The role of the web in the promotion of African languages
- Authors: Maseko, Pamela , Nosilela, Bulelwa B , Sam, Msindisi S , Terzoli, Alfredo , Dalvit, Lorenzo
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431370 , vital:72768
- Description: In this article we explore the possible contribution of the Web in promot-ing the use and status of African languages. Participation in sharing and producing knowledge through the Web can play a key role in the eco-nomic, social and educational development of Africa. While physical ac-cess to information is hampered by lack of infrastructure and connectivi-ty, epistemological access is hampered by the use of English. Re-sources in African languages are available. Until the amount of Web content and the number of users reach critical mass, these resources play a symbolic rather than an instrumental role in promoting African lan-guages. The use of electronic resources available on the Web could contribute to cutting the printing and transport cost of paper material, es-pecially in multilingual settings where many languages would have to be represented. Another practical way in which the Web can promote the development of African languages is to promote communication among their speakers. This is already showing its potential by allowing experts from various disciplines to work collaboratively on the development of new indigenous terminology through mailing lists and chat rooms. On a larger scale, the Web can play a unifying function among speakers of different varieties of the same African language.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
An intercultural approach to implementing multilingualism at Rhodes University, South Africa
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H , Maseko, Pamela , Dalvit, Lorenzo , Mapi, Thandeka , Nelani, Linda , Nosilela, Bulelwa , Sam, Msindisi S
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Multilingualism -- South Africa , Intercultural communication , Education, Higher -- South Africa , Language and culture -- South Africa , Language and education -- South Africa , Rhodes University
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59390 , vital:27579 , doi: 10.5842/39-0-74
- Description: The work of intercultural communication theorists such as Ting-Toomey (1999) and Gudykunst (2003) has informed curriculum design and teaching methodology of the courses developed for teaching isiXhosa for vocational purposes to second language (L2) learners. This seems to be an appropriate theoretical paradigm within multilingual South Africa, where intercultural communication is becoming a daily reality for a growing portion of the population. We make use of this theory to introduce and develop experiential understanding of multilingualism at Rhodes University in various departments and, more generally, on campus.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
The localisation into isiXhosa of the iLanga telephone system
- Authors: Dalvit, Lorenzo , Tsietsi, Mosiuoa , Terzoli, Alfredo , Maseko, Pamela , Sam, Msindisi S , Mapi, Thandeka
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431358 , vital:72767 , https://nru.uncst.go.ug/bitstream/handle/123456789/6552/Information Communica-tion Technologies page 410.pdf?sequence=1isAllowed=y#page=256
- Description: In this paper we describe the localisation of iLanga, a VoIP PBX sys-tem, into isiXhosa. In South Africa, for social and political reasons, mak-ing systems available in the African languages is becoming more and more important. On the one hand, it gives access to the use of technol-ogy to people who are not fluent in English. On the other hand, it has a strong symbolic value. Although a variety of software is already availa-ble in a number of African languages, localisation in such language is still in its early stage. The process presented interesting challenges both from the technical and the linguistic point of view.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008