Aanspreekvorme en wisselende status : 'n ondersoek na die gebruik van aanspreekvorme onder Afrikaanssprekendes in Vanderbijlpark

Abstract

In chapter 1 the problem of the agreement between address and status is explained. Brown and Gilman's study (1970) on pronoun usage is taken to task and criticised because of its oversimplified presuppositions. The main aim of this study is given as determining a model similar to the one Ervin-Tripp (1972) determined for American English. In chapter 2 the terminology used in the study is explained. The value of a component analysis of each speech act is emphasized. The linguistic model which forms the basis of this study is a functional one and all other models in which only one aspect, for instance the social or the structural, is studied, are rejected: all such methods lead inevitably to a single aspect of language being fixed as absolute with the consequence that the realities of natural language are ignored. In chapter 3 the method of investigation and terms of reference of the study are explained. Vanderbijlpark is chosen as area of research. Each speech act is analysed by means of a specific analysis chart. Three methods of investigation are proposed j.e. interviews, questionnaires and objective systematic observation. In chapter 3 the method of investigation and terms of reference of the study are explained. Vanderbijlpark is chosen as area of research. Each speech act is analysed by means of a specific analysis chart. Three methods of investigation are proposed j.e. interviews, questionnaires and objective systematic observation. In chapter 4 the way in which the data was obtained, is explained. In chapter 5 the results of the investigation into establishing the norm (interviews and questionnaires) are given. The results of the objective systematic observation are described in chapter 6. Chapter 7 is a conclusion in which each of the forms of address is analysed in terms of the status functions expressed therein. No attempt was made to present a model of the Afrikaans address-system as such a model would be far too complicated. It can be concluded that the model which Ervin-Tripp determined for American English could not have been based on natural speech and it is no more than an idealistic representation of her personal address system. The conclusion reached is in agreement with Pride's (1979) that code switching is transactional in nature and that natural language cannot be formalised in clear-cut binary alternatives.