Stellenbosch University Language Centre

Category: Multilingualism

Languages matter! International Mother Language Day 2025

Friday 21 February marks the 25th anniversary of International Mother Language Day (IMLD), a worldwide annual commemoration to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity, and advance multilingualism. Established by UNESCO in 1999, the day highlights the central role of languages in education, cultural preservation, and social inclusion, drawing attention to the challenges faced by endangered languages and multilingual communities worldwide.

On 21 February 1952, five students were killed and many injured by police during a rally in Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) for the recognition of Bengali as an official language. Four years later, Bengali was officially recognised.

What started as a national movement inspired a global movement advocating for linguistic rights. The day now serves as a symbol of the right of individuals to learn, speak and develop their mother tongue without fear of discrimination or suppression.”

It’s not just about the words

Languages carry the traditions, histories and identities of the people who speak them. When a language disappears, a unique way of thinking, storytelling and understanding the world is lost forever. The UN estimates that there are currently about 8 300 languages worldwide, of which nearly 40% are considered endangered or ‘doomed’, in other words, no children or young people speak the language and only a few elderly speakers remain. Sadly, this includes the last of the many Khoisan languages once spoken in South Africa. As of 2017, Nama, which was once widely spoken by Khoisan communities in the Northern Cape, had fewer than 2 000 speakers, most of them older than fifty; only three elders of the Khomani San still spoke the N | uu language; and there were only two known speakers of Kora, the language of the Korana people.

Just as languages are about more than communication, linguistic diversity is not only about preserving words; it is about promoting intercultural dialogue and ensuring fair access to education and opportunities for all. The theme of IMLD 2025, “Languages Matter!”, also emphasises the urgent need for progress toward linguistic diversity and inclusivity as part of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Globalisation, dominant language policies and technological advancements often threaten linguistic diversity, leading to the marginalisation of non-dominant languages. Currently, fewer than 100 languages are widely used in digital communication and online platforms, limiting access to information and learning opportunities for speakers of minority languages. With technology shaping communication, it is crucial to ensure that all languages, including indigenous and minority languages, are represented in education, public life and digital spaces.

Multilingualism and beyond

Multilingualism refers to the co-existence of more than two languages in a given area or the ability to speak more than two languages. It has become a buzz word in discussions about education and social inclusion. Research shows that 40% of the world’s population does not have access to education in a language they speak or understand, making it difficult for children to reach their full potential.

By integrating mother languages into education, communities can enhance literacy, improve learning outcomes and foster a deeper connection to their cultural identity.”

Plurilingualism, a more recent term, goes beyond simply knowing multiple languages. It emphasises the ability to interact across languages, drawing from a diverse linguistic and cultural repertoire. Unlike the traditional view of “mastering” individual languages separately, plurilingualism acknowledges partial competencies, where individuals use different languages based on context and need. It sets effective communication, rather than fluency or perfection, as the ultimate goal of language learning.

By fostering plurilingual education and encouraging language learning from an early age, societies can equip individuals with the skills to thrive in a globalised world while maintaining strong bonds to their mother tongue. At SU, plurilingualism forms part of a multilingual mindset – an approach to life where one is willing to meet speakers of other languages halfway by accepting and appreciating what their diversity brings to the table.

[us_image image=”31117″ size=”medium”]

As we celebrate International Mother Language Day 2025, let’s remember that language is more than words; it is identity, heritage, connection. Whether you speak one language or many, every effort to preserve, learn, or promote a mother tongue contributes to a more inclusive and linguistically rich world. Languages matter, and we should protect them.

–  by Tania Botha

Tags: , , , , ,

Languages Week 2025 at SU, with something for all students and staff

It’s time for the EUTOPIA-SU Languages Week again – this year from 3 to 7 March. Coordinated by the SU Language Centre, Languages Week at SU promises to be an exceptional week. Join the celebration of languages, culture and diversity along with like-minded people across the world!   

