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This book forum discusses Ivan Kalmar´s pivotal book on the position of “Central Europe” in the racialized hierarchies of “West”/“Europe” and their not-quite-white Others. The authors debate the main contributions and potential blind spots of the book and its key concepts. The concepts of racism and whiteness answer the not-so-new question on Central Europe and Europe's “East” anew: How come that the populations of and in this diverse region happen to repeatedly find themselves in the very same marginal position in European historical orders? This question has very contemporary manifestations; Europe's persistent East-West socio-economic and socio-cultural hierarchies, among others, co-produce the local populations' marginalized or marginalizing positioning vis-à-vis each other and the rest of Europe or the world. In this honest discussion, the authors chart new intellectual pathways for utilizing racism and whiteness to help us better understand this question and its many manifestations from within and outside the region.

Against the background of South Africa’s ‘official’ policy of multilingualism, this study explores some of the socio-cultural dynamics of (ELF) in relation to how cosmopolitanism is understood in South Africa. More specifically, it looks at the link between ELF and cosmopolitanism in higher education. In 2016, students at Stellenbosch University (SU) triggered a language policy change that enacted English (as opposed to Afrikaans) as the primary medium of teaching and learning. English has won recognition as academic lingua franca for at least two socio-political reasons: First, English is considered more ‘neutral’ than Afrikaans (which continues to be strongly associated with Afrikanerdom), and second, English is arguably associated with cosmopolitanism and an international institutional status. Despite English being the academic lingua franca, it continues to be caught in an ambivalent climate with tensions among policy planners, language practitioners, higher education managers, academic staff and students. Ultimately, this paper argues that ambiguity is one of the most defining features of English in South Africa and that a complex range of Cosmopolitan, Afropolitan and glocal African identity trajectories reflect the power dynamics of English in the country.

This article investigates links between ilobolo (bridewealth) practices and marriage outcomes in contemporary Zulu society. It presents quantitative data showing very low marriage rates among Zulu adults, as well as interview evidence suggesting that the majority of Zulu adults identify ilobolo as a constraint to marriage. However, the interview evidence also suggests that ilobolo remains widely valued as a Zulu tradition and continues to be an integral and defining feature of a Zulu marriage. The article concludes that this tension—between the high cost of ilobolo and respect for ilobolo as a custom—contributes to the very low marriage rates observed among Zulu people today. Cet article examine les liens entre les pratiques de l’ilobolo (la dot de mariage) et leurs conséquences sur le mariage dans la société Zulu contemporaine. Il présente des données quantitatives montrant de très faibles taux de mariage chez les adultes Zulu, ainsi que des résultats d’entretiens qui suggèrent que la majorité des adultes Zulu considèrent l’ ilobolo comme une contrainte au mariage. Toutefois, les résultats d’entretiens suggèrent également que la pratique de l’ilobolo reste largement appréciée comme une tradition zoulou et continue d'être un élément intégral et la définition d’un mariage zoulou. L’article conclut que cette tension entre le coût élevé de la pratique de l’ilobolo et le respect de celle-ci comme coutume contribue aux taux de nuptialité très faibles observés chez les Zoulous aujourd’hui.

This study is based on a discourse analysis of official COVID-19 addresses by South African national government ministers with a focus on linguistic choices. While access to healthcare is an obvious issue of social justice during the pandemic, language plays a covert role in processes of access and inequality. Linguistic understanding influences social participation and during an epidemic crisis, access to language plays a significant role in improving responses of affected individuals. Although English is widely accepted as a common lingua franca in the country, it excludes those who are not proficient in the language. In this article, we analyse code-switching practices, translanguaging, and increasing African language usage among ministers of parliament during official COVID-19 speeches and briefings. We argue that the growing use of multilingual resources among South African politicians carries ramifications on language politics, i.e. a shift away from an unquestioned monolingual discourse purporting English as 'the' lingua franca which has in the past characterised most national speeches. From this new multilingual perspective, the pandemic has effected an inward orientation rather than the previously dominating concern with international relations.

This article describes racial differences in marriage rates in post-apartheid South Africa and considers one possible reason for these differences related to the traditional practice of ilobolo among African families. We use nationally representative micro data to document very low and declining marriage rates among young Africans, large differences in marriage rates between Africans and whites, as well as rising rates of cohabitation, particularly among young African women and men. We then review the payment of bride wealth in this context, drawing on the historical literature as well as on popular media resources and quantitative data collected in the South African Social Attitudes Survey of 2005, to explore attitudes towards ilobolo as practised in contemporary African society.

