Pan South African Language Board Research Articles

South African Indigenous Languages and Digital Technologies: Access, Promotion and Preservation

This study has adopted the non-empirical research design: a systematic review. The purpose of the study was to explore the access, promotion and preservation of South African indigenous languages using digital technologies. As a research methodology, the researcher used the "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis" (PRISMA) guidelines. Thus, the data for the study was obtained by using scientific search engines such as Google Scholar, EBSCOHost, ResearchGate, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Sabinet, and Taylor & Francis. A review of the literature, which included sources from 2001 to 2022, informed the study's data. According to the findings of this study, access to digital technologies that support South African languages is limited – and this negatively affects the promotion and preservation of these languages. Therefore, the study recommends that the South African government in partnership with the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), language experts, researchers, policymakers, and information and communications technology (ICT) companies should implement strategies that could help to prevent barriers to effective access, promotion, and preservation of South African indigenous languages, using digital technologies.

A blatant disregard of Section 6 (1) of the Constitution of South Africa by higher education institutions and language authorities: An onomastic discrepancy

The primary focus of this article is the onomastic discrepancies that are considered a blatant disregard of Section 6 (1) of the Constitution of South Africa (Act No. 108 of 1996). The article employs a qualitative research approach where text analysis is used, focusing on constitutional documentation, legislative frameworks on language-related matters and higher education policy documentations, as well as language policy documentation from the selected 10 South African universities that offered Sepedi as a first language or conversational module. It is found that there is a constitutional disregard by competent organisations such as universities, financial institutions, Google and language authorities (such as Pan South African Language Board, Sesotho sa Leboa National Language Body and Sesotho sa Leboa National Lexicography Unit), since most of the policies are inconsistent with Section 6 (1) of the South African Constitution, 1996. In summary, the article records that the policies supersede the Constitution, since the language name ‘Northern Sotho/Sesotho sa Leboa’ is the most used name to refer to the official standard language rather than its counterpart, Sepedi.

Lexikos and AFRILEX — A Perfect Lexicographic Liaison

After in-depth discussions with interested parties in 1991 the Bureau of the Woorde­boek van die Afrikaanse Taal (WAT) realized that the future of Afrikaans is inextricably connected with that of the other existing and utilized languages in South Africa. One of the results of the dis­cussions was the establishment in 1991 of an academic journal Lexikos in the AFRILEX Series. An external feasibility study was also conducted on behalf of the Board of Control of the Bureau of the WAT to determine the possibility for the establishment of an Institute for Southern African Lexi­cog­raphy. The results of the feasibility study indicated that respondents did not want another bureau­cratic institution. A major result of the feasibility study, however, was the establishment in 1995 of a professional association, the African Association for Lexicography, that concentrates exclu­sively on lexicographical issues. The Bureau of the WAT gave permission to the new association to use the acronym "AFRILEX". The Pan-South African Language Board (PanSALB), also established in 1995, was a direct consequence of the country's new multilingual dispensation. The legislation governing PanSALB was amended to allow for equal justice to all dictionary projects for the official South African languages. This led to the establishment of national lexicography units for each of the offi­cial South African languages. Both the activities of AFRILEX and the articles published in Lexikos have a huge influence on the activities of the national lexicography units. Keywords: association, communication, dictionary, feasibility study, journal, language for special purposes, legislation, lexicography, national lexicography units, terminography, terminology

The South African National Lexicography Units — Two Decades Later

The lexicography practice in South Africa has distinctive features and to a great extent relates to the political dispensation current at a given period. During the previous political dispensation only two dictionary units existed in South Africa that were state funded, namely the Bureau of the Woordeboek van die Afrikaanse Taal (WAT) and the Dictionary for South African English (DSAE). These dictionary units, therefore have a long dictionary history. Some of the African languages, such as Xhosa, Zulu, Tswana and Northern Sotho also had dictionary units at the time but they were situated at and funded by tertiary institutions. The current national government requires dictionaries in all official languages for proper communication in languages the citizens understand best, i.e. their respective mother tongues. The Pan-South African Language Board (PanSALB), established in 1996, was a direct consequence of the country's new multilingual dispensation. This dispensation required equal rights for all the official languages and the legislation governing PanSALB was therefore amended to allow for equal justice to all dictionary projects for the official South African languages. This led to the establishment of national lexicography units for each of the official South African languages. A strategic planning process conducted at the Bureau of the Woordeboek van die Afrikaanse Taal not only influenced the lexicography practice at the Bureau, but also had a huge impact on the newly established national lexicography units (NLUs). Both the articles published in Lexikos, that originated in 1991, and the activities of the African Association for Lexicography (AFRILEX), established in 1995, have a huge influence on the activities of the NLUs. Although the NLUs are already 21 years old and should officially be of age, the question remains whether they really gained their independence. This article focusses on the heritage of the Bureau of the WAT as National Lexicography Unit for Afrikaans and the example that it has set to the other NLUs. Keywords: academic journal, association, communication, dictionary, feasibility study, human language technologies, language for special purposes, legislation, lexicography, management, national lexicography units, strategic planning, terminography, terminology