Aimed at students and staff, Languages Week at SU will be celebrated by three in-person and four online events, all free of charge. The in-person events include an interactive Language Café evening, a multilingual Karaoke lunch-hour session and an Afrikaans Poetry Showcase evening hosted by the student association VER[r]AS. The online events include three lunch-hour language-learning opportunities to get the feel of a language you might like to explore: an IsiXhosa Taster course, a South African Sign Language Taster course, and an Afrikaans Taster course. In addition, there is also an online interactive session exploring the interconnections between SU’s concept of a multilingual mindset and intercultural competence, entitled Exploring and Developing a Multilingual Mindset. Bookings for the SU events are managed through Eventbrite – here you will find more information on all the events as well as links to register.  

More events are available online through the EUTOPIA Alliance – have a look at what’s on offer here. Institutions across the world participate in EUTOPIA Languages Week every year, creating an opportunity for staff and students from all EUTOPIA partners to attend online events all over the world during that week, and to interact with each other. SU is one of six global partner universities EUTOPIA associates with beyond its core alliance of 10 universities in Europe to create an international gateway for exchanging knowledge and culture. 

Register soon to secure your spot. Venue information and links to join online will be sent after registration. If you change your mind after having registered, do let the organisers know so that they can open that spot to someone else, and so that they don’t prepare for you unnecessarily.   

For enquiries or cancellations, email languagesweek@sun.ac.za. 

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Wellness loves company

It’s that time of year again when our diaries start filling up with end-of-year gatherings and events. If just looking at your calendar triggers an onset of prospective socialisation fatigue, we’d like to remind you of a fairly recent disruptor: Covid-19. Remember how the pandemic abruptly upended our lives with social distancing and remote work, and the ensuing feelings of loneliness and disconnectedness?

We might not all be equally gregarious animals, but the lockdown certainly demonstrated that we are social animals by nature, and that interaction with others of our kind is essential for our overall personal and professional wellbeing. Moreover, for many people, the pandemic fundamentally changed the way we work and where we work.

For those of us with flexible or hybrid working arrangements, this may mean that we forego many of the daily connections that are part of a conventional office environment – the casual conversations and chance encounters, the shared breaks and laughs, and the team gatherings – that allow relationships to develop organically and foster a sense of camaraderie among staff. Which is why we should welcome and take up opportunities to connect with colleagues as often as possible.

When we spend time together, we’re not just unwinding – we’re building relationships that bring a sense of belonging and the reassurance that we’re not in this alone. For us at the Language Centre, this point was again brought home after a recent team trip to the Bo-Kaap to celebrate Heritage Day. Numerous colleagues expressed delight about and appreciation for the visit, stressing that over and above the educational and cultural value of the visit, they especially enjoyed the relaxed interaction and the chance to catch up with colleagues whom they seldom get to see.

Staff outings and social functions give us a chance to step out of our usual work environment and dynamics, forget about deadlines for a bit, and enjoy each other’s company on neutral ground.  In these more casual settings, we can overcome the sometimes-unspoken hierarchical barriers that may exist, and we get to see each other as people, not just as co-workers or in terms of superiors and subordinates. That changes everything. Suddenly, it’s easier to have open conversations, to approach someone for advice, or to work together on a project, because we know and trust each other better.

It’s not just about getting the job done; it’s about knowing that beyond the work tasks and meetings, we’re part of a supportive group that has our back, making us more resilient and able to face new challenges when the going gets tough.”

So go ahead: Enjoy the year-end socials and fill your cup with feel-good connections to make the workplace not just a place to work, but a place to thrive in 2025!

– by Tania Botha

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Visit to UniLuanda strengthens South-South ties and partnership with SU

A few weeks ago, Fatima Halday, Head of the Communication portfolio at the Language Centre, had the opportunity to visit Luanda and participated in the 2nd Edition of the Scientific Conference and Technology Fair of University of Luanda (UniLuanda), with the theme ‘Research, Extension and Innovation for Sustainable and Inclusive Development’.

Fatima describes her visit as follows:

Prof Gerhard Venter (SU), Fatima Halday (SU) and Prof Hanlie Dippenaar (CPUT).

