preview

Assignment On Language Diversity

Better Essays

P age |1
Janine Wiggill( Student No:30147794)

Unit 1: Language as a process
Assignment 02 Observe & Interview / Exploring language diversity where you live Task 1: Observe your community I live on a farm in the Kwa-Zulu Natal Midlands. I spent three mornings on a building site observing three builders from the local community at work. (please refer to Image 1 below)

IMAGE 1 “SPARAK , HAMILTON AND SIMPHIWE ON A BUILDING SITE IN LIDGETTON, KZN MIDLANDS Prior to spending time observing the men, I approached them and introduced myself to them. I greeted them in isiZulu and I asked if they understood English. One of the three men confirmed that he could communicate in English, and he offered to translate my request to the other two men who …show more content…

Hamilton learnt the basics of English whilst attending school (completed Grade 8). Due to the fact that isiZulu is spoken more widely in KZN, South Africa than Sesotho, it was not as necessary / important for Hamilton to learn how to communicate in Sesotho, as much as it was for Sparak and Simphiwe to learn how to communicate in isiZulu. Why are they acting / behaving in certain ways? During their lunch break on day two, I noticed that Sparak and Simphiwe each had a brightly coloured blanket which they wrapped around their shoulders. They sat down, flat on the grass, and ate their lunch (consisting of spinach, potato and “pap”, which is a stiff, mealie meal), using their fingers to scoop their food into their mouths. No other eating utensils were used. Simphiwe, the younger of the two Sotho’s, treated the older Sparak, with much respect. This was evident when I observed that he waited for Sparak to sit down first, he handed Sparak his lunch, and he fetched water for Sparak to drink. Hamilton joined Sparak and Simphiwe for lunch. However, he sat on a low wooden bench and he didn’t have a bright blanket wrapped around his shoulders. The lunch that Hamilton was eating was samp and beans. (Traditional Zulu meal). Hamilton ate his lunch with a spoon. He did not eat with his hands at all. The three men very willingly offered and shared their lunch with each other. I read up on the manner in which the three men behaved and I learnt the following: It is part of

Get Access