DATOS BÁSICOS QUE RELACIONAN LAS OPERACIONES CON LAS GARANTÍAS RECIBIDAS

To answer one of the research objectives which is to understand the perceptions regarding the use of isiXhosa on YO TV, participants were asked: ‘What do you think isiXhosa is used for in the show?’ (See appendix D). Questionnaires were used to collect this kind of data and during focus group interviews, participants were asked to elaborate on the answers that they had given.

Figure 6: The purpose for which isiXhosa is used on YO TV

The majority of the participants said that isiXhosa in YO TV is used mostly by presenters to do greetings and to introduce guests. Some of the participants said that isiXhosa is used mostly during game times. As seen in the graph above, isiXhosa is used for the basic things that have been mentioned and rarely for interviews. There are, however, a reasonable number of participants who said that isiXhosa is used for studio discussions. During focus group interviews, the participants were asked for reasons why they felt that isiXhosa was used for these functions. In their responses they said:

“I think that saying molweni [hello everyone] is easy like you know that when a person says ‘molweni’ that person is greeting”

“Maybe the presenter is Tsonga or Venda, so at least the person wants to show that he or she is blending, just saying molo [hello] as an ice breaker”

“I think saying molo [hello] is basic, they cannot use isiXhosa in the actual interview because not everyone will understand. Just like me, if they can conduct an interview in Afrikaans, I would change the channel”

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Greet Intro guests Studio discussion Games Greet, Intro guests, Studio discussion Greet and Intro guests Greet and Studio discussion Greet, Intro guests, Games Studio discussion and Games Greet and Games

Function for which isiXhosa is used on YO TV

“Personally, I think that on YO TV they think that there are many whites who watch YO TV, so blacks are few, so they decide to speak in English”

“I think when they give an introduction in isiXhosa to whatever they are going to be discussing, you will want to listen even though maybe you will not understand everything. It draws peoples’ attention so that they may listen”

“Maybe it is easy for them, for someone who doesn’t speak isiXhosa because you find white people greeting you with excitement, molo unjani [hello, how are you] it is easy for them.”

Interestingly, from focus group interviews it also came out that there are shows on YO TV that use African languages (refer to Chapter One). However, these shows are for children not necessarily teenagers. For instance, Ilitha lethu is a children’s variety entertainment show which is 100% isiXhosa. The participants said that programmes such as these, among other things, help them to improve their vocabulary. Participants said that there are words or terms that they have acquired from watching the programme. One participant said:

“Yes, Ilitha Lethu uses most of the language [isiXhosa], it builds our vocabulary”

This is evidence that African languages, isiXhosa in particular, have grown beyond greetings and introductions. This may not necessarily be the case in the particular show observed but, as data indicates, there are shows that use languages other than English on YO TV.

Following the conversation about the function for which isiXhosa is used on YO TV, during focus group discussions, the research participants showed that there are things on TV, in general, that they prefer to watch in a certain language. This demonstrates the typology of functions of language use (as provided in Chapter Two). The preference to watch in a certain language shows the general informational function of language which is to convey information from one person to another. It also highlights the expressive function of language whereby language is used to convey feelings, thoughts and attitudes. Some participants applauded the fact that languages other than English are used less on YO TV because it easier ‘for everyone’ to understand English. This highlights the informational function as well as the directive function of language which is the use of language to influence the behaviour or attitude of other people, it places emphasis on the receiver’s end of

the message. However, it is not everyone who agreed that English is easier for everyone to understand. The participants were then asked about their language of preference for watching TV.

Language of preference for watching TV

As shown in the graph below, most participants indicated that they prefer to watch in English. There is also a significant number that indicated that they prefer to watch in two languages, in this case, isiXhosa and English. Other participants said that they prefer to watch in all three languages, namely isiXhosa, English and Afrikaans.

The graph below clearly shows the results mentioned above:

Figure 7: The language preferred by participants on TV

The participants who said that they prefer to watch in English reasoned that English is easier to understand and to listen to. Those who prefer two languages reasoned that they like it when presenters use multiple languages.

The responses that follow are of the high school learners who gave reasons as to why they prefer to watch in English: 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

English English and isiXhosa

IsiXhosa Afrikaans English, Xhosa & Afrikaans English & Isizulu Other

Language of preference

“I prefer English because I understand it the most but even isiXhosa I understand because isiXhosa can be understood by a Xhosa speaking person”

“I prefer English because English is the most important language locally and internationally because whenever maybe you meet a Zulu speaking person, you will need to communicate in English. English is very helpful because you do not become dumb in most places, you look like a ‘right’ person because English is ‘right’”

“I prefer English because I want to learn it, I want to know how to speak the language because it is important”

“I prefer English because at school, most of the time we learn things in English, all the subjects that we are learning we learn them in English”

In addition, Rhodes students also stated that it is easier and beneficial to watch in English:

“I would say that, in our days, it is important that YO TV be presented in English in a sense that we are trying to teach our children or sisters English. English is important in its own context where it is being used, so when children watch YO TV in English, that is when they learn how the language is spoken so that they may improve in the way that they speak it”

“I think that I know my own language enough, when watching in English, I gain because that language is not mine”

“You see, isiXhosa has got a lot of deep words, I sometimes do not even understand what they mean but if you can say the same words in English, I will understand. So the reason why I prefer to watch YO TV in English is because I understand it more than isiXhosa”

“I find English easier to understand than isiXhosa. As others have said, isiXhosa is deep, like I grew up at school learning English and Afrikaans, so I understand English better than other languages”

These are the general reasons provided by both Nombulelo learners and Rhodes students who prefer to watch in multiple languages:

“I prefer both because I like isiXhosa and I also like English because there are Xhosa words that I do not know, however there are also English words that I do not know. So, I prefer both. I always use isiXhosa or English dictionary to look up for words I do not understand”

“I choose all languages because I want to know them as well, so, they use them there [YO TV], a person can translate to another language. I don’t want to choose any, I prefer all of them”

“I can say both languages because there are English words that I do not know, so isiXhosa is also okay”

“I was in boarding school since I was four years old, so the only language that I understood was English, so I only learnt isiXhosa at Grade 11. I had to learn the hard way and I ended up enjoying isiXhosa. I prefer watching in isiXhosa and English. I love movies done in isiXhosa”

This section presented data which illustrate the preferences of the participants when it comes to watching television. Their views varied, some said that they prefer to watch in English, some said in isiXhosa and others said in all three languages, namely English, IsiXhosa and Afrikaans.

4.6 YO TV AND ITS ROLE IN CONSTRUCTING YOUTH IDENTITY IN RELATION TO