Communication policy and practice : the case of the Ethekwini Municipality
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Date
2005
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Publisher
University of Zululand
Abstract
In this thesis the researcher examines language policy and language practice in large organisations, with specific reference to departmental practice at the eThekwini Municipality. The eThekwini Municipality is one of South Africa's largest municipalities that are tasked with the provision of (and ensuring universal access to) essential services that are affordable to local communities, for example, water, electricity and sanitation. The eThekwini municipality was chosen on the basis of its commitment to equity and the development of its employees' potential through training and development programmes.
The study, is conducted within the parameters of the new Constitution's multilingual language policy of South Africa, the Skills Development Act of 1998 and the Employment Equity Act of 1998. In Section 6: C, the Constitution states that the state must take practical measures to elevate the status of the indigenous languages and in Section 9: 3, the state may not discriminate against anyone on the grounds of language and colour. The study argues that in order to ensure equity, all South African languages must be used for the promotion of multilmgualism and the advancement of
African languages, which were previously ignored by the apartheid government. The broad issues that the study examined include language policy and practice, languages used in organisations and the dominance of English in organisational communication.
Description
A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Communication Science, University of Zululand, 2005.
Keywords
Language policy, Language practice