The elevation of Sepedi from a dialect to an official standard language: Cultural and economic power and political influence matter

Abstract

The minutes of the Parliamentary Joint Constitutional Review Committee (2011, 2016, 2017, 2020), and scholars such as Mönnig (1967), Mokgokong (1966), Mojela (1997, 1999, 2008), Rakgogo (2016, 2019), Rakgogo and Van Huyssteen (2018, 2019) and Rakgogo and Zungu (2021) confirm that Sepedi as one of the 11 official languages that are cited in Section 6(1) of the South African Constitution, 1996, has not yet been fully recognised as the official standard language by some of the first language (L1) speakers under attention. The reason for this submission is that there are a reasonable number of L1 speakers who are still considering Sepedi as one of the 27 dialects of the Northern Sotho (Sesotho sa Leboa) language, such as Pedi, Tau, Roka, Kone, Mphahlele, Tšhwene, Mathabatha, Matlala, Dikgale, Mothiba, Nkwana, Molepo, Mamabolo, Tlokwa, Birwa, Kwena, Moletši, Hananwa, Lobedu, Phalaborwa, Nareng, Maake, Mametša, Tlhabine, Pulana, Pai and Kutswe (Doke 1954; Mokgokong 1966; Mojela 1997; Mönnig 1967).