The Language of Police Officers Matters: Factors Hampering Workplace English Writing Capability in the South African Police Services (SAPS)
Keywords:
Workplace English writing competency, Police instructor, Basic Police Development Learning Programme, Police cluster;, Police recruit, Standing order
Abstract
This article reports on the findings of an exploratory-based study about variables hampering adequate Workplace English writing competency of police officers in the South African Police Services (SAPS). The main assumption in this article is that this poor English writing proficiency that is tailored for the workplace in the as a result of many intertwined and interrelated factors. A quanti-qualitative research approach was adopted. Data was harvested using a questionnaire and in-depth interviews from 203 research participants from various police stations in Gauteng Province of South Africa. Thematic Content Analysis (TCA) was used for analysis of qualitative data. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences). The investigation was underpinned by Work Integrated Learning (WIL), Genre and NA (Needs Analysis) theories. The investigation found that there is a deficiency of expertise as far as pedagogy is concerned among police trainers. Furthermore, the study revealed that the absence of tertiary qualifications contributes to the problem. Language teaching in the SAPS training colleges is found not to be given adequate emphasis. Lastly, the over-domination of physical training over academic teaching was also a challenge. This investigation underscores the crucial aspect of reflective research as a source of information.
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References
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Bhatia, V.K., & Nodoushan, M.A.S. (2015). Genre analysis: The state of the art. International Journal of Language Studies, 9(2), 121-130.
Blumberg, D.M., Schlosser, M.D., Papazoglou, K.P. Creighton, S., & Kaye, C.C. (2019). New directions in police academy training: A call to action. International Journal of Environment. Research and Public Health, 16(24), 1-14.
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Denscombe, M. (1998). The good research guide: For small-scale social research projects. Buckingham: Open University Press.
Dewey, J. (1938). Experience and education. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Hall, P. (2008). Policespeak. In J. Gibbons and M. T. Turell (Eds), Dimensions of Forensic Linguistics (pp. 67-94). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Hiscock, D. (2003, August 5). Making the right statement. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2003/ aug/05/furthereducation.uk
Hutchinson, T., & Waters, A. (1987). English for specific purposes: A learning-centered approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Keating, C., Robinson, T., & Clemson, B. (1996). Reflective inquiry: a method for organizational learning. The Learning Organization, 3(1), 35-43.
Kekana, T., & Mogoboya, M. (2021). Workplace English writing needs of police constables in South Africa: Implications to teaching and learning in police training academies in Gauteng province. Journal of African Education, 2(1), 83-104. https://doi.org/10.31920/2633-2930/2021/v2n1a4
Kekana, T. J. (2015). Workplace English writing needs: a case study of perceptions and experiences of police constables at selected police clusters in the Gauteng Province, South Africa [Doctoral dissertation, University of South Africa]. University of South Africa Institutional Repository. https://uir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/19685
Krashen, S. (1982). Theory versus practice in language training. In R. W. Blair (Ed.), Innovative approaches to language teaching. (pp. 15-30) Rowley, MA: Newburry House Publishers.
K-Romya, P. (2006). Deficiency of communication in English as major hindrance for tourist police in Thailand. Published by EDU-COM 2006 EDU-COM International Conference. Engagement and Empowerment: New Opportunities for Growth in Higher Education, Edith Cowan University, Perth.
Mahaye, F. C. (2010). Factors that promote or hinder success on new-entry constables during their first six months within South African Police Services [Master’s thesis, University of Zululand]. University of Zululand Repository. https://hdl.handle.net/10530/601
Miller, M., & Pomerenke, P. (1989). Police reports must be reader based. Law and Order, 37(9), 66-69.
Montesh, M. (2007). A critical analysis of crime investigative system within the South African criminal justice system: A comparative study [Doctoral dissertation, University of South Africa]. University of South Africa Institutional Repository. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/1272
National Planning Commission (2011). National development plan (NDP) vision 2030. The Presidency. Republic of South Africa. https://www.nationalplanningcommission.org.za/National_Development_Plan
Ndenze, B. (2012, September 6). Cops battle to take down statements. IOL News. http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/cops-battle-to-take-down-statements-1.1377111
Neuman, W. L. (1997). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches (3rd ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Ortu, C. (2019). Saps-Speak: The language of the South African police in the post- apartheid era. International Journal of Language Studies, 13(4), 125-140.
