Abstract
CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 3
5.3 DATA DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS FOR COMPANY SURVEY
However, 5% of the respondents believe that isiZulu cannot be the economic resource for this region.
n = 145
can isiZulu be the economic resource for this region?
95%
5%
yes no
as they communicate. During working hours everybody will commit and concentrate on the work.
Figure 1
Another point of debate that forms an interesting argument is shown in Figure 1.
Much has been said but nothing has been done by the government and communities regarding the language issue. We believe that previous research has tried to bridge this gap of English being the superior language but with no improvement. As one can see from the work done by Nzuza (2005), Ndimande (2004) whereby they point out to the hegemony of English in the workplace.
African people still believe that if you speak or express yourself in English, you are better. There is this stigma that is attached to the use of African languages that still need to be addressed. I believe that, it should be normal to use isiZulu in the workplace. So, many discussions about English being a language dominant in every „sphere‟ of the economy has taken place. It will be redundant to further discuss this issue, as the results explain themselves that English is still dominant in the KZN region. English still reigns in some of the economic activities of the region.
However, the opposite of the above data is found in the results shown by Pienaar
& Slabbert (2002: 266). Their results reveal that some of the participants feel,
“I am proud that black languages have been introduced in the banking sector.
I prefer to be served in Sesotho because I feel comfortable in my language.
I can express any problem I have better in my own language. It is grand to be served in your own language.
My own language is friendlier. I can understand English but expression in my own language is easier.
African languages can be a plus for business and it will be a symbol of black recognition”.
Table 13
These results prove that English is still the language of dominance in the workplace. By looking at the results of Table 13, one will see that most employees prefer to speak to their managers in isiZulu, whilst some other black participants still prefer to speak to their superiors in English. Some of the managers and supervisors were Zulu speakers and they insisted on English as a medium of communication.
Notices and instructions that were written in English and some in Afrikaans in some of the companies. It was also noted that these companies had no language policy that govern and/or regulate the company. A question was posed regarding this matter and no concrete answer was given. It was assumed that they do not implement any of the language issues within the workplace. This poses a huge dilemma.
A concern therefore is, can‟t these „top people‟ in management help those who do not know how to read and understand English? Some of the instructions were concerning their safety and security, and some were about pension related matters. Because the results have shown that 61% can understand isiZulu, whilst other 145 respondents maintain that they can manage to read and understand English. In so far as a policy for language democracy in the workplace is concerned as stipulated by government, it is the duty of the supervisor to ensure that implementation is effected (see Appendix G for a copy). It states that,
The Supervisor must ensure that all the team members understand the communication. In the case of critical communication, for example where working methods or safety aspects are concerned, the help of language desk may be requested, for example by providing translations of centrally distributed documents, or even by providing interpreters in highly critical situations.
So, the workplace language policy speaks for itself and for people. Employees are entitled to the fair practice of language choices in so far is language democracy at work is concerned. But the other „worrying concern‟ is, how many employees are aware of such language rights? We know that their language rights are not exercised because of the absence of language policy in their workplaces.
Figure 2
Yes the introduction of African languages as languages of business can be a bonus because it will enable many people to participate with full comprehension and confidence. If isiZulu is to be made viable for the economy of this region, it will have to be through people‟s empowerment. By allowing people access to language rights and use in business. There is much wealth that is still at grass roots level. People in the rural areas are sitting back with excellent business proposals! Just because English is regarded or considered as „the‟ language of business. That is where people‟s minds must be decolonized. People‟s language must be made a number one priority. It‟s not fair that, if a person cannot speak English they cannot be granted a municipal or government tender(s). What about those people who can produce agricultural products on their land? They are being denied access to sell and export their produce. Poverty alleviation can impact our economy if people‟s language preferences can be exercised. The following is the discussion of challenges that were encountered in this study.