Landscape analysis of the role of Language in Early Grades Mathematics teaching and learning in South Africa 

Published: 2023 

When children learn language they are not simply engaging in one type of learning among many; rather, they are learning the foundations of learning itself… the distinctive characteristic of human learning is that it is a process of making meaning – a semiotic process. (Halliday, 1993, p. 93).

This quote from the linguist, Halliday, not only puts language at the centre of learning, it also suggests that understanding how language is learned will give insight into the learning process. Bearing this in mind, we report on the role of language use in Early Grade Mathematics (EGM) in South Africa drawing on publications and intervention reports. We identify gaps in the both the literature and interventions which point to urgent further research to inform best practice for the teaching and learning mathematics in the multilingual context.