Abstract
M.A.
South Africa's new political dispensation has brought language issues to the fore. The focus of
this study is language attitudes and languages usage both within and outside the school
environment, in the greater Johannesburg area.
In order to achieve the task a 'triangulation approach' was adopted. This approach embraced
theoretical principles, indepth interviews with ten leading figures in education in Gauteng and
interviews with primary pupils', parents' and teachers' using appropriate questionnaires.
The objectives of the study were threefold, firstly to provide a linguistic description of pupils,
parents and teachers choice of languages in different situations. Secondly, to describe and
explain the ambivalent, polyvalent language attitudes of some of the respondents. Lastly, to
make recommendations for language teaching from the data.
The findings of the study highlighted the need for the development of suitable bilingual
programmes in schools and underscored the educational difficulties experienced by English
second language students.