The onomastic possibility of renaming the Sepedi and Sesotho sa Leboa (Northern Sotho) language names to restore peace, dignity and solidarity

The study embraced the onomastic possibility of renaming the Sepedi and Sesotho sa Leboa (Northern Sotho) language names that have caused and are still causing onomastic confusion to the first language (L1) speakers of the language under scrutiny, and also to the speakers of other languages. The study was conducted in 2019 at five selected South African universities – University of Johannesburg, University of South Africa, University of Limpopo, University of Venda and Tshwane University of Technology – which offered the language under investigation as an L1 module. In addition, language experts (practitioners) at the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) and its sub-structures and the National Department of Arts and Culture, including Limpopo and Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, were also involved in the study. Quota sampling was used to select all the 267 participants in the study. The study found that both Sepedi and Sesotho sa Leboa (Northern Sotho) language names are rejected by onomastic principles of naming an official language. An overwhelming majority of the participants opined that this language should be renamed, with the anticipation that the new name will bring peace, unity and solidarity to the L1 speakers of Sepedi.

An evaluation of Tshivenḓa orthography of adoptives with special reference to Pan South African Language Board spelling rule booklets

In Tshivenḓa, words which have been adopted from foreign languages have acquired entirely new characteristics. Such words have made a considerable contribution to the development of Tshivenḓa vocabulary. The aim of the article is to evaluate the role played by adoptives in Tshivenḓa orthography (spelling rules) and the challenges that arise as a consequence of the adoption of words. The methodology used is textual analysis, which entails a qualitative research methodology. Principles of the writing of adoptives have been extracted from the three Orthography and Spelling Rules booklets of Tshivenḓa approved by PanSALB, published respectively in 2005, 2008 and 2018. One of the rules states that Tshivenḓa words must follow the consonant-vowel pattern as indicated in the Orthography and Spelling Rules of Tshivenḓa published in 2005 and 2008. However, some of the adoptives in the 2018 booklet are written as pronounced in the original language and do not follow the open syllable system, for example Afrika, ḓresi and grisi. As a result, one finds that two different spellings exist for words, that is, according to the consonant-vowel pattern, or as pronounced in the original language, for example ḓiresi or ḓresi for English ‘address’ and ḓiraṱa or ḓraṱa for Afrikaans draad (‘wire’). The current study notes the challenges brought about by adoptives and makes recommendations to address them.

Orthographic errors in written Tshivenḓa on funeral programmes of Vhembe District Municipality funeral undertakers

Among the Vhavenḓa in the Vhembe District (Limpopo province, South Africa) funeral programmes show conflicting usage of orthography. Some of the programmes are written in acceptable Tshivenḓa orthography, whereas others are not. This article seeks to analyse a sample of twenty-five programmes collected from different undertakers over the period January 2014 to June 2015 with the aim of identifying orthographic mistakes and suggesting ways of correcting them, using the Rules of Orthography and Pronunciation for Tshivenḓa by the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) as a yardstick. The researchers used textual analysis to establish whether these undertakers adhered to the correct Tshivenḓa orthography or not. The researchers randomly collected programmes from each of the five funeral undertakers sampled and subsequently analysed the programmes.

