The language repertoire of a Venda home language speaker: Reflections on methodology

Abstract

Currently, there is a focus on the study of ‘super-diverse’ language repertoires in the field of sociolinguistics. New approaches advocate an emphasis on ‘super- diverse’ repertoires of individuals and new ways to conceive of ‘knowledge of a language’. There is a clear sense that instruments should be redesigned to accommodate this new approach to the study of repertoires. There are very few examples of how such studies should be conducted. The main aims of the article are to distil principles and concepts for the study of repertoires and to adapt, apply and review the usefulness of two instruments (a life history interview and a language repertoire questionnaire) aligned with this ‘new approach’. The main findings are that the instruments are useful and hold the potential to provide comprehensive descriptions of current ‘super-diverse’ repertoires. The type of descriptions generated in this way could contribute to the empirical and theoretical clarity needed to fathom these complex phenomena.

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