The UniLuanda Conference took place from 22 to 24 May 2024 in Luanda, Angola. We were three in the South African delegation, consisting of me, representing the Stellenbosch University (SU) Language Centre, Professor Gerhard Venter of the SU Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, and Professor Hanlie Dippenaar of the Faculty of Education at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). The conference was attended by students and academics from the University of Luanda and other institutions in Angola.

Academics from various universities from Brazil also attended: Professora Rossana Valéria de Souza e Silva, Executive President of Grupo de Cooperação das Universidades Brasileiras (GCUB); Professora Joana Angélica Guimarães da Luz Rector, Vice chancellor of Universidade do Sul da Bahia; Professora Adriana Marmori Lima, Rector of Universidade Estadual da Bahia; Professor Edmar da Costa, Vice- Rector for International relations of Universidade Federal do Pará; and Professor Marcelo Figueiredo Massulo Aguiar of Universidade Federal do Pará.

Stellenbosch University and the University of Luanda share an institutional agreement. A few academics from UniLuanda, most of whom are Engineering academics, will be visiting SU later this year to enhance their English skills as well as to engage with academics from the Faculty of Engineering at SU. We had an opportunity to meet those academics and discuss their needs to gain more insight into the context overall in preparation for their arrival.

The language used for the conference was Portuguese and we had an interpreter who interpreted from Portuguese into English for the South African delegation presentations. On the second day, Professor Gerhard Venter did a presentation showcasing the activities and achievements of SU’s Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering.

My presentation,  which was on the last day of the conference, focused on the role that the Language Centre can play in linguistic preparation and breaking down possible barriers that limit partnerships. In my talk I shared information about English improvement course offerings. Additionally, I described activities and services offered by some of the other centres such as the Centre for Collaboration in Africa and the Africa Centre for Scholarship which both form part of SU International.

On the topic of possible barriers that may limit partnerships, I highlighted the point of managing expectations, and taking into consideration language barriers, various communication styles, and time orientation differences. Elaborating on the time orientation difference, in low-context cultures, time is limited and considered a commodity.  It is connected to productivity, efficiency and money.  On the other hand, time is unlimited in high-context cultures.  It is a resource to be enjoyed and decisions take time and expectations with regard to response time to emails, work ethic, and the pace of work may be different.

In closing my presentation, I emphasised the power of collaboration and South-South cooperation in driving positive change, whether through joint research projects, knowledge sharing initiatives, mobility or capacity-building programs. I also mentioned that we tend to look outward to the Global North for examples of advancements and best practice. In my view, by nurturing partnerships with neighbouring countries, we can lift each other up and become stronger as a unified Global South, accelerating our development efforts and achieving sustainable outcomes.

Faima presenting with Portuguese-English interpreter Carlos.

The evening culminated in a closing ceremony where academics and students were awarded certificates. As guests we had the honour of presenting the certificates to the academics. As presenters, we also received certificates of participation.

The Vice-Chancellor of UniLuanda, Professor Buza, spoke about the successes their university attained over the last year, fervently repeating the motto, ‘Act in the present to guarantee the future!’

Fatima Halday receiving a certificate of participation from UNILuanda Vice-Chancellor Prof Alfredo Buza.

The ceremony consisted of music rendered by a choir singing the UniLuanda anthem, followed by dancing. Thereafter students performed in a play raising awareness of poaching animals. Then students flaunted their vocal and musical talents by singing and performing instrumental pieces. The ceremony finalé was a fashion show showcasing traditional garments made from rich prints, concluding the evening on a colourful note.

Student performances

   

1st image: Fatima Halday (SU), Adao Francisco Pedro Lucas (Head of International Relations, Cooperation and Partnership, UniLuanda), Prof Hanlie Dippenaar (CPUT), Prof Edmar da Costa (Vice-Rector for International Relations of Universidade Federal do Pará).
2nd image: Hanlie and Fatima Halday with a UniLuanda academic.