The Afrikaans Orthographic Rules as Guide for Other South African Languages

The spelling and orthographic rules of a language are very important for compilers of general and technical dictionaries. When compiling a dictionary, the lexicographers and termi­no­graphers should adhere to these rules. The word-forming principles of a language form part of these rules, and new terms can only be coined in a given language if the spelling and orthographic rules of the language are followed. In this article work on the rules of Afrikaans spelling and orthography, by and large, is reported. It is hoped that some of the lessons learned in the process could serve as guidelines for parallel processes of the standardisation of the spelling and orthographies of the other South Afri­can languages. With the establishment of the National Language Body for Afrikaans (NLBA) of the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), it was decided that the members of the Taalkommissie (Lan­guage Commission) of the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns (SAAWK) (South African Acad­emy for Science and the Arts) would become members of the NLBA. These mem­bers then became the Technical Committee for Standardisation (TC Standardisation). Since its establishment, the members of the Taalkommissie cum TC for Standardisation (Commission) con­tinued with their work on the standardisation of the spelling and orthographic rules for Afrikaans. Along with work on spelling and orthography, the long-term objectives set by the Commission are, inter alia , the conver­sion and adaptation of the Afrikaanse Woordelys en Spelreels ( AWS ) to an elec­tronic format to be made available in an electronic version (e-book) and online, as well as a stan­dard grammar for Afrikaans to be compiled for international access on the Internet. The AWS is a resource compiled by the Commission to assist users of Afrikaans in writing the standard variety of the language. The AWS explains the ground rules of the Afri­kaans spelling and orthographic conventions. The basic rules are provided in simplified language. No language is static, and there are always language changes to be taken into account. The vocabulary and pronunciation of a dynamic language could change over a period of time. These changes should be reflected in the spelling and orthographic system of the language. The article addresses issues such as the front matter of the AWS , spelling and orthographic principles and rules, and the back matter (i.e. a list of abbreviations, a list of international place names, transliteration table, etc.). Although the AWS is not a dictionary, it also contains a word list. Words which present spelling problems, neologisms and items requiring recognition as part of the Afri­kaans vocabulary are some of the categories considered for inclusion in this list. In 2004 the NLBs of the other nine official African languages started with the revision of the spelling and orthographic rules of these languages. The first editions were published by PanSALB in 2008. No revisions have been compiled since. The AWS could serve as example of what could be done for the other African languages and even the Khoe and San languages.

A decline in language rights violation complaints received by PanSALB – The case of Afrikaans

Since 2002 the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) has experienced a decline in the number of complaints received concerning alleged language rights violations. An investigation into the nature of and reasons for this decline showed that the decline can largely be attributed to the fact that the Afrikaans speech community no longer lodges complaints with PanSALB. This paper reports on the reasons for this decline. It is argued that this particular community has turned away from PanSALB and now rather engages in other strategies in order to overcome the perceived marginalisation of Afrikaans. However, what at first glance appears to be a case of language planning from the bottom rather than from the top, is complicated by the social and financial capital of this speech community.

Lexicography in a Multilingual South Africa

Lexicography in a Multilingual South Africa

Language policy, language visibility and the standardisation of geographical names in South Africa – the quest for coherency

Geographical names add to the realisation of ‘language visibility’ on bilingual name signs. However, bilingual name signs cannot always be divorced from the overall phenomenon of bilingual signs. A measure of coherency sometimes exists between language policy, language visibility and geographical names. Language visibility therefore comprises an important variable in analysing such coherency; geographical names are central to such an analysis. Our question here is how policy makers in South Africa utilise language visibility as factor in realising such coherency. The published findings of the Pan South African Language Board on the treatment of language visibility on public signs can serve as an important source of analysis in answering this question. One specific case, Vriende van Afrikaans (Tygerberg) & DA Language Ombudsman vs. Sanral, includes a relatively detailed set of appropriate guidelines. This article offers an analysis of these findings on the treatment of language visibility on road traffic name signs.

The Tshivenda–English Thalusamaipfi/Dictionary as a Product of South African Lexicographic Processes

The publication of a dictionary is regarded as the result of a lexicographic process. Three subtypes of a lexicographic process have been noted, namely the primary comprehensive, the secondary comprehensive and the dictionary specific lexicographic processes. In South Africa, the three lexicography processes correspond to the respective mandates of the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), the National Lexicography Units (NLUs) and the editorial teams involved in the compilation of the specific dictionaries. This hierarchical arrangement of the lexicographic practice is supported by the government within the country's national multilingual policy which was lauded in linguistic and lexicographic circles as a triumph for cultural democracy. It is almost a decade since these planned lexicographic processes have been in place. It seems the right time to consider the products of these South African lexicographic processes which are envied by many foreign lexicographers, especially in Africa. Accordingly, the article evaluates these lexicographic processes with special reference to the Tshivenda–English Thalusamaipfi/Dictionary. Specifically, it addresses the question: To what extent does this dictionary represent lexicographic development in the indigenous South African languages which were marginalised before the establishment of the NLUs? A few insights are drawn from modern lexicographic theories for the general improvement of future lexicographic practice in languages with limited lexicographic tools such as Venda. Keywords: Lexicographic Process, Lexicographic Planning, Pansalb, National Lexicography Units, Lexicographic Practice, Metalexicography, Dictionary, Bilingual Dictionary, Macrostructure, Microstructure

