'n Sosiolinguistiese analise van Rehoboth-Afrikaans

Abstract

In the first chapter of this study variation linguistics has been investigated. The Socio-linguistics has also been examined closely. We have concentrated in particular on the methodology that follows such a socio-linguistic study, namely the selection of the language community, the compiling of data, the identification of the language variant, data processing and data interpretation. Besides Standard Afrikaans, three varieties of Afrikaans can be distinguished, namely Orange River Afrikaans, Eastern Boundary Afrikaans and Cape Afrikaans. Reference has also been made to a few variation studies in Afrikaans which have a bearing on this study. In the second chapter the view that Rehoboth Afrikaans is a sub-variety of the Orange River Afrikaans has been held. To illustatre this point Rehoboth Afrikaans has been compared with Griqua Afrikaans (also a sub-variety of the Orange River Afrikaans) as well as with Standard Afrikaans, and on the following levels of analysis: syntactical, morphological and lexical. Griqua Afrikaans and Standard Afrikaans have been demonstrated the formulated hypothesis in verified. In the third chapter we have claimed that non-linguistic variables (sex, age and level of education) have an influence on the speech of the Rehoboth Baster. We have come to the conclusion that sex certainly plays an role in the speech of the Rehoboth Baster. The speech of the men resembles Standard Afrikaans more closely whilst that of the women bears a closer resemblance to Rehoboth Afrikaans. The view that age also influences the speech of the Rehoboth Baster is also held. The speech of the different age groups (0-15 years, 16-25 years, 26-40 years, 41-60 years and 61 years and older) is brought under scrunity. Rehoboth Afrikaans is mostly used by those in the 61 years and older age group whilst it is used to an ever-decreasing degree as the age level drops. The following levels of education have also been closely scrutinized: primary school education, high school education and tertiary education. It has been held that the speech of the group with a primary school education closely resembles Rehoboth Afrikaans, those with a high school education use Rehoboth Afrikaans less frequently whilst the speech of those in possession of a tertiary education resemble Rehoboth Afrikaans least of all. The hypothesis that the non-linguistic variables have an influence on the speech of the Rehoboth Baster is subsequently verified. An important observation with regard the Rehoboth Afrikaans has been made, namely that Rehoboth Afrikaans is in the process of dying out with the older generation.