Workplace Multilingualism in South African Coastal Ports

Assessing Linguistic Sustainability through Situational Analysis

Rezumat

This exploratory study investigates the roles of languages, communication, and cultural heritage in South African ports, particularly through a reflection on a recent visit to the Port of Ngqura in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It highlights that artisans and students within the academic environment utilize language for interaction. Such dialogues and tasks are predominantly conducted in English, the language of business and commerce. Nevertheless, South Africa's linguistic landscape is characterized by its multilingual and multicultural nature, featuring 12 official languages alongside numerous dialects, many of which are underrepresented and spoken by minority communities. As a result, this article identifies the language barrier as a significant concern that warrants thorough investigation, given that port personnel often lack a shared linguistic foundation. The primary methodology and theoretical framework guiding this article's development are rooted in exploratory research, which employs an interpretivist epistemological stance. This narrative approach involves assessing the site's feasibility and engaging relevant personnel to evaluate existing gaps in the phenomenon. Moreover, the anticipated and potential outcomes include the varied use of local languages within harbors, as well as the development of localized harbor languages that evolve over time through the interactions of local residents and migrant workers in their daily activities. Additionally, English may act as a barrier to student enrolment in academic institutions. Ultimately, the dominance of English may have impeded both students and staff from fully engaging in the maritime business sector; thus, this article proposes short learning programmes (SLPs) to enhance comprehension.