Paterson, C. (2011). Adding value? A review of the international literature on the role of higher education in police training and education. Police Practice and Research: An International Journal, 12(4), 286-297
Payam, M. (2006). Opinions of preparatory students, graduates and lectures at police college on their foreign language needs. Journal of Arts and Sciences Say, 6(1), 157-179.
Pettaway, M. (1994). The development of the new orleans police department written communication test [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Tulane University.
Qaddomi, H. A. (2013). English for specific purposes in Palestinian context: Determining EFL cadets’ needs at Al Istiqlal University. Journal of Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 3(7), 1110-1122.
Rauch, J. (1992). South Africa’s police basic training: a preliminary assessment. Unpublished paper. Centre for the study of Violence and Reconciliation.
Richards, J. (2001). Curriculum development in language teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
SAPA. (2012). SA youth losing faith in police. Retrieved from http://www.witness.co.za/index.php?showcontent&global %5B_id% 5D=82558 Accessed on the 29th July 2012.
Sezer, S. (2004). An investigation of the occupational English language needs of Turkish police officers [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Bilkent University.
Silverman, D. (1993). Interpreting qualitative data: Methods for analysing talk, text and interaction. London: Sage.
Stevens, G. P. (2005). Training and selection of police officers: Toward a community police model [Doctoral dissertation, University of South Africa]. University of South Africa Institutional Repository. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/1757
Thepa, M. (2013, April 28). A-G flunks SA’s public servants. Sunday World. http://www.sundayworld.co.za/news/2013/ 04/28/a-g-flunks-sa-s-public-servants
Tienson, J. (1983). Linguistic competence. Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies. 259(11), 99-104. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/tnas/259
Vergie, M.P. (2006). Die diskrepansie tussen taalbeleid en –praktyk: implikasies van taalhoudings van SAPD-konstabels in Gauteng [The discrepancy between language policy and practice: implications of language attitudes of SAPS constables in Gauteng] [Doctoral thesis, University of Johannesburg]. The University of Johannesburg Institutional Repository. https://hdl.handle.net/10210/755
Vockell, E.L., & Asher, J.W. (1995). Educational research. (2nd Ed.). London: Prentice Hall.
Webb, V., Lafon, M., & Pare, P. (2010). Bantu languages in education in South Africa – Ongekho akekho! The absentee owner. Language Learning Journal, 37(3), 273-292.
Williams, D. (2012, Septembr 6). 4,900 detectives not trained for job. Sowetan Live. http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2012/09/06/4900-detectives-not-trained-for-job
Yule, G. (2008). The study of language. London: Cambridge University Press.
Adonis, B. (2019) Workplace literacy practices of clerks in the South African Police Services (SAPS) [Unpublished master’s thesis]. University of Cape Town.
Alhuqbani, M. (2014). An investigation of the English language needs, motivations, and attitudes of Saudi police cadets. International Journal of Applied Linguistics & English Literature, 3(2), 201-213. http://dx.doi.org/10.7575/aiac. ijalel.v.3n.2p.201
Alpert, G.P., & Moore, M.H. (1993). Measuring police performance in the new paradigm of community policing. In G. P. Alpert, & A. R. Piquero (Eds.), Community policing: Contemporary readings (pp. 215-232). Prospect Heights: Waveland Press, Inc.
Alqurashi, F. (2011). Teaching English for police purposes in Saudi Arabia: An exploratory study. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 2(4), 844-849. https://doi.org/10.4304/jltr.2.4.844-849
Aulizio, M. & Sheehan, K. (1992). Writing reports in an age of lawsuits. Law and Order, 40(3), 112-114.
Basturkmen, H. (2010). English for the Police. In H. Basturkmen (Ed), Developing courses in English for specific purposes (pp. 71-87). London: Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230290518_5
Bhatia, V. (2004). Worlds of written discourse. A genre-based view. New York: Continuum.
Bhatia, V.K., & Nodoushan, M.A.S. (2015). Genre analysis: The state of the art. International Journal of Language Studies, 9(2), 121-130.
