This study explored the feasibility of using test
translation to adapt a standard English vocabulary test for
Zulu speakers. It was motivated by the difficulties
associated with assessing speakers of the African languages,
in the absence of Zulu speech-language therapists and Zulu
assessment tools. The adaptation process in the present
study began with a direct translation of the PPVT-R into
Zulu by twenty Zulu university students. Based on the
degree of consensus on translations and judgements of
cultural appropriacy (using the committee approach), items
were selected for the purposes of pilot testing of the
translations on 107 Zulu pupils from six to eleven years,
in the study area. The results of the first pilot study
revealed that it was not feasible to standardise the first
translated version of the test, as only seventeen percent
of the items were found suitable for inclusion in a
normative study. Further test development using
translations from twenty educators, their judgements of
cultural appropriacy of stimuli as well as application of
the back translation test to determine semantic equivalence
of translations resulted in the development of a revised
translated version of the PPVT-R, consisting of mUltiple
translations for some items. This was administered to 544,
six to eleven year old Zulu children. The results of the
second pilot study revealed that only 31.2% of the
translations administered were appropriate for the purposes
of developing norms, across all the age groups tested, with
80% of these translations applicable for six and seven year
old Zulu children only. Therefore, the translated version
of the PPVT-R, despite modifications, showed significantly
reduced applicability for Zulu speakers. Using the
information derived from the present study a test comprising
thirty six Zulu words has been compiled for the purposes of
screening the receptive vocabulary skills of six and seven
year old Zulu children in the study area. The findings of
the study confirmed the difficulties in using test
translation as a procedural option in adapting a test for
Zulu children; implications, further modifications and
investigations are suggested in this regard. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Durban-Westville, 1994.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/4918 |
| Date | January 1994 |
| Creators | Naidoo, Premanithee. |
| Contributors | Jager, G. W. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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