A socio-constructive approach to the training of language practitioners at the University of the Free State

Published ArticleThis paper describes the training of language practitioners at the University of the Free State in the light of recent developments in Translation Studies, namely the tendency of internationalising ideas about translation, as well as the enlarging of Western Translation Theory by integrating non-Western thought about translation. Starting from earlier ideas of translation training, the move towards socio-constructive approach as proposed by Kiraly (2000) is described. It is indicated how the socio-constructive approach can benefit the training of language practitioners by empowering the learner to act responsibly, autonomously and competently. The socio-constructive approach provides not only an epistemological basis for the development of knowledge-building communities, but also a variety of tools that can be used to promote and pursue learning in such communities

Empowering marganalised culture : the institution of South African sign language at the University of the Free State

Published ArticleThis paper aims to describe the state of South African Sign Language (SASL) at the University of the Free State (UFS). It provides background to the development of SASL, the development of Deaf education, the teaching of sign language and sign language interpreting at the UFS, research and community development. SASL is one of the languages offered at the UFS. The University has been involved with ground-breaking research to implement a training course on all levels of tertiary education. Students can complete a degree in sign language and also do postgraduate studies in sign language and sign language interpreting. This article aims to indicate how teaching of SASLas an official language empowers marginalised culture

Lexicography and the translation of ‘cedars of Lebanon’ in the Septuagint

Botanical terms in the Septuagint reveal a mass of uncertain and sometimes contradictory data, owing to the translators’ inadequate and inaccurate understanding of plants. To understand the metaphorical and symbolic meaning of plants, the new approach represented by Biblical Plant Hermeneutics places the taxonomy of flora on a strong ethnological and ethnobotanical basis by studying each plant in situ and gathering indigenous knowledge about the plant and its context in the biblical text. This article applies this methodology to the translation of the Hebrew source text term אֶרֶז [cedar] in the Septuagint as κέδρος [cedar] or κέδρινος (the adjectival form of κέδρος) and its interpretation in the light of lexicography, which lead to contradictory identifications. A complexity theoretical approach is proposed to provide a solution for the various identification choices in the light of lexicography to communicate the cultural values of the Hebrew source text and its Greek translation