Texts in the Humanities 123 Tutorial 4 Comprehension Lecturer: Ms T. O’Malley [22 MARKS] Identity is a complex issue. The process of forming an identity (“identity construction”) is a social process that occurs within a particular social, cultural and political context. It involves both the construction of the self (“self-identification”) in accordance with other people’s perceptions and attitudes, but it also involves the construction of the ‘other’. The construction of the ‘other’ is a process in which social divisions are established and reinforced, because we either align ourselves with the ‘other’, or we do not, and this alignment or distancing forms an aspect of our own identity (Beukes & Pienaar 2014: 22; Taylor 2015). Using the Makubalo (2007) reading, as well as your own knowledge and research, answer the following questions: 1. Using the Makubalo (2007) article as well as other sources (if necessary), explain the difference between English as a lingua franca and English as a hegemonic language. Use your own words and reference where relevant. [3 marks] 2. Language is more than the information on how it was formed or the number of people who speak it. Using the Makubalo (2007) reading, articulate any two perceptions around English that exist or has existed in South Africa. You must reference examples of these perceptions from the reading. [2 marks] 3. In the Makubalo (2007:26) reading two reasons are given for the “hegemonic position of English” in South Africa. In your own words, describe these two reasons. [3 marks] 4. ‘Proper English’ is a term that is often used colloquially in South Africa. Why, in relation to the matter of identity, is this term problematic? What is another, less problematic term for ‘proper English’? [2 marks] 5. Makubalo (2007:29) states that “in the eyes of the teachers and the school administration, attending the isiZulu class gives these learners a common identity.” Interpret the impact that the perceptions of the teachers and school administration could have on the identities of the students. In your answer you must refer to the information and concepts in the paragraph at the top of the worksheet. [2 marks] 6. Dialects or language varieties are an important aspect of identity. Provide two examples to illustrative the validity of this statement – one from the reading (which must be cited correctly) and one of your own. [2 marks] 7. What is ‘code switching’? Provide an example of code switching from the reading. Why is code switching an interesting phenomenon when looking at the identity of multilingual speakers? [2 marks] 8. Solidarity and the sense of ‘belonging’ is an important aspect of identity construction and it is evident in the language that we use. Illustrate the validity of this statement with reference to Anna’s use of the pronoun “we” (Makubalo 2007:33-34). [2 marks] 9. The notions of ‘identity’ and ‘language’ are inseparable. Do you agree? Why? Provide two clear examples to support your statement: one from the Makubalo (2007) reading and one from your own experience. [4 marks] GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION - You are required to submit the answers to this exercise ON A SEPARATE PAGE, neatly typed (Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman), in 12 font size with 1½ line spacing. Your text should be justified. - Answers should be numbered according to the questions. - You should work alone, use your own words and reference using the Harvard (Stellenbosch) style where relevant. The libguide on referencing can be found here: https://libguides.sun.ac.za/c.php?g=742962&p=5316902 - You need not have a cover page but your full name and student number must be at the top of the page. You must submit your assignment to the Turnitin link on SUNLearn (under week 4) before 23h59 on Wednesday 15 March 2022.
