2. The Development of the Linguistic Repertoire of Primary School Learners within the Mauritian Multilingual Educational System

Abstract

This has been such an incredible journey of growth on all levels, filled with ups but mostly lots of downpoints which often lead me to believe I would not live to see the end of this journey.My acknowledgements will thus be different because I want to start by thanking the and sole first person who actually made this journey possible, and and who is actually holding the pen to write down these words, that is myself. Had it not been for the sheer courage and determination not to give up despite all the challenges and personal crises faced during this journey, I would not have reached this stage where I am presently writing these words for you to read. Before thanking anyone else, I believe that I should thank myself for holding on, even when the ship sank at different intervals.Next, I would want to thank Professor Michael Samuel, my supervisor for having believed I could make it till this turning point. He saw in me the potential that I perhaps had never seen and not only guided me in the completion of this study but challenged me mentally to give the very best of myself till the end. I would also like to put on record the support of my local supervisor, Dr Nita Rughoonudun-Chellapermal for having given her all to try and help me through with her feedback.Apart from my supervisors and myself there have been a precious few who have stood by my side at different walks of my life and I wish to acknowledge their contribution in the completion of this PhD.My head of department: Mrs Radha Rani Baichoo, who like a mother, supported me through this journey, making allowances for my absence whenever I sought leave and reducing my workload to the minimum allowed so that I could find time to devote to my study. Never have I known as selfless a person as Mrs Baichoo, who although being on the same journey as me and needing as much time to devote to her work, never grudged at the extra work that I sometimes left to her when I went on leave. Like a mother in times of need, she was there understanding and caring to know that I needed the breather she gave when necessary. For the person you are, Mrs Baichoo, thank you from the bottom of my heart.My friends: Shalini, Raj and Evelyn, who not only listened to me when I ranted about the challenges I met but also became my critical group when I wanted to talk about my study, thus affording me the opportunity to be reflexive. Thank you for being the backbone on whom I could rely when I reached a point in life where there seemed to be absolutely no one upon whom I could rely.My chums: Shalini and Arvina for always being there if ever I wanted to complain about the difficulties I was facing in regards to the writing of the PhD, or anything else in life. Thank you for being my family when I had none.My colleagues: Hyleen and Pascal for having offered last minute assistance and accepting to go through parts of my draft and guiding me through the cumbersome task of editing my work.My best friend: Avi for having encouraged me to start this journey and for having given me the last push to en...

Teachers’ experiences of teaching an ancestral language in a multilingual context : the case of Telugu in Mauritius.

“…However, when the British took possession of the island, a tug-of-war for language supremacy ensued, becoming a crucial aspect in the development of the sociolinguistic landscape of the country (Tirvassen, 2014;Rughoonundun-Chellapermal, 2020). Both languages -English and French have survived through negotiations, and continue to be the two most 'prestigious' languages in the linguistic landscape, symbolising status and education (Sauzier-Uchida, 2009;Tirvassen, 2015Tirvassen, , 2017Mahadeo, 2017;Rughoonundun-Chellapermal, 2020). Furthermore, the educational system was anglicised, which is an important feature in the Mauritian sociolinguistic landscape (Tirvassen, 2014).…”