Abstract
M.A. (Afrikaans)
Language is the heartbeat of broadcasting, and is regarded primarily as a
means of communication that is used for different purposes in different
situations.
The register of broadcasting language embodies and perpetuates
standard language, and fits the specific situation or circumstance in
terms of formal, informal and stylistically neutral language.
It could be said that the various forms of Afrikaans cannot be regarded
as right or wrong, but should be measured against the norms for the
situation in which, and the purpose for which, it is used. All the
varieties of Afrikaans are of equal value and each register has its rightful
place, measured against the standards of functionality with regard to
situation and purpose.
The Komitee vir Taaladvies (KTA), as the official normative body for the
Afrikaans of the SABC, does not act as a competitive linguistic
standardiser, but is definitely in an authoritative position in the speech
community when it comes to pronouncements on the standardisation of
language. The KTA's approach to the usage corpus is that each item
should provoke the least resistance from viewers and listeners.
The KTA's objective is to promote communication by applying
standardisation of language and using standard Afrikaans as the model.
The KTA, the Language Bureau and the staff of the Language Bureau
apply the generally recognised norms for standardising the formal
broadcasting register of Afrikaans that promotes communication in
Afrikaans.
A lay phonetic system was developed for SAUKT and received favourably
by the Language Bureau and the KTA. The system is easily understood
since it is modelled on written Afrikaans.