While there are several comprehensive studies on `language and ethnicity' (Gudykunst 1988, Dow 1991, Fishman 2001, Joseph 2004) there is only one recent comprehensive study (Fought 2006) which focuses on how variation within a language is significant in the expression of ethnic identity. This study aims to contribute towards this research field by examining two South African linguistic varieties of isiZulu, isiHlonipho and isiTsotsi, in respect of their speakers' culture and gender constructions in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). In this province, shared culture and gender interpretations infrequently occur between urban, educated in isiZulu-speakers on the one side and rural, traditional Zulu people on the other side. On the basis of a methodologically triangulated approach, using an extensive literature review, written questionnaires with lexical stimulus material, qualitative individual interviews and an element of ethnography, the study shows some of the heterogenic facets of contemporary Zuluness. Although there is little doubt that speaking isiHlonipho gives greater recognition to traditional Zulu ethnicity, one cannot dismiss the fact that KZN township varieties, such as isiTsotsi, retain elements of ethnic identity expression, which, as will be shown in this study, are communicated in a variety of different ways.

While there are several comprehensive studies on \"language and ethnicity\" (Gudykunst 1988, Dow 1991, Fishman 2001, Joseph 2004) there is only one recent comprehensive study (Fought 2006) which focuses on how variation within a language is significant in the expression of ethnic identity. This study aims to contribute towards this research field by examining two South African linguistic varieties of isiZulu, isiHlonipho and isiTsotsi, in respect of their speakers' culture and gender constructions in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). In this province, shared culture and gender interpretations infrequently occur between urban, educated isiZulu-speakers on the one side and rural, traditional Zulu people on the other side. On the basis of a methodologically triangulated approach, using an extensive literature review, written questionnaires with lexical stimulus material, qualitative individual interviews and an element of ethnography, the study shows some of the heterogenic facets of contemporary Zuluness. Although there is little doubt that speaking isiHlonipho gives greater recognition to traditional Zulu ethnicity, one cannot dismiss the fact that KZN township varieties, such as isiTsotsi, retain elements of ethnic identity expression, which, as will be shown in this study, are communicated in a variety of different ways. Adapted from the source document.

Against the background of South Africa's Constitution which sensibly provides for the linguistic, cultural, religious and gender rights of every citizen, this Briefing examines the custom of Hlonipha in contemporary rural Zulu society and its ramifications for Zulu women. Despite the Constitution's copious commitment to gender-equality, much of South Africa's rural society remains largely patriarchal. Sadly, many South Africans are not quite ready for the progressive state of their Constitution. And the Constitution itself is not flawless either as several principles spelt out in different clauses are in profound conflict with each other. Closely examined, it exhibits discrepancies between the areas of women's rights and cultural rights. The urban-rural dichotomy creates potential for conflict as regards gender issues, within the same ethno-linguistic groups, in this case isiZulu-speakers in KwaZulu-Natal. We explore whether and how traditionalist interpretations of the customary behaviour of respect {ukuhlonipha translated to respect) and the linguistic politeness register associated with it (isiHlonipho. translated language of respect) may disadvantage women in their everyday lives. On the basis of recent empirical data collected in the northern area of rural KwaZulu-Natal it is argued that many rural Zulu people maintain a patriarchal and primordially perceived cultural system which in the context of hlonipha involves the disempowerment of women. It is argued that the traditionalist interpretations and executions of the custom of hlonipha present a challenge to the constitutional gender-equality rights of women in the post-apartheid state and as such could be seen to be in contradiction with the Bill of Rights.

While there are several comprehensive studies on \"language and ethnicity\" (Gudykunst 1988, Dow 1991, Fishman 2001, Joseph 2004) there is only one recent comprehensive study (Fought 2006) which focuses on how variation within a language is significant in the expression of ethnic identity. This study aims to contribute towards this research field by examining two South African linguistic varieties of isiZulu, isiHlonipho and isiTsotsi, in respect of their speakers' culture and gender constructions in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). In this province, shared culture and gender interpretations infrequently occur between urban, educated isiZulu-speakers on the one side and rural, traditional Zulu people on the other side. On the basis of a methodologically triangulated approach, using an extensive literature review, written questionnaires with lexical stimulus material, qualitative individual interviews and an element of ethnography, the study shows some of the heterogenic facets of contemporary Zuluness. Although there is little doubt that speaking isiHlonipho gives greater recognition to traditional Zulu ethnicity, one cannot dismiss the fact that KZN township varieties, such as isiTsotsi, retain elements of ethnic identity expression, which, as will be shown in this study, are communicated in a variety of different ways. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]