Beyond my speaking engagement, the conference provided opportunities to engage in conversations with fellow attendees. I was struck by the shared commitment to finding innovative solutions to common challenges, whether in the fields of education, technology, or environmental sustainability, and the enthusiasm to exchange knowledge and resources, as well as to forge meaningful connections.

As I reflect on my experience, I am moved by the warmth, friendliness, and hospitality of the Angolan people. From the moment we arrived, UniLuanda went above and beyond to ensure that we were well taken care of for the entire duration of our stay. I would like to thank Dr Nico Elema and Norma Derby of the Centre for Collaboration in Africa for affording me this opportunity and experience. I am excited about the collaboration between our universities and the possibilities in driving positive change.

Tags: , , , ,

The days of the week in isiXhosa

Why do we say ‘Monday’ for Monday? Where do the names for the days of the week come from in isiXhosa, English and Afrikaans?

uMvulo (The day opening the week)

In Afrikaans and English, the names of the days of the week come from Roman mythology. So, Monday is a loan translation of the Latin ‘dies lunae’, which means ‘day of Luna’, because this day is dedicated to the Roman moon goddess Luna.

In isiXhosa, each day of the week is linked to a specific meaning. The first day of the week in isiXhosa, ‘uMvulo’, is derived from the verb ‘-vula’, which means ‘to open’. In other words, Monday is the day opening the week.

uLwesibini (The second day)

The amaXhosa also use the seven-day week, however, unlike in Afrikaans or English, they derive the words for Tuesday to Friday from numerals. The word for ‘two’ in isiXhosa is ‘-bini’ and that is why we say ‘uLwesibini’ for Tuesday in isiXhosa.

uLwesithathu (The third day)

For the remaining days before the weekend, we can simply substitute the numeral part of the word to show which day it is. To create the isiXhosa word for Wednesday, we use the numeral ‘-thathu’, which means three, to form ‘uLwesithathu’.

uLwesine (The fourth day)

For the fourth day of the week  we use the isiXhosa numeral ‘-ne’, which means ‘four’, to create ‘uLwesine’ – the isiXhosa word for Thursday.

uLwesihlanu (The fifth day)

Friday is the last day of the week derived from numerals in isiXhosa. We use the numeral ‘-hlanu’, which means ‘five’ in isiXhosa, to get to ‘uLwesihlanu’ – the Xhosa word for Friday.

uMgqibelo (The day ending the week)

According to the seven-day calendar Sunday marks the end of the week. However, in isiXhosa, Saturday is considered the last day of the week or the day that ends or closes the week. Therefore, in isiXhosa we use the word ‘uMgqibelo’ for Saturday, which is derived from the verb ‘-gqibela’, meaning ‘to finish’.

iCawa (Church day)

Sunday is  the day when people traditionally go to church.   European missionaries settled among the amaXhosa in the 1820s, introducing Christian traditions, some of which the amaXhosa have adopted. That is why we use the isiXhosa word for church, ‘iCawa’, to refer to Sunday in isiXhosa.

If you’ve read until this point, congratulations – you’ve added seven words to your isiXhosa vocabulary!

Tags: , , , ,

Freedom Day reflections: Language, expression and responsibility

Spiderman hit the nail on the head when he said something to the effect of “with great power comes great responsibility”. The same applies to freedom, as Eleanor Roosevelt rightly said: “With freedom comes responsibility.”

While we’re living, learning and thriving (and, well, sometimes just surviving) in a democratic, multilingual South Africa, we also have the responsibility to grapple with the concept of freedom and the responsibilities that true freedom brings with it, particularly when we reflect on what Freedom Day, celebrated on 27 April, means to us.

Freedom of expression

According to Article 19, an international think-do organisation concerning itself with freedom of expression, “freedom of expression enables dialogue, builds understanding, and increases public knowledge”. We as the Language Centre agree: Being able to share ideas and information freely makes us all smarter and helps our communities thrive.

As South Africans we have the benefit of many hard-won freedoms in our country today, not least the freedom of communicating in our mother language or a chosen language. More than that, there is space for many voices and many opinions – space to be heard.

