Language Policy, Media, and attitudes in South Africa: Navigating Linguistic diversity
Résumé
This study investigates how South Africa’s language policy and media representation influence public attitudes towards linguistic diversity and English dominance. The purpose is to examine the extent to which media narratives and language policies shape identity, cultural preservation, and social cohesion in a multilingual society. A quantitative survey design was employed, using a structured questionnaire administered to 74 Black South African participants aged 20–35 in Soshanguve, Pretoria. Descriptive and thematic analyses were used to interpret demographic and attitudinal data. The findings reveal that 80% of respondents value their indigenous languages in the media, yet 66% prefer English for reading due to accessibility and prestige. Although most participants reject language superiority, persistent perceptions of hierarchy and limited awareness of language policies hinder linguistic equality. The study discusses the implications of English’s dominance as both a unifying and marginalising force and recommends stronger policy communication, inclusive media representation, and active promotion of indigenous language use in education and media. This research contributes to scholarship by providing empirical evidence on how media discourses and public attitudes intersect with language policy implementation, highlighting the ongoing challenges and opportunities for achieving linguistic democracy in post-apartheid South Africa.
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