prior to 2015 #FeesMustFall Protests at Potchefstroom Campus Institutional Identity and Language Policy After 2015 #FeesMustFall Protests at Potchefstroom Campus Implications for Institutional Identity Conclusion References Chapter 3: Institutional Identity and Multilingualism at University of Limpopo Introduction Setting the Scene Theorising University Spaces as Social and Cultural Structures The Study Discussion and Analysis Institutional Planning and Identity Language Policy and Practice at UL The Degree: BA CEMS Finding Solutions for Africa Agency and Transformation Pathways for Intellectualizing African Languages Conclusions and Implications for Institutional Identity References Chapter 4: From ‘Black’ to ‘Kaleidoscope’: Institutional Curriculum and Linguistic Reforms at a Historically Black University Introduction The Context of the Study Developments on Multilingualism in Higher Education Languages as Social Cohesion in Multilingual Contexts Languages Policies at some South African Universities in Promoting and/or Inhibiting Social Cohesion Pedagogical Practices at Universities Promoting and/or Inhibiting Social Cohesion Linguistic and Cultural Diversity: Lessons from UNIVEN Implications for Institutional Identity Conclusion References Chapter 5: The Carry-over Effect of Monolingual Teacher Education Programmes: Towards a Decolonized University Introduction More than Two Languages as a Resource The Study Participants Research Instruments Data Analysis Findings Monolingual Pedagogy Linguistic Xenophobia Multilingual Contestation Disconnect Between in and out of School Learning Discussion Implications for Institutional Identity Transformation Conclusion References Chapter 6: IsiZulu as the Medium of Instruction at University: Shifting Institutional Identities Introduction Language Management Framework Methodology Language in Higher Education Policy Status Quo of Language in Higher Education Policy Identity Loss Through Marginalization of Indigenous African Languages Developing an Institutional Language Policy Viability of IsiZulu as Medium of Instruction in a South African University Implications for Institutional Identity Reform Conclusion References Chapter 7: “You Dare Not Bring the What Do you Calls…”: Marginalization of Indigenous Languages in Higher Education Introduction The Locus of South African Multilingual Language Policies Language, Power and Ideology Methodology Presentation of Data and Analysis Roadshow Glossary Development Project Language Policy Review and Resourcing Plan of Implementation Structure Quadrilingual Language Policy Implementation Shorn of a Strategem Implications for Institutional Identity Conclusion References Chapter 8: From Fixity to Fluidity: A Critique of Higher Education Language Policy Introduction The Study Method Test Design Results and Conclusions of the Study Languages in Motion University Context History of the Institution and Its Past Language Policy Languages of Instruction ‘Oneness’ Ideology Complication Misrepresentations in Language Policy Translingual Alternatives for Language Policy Changing Monolingual Epistemic Bias in Institutional Identity Translingual Communicative Practices: A Norm for African Languages Speakers Translanguaging Offers Hope Moving from Fixity to Fluidity Implications for New Institutional Identity Conclusion References Chapter 9: To Be and to Know: Towards a Decolonized Multilingual University Introduction Multilingual Policy Developments The Speaker and Hearer in Multilingualism: A Contemporary Perspective Beyond Apartheid Universities Decolonization of Knowledge and the Making of an African University Reforming New Multilingual Language Policies: A Horizontal Angle Ubuntu Translanguaging: Disruption and Order Concluding Remarks References