South Africa Problems Of Identification And The Role Of The English Language

Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Other, grade: 2,0, University of Rostock (Institut für Anglistik/Amerikanistik), course: Geographical Varieties of English, language: English, abstract: The aim of this work is to give an overview of the English language in South Africa. There will be a description of how the English language reached South Africa, which other languages were and are there and what problems exist between those languages and probably between their ethnical groups too. Furthermore the status of English in South Africa will be discussed. Who uses English? Is it used by specific social classes? In which fields of society can English be found? Is it more a mother tongue than a second language or the other way around? This work will end with a conclusion and an answer to the question if there are real identity problems and in which way the citizens try to handle the situation.