23rd Annual Student Research Conference
Classification Language in South Africa
Krista B. Goodman
Dr. Elaine McDuff, Faculty Mentor
Language is a significant indicator of the social change in a society. When analyzed, the words deemed politically correct can bring to the surface the hidden agendas of those in power. Language can also provide a structure used in classification processes. Language is extremely important when looking at South Africa before and after the apartheid. While South Africa was still under the apartheid system, language was lawfully and overtly used to classify people with the intent of discrimination and even now, post-apartheid laws use a similar classification system to undo the effects of the blatant discrimination. This paper aims to look at the use of language in the classification of citizens in pre and post apartheid laws and the effects of the classification system on citizens attitudes toward the language of racism.
Keywords: apartheid, classification, society, language
Topic(s):Sociology/Anthropology
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 56-5
Location: MG 1090
Time: 3:05