Blumberg, D.M., Schlosser, M.D., Papazoglou, K.P. Creighton, S., & Kaye, C.C. (2019). New directions in police academy training: A call to action. International Journal of Environment. Research and Public Health, 16(24), 1-14.
Brandt, D. (2005). Writing for a living: Literacy and the knowledge economy. Journal of Written Communication, 22(2), 166-197. https://doi.org/10.1177/0741088305275218
Buckingham, A., & Saunders, P. (2004). The survey methods workbook. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Buntman, F., & Snyman, R. (2003). Policing in a diverse and multicultural society: The South African case. The Journal of Police & Society, 7, 199-231.
Calteaux, K. (2003). Synopsis of available language-related research data on SAPS. South African Police Services. http://www.saps.gov.za/saps_profile/components/language_management/downloads/synopsys_lang_research121103.pdf
Candlin, C. N, Bhatia, V. K, & Jensen, C, H. (2002) Developing legal writing materials for English second language learners: Problems and perspectives. English for Specific Purposes, 21(4), 299-320. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0889-4906(01)00029-1
Cenoz, J., & Valencia, J. (1994). Additive trilingualism: Evidence from the Basque country. Applied Psycholinguistics, 15(1), 195-207.
Ćetković, S. (2017). The language of police reports: A quest for precision or a bureaucratic exercise of language degradation. CÃrculo de LingüÃstica Aplicada a la Comunicación, 71, 159-176. http://dx.doi.org/10.5209/CLAC.57308
Chinwe, U.V. (2015). The English language of the Nigeria Police. Journal of Education and Practice, 6(22), 1-3
Chomsky, N. (1957). Syntactic structures. The Hague, Mouton and Company.
Cochrane, J. (2004). Between you and I: A little book of bad English. Cambridge: Icon Books.
Coll, R., Eames, C., Paku, L., Lay, M., Ayling, D., Hodges, D., Ram, S., Bhat, R., Fleming, J., Ferkins, L., Wiersma, C. & Martin, A.J. (2009). An exploration of the pedagogies employed to integrate knowledge in work-integrated learning in New Zealand higher education institutions. Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Education.
Coulthard, M., & Johnson, A. (2007). An introduction to forensic linguistics: Language in evidence. London: Routledge.
Council on Higher Education. (2011). Work-integrated learning: Good practice guide. Pretoria: Council on Higher Education.
Creswell, J.W. (2003). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
Creswell J.W., & Clark, V.L.P. (2011). Designing and conducting mixed methods research. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
Creswell, J., & Creswell, J. (2018). Research design: A qualitative, quantitative & mixed method approaches (5th ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publicatios.
Davids, B. (2010). The state of education in South Africa. The New Negotiator, 3(3), 1-7.
Davis, J. R., & Davis, A. B. (1998). Effective training strategies: A comprehensive guide to maximizing learning in organizations. San Fransisco: Berrett-Koehler.
Denscombe, M. (1998). The good research guide: For small-scale social research projects. Buckingham: Open University Press.
Dewey, J. (1938). Experience and education. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Hall, P. (2008). Policespeak. In J. Gibbons and M. T. Turell (Eds), Dimensions of Forensic Linguistics (pp. 67-94). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Hiscock, D. (2003, August 5). Making the right statement. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2003/ aug/05/furthereducation.uk
Hutchinson, T., & Waters, A. (1987). English for specific purposes: A learning-centered approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Keating, C., Robinson, T., & Clemson, B. (1996). Reflective inquiry: a method for organizational learning. The Learning Organization, 3(1), 35-43.
Kekana, T., & Mogoboya, M. (2021). Workplace English writing needs of police constables in South Africa: Implications to teaching and learning in police training academies in Gauteng province. Journal of African Education, 2(1), 83-104. https://doi.org/10.31920/2633-2930/2021/v2n1a4
Kekana, T. J. (2015). Workplace English writing needs: a case study of perceptions and experiences of police constables at selected police clusters in the Gauteng Province, South Africa [Doctoral dissertation, University of South Africa]. University of South Africa Institutional Repository. https://uir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/19685
Krashen, S. (1982). Theory versus practice in language training. In R. W. Blair (Ed.), Innovative approaches to language teaching. (pp. 15-30) Rowley, MA: Newburry House Publishers.
