Reflections on the taaldebat at Stellenbosch
Publication Name
Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe
Abstract
For twenty years Stellenbosch University has been at the centre of a public controversy about the role of Afrikaans in tertiary education – in particular the manner and extent to which Afrikaans should be used as a medium of instruction. This became known as the “taaldebat” – the language debate (conducted almost entirely in Afrikaans). For the first five of those years I served as the Rector and Vice-Chancellor of that University. This opinion piece is a personal retrospective view of, and perspective on, the “taaldebat” at Stellenbosch. It is offered as an alternative to the current narrative emanating from language activists, sometimes called “taalstryders”.
Open Access Status
This publication is not available as open access
Volume
62
Issue
2
First Page
412
Last Page
424