Variasie in die Afrikaanse taalgebruik van leerlinge aan 'n Namakwalandse hoërskool

Abstract

This study investigates the difference between standard and non-standard language with special reference to the dialect of Afrikaans spoken in Namaqualand. The concepts dialect, variation, standard and non-standard language are defined and an analysis is given of the relevant sources on these matters. An independent study over the period of a year was conducted in which the spoken and written communication of a hundred high school pupils in Namaqualand was monitored. The investigation showed that there are a number of specific deviances from standard Afrikaans found in the phonetic, lexical and syntactic realms of the language used by the pupils. These deviations from standard Afrikaans belonging to the Namaqualand dialect were grouped into a number of specific categories which can be seen as rule bound, therefore indicating that Namaqualand Afrikaans shows certain rule bound differences from the standard language.