Taaloordrag in die onderrig van Afrikaans as tweede taal

Abstract

Language transfer in the teaching of Afrikaans as a second language

The biggest problem facing lecturers of Afrikaans as a second language at tertiary institutions is the fact that second-language students are usually taught by non-native speakers at primary and secondary levels. The language form used by these teachers shows clear deviations in comparison to the standardised form. This language form, which can be compared to an interlanguage, has its own distinctive features, and forms the target language of second-language speakers. The short period that second-language speakers are exposed to the standardised form at tertiary level is not enough to improve the situation significantly. The result is that students who qualify themselves as teachers, will transfer the same language form to their pupils at primary and secondary levels. One of the consequences is that this language form develops into a non-standardised form. Examples of deviations from teachers’ as well as from students’ language forms will be compared to indicate clearly the transfer that takes place.