Masters Degrees (DLLS)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (DLLS) by Subject "Attitudes"

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    A critical analysis of the public signage of the commercial and non-commercial signs in Eenhana town, Ohangwena region
    (University of Namibia, 2025) Kamati, Shiwaovanhu S.; Mungungu-Shipale, Saara
    This study analysed the public signage of commercial and non-commercial signs in Eenhana Town, Ohangwena Region. The linguistic landscape of Eenhana Town, situated at the core of the Ohangwena Region in Namibia, presents a complex and insufficiently explored issue in current scholarship. The primary challenge lies in the visual representation of linguistic diversity through public signage, particularly concerning the coexistence of official and indigenous languages. Despite constitutional provisions such as Article 3(1) of the Namibian Constitution designates English as the language of official communication in Namibia, there remains a conspicuous absence of specific policies addressing the linguistic landscape in Namibia. The chief objective of the current enquiry was to explore the nature of language(s) and linguistic forms used on billboards as part of the linguistic landscape of Eenhana Town, in order to examine their communicative potential to the target population as well as establish the attitudes of the target population towards the linguistic landscape. A mixed-method approach was strategically employed, synergising both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to achieve the comprehensive goals of this study. A non-probability sampling approach was employed, acknowledging the impracticality of examining the entirety of commercial as well as non-commercial signage within Eenhana Town. The researcher purposively selected 20 signs, comprising ten commercials as well an equal number of non-commercial signs (10) strategically dispersed around the town. A total of fifteen sign readers from Eenhana were strategically chosen through a snowball sampling technique. This research found that the language(s) represented in the linguistic landscape inadequately reflect the authentic linguistic practices observable in Eenhana. Furthermore, this investigation revealed that contrary to the widespread belief that English functions as the principal professional language in iii Eenhana, speakers of indigenous languages encountered a considerable disadvantage due to the overshadowing presence of English signage. There exists a compelling necessity for an augmented representation of signage in indigenous languages. To promote linguistic inclusivity, it is imperative for local authorities and stakeholders to actively engage with the community, comprehending language preferences to guide policies that honour diversity and acknowledge the intricate linguistic fabric
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    ’n Verkenning en Vergelyking van Houdings en persepsies rakende afrikaans in die khomasstreek van Namibië ná drie Dekades van Onafhanklikheid
    (University of Namibia, 2022) Harmse, Nicolette
    Given the chequered history of Afrikaans in Namibia, it is to be expected that a range of attitudes and perceptions regarding Afrikaans have existed and still exist among its own speakers as well as among non-speakers who are in contact with the various groups within its speech community. After three decades of Namibian independence, these attitudes and perceptions remain largely undocumented. Therefore, this study aimed to document these attitudes and perceptions. It was, however, not possible to gather the clear majority of the Khomas region’s residents’ attitudes towards and perceptions about Afrikaans. Therefore, a convenience sample was drawn, which entails that the results are not necessarily representative of the entire population. The study focused on perceptions and attitudes as they are indirectly observed, and not necessarily on the reasons for such perceptions or attitudes. Attitudes and perceptions were measured only within the parameters of the variables that are represented in the research instrument, and they pertain to the Afrikaans language as a construct rather than the Afrikaans speech community. A mixed method research design was used for this exploratory research, utilising a survey methodology. The study was mostly qualitative in that it reported subjective results, because participants’ attitudes and perceptions will form the basis of iii conclusions. Quantitatively, attitudinal variables within and across groups were quantified and processed statistically. Quantitative variables like age, and gender binaries were also involved for purposes of comparison, as well as the following various groups: Afrikaans speaking respondents, non-Afrikaans speaking respondents and multilingual speaking respondents (Afrikaans and other languages). The electronic questionnaire was distributed in May 2020 with a link via email and social media, while the printed questionnaires were distributed by hand to potential respondents who could not access the online questionnaire. There were 266 responses on the electronic questionnaire and 34 respondents completed the printed questionnaire – thus 300 respondents in total. There was a question in the biographical part of the questionnaire that requested the respondent to indicate how long he/she has been living in the Khomas region. This ensured that any questionnaires of non-residents of the Khomas region could be excluded from the data analysis. After last mentioned exclusion, the respondents were deducted to 275 respondents. The results contain different attitudinal profiles (positive, neutral, and negative attitudes), which were constructed from certain questions and their possible responses. The responses of the three different groups – Afrikaans speaking respondents, non Afrikaans speaking respondents and multiple language speaking respondents (Afrikaans and other languages) were divided into the relevant profiles. Lastly, the respondents’ perceptions regarding Afrikaans were also documented. The research and results show that the majority of respondents mainly have a positive attitude towards languages in general, as well as towards Afrikaans. However, there is a misperception among the younger generations of Afrikaans speakers about how Afrikaans originated in Namibia. A recommendation for future studies is to involve a larger part of the Khomas region, or perhaps even all the regions of Namibia, to get a clearer idea of the attitudes towards and perceptions about Afrikaans in Namibia as a whole.