This study investigates the possibilities of incorporating African languages in skills development and training in South Africa as part of functional multilingualism. This investigation is done in relation to the Skills Development Act (Act No.97 of 1998) promulgated by the South African government, through parliament in order to address skills shortage among workers in South Africa the majority of whom are black whose education and training needs can be more effectively addressed through mother-tongue instruction than through English or Afrikaans. A literature review of global trends in skills-development initiatives and strategies indicates that the use of indigenous languages in skills development ensures success in skills transference and also enhances language development and language promotion. Empirical research was done in the mining and minerals industry at Beatrix Gold Mine, Free State. / African Languages / M.A. (African Languages)

M.A. / Language planning in South Africa has been nothing but the Government's policy of separatism. To our knowledge there has never been any consultation between the authorities and.the users of the various languages. The broader community has had no input in planning the languages which affect them directly. It is our attempt then to join the debate about language policy and language planning especially during 1991/1992...

This study investigates the possibilities of incorporating African languages in skills development and training in South Africa as part of functional multilingualism. This investigation is done in relation to the Skills Development Act (Act No.97 of 1998) promulgated by the South African government, through parliament in order to address skills shortage among workers in South Africa the majority of whom are black whose education and training needs can be more effectively addressed through mother-tongue instruction than through English or Afrikaans. A literature review of global trends in skills-development initiatives and strategies indicates that the use of indigenous languages in skills development ensures success in skills transference and also enhances language development and language promotion. Empirical research was done in the mining and minerals industry at Beatrix Gold Mine, Free State. / African Languages / M.A. (African Languages)

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Translation. Johannesburg, 2016 / There are eleven official languages in South Africa. However, only two of these languages – English and Afrikaans – are dominant. It is often argued that this is because the other 9 official languages do not have enough terminology to be used in institutions of higher learning and in technical fields. I argue that the adaptation of literary texts helps in improving the status of African languages. For this purpose this research involves an analysis of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet which has been adapted into an English novel Hill of Fools by Peteni (1976) and later translated into isiXhosa as Kwazidenge (Peteni 1980). The analysis consists of a comparison between extracts from Romeo and Juliet and Kwazidenge via Hill of Fools using Lambert and van Gorp’s (1985) practical model for textual analysis. I argue that as much as Romeo and Juliet can be seen as a difficult text because of Shakespeare’s English, Peteni was successful in adapting the play into isiXhosa. / MT2017

This study aimed to determine whether the current African language translation facilitation course (ALTFC) held at the Directorate Language Services (D Lang) is in tune with contemporary trends in translator training, as well as the needs of the South African Department of Defence (DOD) and ALTFC candidates. In order to accomplish these aims, the research methodology was divided into a theoretical component in the form of a literature survey and an empirical component by means of questionnaire research. While the literature survey revealed that with the exception of using corpora of parallel texts, the ALTFC largely follows contemporary trends in translator training, the questionnaire research identified four problem areas, i.e. feedback on practical work, the time factor, the candidates' English proficiency and teacher enthusiasm. Based on the theoretical and empirical findings, four new ALTFC models were developed. / Linguistics / MA (Linguistics)

This study aimed to determine whether the current African language translation facilitation course (ALTFC) held at the Directorate Language Services (D Lang) is in tune with contemporary trends in translator training, as well as the needs of the South African Department of Defence (DOD) and ALTFC candidates. In order to accomplish these aims, the research methodology was divided into a theoretical component in the form of a literature survey and an empirical component by means of questionnaire research. While the literature survey revealed that with the exception of using corpora of parallel texts, the ALTFC largely follows contemporary trends in translator training, the questionnaire research identified four problem areas, i.e. feedback on practical work, the time factor, the candidates' English proficiency and teacher enthusiasm. Based on the theoretical and empirical findings, four new ALTFC models were developed. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / MA (Linguistics)

Even though language formed part of the post-apartheid agenda which was set out to redress the ills of the pre-democratic South Africa, there are still concerns that the status of indigenous languages has not been elevated. Using decolonial work of Steve Biko, Ngugi wa Thiong’o and Frantz Fanon as theoretical lens, I aimed at exploring perceptions of key informants on post-apartheid language policies, young South Africans and parents /guardians toward indigenous languages. In-depth and narrative interviews were used to collect data from language policy key informants and young South Africans who started schooling after 1994 and focus group discussions with parents/guardians were held. Thematic, narrative and discourse analyses were used to analyse the data. Indigenous languages were perceived by participants as having an inferior status compared to languages of oppression and that was attributed to inferiority complex, lack of will from government to promote these languages and absent voice of indigenous language speakers in the fight for the status of indigenous languages. South Africa’s language diversity was also perceived as a challenge believed to contribute toward the difficulty of properly implementing post-apartheid language policies. The study results suggest a need for a stronger civil society which would assist in the dismantling of categorising languages as superior and inferior. Furthermore, the results point to a need for a more humanising approach which treats indigenous languages with respect. / Psychology / D. Phil. (Psychology)

