Community-based Revitalisation of Nama in Namaqualand

Abstract

This article explores community-based revitalisation efforts of the Nama language in the Northern Cape region of South Africa by applying UNESCO's (2003) nine factors of language vitality assessment. A realist approach is applied to understanding how these factors interact and gauge the progress of revitalisation efforts. The study uses UNESCO's factors, broadly categorised as major evaluative factors for vitality, language attitudes and policies, and urgency for documentation as its theoretical framework, and utilises Atlas.ti™ to build a comprehensive network of these factors' interactions. By integrating empirical data with UNESCO's factors and recent findings, such as those by Wiltshire et al. (2022), the study provides novel insights on Nama's maintenance, development, revitalisation, and perpetuation through dynamic community-based revitalisation efforts in a South African selected context. Results indicate that Nama communities in the Northern Cape are making notable progress in language awareness, revitalisation, and maintaining community control over language revitalisation endeavours. Recommendations for the improvement of revitalisation efforts are made based on the results where the study underscores the importance of gradual progress and adequate time for sustainable language revitalisation. Overall, the findings highlight the significant achievements of the Nama community in advancing their language revitalisation efforts.