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An Investigation Into the Creation of a Language Policy and Subsequent Implementation in Selected Domains of Life in Zimbabwe

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An Investigation Into the Creation of a Language Policy and Subsequent Implementation in Selected Domains of Life in Zimbabwe AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CREATION OF A LANGUAGE POLICY AND SUBSEQUENT IMPLEMENTATION IN SELECTED DOMAINS OF LIFE IN ZIMBABWE BY ARTHUR PASCAL TAKAWIRA MAKANDA submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF LITERATURE AND PHILOSOPHY in the subject AFRICAN LANGUAGES at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA Promoter Professor Mutasa D.E. Co-Promoter Professor Vambe M.T. SEPTEMBER 2011 Declaration I, Arthur Pascal Takawira Makanda (Student Number: 41 63-257-5) declare that An Investigation Into Creation of a Language Policy and Subsequent Implementation in Selected Domains of Life in Zimbabwe is my own work and that all the sources I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. Signature................................................ Date: ................................................... i Summary This study sought to critically investigate the contribution of the ordinary people in the creation of a language policy and its subsequent implementation in Zimbabwe. The study was prompted by the realisation of the near-absence of a coherent language policy framework in Zimbabwe. The language policy situation in Zimbabwe is not clearly stated. A hotch-potch of statutes support the status, creation and implementation of languages that are spoken by the citizens of the country. The country’s supreme law, the constitution is silent about the necessity of a broad- based language policy in Zimbabwe. Only three languages Shona, Ndebele and English are considered to be major in a country with 16 known languages. This situation does not support the development of languages particularly the indigenous languages. Indigenous languages are not considered as a suitable medium of instruction from the third year of primary schooling up to tertiary level. Indigenous languages play a critical role in culture, economics and politics. The study argued that ordinary people have creative ways of contributing to the development of a language policy because these people are constantly creating new words and vocabulary that they implement in their day to day struggle with nature and other social classes. Authorities in Zimbabwe are yet to view the role of indigenous languages in development as a cornerstone of socio-economic and political progress. African languages, particularly the Shona language that was the main unit of analysis in this study revealed its capacity to handle complex ideas. It was recommended that when Shona and other indigenous languages are accorded the status of official languages of the country and then provided with the financial resources and linguistic expertise to develop them then, a coherent language policy can become a living reality in Zimbabwe. ii Key terms Language socialisation, Naming, Bilingualism language creation, Implementation, Life domains, Language Policy Framework, Standardisation, Unification, Syntagmatic, Paradigmatic, Culture, Economics, Politics, Officialising. iii Dedication This study is dedicated to my Father Silas Pondayi Makanda who provided for my primary and secondary education and my mother Pelagia Makanda who once whipped me and literally dragged me to school as I was experimenting with truancy. Most importantly, this study is also dedicated to my wife, Violet, and my children Tafadzwa, Pelagia, Elizabeth, Takudzwa and the naughty, Rusununguko, for bearing with me during the time of my study. Finally, but not least, to all Zimbabwe War Veterans who played a pivotal role during the formative years of my life and continue to do so as we interact in different fora. The work is also dedicated to all the masses of Zimbabwe who are constantly creating new words and implementing these in creative ways which cry for a systematic approach in order to map out of a coherent language policy in Zimbabwe. iv Acknowledgements I wish to express my profound gratitude to several people for having contributed in one way or the other to my academic success. Firstly, I thank my two promoters, Professor D.E Mutasa and Professor M.T. Vambe. Their thorough, firm and rigorous approach to supervising my work is unparalled. Secondly, I very much appreciate the invaluable assistance I got from Dr Mandiyanike who provided me with some of the research materials. The same goes to Hlezipi Napaai, my personal librarian who rose to the occasion by investing her experience in the service provision to students of different levels in their area of study. I am indebted to all the respondents who took their time to respond to my questionnaires, interviews questions and to book publishers who opened up to their operational secrets. Special mention goes to Mr Maxwell Mukoko who literally became my secretary as he did all the secretarial work for this thesis. He invested a lot of his time to ensure that the end product of this thesis comes out as it should be. I am most grateful to his commitment and may he be richly blessed in all his endeavours. I also acknowledge all those too numerous to mention but who have provided ancillary services. I am grateful and wish to tell you that your efforts are acknowledged. v Table of contents Declaration........................................................................................................................................i Summary..........................................................................................................................................ii Key terms........................................................................................................................................iii Dedication.......................................................................................................................................iv Acknowledgements..........................................................................................................................v Chapter 1 1.0 introduction..........................................................................................................................1 1.1 Preamble.............................................................................................................................1 1.2 Aims of the study.................................................................................................................3 1.3 Objectives............................................................................................................................5 1.4 Research Questions..............................................................................................................6 1.5 Justification..........................................................................................................................6 1.6 Literature Review.................................................................................................................9 1.7 Theoretical Framework......................................................................................................13 1.8 Research Methods..............................................................................................................21 1.8.1 Data Collection Methods...................................................................................................23 1.8.2 Interviews...........................................................................................................................25 1.8.3 Questionnaires....................................................................................................................25 1.9 Hypothesis..........................................................................................................................26 1.10 Scope of the Study.............................................................................................................26 1.11 Conclusion.........................................................................................................................28 Chapter 2 2.0 Literature Review...............................................................................................................29 2.1 Introduction........................................................................................................................29 vi 2.2 Extra linguistic factors that affect the status of the language............................................38 2.3 Language planning as an extra-linguistic factor................................................................38 2.4.0 Language and institutions..................................................................................................42 2.4.1 Education institutions.........................................................................................................42 2.5 Language and politics........................................................................................................44 2.6 Language and statutes........................................................................................................48 2.7 Language as a social extra-linguistics factor.....................................................................50 2.8 Culture and Language........................................................................................................54 2.9 Corpus planning.................................................................................................................59 2.10 Economic...........................................................................................................................60 2.11 Conclusion.........................................................................................................................65
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