| For many indigenous African nations, independence from colonial rule marked the possibility of indigenous people guiding, developing, imagining and engaging a future of their own making---South Africa was no exception. Under Afrikaner political leadership and apartheid rule, African interests were placed as the lowest priority. Similarly, where these institutions are concerned, language was used as a tool in indigenous oppression. After South Africa's transition to democracy, language was recognized as a key factor in spreading South Africa's new vision of democracy. Diversity, inclusion, and equitable rights for all were the goals when South Africa established its new language policy in 1994.;The purpose of this research is to explore this new language policy in South Africa and answer the following questions: What are the objectives of the new policy? Why is language important in a South African context? In what ways is this language policy different than the one during apartheid? Is the new policy meeting its goals?... |
