Ukuhlakanishiswa kwezilimi zomdabu  Zama-Afrika Enyuvesi yaseFreyistata nomthelela wolwazimfundo kwabalukhulumayo

Nomalungelo Ngubane; Xolani Khohliso

doi:10.56285/jltVol58iss1a6584

Nomalungelo Ngubane University of the Free State, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7255-4673
Xolani Khohliso Central University of Technology, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2462-1296

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56285/jltVol58iss1a6584

Keywords: intellectualisation, African languages, indigenous Sesotho language, language management theory, terminology development, higher education, ukuhlakanishiswa, izilimi zase-Afrika, ulimi lwesintu lweSesotho, Injulalwazi yokulawula ulimi, ukwakhiwa kwamagama imfundo ephakem

Abstract

ENGLISH TITLE: Intellectualisation of African indigenous language at the University of the Free State and academic implications for the speakers

The University of the Free State Language Policy 2024 takes off from the premise that, firstly, students come from diverse linguistic backgrounds, of which the majority come from a Sesotho language background. Secondly, when our students join the university, they are confronted by English as the medium of instruction which is not their language, thus, it creates a barrier to effective learning. Thirdly, when our students join their specific disciplines, they are also confronted by unfamiliar environments of new disciplinary terminology and concepts which they are expected to learn and master in a foreign language. The language policy made a conscious commitment to develop and intellectualise Sesotho so that it becomes an academic language and a resource for supporting academic access and success for African students, in alignment with the Language Policy Framework for Higher Education 2020. This paper employs a literature-based methodological approach, focusing on a single university as a qualitative case study. Underpinned by the Language Management Theory, we argue that the African indigenous language, Sesotho, requires an effective and conscious process of intellectualisation. Strategies like terminology development are proposed to effectively support the learning of new concepts and theories across disciplines and thus reduce the burden imposed by English instruction among Sesotho speakers. The paper also argues that the intellectualisation of African languages in higher education is critical for ensuring that African students are not provided access without support in the persistent English monolingual higher education fraternity.

IQOQA

INqubomgomo Yolimi YeNyuvesi YaseFreyistata Yowezi-2024 isusela embonweni wokuthi, okokuqala, abafundi baphuma ezizindeni ezahlukene zezilimi, iningi labo liphuma emakhaya okukhulunywa ulimi lweSesotho. Okwesibili, uma abafundi bengena enyuvesi babhekana nesiNgisi njengolimi lokufundisa okungelona ulimi lwabo, ngaleyo ndlela, kudala isithiyo ekufundeni ngempumelelo. Okwesithathu, lapho abafundi bengena emikhakheni yabo ehlukahlukene abazikhethele yona baphinde babhekane nezimo ezingajwayelekile zamagama amasha aqondene nemikhakha yemfundo abakuyo okulindeleke ukuthi bawafunde futhi bawazi kahle ngolimi lwangaphandle. Inqubomgomo yolimi inika isibophezelo ekuthuthukiseni nasekuhlakanishisweni kweSesotho ukuze sibe ulimi lolwazimfundo kanye nensizakusebenza yokweseka abafundi abangama-Afrika ukuba bafinyelele kulwazimfundo ngempumelelo. Le nqubomgomo iyahambisana futhi noHlaka Lwenqubomgomo Yolimi Yemfundo Ephakeme wezi-2020. Ukubukwa kwalezi zinqubomgomo neminye imibhalo yocwaningo kungenye yezindlela zocwaningo ezisetshenzisiwe njengocwaningo lwesimo ngaphansi kwendlelande yocwaningo lobunjalo botho. Leli phepha elisekelwe Injulalwazi Yokulawulwa Kolimi liqakulisa ngokuthi ulimi lomdabu lwase-Afrika, iSesotho, ludinga inqubo esebenzayo neqaphelayo yobuhlakani ngokusebenzisa amasu afana nokwakhiwa kwamagama. Lokhu kusemqoka ukuze kusekele ngempumelelo ukufundwa kwemicabangonzulu nezinjulalwazi ezintsha emikhakheni yemfundo abakuyo abafundi abakhuluma ulimi lweSesotho. Okunye futhi lokhu kuzophinde kunciphise amandla athweswa isiNgisi phakathi kwabakhulumi bolimi lweSesotho. Leli phepha liphinde liphakamise ukuhlakanishiswa kwezilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika emfundweni ephakeme kubalulekile ukuze kuqinisekiswe ukuthi abafundi abangama-Afrika abanikezwa amathuba okufunda ngaphandle kokusekwa kodwa benikwa imfundo yesiNgisi ewubulimibunye.

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Author Biographies

Nomalungelo Ngubane, University of the Free State, South Africa

Dr Nomalungelo Ngubane is the Director of the University of the Free State Academy for Multilingualism as from January 2022. Before joining the UFS, she was a Senior Lecturer and a Module Head for Academic Literacy and Digital Literacy at the Nelson Mandela University Medical School. She has also worked as a Lecturer of English Education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, School of Education, Edgewood Campus. She has also been a high school teacher for 12 years before joining the higher education sector. She holds a PhD in Education from the University of Zululand. Her research interests are: multilingualism, translanguaging, Ubuntu pedagogy, academic literacy.

Xolani Khohliso, Central University of Technology, South Africa

Dr Xolani Khohliso is a Director for Curriculum and Academic Staff Development at the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching. Prior to his appointment at CUT, he was a Lecturer and Academic leader for the PGCE Programme at the University of Pretoria, Faculty of Education. He served on various committees, such as Transformation, Human Resources, WIL, and Labour. He previously worked as an Educator and Head of Department at a school level. He holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum Studies, Master of Education in Language & Media Studies, B.Ed honours in Curriculum and Education Studies, B.Ed in Senior and FET Phase (UKZN), and Higher Certificate in IT, Certificates in Labour Law, Audit & Governance, Monitoring & Evaluation, Senior Management Service, and Project Management. His research interests are in Curriculum Development, Assessments, Professional Development, African Languages, and Second Language Acquisition.