Abstract
M.A.
In this study the researcher undertook to investigate the extent to which the South
African media namely, the South African Broadcasting Corporation and print media,
treat and promote the eleven official languages. The research design involves the
investigation of the amount of time and/or space allocated to the eleven official languages
in the SABC TV and Radio programmes as well as the South African national and
regional newspapers. The investigation is conducted through the use of tables showing
television programmes and languages of broadcast; radio stations, language of broadcast
and the number of listeners; and also newspapers, languages in which they are published,
as well as their circulation figures.
The role of the South African government in the promotion of the official languages is
also discussed. The South African constitution is the main piece of legislation which
recognizes the eleven official languages. The other important government initiatives
discussed include the establishment of the Pan South African Language Board
(PANSALB) and Language Task Group (LANGTAG).