 

What does freedom mean to us at the Stellenbosch University (SU) Language Centre?

To us, freedom is not merely a concept; it is a guiding principle that shapes our interaction with the world around us as well as our approach to learning and teaching. It begins with freedom of expression – the fundamental right to articulate our thoughts, emotions and ideas in a language of our choosing. In the modules, workshops and short courses we offer, we strive to create spaces where participants feel free and safe to express themselves authentically, to ask questions, and to engage in meaningful dialogue with those around them. We also endeavour to create such spaces across campus with our language and interpreting services.

Creativity

Freedom also encompasses the liberty to be creative – to explore new linguistic landscapes, experiment with different modes of expression, and push the boundaries of traditional language conventions. We encourage those with whom we collaborate – students, participants and clients alike – to unleash their imagination and harness the power of language to convey their unique perspectives and experiences, be it in isiXhosa, Afrikaans, English or SA Sign Language.

Freedom is not only the absence of external constraints, but is also the presence of environments that enable us to realise and express our full potential. This means that we need to create inclusive environments where diverse voices and languages are not just heard and seen, but are welcomed. It comes down to fostering and encouraging a culture of tolerance and respect, and promoting fair access to opportunities and resources, not least when it comes to language – essentially a multilingual mindset. At SU and the Language Centre, this, for example, translates to having access to interpreting services during lectures as well as the opportunity to hear many languages, both local and international languages, used freely on campus and in our communities.

 

A very human longing

The concept of freedom contains within itself our fundamental human longing for autonomy, dignity and self-expression. It is a dynamic and evolving principle that lies at the heart of our human experience, driving progress, justice and the pursuit of a more just and equal world. A world where all voices have a place, and all stories can be told and appreciated. In short – a multilingual and multicultural world.

Join us at the Language Centre as we embrace the transformative power of language and learn from the authentic voices of those around us, on campus, in our classrooms and in our homes – also about freedom.

Feel the freedom!

– by Esther van der Vyver (edited by Susan Lotz and Ingrid Swanepoel)

 

Tags: , , , ,

Our mother languages: What’s in it for us?

At the SU Language Centre, we share UNESCO’s belief in the importance of cultural and linguistic diversity for sustainable societies, and we embrace the world-wide celebration of International Mother Language Day on 21 February each year.

Mother Language Day is not only about your and my individual mother languages, but also about those of the people around us. If we understand that the mother language of the person next to us is just as dear to them as our mother language is to us, and respect that, we’ve made great strides already.

Why are mother languages important, other than because we attach emotional value to the language(s) we grew up with and started expressing ourselves in? How can they be of practical use to us, even if we often function in a second or third language to ensure that we communicate in a manner that helps others to understand what we’re saying?

Mental springboards

Mother languages are mental springboards. We all use our mother language as a way to scaffold knowledge. When you acquire new knowledge, you usually start with familiar information and then journey from there into the valleys of unknown knowledge. So, if you start at a place where you know what a certain concept is in your mother language, you have somewhere to kick in your heels and get purchase, and you can use that familiarity as a springboard from where to understand more complex concepts, even when offered in a different language than your mother language.

Therefore, students can, and should, use their mother languages at university, even if their language is not one of the official learning and teaching languages of the institution. If we think of SU, the University has committed to using English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa – the official languages of the Western Cape. Afrikaans and English are the primary languages of learning, teaching and assessment. IsiXhosa may also be used in learning and teaching, where there is capacity and lecturers find it appropriate to use it, and where there is a pedagogical need. The University is committed to developing isiXhosa as an academic language, as well as to maintaining Afrikaans as a language of teaching, learning, assessment and research. SU is also one of the few South African universities aiming to develop and promote South African Sign Language. This is all part of a national mandate for tertiary institutions to adopt at least one African language, where we focus our resources on that language, while at the same time maintaining what we’ve already developed. This is an important way for us to bring the South African Constitution to life. By respecting languages at a tertiary level, we raise their status.

