The impact of non-standard varieties of isizulu language learning on students’ performance at a university of technology in Gauteng
The impact of non-standard varieties of isiZulu language learning on students’ performance from a University of Technology (UoT) in Gauteng incorporates the investigation of the developments of nonstandard varieties and the interference of non-standard varieties with the correct usage of standard isiZulu language at a UoT, the positivity and negativity of an impact that non-standard varieties may have in isiZulu language learning, the type of non-standard variety that students use in a classroom environment and also the impact that non-standard varieties have in isiZulu language learning. The researcher purposefully sampled 85 respondents (80 students, 3 lecturers and 2 Department of Arts and Culture workers) at a University of Technology (UoT). She used a mixed-methods approach including both the quantitative and qualitative research approaches. The responses from 60 disseminated questionnaires, 15 interviews and 10 proficiency tests form a sociolinguistic profile of the non-standard varieties at a UoT. The dissemination of questionnaires and interviews and proficiency tests occurred almost simultaneously. The quantitative approach was used to convert the qualitative questionnaire data, based on the frequency of response type into percentage. Relevant sociolinguistic data, in the form of non-standard variety examples and views on impact of non-standard varieties in isiZulu language learning by respondents, for instance, supplemented the sociolinguistic data. The study revealed that non-standard varieties have both a positive and negative impact in isiZulu language learning and students use code-switching in a classroom environment. They switch to different languages in order to understand each other clearly, because they are coming from different areas. Lastly, the study revealed that non-standard varieties are interfering with the correct usage of a standard language; this interference of non-standard varieties in isiZulu language learning is the cause of students’ poor performance.
isiZulu, Languages, Students' performance
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