Faculty of Humanities
School of Languages
Department of Afrikaans
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
Research on the Afrikaans oral traditions of the Northern Cape and Namibia has led to far-flung villages in the Kalahari desert and isolated communities in Namaqualand and the Richtersveld. Published articles report on the vibrant oral tradition of the Kharo-!oan and Kharo-!oab people, the histories of land dispossession in Namaqualand, the retelling of German folktales (Märchen) and war tales in the south of Namibia. The work has been characterised as "a high calibre of scholarship (with) very careful and sensitive fieldwork" that makes a "genuine contribution to our knowledge of the folklore of the area".
Contact person: Prof HSS Willemse.
Research also focused on the use of Northern Sotho in teaching Industrial Electronics in vocational training in Grades 10-12. The capacity of the language to perform this function was investigated with reference to the features required of a high-function instrument - in particular the need for it to be a developed standard language. It was determined, however, that Northern Sotho was not sufficiently standardised to be used effectively as medium of instruction in Grades 10-12.
To contribute to the development of Northern Sotho to be an effective medium of instruction at higher levels of public use, the research will now develop (codify and standardise) academic and technical terms in Northern Sotho (which involves scanning the relevant handbook into an electronic text), excerpt the learning words and technical terms in the text, develop Northern Sotho equivalents for these terms, standardise their spelling and meanings (with the co-operation of the National Language Service of the Department of Arts and Culture) and produce a first version of a technical dictionary for Industrial Electronics.
Contact person: Prof VN Webb.
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