Language practices and the linguistic marginalisation of ethnic minorities in South Africa

Language practices and the linguistic marginalisation of ethnic minorities in South Africa

Matefu Lefty Mabela & Gabriel Babili

Issue: Vol. 7 No.7 2026 Article 17 pp. 1985 – 1996
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20267717 Published online 21st September 2026

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ABSTRACT

This study examines the treatment of the official languages of South Africa in crucial areas of public life and discusses how multilingualism can be promoted without infringing on the language rights of ethnic minority language populations. The study is grounded in Language Management Theory and explores the experiences and perspectives of speakers of isiNdebele, Xitsonga, siSwati and Tshivenda. Quantitative research was used, and a standardised questionnaire was administered to students and staff at a University in Gauteng. Seventy-four questionnaires were evaluated using descriptive statistics to look at language use, language policy awareness and attitudes towards language practices in South Africa. The data demonstrate that perceptions of linguistic inequality remain, notwithstanding constitutional requirements for linguistic parity. In the government, education and media areas, respondents indicated that minority official languages are not treated fairly. English was considered the dominant language, particularly among younger generations. Minority languages were considered to lack support and visibility. The survey also showed low levels of public awareness of language policies and language management structures. The findings include raising public awareness of language rights, extending the capacity of language planning organisations, increasing the media presence of minority languages and encouraging language development projects in the education and digital areas. The study contributes to the literature on language policy and planning by providing empirical evidence of the ongoing marginalisation of ethnic minority languages and the disparity between constitutional language provisions and linguistic realities in South Africa.

Keywords: Language Policy and Planning, Linguistic Rights, Language Practice, Linguistic Minorities, Language Marginalisation

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ABOUT AUTHOR(S)

Dr Matefu Lefty Mabela is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of African Languages at the University of Johannesburg. He obtained a Doctorate in Language Practice in 2020, with research focusing on the relationship between language, discourse, and socio-political dynamics in contemporary South Africa. Dr Mabela is an established scholar whose research interests include sociolinguistics, language policy and planning, language development, terminology development, language revitalisation, discourse studies, and the intellectualisation of South African indigenous languages. His work contributes to ongoing debates on multilingualism, linguistic rights, indigenous language development, and the role of language in social transformation. He has published in accredited journals and has presented his research at national and international conferences, seminars, and symposiums. Among his notable publications are Intellectualisation of Northern Sotho for Scientific Purposes, Language Policy, Media, and Attitudes in South Africa: Navigating Linguistic Diversity, and The Role of Code-Switching in South African Political Discourse: Linguistic Strategies of Populism. Dr Mabela’s current research focuses on the development and intellectualisation of African languages, language policy implementation, terminology development, computational approaches to indigenous language development, and the promotion of multilingualism in higher education and society.

Dr Gabriel Babili is a Lecturer in the Department of African Languages. He teaches grammar and literature in Sepedi, language translation and communicative studies. His research interests are diverse, but they somewhat revolve around linguistics, viz., South African sociolinguistics, forensic linguistics, and language education. Babili’s work in forensic linguistics focuses primarily on courtroom interactions, the readability of police reports and restorative justice in the legal system. He supervises postgraduate students and gives presentations at local and international academic conferences. Dr Babili formed a network for Language, Research and Standards with entities such as the police and justice system to help attain international best practice. He collaborates with higher institutions of learning to ensure that research and language education are developed and sustained.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Mabela, Matefu Lefty, and Gabriel Babili. “Language Practices and the Linguistic Marginalisation of Ethnic Minorities in South Africa.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 7, no.7 (2026): 1985 – 1996. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20267717