’n Ontleding van die reaksies in die media op die taalbesluite van die SAUK, 1994-1996

Abstract

This article aims to interpret the responses of mother-tongue speakers of Afrikaans to the language policy changes instituted by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) from the first democratic election in 1994 to 1996, when the Final Constitution came into effect. To this end, and in order to establish an analytical framework for the future, the interpretation of media correspondence is made in terms of Schermerhorn’s minority theory (1970). In line with Schermerhorn’s theory, the conclusion is that the dominant group wished to converge but the minority group was averse to this, and a tendency towards resistance and conflict arose.