An Investigation Into the Educational Implication of Code- Switching in a Multilingual School in Matatiele
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AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATION OF CODE- SWITCHING IN A MULTILINGUAL SCHOOL IN MATATIELE By NOMATHAMSANQA NANCY MRAWUSHE Submitted in accordance with the requirements For the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in General Linguistics At the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA SUPERVISOR: MRS D.T. NKWE Declaration I declare that this dissertation “An investigation into the educational implication of code-switching in a multilingual school at Matatiele” is my original work. All the sources that have been used and quoted in this dissertation have been acknowledged accordingly. ....................................................................... ...................................... NOMATHAMSANQA MRAWUSHE i Acknowledgements I am sincerely grateful to my previous supervisors, Prof L.A. Barnes and Dr T.N. Ntshinga, for their guidance, mentorship and insightful criticisms for the initial stage of the dissertation. Special thanks go to my supervisor, Mrs D.T. Nkwe. Her vital encouragement and support to the completion of this dissertation were deeply appreciated. I would like to show my gratitude to my subject librarian, Ms Hleziphi Napaai. Special thanks to Ms Anzelle Louw for reading and formatting the dissertation and Mr Seun Tshabangu for his unwavering support during my registration. I owe my deepest gratitude to Mr G.M. Sineke for the support and guidance and encouragement he extended from the proposal stage. Also special thanks go to my respondents for their generous co-operation. I am indebted to many of my friends, Stella, Chuma and Sisi Kholeka to mention but a few. I am also thankful to Bongeka and her family, my cousins Zolani Tshandana and family for their kindness and hospitality. My gratitude is also expressed to my colleagues for their support and to my principal, Mr Dina A.D. (Ngoyi). He has made available his support in many ways. My sincere thanks go to my family, my sisters and brothers, my brother-in-law Mr Mhle J.M (Fola) for his motivation, my niece Andiswa Mzolo for the assistance she provided, and typing. I am grateful to my daughter Kuhle (Mafola) and not forgetting her father Fola who are always there for me. I will always appreciate the efforts my parents, Minah Nowise Mrawushe and Thubeni Jackson Mrawushe, made in giving me a better life. Thank you so much Qwathi, Mvala, Xesibe, Dabisa Ndwangu. Last but not least, to God, who has made everything possible. ii Dedication This dissertation is dedicated to my late sister Thandiwe Mrawushe. iii ABSTRACT This research is a case study which sought to investigate the educational implication of code switching in a multilingual school in Matatiele. Since the dawn of democracy in South Africa, the language policy has sought to promote multilingualism and also honours the cultural diversity existing in this country. It is against this background that the study was conducted. The present study also sought to investigate the occurrences and nature of code switching in the classroom context. In South Africa, the Language in Education Policy prescribes that English as Language of Learning and Teaching be practiced from Grade 4 upwards, alongside home languages. At school, it seems that teachers are not empowered regarding the approach towards code switching. The study investigates whether the use of code switching in a classroom context is in line with the Language in Education Policy. It also looks at the implications of trilingual instruction (which is the use of three languages) in content subjects in the classroom. Functions of code switching were examined as well. This empirical research study used qualitative research methods. Qualitative research provided the study with insight into code switching in the educational context. This study encompassed specific techniques for collecting data, mainly observations. Notes were also of some assistance and were jotted down while observation was underway to supplement what could not be captured by the video, such as emotion and feelings. The study concluded that code switching plays a significant role in an English as Second Language (ESL) classroom context. iv Key terms Bilingualism, borrowing, code switching, multilingualism and trilingualism. v List of commonly used abbreviations and acronyms ANA Annual National Assessments EFAL English First Additional Language ESL English Second Language HL Home Language JSS Junior Secondary School L1 First Language L2 Second Language LoLT Language of Learning and Teaching MT Mother Tongue SAL Second Additional Language SGB School Governing Body vi Contents Declaration.................................................................................................................................. i Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. ii Dedication ................................................................................................................................ iii Key terms ................................................................................................................................... v List of commonly used abbreviations and acronyms............................................................ vi Contents .................................................................................................................................. vii List of figures ............................................................................................................................. x List of tables.............................................................................................................................. xi Chapter One: Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background to the study ....................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Early settlement in Matatiele ................................................................................................ 2 1.3 The language in education policy in South African schools from 1994 to date ................... 5 1.4 The research population ........................................................................................................ 6 1.5 The learners’ linguistic profile of Mvala Junior Secondary School ..................................... 8 1.6 Definition of key terms ......................................................................................................... 9 1.6.1 Code switching................................................................................................................... 9 1.6.2 Bilingualism ....................................................................................................................... 9 1.6.3 Multilingualism .................................................................................................................. 9 1.6.4 Trilingualism .................................................................................................................... 10 1.6.5 Borrowing ........................................................................................................................ 10 1.7 The statement of the problem ............................................................................................. 11 1.8 Aims of the study ................................................................................................................ 12 1.9 Research questions .............................................................................................................. 12 1.10 The importance of the study ............................................................................................. 13 1.11 The outline of the study .................................................................................................... 13 Chapter Two: Review of related literature .......................................................................... 15 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 15 2.2 Research on code switching in bilingual and multilingual settings in South Africa .......... 15 2.3 Review of literature on code switching in bilingual and multilingual classrooms elsewhere in the world ............................................................................................................................... 23 2.3.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 23 2.3.2 Trilingual education ......................................................................................................... 28 vii 2.4 Findings from the literature study ....................................................................................... 29 2.5 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 30 Chapter Three: Research methodology ................................................................................ 31 3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 31 3.1.1 Research design and methodology................................................................................... 31 3.1.2 Planning ..........................................................................................................................