Understanding Zulu-English code-switching: a psycho-social perspective

Abstract

Kodewisseling is vinnig besig om 'n kritiese faktor te word in Afrikataal-ontwikkeling en verandering in Suid-Afrika se meertalige en multikulturele gemeenskap. Hierdie artikel doen verslag oor Zulu T1-sprekers se motivering vir en houding teenoor kodewisseling. Die data wat hier bespreek word, is afkomstig uit drie bronne: vraelyste, onderhoude en persoonlike waarnemings. Die bespreking van die data is gegrond op huidige teoretiese navorsingsraamwerke op the gebied van kodewisseling. Hierby word ingesluit die ‘markedness’ model, spraakakkomodasie-teorie, die interaksionele model en die gespreksmodel vir kodewisseling. Voorlopige bevindings word bespreek en hulle implikasies vir navorsing op die gebied van kodewisseling in Suid-Afrika word aangedui.

Code-switching is fast becoming a critical factor in African language development and change in South Africa's multilingual and multicultural society. This article reports on Zulu L1 speakers' motivations for and attitudes towards code-switching. The data discussed in this article comes from three sources: questionnaires, interviews and personal observations. The discussion of the data is informed by current theoretical frameworks in code-switching research, including the markedness model, speech accommodation theory, the interactional model, and the conversational code-switching model. Preliminary findings are presented and their implications for code-switching research in South Africa are considered.