Xhosa acquisition through e-learning : learner needs and development challenges

Published ArticleThe contribution argues that there is a renewed interest by mainly Afrikaans and English speaking South Africans in learning another indigenous South African language. This came about as a direct result of the changed official language policy, elevating all the indigenous Bantu languages to that of being official. It is further argued that many individuals interested in learning a new language, do not have the time or the inclination to do so in a formal classroom context. Access to a computer has increased dramatically in the last two decades, and hence e-learning becomes a viable option in this regard. The contribution argues that computer-assisted language learning (CALL) can very sensibly complement and even substitute the language teacher. Some existing computer-assisted language courses aimed at learning Xhosa are briefly explored, and finally the attention is turned to the particular challenges experienced in developing an interactive multimedia Xhosa acquisition course within the Multitaal framework

Teaching Xhosa for special purposes to physiotherapy students: A case study

Adults generally find language learning difficult and often do not attain much success. This article reports a case study in which a group of learners English and Afrikaans speaking physiotherapy students at the University of the Western Cape learners were allowed to share in the planning of their Xhosa course. Strategies were used to enhance the learner’s awareness of their specific communicative needs. Students were then involved in reformulating these needs in terms of desired outcomes. This meant that realistic goals were set with the effect that the objective was seen as attainable. Fear of failure was no longer acute. By participating in the planning process the learners claimed ownership of the course: they experienced a sense of achievement is experienced even before the actual learning process started which strengthened the motivation that had originally led the learner to embark upon the learning exercise. </p

Xhosa as medium of instruction in Higher Education: Pie in the sky?

This article debates the possibility of introducing Xhosa as a Medium of Instruction (MoI) at tertiary level. It should be seen as an argumentative contribution that comprises the following methodological steps: (a) a look at the language stipulations in the Constitution, (b) a brief survey of the advocacy of Neville Alexander (2003, 2006) regarding the development of the indigenous languages to serve as MoI, (c) an analysis of the directives from educational authorities pertaining to this matter, and (d), a brief comparative view of the language policies of three universities in the Western Cape, i.e. Cape Town, Stellenbosch and the Western Cape, undertaken to assess how these institutions have responded to the directives from educational authorities to develop Xhosa as a language of teaching and learning at tertiary level. It is argued that, despite exciting and innovative developments around developing multilingualism on all three campuses, the matter around developing Xhosa as a medium of instruction in higher education is receiving very little attention and could at best be seen as a possible long-term goal. It is further argued that the introduction of Xhosa as a medium of instruction in the schooling system should precede attempts to introduce it as a medium of instruction in higher education

Kulttuurit kohtaavat namibialaisissa henkilönnimissä

Kirja-arvioSaarelma-Maunumaa, Minna: Edhina ekogidho - Names as links: The encounter between African and European anthroponymic systems among the Ambo people in Namibi

Shifting economic power and a shifting onomastic landscape in post-1994 South Africa

Before the negotiated political settlement in the early 1990s that eventually culminated in the first fully democratic elections held in South Africa in 1994, the economic power in South Africa (and by implication also the &lsquo;naming&rsquo; power) was firmly in the hands of the white (English and Afrikaans speaking) minority. The economy was dominated by longstanding companies that functioned largely in English, the language often referred to as the &lsquo;language of the economy&rsquo;. A predictable spin-off of the new dispensation was the coming into being of new indigenous African names in the economy, reflecting the new power relations particularly where ownership was in black hands or where existing concerns joined hands with black empowerment groups. Existing companies, obviously not keen on relinquishing company names that had been in existence for many decades, often took Black Economic Empowerment on board by creating a new company or brand, often reflecting an indigenous African name, within existing structures. This contribution reflects on the power of indigenous African names in the economy in post-1994 South Africa and highlights examples from the highest echelons, i.e. companies listed on the Stock Exchange, through the full spectrum to the more humble economic enterprises operating only in intimate and &lsquo;own&rsquo; circles. Following Pierre Bourdieu (1984, 1986), it is argued that such names in the economy, regardless of the particular context in which they operate, should be considered as assets and capital being strong indicators of success, power, competitiveness, participation and identity, and also in some cases (notably where ownership is not [fully] in black hands) as acknowledgement of the powerful potential contained in the numbers of black consumers.S.Afr.J.Afr.Lang., 2010,

Session Paper

Local provincial authorities in South Africa responsible for the licensing and registration of vehicles, introduced a system fairly recently whereby vehicle owners can acquire a personalized or individualized registration plate at extra cost. This is proving to be popular. This contribution takes a look at the motivation for the choices that go onto the plates with particular emphasis on lifestyle or worldview names. It is argued a) that this phenomenon should be seen as an integral part of popular culture in South Africa; b) that such manifestations should be considered as names and hence form part of the onomastic discipline, and c) that whatever choice is made, it in one way or another suggests a link to the preferred identity of the vehicle owner. It then also provides a welcome alternative to the somewhat dull numerical and impersonal option. The examples are mainly from the Western Cape, but data from other provinces also feature. The data was collected through personal interviews with vehicle owners. Information so gleaned was then transferred onto a basic questionnaire for further interpretation and analysis

Challenges in translating RL Peteni’s Xhosa novel Kwazidenge into Afrikaans

In a multilingual country like South Africa, translation from one of the official languages into another plays a major role, particularly in the public sector or the public domain. The purpose is to inform the everyday citizen, through his/her mother tongue, about basic information relevant to the citizen’s general life. When it comes to literary translation, the context is different. English has slowly worked its way into being the most prominent language in South Africa at nearly all levels of life. Authors of literary works also realise that there is a prominent readership in English, both in South Africa and elsewhere, and if a work is written in one of the other 10 official languages, there are often attempts to have them translated into English. Few works, however, are translated from the indigenous languages into Afrikaans. Afrikaans maintains a fairly prominent adult readership aside from prescribed work at school. The purpose of this article is to highlight some of the challenges facing a translator (in this case the current author) working from Xhosa (RL Peteni’s Kwazidenge) to Afrikaans (Roep van die ramshoring) in the context of literary translation, as well as the process followed by the publisher