Latest articles on Languages

On language, power and privilege in tertiary education

Education Mandla Makhanya - 9 Jul 2020

Advocates of retaining Afrikaans as a language of instruction are blind to their own prejudices

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Libraries build services and communities

Article Cecilia Sani - 22 Nov 2019

But librarians face difficulties in a society where the culture of reading is not widespread

The pride in African languages

Article Athandiwe Saba - 1 Nov 2019

Whether in comic books, novels or academic work, African languages are increasingly becoming the norm

Skills deficit undermines 4IR promises

Article Angelo Fick - 30 Aug 2019

Technology is not necessarily the panacea it’s said to be, de-skilling further the under-skilled

On the power of language

Article Mpumelelo Ncube - 23 Aug 2019

Educating our children in their mother tongues will help to address underdevelopment in Africa

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Roll out the red carpet for SA’s indigenous languages

Article Jade Jacobsohn - 21 Feb 2019

Although English may not be the de facto talk of the town in South Africa, in written form it continues to dwarf others

In Mozambique, classes come alive in local languages

Africa Eva Sofie Fritzboger - 16 Jul 2018

Almost all teaching in Mozambique is in Portuguese but the majority of Mozambicans speak one of more than 40 local languages

Indigenous languages must feature more in science communication

Article Staff Reporter - 27 Dec 2017

The combination of knowledge and communication leads to social, cultural and technological development

Multilingualism for everyone, not just a select few

Article Staff Reporter - 28 Apr 2017

"The quality of 'input' or the language exposure students receive is a big factor in the learning of new languages"

Dictionary maker Megan Hall keeps her word

Article Staff Reporter - 11 Jul 2016

Digital and print have distinct advantages - and even the online version is compiled by a publisher.

Othering SA languages stops here

Analysis Raeesa Pather - 14 Apr 2016

Italicising words distances languages from their place in South Africa.

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Chinese volunteers to teach Mandarin in SA schools

Article Staff Reporter - 10 Sep 2015

The Chinese embassy requested that the subject be introduced and will be responsible for bringing in teachers from China and training SA teachers.

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SA is rich in undervalued languages, but greedy for more

Analysis Neo Lekgotla - 3 Sep 2015

"We are such a multilingual country, but in government, when you hear people talk, you think we are a bilingual country"

Confucius defuses Mandarin flap

Article Staff Reporter - 20 Aug 2015

Local institutes named after the philosopher have laughed off claims of a sinister agenda.

What’s Motshekga’s Mandarin plan?

Article Staff Reporter - 14 Aug 2015

A department circular highlighting the Chinese language has frustrated teacher unions.

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