Unveiling Multicultural and Multilingual Positioning Theory as Normative Ideal in Multilingual Contexts

The case of South Africa

Abstract

Rapid and commendable change has taken place in many post-colonial societies. The past few years have been epochal in transforming traumatised and fragmented societies into more stable and democratic ones. This was achieved through various means of political accommodation, including recognising the multiple cultures of those polities. Yet, despite the fanfare about multiculturalism accommodation, linguistic diversity and the quality of its actual practice remain parlous. Realising this problem, a new Multicultural and Multilingual Positioning Theory is proposed and developed to foster integration, focusing on the recognition of indigenous languages and their usage in various public platforms. This article highlights pertinent issues inherent in multilingual contexts using South Africa as an example. Insights from Multiculturalism Accommodation are used as a starting point to argue that the perilous situation in South Africa not only limits indigenous language communities' effective participation in the national life but also constrains citizens' constitutional rights. The article argues that although the country recognised nine African languages to the status of official languages, the actual usage of such languages in official discourse remains very erratic and effete Ultimately it proposes a novel theory, the Multicultural and Multilingual Positioning theory, as an alternative approach to ensure that multiple languages and cultures function effectively in multicultural and multilingual contexts. This theory contributes to new epistemic horizons and provides a framework for practical implementation.