Malawian and Nigerian migrants’ perceptions of the isiZulu interlocutors’ values and the effects on their willingness to acquire isiZulu

Abstract

This article explores Malawian and Nigerian migrants’ perceptions of their isiZulu interlocutors’ values in Johannesburg. The aim was to determine the effects of such perceptions on the migrants’ willingness to acquire isiZulu. The study adopted a qualitative phenomenological research approach. Data were collected from one-on-one interviews and thematically analysed. Three categories of isiZulu interlocutor that were preferred by the migrants in this study emerged: (1) older women, (2) younger women, and (3) older men. Key values identified by the migrants include the interlocutors’ friendliness, openness, willingness to interact with the destination-language learners and willingness to guide and help learners in their learning process. The study established that migrants’ perceptions about interlocutors’ personal values have the potential to influence migrants’ willingness to acquire a destination language. Perceptions about interlocutors’ values affect both the direction and processes of language acquisition. Furthermore, the findings showed that migrants’ interest in learning a target language increases when interlocutors’ values are perceived to be desirable by the learners. Thus, perceived values can either promote or hinder interest and effort in acquiring a destination language.