SU students and staff are indeed a far more diverse bunch than only English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa speakers, but working with the most common mother languages in the Western Cape is a starting point. And other South African universities have committed to develop at least one of the official South African languages in their regions. This way, speakers of isiZulu could, for example, also benefit from resources in isiXhosa, as those languages are closely related, and the same applies to other closely related languages. But we as mother language speakers need to choose to use our languages ourselves when the opportunity arises.

Raising the status

If we want to maintain, extend and raise the status of our languages, there are two overarching ways to do it. One way is by writing in that language – through the creation of literature – showing that your language is capable of expressing abstract thought and creative and complex ideas, and that it is flexible enough to do so. The second way is through creating terminology to describe new technical domains.

Probably every single language apart from English (as terminology seems to be created in English far more naturally as part of the process of new inventions and developments) needs to continually raise its status to keep up in our modern world. Every other language, whether French, German, Chinese, Afrikaans or isiXhosa, has the challenge to try to keep pace, and English itself doesn’t even always stay ahead! Also, English might possess the terminology, but the meanings of those words are not always so transparent. Terminology in isiXhosa, Afrikaans or even French is often much more descriptive and therefore more transparent to the speakers of that language. Think of “koppelaar” in Afrikaans for “clutch”, or the isiZulu word for “bill”, “umthethosivivinywa”, literally “a law in process”.  There are so many other examples. But do we choose to embrace and use those beautiful words, or do we revert to English automatically?

A great benefit of raising the status of a language and using various languages is that we make our environments more inclusive. Seeing and experiencing their languages in different spaces remind people that they are part of something bigger than themselves.

Different sides of the same coin

As we celebrate Mother Language Day this year, perhaps we should start pondering the following two questions: What does your mother language do for you, and what do you do for your mother language? When you use your mother language for learning, in everyday life and in official matters, you’re not only helping yourself but also supporting and preserving your language’s heritage. Your use of the language keeps it alive and ensures it continues for the future.

And then, when we take another step forward, namely to start learning each other’s mother languages, we support and strengthen those languages even more, while finding new ways to understand and appreciate each other.

– by Susan Lotz, Dr Kim Wallmach, Sanet de Jager and Jackie van Wyk

 

Tags: , , , ,

First-ever Languages Week at SU, with something for all staff and students

 This year, for the first time, Stellenbosch University (SU) joins the EUTOPIA Alliance Languages Week from 4 to 8 March 2024 to celebrate languages, culture and diversity.

The EUTOPIA Alliance is an international gateway for exchanging knowledge and culture, and SU is one of six global partner universities EUTOPIA associates with beyond its core alliance of 10 universities in Europe. 

Institutions across the world are participating in EUTOPIA Languages Week, creating an opportunity for staff and students from all EUTOPIA partners to attend online events all over the world during that week, and to interact with each other.  

At SU, Languages Week takes place in person, online and in hybrid format, with a rich variety of activities across many SU departments. Events belong to one of four categories: Films, Flex, Language Learning and Talks. Films include film evenings showcasing films in Afrikaans and Mandarin, while Flex represents interactive and fun events where you get to put your multilingual abilities to work in a social setting, such as the Language Café and Multilingual Karaoke events.  Language Learning does what it says: here you can get the feel of a language you might like to explore a bit, from isiXhosa to South African Sign Language. Talks give you access to experts sharing gripping phenomena in language, culture, literature, translation, multilingualism and even in the international language policy arena. Scroll through our programme to read more! 

All events are free to attend to SU staff and students and to all EUTOPIA Alliance partners. Registration links are available in the programme. Please register to secure your spot, and venue info and links to join online will be sent after registration. If you change your mind after having registered, do let us know so that we can open that spot to someone else, or to avoid us preparing for you unnecessarily.  

Coordinated by the SU Language Centre, Languages week at SU promises to be an exceptional event. Join the celebration of languages, culture and diversity along with like-minded people across the world!  

View the full SU programme here and book your spot via links available in the programme. The EUTOPIA Languages Week page offering all events by all global partners is available here, and you can book your spot for global events there.  

