MODULE: AFL1501 ASSIGNMENT 1 UNIQUE CODE: 541439
NAME: WERNER BOSCH STUDENT NUMBER: 57683492
INTRODUCTION
Your normal average Gauteng boy. That’s where I “originated” from. Small suburb of Benoni.
I grew up in typical Afrikaans family and household with strong church morels and rules. And
to be fair anyone that comes out of this sort of Afrikaans culture, your language is of strong
value to you and your family and your family’s heritage. My family, my friends, my suburb all
spoke a beautiful fluent style of Afrikaans. One only spoke English when spoken to. Even
though one had English as school subject. Little did I know that everything was about to
change.
We moved from Gauteng to Jeffreysbay in the Eastern Cape. As a young 13 year old, you
were to happy when friends spoke the same language you did, but certain pronunciations
opened your eyes. When I made friends that lived on farms, your friends introduced you to
their friends on the farm. There and then my whole world changed. My best friend, speaking
in my mother language suddenly spoke in some weird language I could hardly understand.
There I was introduced to IsiXhosa, Sotho and Zulu. Though I could not understand or speak
it. This broaden my world in languages. Yet one thing never changed. Friends stayed
friends. Regardless of language.
I was so proud of myself to have learned even a little bit about these new languages
because little did I know, when it was time to go to High School, boarding school. These new
languages would come in handy. As a new pupil in a new school. No friends. I’ve noticed
that some boys spoke these new languages. I quickly made new friends by using these new
“tools” (languages). It was there and then that I realised how much power a language can be
and in your favour. Learning a new language can break massive barriers for you.
This process really helped me when I was granted a few opportunities to spend time in other
countries such as France, learning a little bit of French. Going to Brazil and learning a whole
new dialect, the Latin dialect, speaking Portuguese. And moving to New Zealand, learning a
New Zealand English. And trust me, English is not just English. It’s a different type of
English. But if it wasn’t for my child years of being exposed to different languages and
cultures I’m certain that my travels would be much different.
BODY
Language is not simply an assortment of words but an entity that connects an individual to
his family, identity, culture and beliefs. One’s language is carrier/a vessel of history,
traditions from one generation to another. Without language, no culture can sustain its
existence. Language = identity. Linguistic identity refers to a person’s identification as a
speaker of one or more languages. The linguistic identity is part and often an important part
of our identity. And this is especially true for multilingual individuals. It is influenced by
different factors and usually contains aspects such as linguistic expertise and also family’s
inheritance
Ecolect or language ecolect in my opinion can be the same language as your country or
culture but is unique to your household or family or upbringing. Sometimes regardless of
your culture or race. It’s unique to you, to your family. Ecolect referring to language and
idiolect refers to the body of the language. i.e. pronunciations, spelling the vocabulary of the
ecolect language.
NAME: WERNER BOSCH STUDENT NUMBER: 57683492
INTRODUCTION
Your normal average Gauteng boy. That’s where I “originated” from. Small suburb of Benoni.
I grew up in typical Afrikaans family and household with strong church morels and rules. And
to be fair anyone that comes out of this sort of Afrikaans culture, your language is of strong
value to you and your family and your family’s heritage. My family, my friends, my suburb all
spoke a beautiful fluent style of Afrikaans. One only spoke English when spoken to. Even
though one had English as school subject. Little did I know that everything was about to
change.
We moved from Gauteng to Jeffreysbay in the Eastern Cape. As a young 13 year old, you
were to happy when friends spoke the same language you did, but certain pronunciations
opened your eyes. When I made friends that lived on farms, your friends introduced you to
their friends on the farm. There and then my whole world changed. My best friend, speaking
in my mother language suddenly spoke in some weird language I could hardly understand.
There I was introduced to IsiXhosa, Sotho and Zulu. Though I could not understand or speak
it. This broaden my world in languages. Yet one thing never changed. Friends stayed
friends. Regardless of language.
I was so proud of myself to have learned even a little bit about these new languages
because little did I know, when it was time to go to High School, boarding school. These new
languages would come in handy. As a new pupil in a new school. No friends. I’ve noticed
that some boys spoke these new languages. I quickly made new friends by using these new
“tools” (languages). It was there and then that I realised how much power a language can be
and in your favour. Learning a new language can break massive barriers for you.
This process really helped me when I was granted a few opportunities to spend time in other
countries such as France, learning a little bit of French. Going to Brazil and learning a whole
new dialect, the Latin dialect, speaking Portuguese. And moving to New Zealand, learning a
New Zealand English. And trust me, English is not just English. It’s a different type of
English. But if it wasn’t for my child years of being exposed to different languages and
cultures I’m certain that my travels would be much different.
BODY
Language is not simply an assortment of words but an entity that connects an individual to
his family, identity, culture and beliefs. One’s language is carrier/a vessel of history,
traditions from one generation to another. Without language, no culture can sustain its
existence. Language = identity. Linguistic identity refers to a person’s identification as a
speaker of one or more languages. The linguistic identity is part and often an important part
of our identity. And this is especially true for multilingual individuals. It is influenced by
different factors and usually contains aspects such as linguistic expertise and also family’s
inheritance
Ecolect or language ecolect in my opinion can be the same language as your country or
culture but is unique to your household or family or upbringing. Sometimes regardless of
your culture or race. It’s unique to you, to your family. Ecolect referring to language and
idiolect refers to the body of the language. i.e. pronunciations, spelling the vocabulary of the
ecolect language.
