This study analyzes the use of code switching as a communication strategy in the film Yellow Card. The film Yellow Card deals with HIV and AIDS concerns and inevitable discusses issues pertaining to sex and sexuality, which are unspeakable in the public domain. This research reveals that code-switching is employed for the purposes of linguistic avoidance, whenever there is need to avoid a direct reference to the words and phrases considered taboo. It also occurs for intra-group identity where it functions as a communication technique for aligning or alienating interlocutors depending on the situations. Code switching is also employed to express concepts that can only be identified through a specific language and to create humour in different speech situations. Also revealed is the fact that code-switching is intra-language, occurring within the same language (formal and informal English), and inter-language, occurring between two languages (Shona and English). Critical Discourse Analysis (Fairclough, 1995) was used as both a theoretical guide and a methodological thrust. CDA views language as socially constituted and socially constituting. Data was gathered using in-depth textual analysis of the language content of the film Yellow Card and was presented in a descriptive manner. Data interpretation was carried out according to context of use. This study concludes that code-switching is a complex phenomenon that expresses a great deal more about the intentions and needs of the speaker or the writer. It is a crucial communication tool which is significant in sociolinguistics.

The aim of this contribution is to determine the communicative efficacy of selected print-based HIV and AIDS information education and communication (IEC) materials (posters, leaflets and brochures) among secondary school teenagers (13–19 years) in Harare. Data were collected over a period of 2 months from six schools, selected using multistage cluster sampling. It incorporated use of a self-administered questionnaire involving a sample of 750 teenagers, and 6 focus group discussions (FGDs), each comprised of 10 purposefully sampled participants. The survey investigated a number of indicators of communicative efficacy, wherein the IEC materials were found to be clear by 38.4 per cent ( n = 288), informative by 45.2 per cent ( n = 339), credible by 80.5 per cent ( n = 604), appealing by 64.7 per cent ( n = 485), important by 69.5 per cent ( n = 521) and acceptable by 54 per cent ( n = 405) of the respondents. The outcomes of the FGDs showed that, although HIV and AIDS IECs were generally believed to be appealing and to significantly increase awareness among teenagers, these were also considered somewhat unclear and inaccessible. Moreover, perceptions were strongly inclined towards use of Shona language, social media and elimination of fear appeals in HIV information. Thus, in addition to adopting young people-centred communication modes, finding an appropriate balance between complex language and efficacy of HIV prevention messages is imperative.

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This paper analyzes the image repair rhetoric used in Zimbabwean President Robert Gabriel Mugabe's speeches against sanctions. It focuses on part of his speeches at international forums (2002 to 2007) in his capacity as the president of Zimbabwe. The analysis relies on Benoit's image restoration theory as a methodological impetus. It is concluded in this paper that Mugabe mostly uses attack the accuser rhetoric to repair his image following accusations of misgovernance and the political sanctions by USA, Australia and the European Union on Zimbabwe. President Mugabe mainly focuses his attack on Tony Blair and George W. Bush International Journal of Linguistics ISSN 1948-5425 2013 www.macrothink.org/ijl 307 whom he accuses of being the chief architects of the sanctions on Zimbabwe. Attack the accuser rhetoric is used to counter the accusations proffered by President Mugabe's accusers to justify the existence of sanctions. There is also the use of denial of wrong doing, expression of good intentions and offer of corrective action in the speeches. In addition, President Mugabe questions the sincerity of his accusers as champions of democracy themselves. This study concludes that Mugabe, using image repair rhetoric as a strategy, is successful in denying wrong doing and in attacking his accusers. It is also concluded that the rhetoric strategy is a vital persuasive device seen in the manner in which Mugabe's speeches managed to compel the African Union to maintain its support for the Zimbabwean government.

The systematic description of African Englishes, including Zimbabwean English (ZE) is gradually increasing in the continent’s ongoing sociolinguistic research. The purpose of this contribution is to investigate the progress currently made in stabilising the Zimbabwean variety of English since its emergence in the 1980s using Schneider’s (2007) Dynamic framework for stabilisation of “New Englishes”. ZE is perceived to be at the nativisation stage, encompassing indigenisation of Standard English before a full adoption into a new socio-cultural context. Evidence of nativisation includes phonological innovations and structural indigenisation of English. It is noted that complete nativisation would follow after full adoption and functionalisation by the speech community. Furthermore, the study establishes that the task at hand is to carry out in-depth research that probes deeper into ZE’s evolution process; explaining its key structural features and its sociolinguistic traits. This will uncover its general linguistic behaviour, functional role and possibly strengthen its visibility, use and eventual growth. One major limitation of the study is that its focus is restricted to the Zimbabwean variety of English. Recommended future studies should include comparative studies of the development of “New Englishes” in other outer circle regions, so as to methodologically inform the stabilisation process of ZE.