(University of the Free State, 2003) Truter, Elbie
English: 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.