The effects of multilingualism on mother tongue acquisition

Abstract

Multilingualism is the norm in most urban areas of South Africa. This study aims to discover the perceptions of young adults towards their mother tongue due to being exposed to multiple languages in their daily environment at a very young age. The study further investigates whether young adults acquire their mother tongue whilst growing up in an environment that has multiple languages. It also seeks to determine the role that parents play in the acquisition of mother tongue by their children. Literature was reviewed in order to explain and understand the standing of African languages in South Africa. This study is guided by the theories of first language development and acquisition and Cummins’ concepts of Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills (BICS) and Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALP) theories. The study employed a mixed-method approach. Empirical data was collected by means of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews from young adults and parents. Data collected was analysed by a statistician using categorical data analysis. The researcher used graphs to present findings from analysed data. Findings from the empirical data show that young adults who grew up in a multilingual environment acquire more than one language. Parents also play a role in nurturing the acquisition of the mother tongue

Ubuliminingi yisimo esijwayelike kakhulu ezindaweni zasemadolobheni zalapha eNingizimu Afrika. Lolu cwaningo luhlose ukuthola izimvo zabantu abasebasha mayelana nolimi lwabo lwebele njengoba kulesi sikhathi samanje bedibana nesimo lapho behlangana khona nabantu abakhuluma izilimi ezahlukene. Lolu cwaningo luhlose futhi nokubheka iqhaza elibanjwe abazali ekufundiseni abantwana babo ulimi lwabo lebele. Kulolu cwaningo kusetshenziswe ongoti abahlukene ukuze kuchazwe futhi kuqondisiswe ukuthi zime kuphi izilimi zendabuko zaseNingizimu Afrika. Lolu cwaningo lusebenzise izindlela zokucwaninga eziningi. Ulwazi locwaningo luqoqwe ngokusebenzisa amapheshana emibuzo, kanye nezingxoxo ezingahleliwe ezenziwe kubazali nakubantu abasha. Ulwazi locwaningo luhlaziywe umhlaziyi wezinombolo esebenzisa uhlaziyo lwezigaba zocwaningo ezahlukene. Okutholakele ekuhlaziyweni kolwazi kuveze ukuthi abantu abasha abakhulele lapho okukhulunywa khona izilimi ezahlukene bazuza ulwazi lwalezo zilimi bagcine sebekwazi ukukhuluma nezinye izilimi okungezona ezabo. Kuvelile nokuthi nabazali bayaqinisekisa ukuthi abantwana babo bayalufunda ulimi lwabo lwebele.