Even though language formed part of the post-apartheid agenda which was set out to redress the ills of the pre-democratic South Africa, there are still concerns that the status of indigenous languages has not been elevated. Using decolonial work of Steve Biko, Ngugi wa Thiong’o and Frantz Fanon as theoretical lens, I aimed at exploring perceptions of key informants on post-apartheid language policies, young South Africans and parents /guardians toward indigenous languages. In-depth and narrative interviews were used to collect data from language policy key informants and young South Africans who started schooling after 1994 and focus group discussions with parents/guardians were held. Thematic, narrative and discourse analyses were used to analyse the data. Indigenous languages were perceived by participants as having an inferior status compared to languages of oppression and that was attributed to inferiority complex, lack of will from government to promote these languages and absent voice of indigenous language speakers in the fight for the status of indigenous languages. South Africa’s language diversity was also perceived as a challenge believed to contribute toward the difficulty of properly implementing post-apartheid language policies. The study results suggest a need for a stronger civil society which would assist in the dismantling of categorising languages as superior and inferior. Furthermore, the results point to a need for a more humanising approach which treats indigenous languages with respect. / Psychology / Ph. D. (Psychology)

PhD (African Studies) / Department of African Studies / Vanhu vo tala va vile xiphemu lexi endleke leswaku ndzavisiso lowu wu humelela. Ndzi khensa nghamu na vana lava va ndzi hlohloteleke no ndzi seketela hi mianakanyo. Ndzi tata ku khensa eka vatswari lava va nga phuphu ya mina. Vamakwerhu lava a va ndzi khutaza eka gondzo leri a ri nga olovi, kambe va ri olovisa leswaku ndzi kota ku rhelela. Ndzi ri, xandla eka henhla xin’wana xandla! Eka wena mudzaberi wa thesisi leyi, Dokodela Chauke M.T, namuntlha ndzi dya mihandzu leyi u tikarhateke swinene hi ku chela manyoro u cheleta yi kala yi vupfa. U bile comana swikwembu swi kala swi huma kutani namuntlha ndzi thwasile hikuva nyongwa se ndzi yi khomile hi mavoko ya mina. Dokodela Babane M.T na wena u vile mupfuneti wa mudzaberi hi vutshembeki. Tatana Maluleke (Ngwenya) Tinyiko na vapfuneti va wena hi tlhelo ra ku thayipa xitsariwa lexi wa khensiwa. Hakunene u ngwenya. Sesi Kudakwashe Chirobe, nseketelo na mitirho ya wena eka vuhumelerisi bya thesisi leyi swi khenseka hi xiheri (Zvakanaka shamwari!). buti Respect Mlambo na wena sesi Kudakwashe migingiriko ya n’wina ya ku ya hala na hala ku tiyisisa leswaku xitsariwa lexi xi tixaxametisa na swilaveko swa xihofisi swi tswarile mihandzu leyinene. I vanyingi lava hoxeke xandla ehenhla ka ndzavisiso lowu, ndzi ba mandla ndzi vuyelela eka n’wina hinkwenu handle ko mi hlaya hi mavito. Ndzi tlangela ku humelerisiwa ka mafumelo ya xidemokirasi laha Afrika-Dzonga. Swi ta va swi nga hetisekangi eka mina ku va ndzi vulavula hi xidemokirasi xa Afrika-Dzonga loko vito ra Dokodela Rolihlahla Mandela ri nga boxiwangi. Hi un’wana wa tinghanakana ta valweri va ndzingandzingano wa tindzimi eka swin’wana swa swona. Ingi moya wa yena wu nga wisa hi kurhula swinene. Eku heteleleni, ndzi khensa Muvumbi tanihileswi masungulo ya vutlhari ku nga ku chava Yehovha. Hi yena loyi a ndzi tsetseleleke no ndzi hletela ku kondza ndzi gwaza. / NRF