Exploring the Teaching of Reading for Comprehension in IsiZulu Home Language: A Bibliometric Review

Abstract

Reading literacy has attracted the attention of a growing number of researchers in recent times. Though it is seen as an essential competency, thorough bibliometric analyses on the subject are lacking within a few African contexts, one of which is reading for comprehension in the isiZulu home language. This study attempted to fill this gap, by selecting 95 articles through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocol (PRISMA-P) method and leveraging tools such as VOSviewer, CitNetExplorer’s visualization citation network, and counting techniques. The results indicated that South Africa is a central player, experiencing a notable increase in publications over the past decade. Authors such as Probert, Paulsrud B., Tian Z., Toth J., Port R.F., McKinney C., Tyler R. Moodley V., and Wildsmith-Cromarty R. stand out, alongside prolific journals like English-Medium Instruction and Translanguaging, Language Learning, and Language Teaching. Crucial topics identified include Cultural Context, Language Proficiency, Interactive Read-Alouds, and Differentiated Instruction. The results emphasized the pivotal role of reading motivation in formal education, highlighting the complex nature of online activities. The study concluded that the field of research on teaching reading for comprehension in isiZulu has evolved into a well-established and cross-disciplinary field, with South Africa leading in contributions and collaborations, and anticipates continued growth which will solidify isiZulu reading instruction as a promising and enduring subject of study. Keywords: isiZulu, Home Language, Reading Comprehension, CitNetExplorer, PRISMA-P, Bibliometric Review, Community Involvement