Language contact and ethnolinguistic identity in an Eastern Cape army camp

Abstract

This article examines the ethnolinguistic consequences of change within a South African National Defence Force army camp. Since 1994, the army has become racially, and hence ethnically, integrated. This has resulted in Speakers ofthe various South African languages living and working together in the same environment. Research was conducted to investigate the consequences of this interethnolinguistic contact. A multi-method research approach revealed that although all eleven South African official languages were represented in the camp, English was the language used for general communication, instruction, and command. Army personnel were generally supportive of this policy. Furthermore, at the same time äs identifying with the social Institution of the army, their perceptions of their own ethnolinguistic identities did not seem to be negatively affected.

Experiencing work in the fourth industrial revolution: a qualitative study on work identity and new ways of work

“…In light of these findings, it is recommended that managers implement training and education programs to support employees in adapting to the changing work environment. Organisations need to revisit their talent management practices to enhance employees work identities [38]. These programs should be tailored to meet the specific needs of both employees and the organization.…”

Ethnicity and language crossing in post-apartheid South Africa

“…In this web of laws, which discouraged and even outlawed interethnic interaction, language served as an important identity marker of Ð and dividing factor between Ð the various ethnic groups (Haupt¯eisch 1977) and was a crucial factor in ascribing ethnic identity (Webb 1996). Accordingly, language became intimately linked with ethnicity because, as Barkhuizen and de Klerk (2000) remark, once the apartheid system``invented'' or`l abelled'' groups,``there was a tendency by these groups and others in South African society to appropriate (internalize) the labels.'' In other words, what started out as an``etic'' category, that is, identities imposed externally on the Black people by groups in positions of power, in this case the apartheid system, ended up becoming an``emic'' category, that is, an internal self-de®nition of the imposed category (Makoni 1996: 265).…”