Enquiries or cancellations: taalsentrum@sun.ac.za 

[us_btn label=”SU Languages Week programme” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FSULanguagesWeekProgramme|target:_blank”][us_btn label=”EUTOPIA Languages Week programme” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwarwick.ac.uk%2Fstudents%2Fwarwickpresents%2Flanguagesweek%2F|target:_blank” align=”right”]

 

 

Tags: , , ,

IsiXhosa courses for SU staff now free

There is some good news for staff members who would like to start learning isiXhosa this year or build on what they’ve learnt already. IsiXhosa staff courses will be subsidised during 2024, which means that staff will be able to attend the lunch-hour Masabelane A1 and A2 courses offered by the Language Centre free of charge. Registrations close on 1 February for the first offering starting on 7 February.  

Stembele Johnson, isiXhosa lecturer at the Language Centre, is excited to teach colleagues more about the isiXhosa language and culture. “Learning isiXhosa also enables you to communicate easily with speakers of other Nguni languages: IsiZulu, IsiSwati, and IsiNdebele,” Stembele explains. 

“Learning isiXhosa can be the gateway to speaking four South African Languages.”  She loves helping her students become part of a broader isiXhosa culture in an encouraging learning and teaching environment. 

If you’re an absolute beginner, Stembele recommends starting with the Masabelane (Beginner) A1 short course.  By doing this course you will be actively cultivating a multilingual mindset in the office and in class, and you will be able to start having basic conversations in isiXhosa. You’re bound to learn a song or two as well! 

 Beginner A1 course dates (register here):

  • 7 February – 8 March (NB: register by 1 February) 
  • 7 April – 26 June 
  • 15 July – 4 September 
  • 16 September – 6 November 

Masabelane A2 (Elementary) is a short course aimed at staff members with a beginner’s knowledge of isiXhosa. It is the ideal follow-up course if you have completed the original Masabelane A1 course and would like to further your knowledge of the language. If you haven’t attended Masabelane A1 but you already know a bit of isiXhosa, you’re also welcome here. This is a fun-filled course offering you a linguistic and cultural taste of isiXhosa as a language in a wider cultural context. By the end of the course you should be able to speak social isiXhosa with confidence and identify the gist of social conversations. You will also have knowledge of basic isiXhosa grammar, vocabulary and idiomatic expressions.  

Elementary A2 course dates (register here): 

  • 7 April – 24 July (Register by 22 March) 
  • 20 August – 6 November 

You could also email Stembele at ssjohnson@sun.ac.za if you’d like to find out more about the courses. 

Tags: ,

Let’s emphasise ABILITY!

Why foreground hearing disability if you can foreground language ability instead?

At the Language Centre, we’d like to emphasise ABILITY when observing International Day of Persons Living with Disabilities, celebrated on 3 December.  We respect and support all forms of communication needs of persons living with various forms of hearing abilities.

Did you know:

👆🏽  Someone who identifies as Deaf uses a signed or visual language as their primary mode of communication. And because sign languages are not universal, we refer to the sign language used in South Africa as South African Sign Language (SASL) – a language that includes the rich dialects from various regions and cultures in South Africa.

👆🏾  Other communities include those who identify as hearing impaired, who choose to communicate using a written and spoken language, and those who identify as hard of hearing, who have good enough access to sound to understand spoken languages too.

👆  The assumption that subtitles and written text are an adequate replacements for SASL has impacted negatively on communities using SASL. Let’s change that!

At SU there are several opportunities for you to learn SASL – have a look here:

🌟 Our Comms Lab SASL short course: https://languagecentre.sun.ac.za/product/south-african-sign-language-beginner-level-1a/

🌟 SASL Acquisition 178 (1-year module) at the Department of General Linguistics

🌟 Soon we’ll have a StellenboschX course giving an intro to SASL that is online and self-paced (follow us to get the notification when the course is ready!).

Join the ability movement and learn SASL!

Tags: , , , , ,