Die Pan-Suid-Afrikaanse Taalraad en die regulering van taalsigbaarheid in Suid-Afrika – 'n ontleding van taalregteklagtes

The Pan South African Language Board and the regulation of language visibility in South Africa—an analysis of language rights complaints. The regulation of language visibility on public signs, i.e. of the linguistic landscape, comprises an important aspect of language policy in multilingual societies. If it is argued that the language clause of the South African Constitution envisages a multilingual landscape, concrete language policy guidelines regarding such language visibility are indispensable. Due to the acute shortage of such guidelines, Pansalb's findings on complaints about language visibility could play an important role in addressing this shortcoming. The Board is mandated to provide advice, specifically on language policy. Pansalb's own language policy guidelines also lack provisions on the linguistic landscape. The Board's gazetted findings concerning language rights complaints thus constitute an important source for studying language policy. This article provides an analysis of complaints regarding language visibility on which the Board made important findings between 1997 and 2006. The analysis is conducted against the background of theoretical insights pertaining to the linguistic landscape as a field of enquiry within sociolinguistics. Deductions are based on policy principles that could contribute towards overt policy regarding the treatment of language visibility on public signs in South Africa. Opsomming Die regulering van taalsigbaarheid by openbare tekens, met ander woorde van die linguistiese landskap, vorm ‘n belangrike aspek van taalbeleid in meertalige samelewings. Indien geredeneer word dat die taalklousule van die Suid-Afrikaanse Grondwet ‘n meertalige linguistiese landskap in die vooruitsig stel, soos sommige Suid-Afrikaanse geleerdes inderdaad doen, is konkrete taalbeleidsriglyne vir die hantering van taalsigbaarheid by openbare tekens onontbeerlik. Gesien die huidige nypende tekort aan sodanige riglyne, kan die Pan-Suid-Afrikaanse Taalraad (Pansat) se bevindinge oor taalklagtes wat met taalsigbaarheid verband hou ‘n belangrike leemte vul. Pansat se wetlike mandaat maak juis voorsiening dat die instansie advies oor taalbeleidsaangeleenthede kan gee. Die instansie se eie taalbeleidsriglyne bevat ook nie bepalings oor die linguistiese landskap nie. Pansat se Staatskoerant-gepubliseerde bevindinge oor taalregteklagtes vorm dus ‘n belangrike bron van ondersoek na taalbeleid. In hierdie artikel word ‘n analise gemaak van ‘n stel taalregteklagtes waaroor die instansie tussen 1997 en 2006 belangrike bevindinge oor taalsigbaarheid gemaak het. Die analise word gemaak teen die agtergrond van teoretiese insigte in die linguistiese landskap as ondersoekterrein binne die sosiolinguistiek. Op grond van hierdie analise word dan beleidsbeginsels afgelei wat kan bydra tot die daarstel van overte beleid vir die hantering van taalsigbaarheid op openbare tekens in Suid-Afrika.

The African Association for Lexicography: After Ten Years

This year it has been ten years since the establishment of AFRILEX. After an expla-nation of what led to its forming, this article gives a short overview of its composition and activi-ties. Keywords: african association for lexicography (afrilex), african lan-guages association of south africa (alasa), bureau of the woordeboek van die afrikaanse taal (wat), dictionary of south african english (dsae), linguistic association of southern africa (lssa), national lexicography units (nlus), pan south african language board (pansalb)

Language complaints as an instrument of language rights activism: The case of PanSALB as a guardian of the right to mother-tongue education

Language activism in South Africa has a long history. Various instruments of language activism have been used in the past, leading to the emergence of two particular traditions. One tradition, which is linked to a ‘struggle’ for the Afrikaans language, is mostly viewed in a negative sense and relates to language activism under Afrikaner Nationalism. The other tradition associated with the struggle for a democratic South Africa, is viewed in a more positive sense, and relates to language activism under the Mass Democratic Movement. The new political dispensation in South Africa, ushered in in 1994, requires a reappraisal of the current instruments of language activism, particularly in view of the newer instrument of activism concerning the lodging of language complaints as an avenue to attain redress for alleged language rights violations. With a special focus on Afrikaans and the African languages, this article sets out to examine the language and education issues covered in complaints lodged with the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) in the period 1997 to 2007. The article discusses how this new instrument has been used and by whom, while examining how this fits into the broader linguistic status quo in South Africa.

