ULPDO Hosts Workshop on Harmonising Acronyms for Indigenous Languages

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The University Language Planning and Development Office (ULPDO) at UKZN hosted a two-day workshop on harmonising acronyms for indigenous languages.

Aimed at standardising and applying lexical and phonetic rules to develop appropriate isiZulu acronyms, the programme aligned with ULPDO’s mandate to implement the University’s Language Policy and support the advancement of isiZulu.

Facilitated by the Director of the Language Unit in the Eastern Cape Department of Education, Dr Zola Wababa and Honorary Associate Professor at UKZN, Mandlenkosi Maphumulo, the event was well attended by language professionals, government officials, media practitioners, and students and academics from UKZN, the Durban University of Technology (DUT) and the University of Zululand (UNIZULU).

Professor Phumlani Myende, Acting Dean of the School of Education highlighted the importance of the workshop in instilling a culture of being self-reliant when developing acronyms for indigenous languages, rather than looking to colonial languages for answers.

In his address, titled: ‘Language Transition in Grade 4 up to University is a Language Blackout for an African Child’, Wababa explored how mother tongue-based bilingual education should be replaced with mother tongue instruction to improve comprehension and expression.

Wababa argued that research shows learning in one’s indigenous language improves academic performance, reading skills, and comprehension - crucial from primary school through to university to prevent knowledge gaps.

Reviewing the 2015 National Senior Certificate Mathematics results, he noted a 96% pass rate among White learners, 83% among Indian learners, 68% among Coloured learners, and 43% among Black learners.

“The non-use of African languages as languages of teaching, learning and assessment creates a linguistic barrier to indigenous speaking learners in the country,” said Wababa.

“The academic language used in subject content becomes so specialised and complicates the content matter because these learners are dependent on dual translation from home language(s) to English. As a result, most learners fail not because they are not knowledgeable, but because they fail to conceptualise and articulate what is required by questions during tests and exams.”

He outlined four pillars for advancing African languages:

1. Status planning: declaring African languages as mediums of teaching and learning beyond Grade 3.

2. Corpus planning: developing vocabulary and materials translated from other languages.

3. Acquisition planning: continuing language teaching beyond Grade 3.

4. Prestige planning: promoting and advocating for African languages.

He also screened a documentary titled, Sink or Swim which illustrated the injustice of assessing children in a language that is not their own.

Maphumulo, reviewed lexical and phonetic rules in isiZulu and led a group activity where participants developed appropriate terms and acronyms in the language.

Delivering messages of support, Mr Jabulani Simelane, Senior Provincial Manager at the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) outlined five fields in which acronyms are commonly used and encouraged language practitioners to create dictionaries expanding on these for public use.

Mr Thulani Mbatha from Isolezwe noted that events like this help remove barriers to conducting business in indigenous languages, while Ms Nontokozo Mkhonto of uMsunduzi Municipality stressed the importance of accurate translation and interpretation in community service delivery.

Dr Samukelisiwe Diligence Mbokazi, a lecturer at UNIZULU, distinguished between acronyms and abbreviations, noting that the workshop’s knowledge-sharing would help identify and close existing gaps.

Veteran broadcaster and Ukhozi FM Language Committee representative, Ms Vicky Masuku explained the station’s role in regulating language use to ensure isiZulu remains current and relevant. She also encouraged families to use African languages at home.

Chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Language Committee, iNkosi Themba Mavundla, applauded UKZN’s leadership in implementing language policy. ‘The biggest challenge we face is shifting mindsets and inspiring action toward the growth of African languages as a key part of our cultural development,’ he said.

In his vote of thanks, ULPDO Director Mr Khumbulani Mngadi acknowledged the speakers and attendees. He explained that the development of acronyms forms part of a 10-year project that demands academic rigour and called on academics to guide postgraduate students toward related research.

"The work being done is a collective engagement that requires buy-in from the whole nation, we don’t expect the data or the project to be completed now, but we do know that this is the beginning of the delivery of scientifically sound knowledge," Mngadi said.

Words: Hlengiwe Khwela

Photographs: Yola Ndzabe