- DUE 2025; 100% correct solutions and explanations.
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Comparative Essay: Silva (1997) and Schneider (2007) on
Language, Identity, and Nation-Building in South Africa
Introduction
Language plays a central role in shaping national identity, mediating
communication, and fostering social cohesion, particularly in
multilingual societies emerging from colonial and apartheid
histories. In South Africa, where eleven official languages coexist
and English occupies a dominant position, debates about the role of
language in nation-building remain highly charged. Silva (1997) and
Schneider (2007) both examine the significance of language in post-
apartheid South Africa, yet from distinct perspectives. Silva
emphasises the lexis of South African English as a reflection of the
country’s multilingual society, suggesting that English has been
indigenised and enriched through cultural contact. Schneider, by
contrast, situates South African English within the broader
postcolonial context, applying his Dynamic Model to highlight how
English has consolidated its dominance, sometimes at the expense
of indigenous languages. While the two authors converge in
recognising linguistic diversity and English’s role in promoting
unity, they diverge in their evaluation of whether English fosters
inclusivity or perpetuates inequality. This essay compares their
arguments regarding linguistic diversity, the role of English, and the
implications for national unity, highlighting points of convergence,
divergence, and critical insights for South Africa’s linguistic future.