Language policy incongruity and African languages in postapartheid South Africa

This study explores some of the reasons why, in spite of the exemplary fashion in which democratic South Africa responded to the constitutional imperatives pertaining to language, policy implementation has been slow. It is argued that language policy and planning in South Africa have become trapped in a gap between 'intention' and 'performance'. This study investigates the performance of the Pan South African Language Board, as government's statutory language planning agency mandated to promote the use of the African languages. The study argues that language planning agencies, such as PanSALB, are pivotal in addressing attitudinal problems regarding the role of African languages in education. Language planning as a marketing strategy is proposed as an integral part of reviewing and remaking policy, with a view to ensuring the ecological wellbeing of African languages, and hence their future as languages of learning and teaching.

Beyond 2000: Sharpening the focus on the indigenous languages

This article is intended to stimulate intense discussions on the issue of the indigenous languages in South Africa. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa stipulates that the South African indigenous languages are historically disadvantaged, and therefore extra effort should be applied to elevate their status and to advance their usage. The Bill of Rights stipulates that everyone has a right to use the language of his/her choice. This, therefore, means that the development of the indigenous languages is fully backed by our country's constitution. The Pan South African Language Board has given us correct guidelines towards developing our indigenous languages. In developing our indigenous languages we should observe language ownership, language diffusion and language empowerment.

Translation in South Africa: the politics of transmission

This article investigates interlingual mediation, i.e. translation and interpreting as a macro-level language-planning goal in contemporary South Africa. The focus of the article is the political dimensions of translation as social practice. The study argues that, in addition to being a pivotal language facilitation tool, translation should also be valued and utilised as a language development tool and as a tool for creating 'discursive space' for indigenous (minority) languages. Translation policy as captured in language legislation (e.g. the Constitution and the Pan South African Language Board Act, 1995) and policy statements by Government (e.g. the Minister of Arts and Culture's National Language Policy Framework, 2003) are analysed and a brief overview of current translation infrastructure at provincial and local government level is discussed. The study argues that the politics of transmission in post-apartheid South Africa have failed the nation-building project. Government's language-planning agencies have failed to establish routinised translation practices and have thus failed to foster a culture of translation. As a result, translation's pivotal developmental function has been neglected, which has contributed to the shrinking socio-cultural domains in which indigenous languages are used.

The Case of the Toothless Watchdog

Numerous scholars and activists have advocated a notion of language rights as a tool by which minority ethnic groups may protect their cultural integrity against the incursions of hegemonic groups. At the same time, critics have problematized language rights as a dangerous notion that may provoke inter-ethnic competition or worse. This article seeks to contribute to this debate a case study of the ‘rights mediation function’ of the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), a central component of South Africa’s uniquely progressive language rights framework. First, it is considered whether PanSALB’s support of ‘group’ language rights gives incentive to potentially divisive ethnic mobilization. Second, the efficacy and equitability of PanSALB’s service delivery is interrogated, as are the responses of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) to ethnolinguistic grievance. This article concludes that PanSALB does not give incentive to ethnic mobilization, but fails to protect language rights, and, as a structure, serves to co-opt civil society and help make ‘docile bodies’ of ordinary citizens.

Determining the appropriate code in a South African business environment

During 1999 a research project was undertaken under the auspices of the Pan South African Language Board, in collaboration with a large financial institution, to investigate the use and attitudes with regard to the nine indigenous African languages in a call centre environment. The financial institution concerned makes extensive use of advisors in the call centre to facilitate electronic telephonic banking transactions. In this environment the choice of code as well as the linguistic structure and content of the discourse are critical factors in the client/advisor interaction. The research was based on the hypothesis that in the South African call centre environment, the use of the primary language of the client would be perceived to enhance the quality of the interaction between client and service provider. It was further hypothesised that the use of clients' primary languages is a function of advisors' multilingual skills. This paper will focus on three qualitative aspects of the study: a Face to face interviews were held with sixteen call centre advisors to obtain insight into their use and attitudes towards the use of the nine African languages in interaction with clients. b Fifty telephonic interviews were held with African clients of the institution to determine: • clients' experience of the language in which they were served; • clients' attitudes regarding the role of language in financial services. c In depth interviews were held with representatives of senior management of direct financial services. From these interviews it became clear that clients responded overwhelmingly positively to service in their respective primary languages. The reasons for the positive responses, however, varied. As researchers, we are of the opinion that these results could impact on language choices that financial institutions make in the future. We have also found that cost objections to the formal introduction of the African languages are largely irrelevant since the staff contingent of call centres already have the necessary language proficiency skills available.