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Programme: accepted abstracts

Abstract ID: 1303

Part of Session 123: Non-standard and youth varieties in urban Africa (Other abstracts in this session)

Language use and identity among male youth in the township of Thokoza, South Africa

Authors: Makukule, Idah Makhosazana
Submitted by: Makukule, Idah Makhosazana (University of Cape Town, South Africa)

When male youth in the township of Thokoza east of Johannesburg congregate on street corners, they engage in communicative practices that they refer to as ukuringa as part of enacting male township identities

This paper is part of my doctoral study, where my main research question asks: How do communicative practices function to construct and authenticate black male township youth identities? It is based on data that have been collected over a period of two years in the township of Thokoza using observation as a primary method and audio and video recordings of participants’ interactions. In this presentation, I pay attention to some of the distinctive features of male youth speech, looking at their social meanings and the significance of language use among three male youth groups from Thokoza.

Across the three groups, there are levels of being township ranging from what are perceived to be ‘softies’ to those considered ‘hardcore.’ These differences are reflected in the way they use language. I specifically examine how they incorporate different languages into their talk as well as resemantization and their use of metaphor. In addition, I compare how the three groups borrow and invent new words and phrases.  Youth who are considered to be softies often link with one or two individuals who are ‘hardcore ‘and borrow new terms from them. Youth who are considered to be hardcore have the ability to be innovative within their own group, and to influence the communication of other groups. Softies spend less time on the township streets and have greater access to economic advancement through family structures. Their use of language reflects these opportunities. ‘Hardcore’ youth do not have the same advantages and spend much of their time on street corners. Being on the street corners means constant contact and linguistic innovation ensures ones status as authentically urban and township.

With this research, I interrogate multiple ways in which identities are created in the urban framework and how linguistic features take on social meanings that index different urban identities.