K-Romya, P. (2006). Deficiency of communication in English as major hindrance for tourist police in Thailand. Published by EDU-COM 2006 EDU-COM International Conference. Engagement and Empowerment: New Opportunities for Growth in Higher Education, Edith Cowan University, Perth.
Mahaye, F. C. (2010). Factors that promote or hinder success on new-entry constables during their first six months within South African Police Services [Master’s thesis, University of Zululand]. University of Zululand Repository. https://hdl.handle.net/10530/601
Miller, M., & Pomerenke, P. (1989). Police reports must be reader based. Law and Order, 37(9), 66-69.
Montesh, M. (2007). A critical analysis of crime investigative system within the South African criminal justice system: A comparative study [Doctoral dissertation, University of South Africa]. University of South Africa Institutional Repository. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/1272
National Planning Commission (2011). National development plan (NDP) vision 2030. The Presidency. Republic of South Africa. https://www.nationalplanningcommission.org.za/National_Development_Plan
Ndenze, B. (2012, September 6). Cops battle to take down statements. IOL News. http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/cops-battle-to-take-down-statements-1.1377111
Neuman, W. L. (1997). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches (3rd ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Ortu, C. (2019). Saps-Speak: The language of the South African police in the post- apartheid era. International Journal of Language Studies, 13(4), 125-140.
Paterson, C. (2011). Adding value? A review of the international literature on the role of higher education in police training and education. Police Practice and Research: An International Journal, 12(4), 286-297
Payam, M. (2006). Opinions of preparatory students, graduates and lectures at police college on their foreign language needs. Journal of Arts and Sciences Say, 6(1), 157-179.
Pettaway, M. (1994). The development of the new orleans police department written communication test [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Tulane University.
Qaddomi, H. A. (2013). English for specific purposes in Palestinian context: Determining EFL cadets’ needs at Al Istiqlal University. Journal of Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 3(7), 1110-1122.
Rauch, J. (1992). South Africa’s police basic training: a preliminary assessment. Unpublished paper. Centre for the study of Violence and Reconciliation.
Richards, J. (2001). Curriculum development in language teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
SAPA. (2012). SA youth losing faith in police. Retrieved from http://www.witness.co.za/index.php?showcontent&global %5B_id% 5D=82558 Accessed on the 29th July 2012.
Sezer, S. (2004). An investigation of the occupational English language needs of Turkish police officers [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Bilkent University.
Silverman, D. (1993). Interpreting qualitative data: Methods for analysing talk, text and interaction. London: Sage.
Stevens, G. P. (2005). Training and selection of police officers: Toward a community police model [Doctoral dissertation, University of South Africa]. University of South Africa Institutional Repository. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/1757
Thepa, M. (2013, April 28). A-G flunks SA’s public servants. Sunday World. http://www.sundayworld.co.za/news/2013/ 04/28/a-g-flunks-sa-s-public-servants
Tienson, J. (1983). Linguistic competence. Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies. 259(11), 99-104. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/tnas/259
Vergie, M.P. (2006). Die diskrepansie tussen taalbeleid en –praktyk: implikasies van taalhoudings van SAPD-konstabels in Gauteng [The discrepancy between language policy and practice: implications of language attitudes of SAPS constables in Gauteng] [Doctoral thesis, University of Johannesburg]. The University of Johannesburg Institutional Repository. https://hdl.handle.net/10210/755
Vockell, E.L., & Asher, J.W. (1995). Educational research. (2nd Ed.). London: Prentice Hall.
Webb, V., Lafon, M., & Pare, P. (2010). Bantu languages in education in South Africa – Ongekho akekho! The absentee owner. Language Learning Journal, 37(3), 273-292.
Williams, D. (2012, Septembr 6). 4,900 detectives not trained for job. Sowetan Live. http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2012/09/06/4900-detectives-not-trained-for-job
Yule, G. (2008). The study of language. London: Cambridge University Press.
Published
2023-12-18
How to Cite
Kekana, T. J., & Montle, M. E. (2023). The Language of Police Officers Matters: Factors Hampering Workplace English Writing Capability in the South African Police Services (SAPS). K@ta: A Biannual Publication on the Study of Languange and Literature, 25(2), 92-110. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.9744/kata.25.2.92-110
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Articles
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License
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