by Phaphama Tshisikhawe
The Department of Applied Languages, in collaboration with the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation, jointly marked International Mother Language Day alongside the 2023 Academic Excellence Awards celebrations.
This event stands as a significant initiative aimed at promoting the wealth of African linguistics, historical linguistics, indigenous languages, and their significance in the educational sector, language policy and planning, as well as language practices across Southern Africa and the broader African continent.
Prior to the presentation of academic excellence awards, a panel of industry experts including Dr Kea Seshoka, Director for the Language Unit at North-West University, Ms Michelle du Plessis, Language Practitioner at Hansard Services (Gauteng Legislature), Ms Unathi Mwakali, Editor at the South African Revenue Service (SARS), Mr. Vincent Mahlangu, Functional Head for Language Services at the City of Tshwane.
Ms Mmanape Hlongwane, a Computational Linguist and PhD candidate at Université de Montréal, Canada, delivered insightful presentations on the transformative role of African languages in education and the public sector. They also highlighted the available career opportunities for language practitioners, providing TUT Language Practice students with valuable insights into potential career paths within the linguistic domain.
The programme was skilfully directed by the multi-lingual and award winning poet, Ntombhi ya Mutsonga.
Twenty-one students, representing eight languages offered within the Language Practice programme (Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Setswana, South African Sign Language, Xitsonga, and Tshivenḓa), were honoured with awards. The prizes for the event were distributed as follows:
- First Prize: Certificate, medal, crystal trophy, laptop, and a voucher valued at R2500.
- Second Prize: Certificate, medal, crystal trophy, and a voucher valued at R2000.
- Third Prize: Certificate, medal, crystal trophy, and a voucher valued at R1500.
The programme was skilfully directed by the eloquent multi-poet award winner, Ntombhi ya Mutsonga, who not only facilitated the event but also enriched it with her poetic talent.
In his vote of thanks, Dr Tebogo J Rakgogo, Head of the Department of Applied Languages, expressed gratitude to all students, SFC, House Committee and SRC members, academic staff, Sign Language interpreters, industry experts, and the programme director for their contributions to the event.
He also acknowledged the officials from the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation, recognising their role as critical stakeholders in the linguistic community. Their sponsorship of this event, along with the Multilingual Debate Competition and International Translation Day in the previous academic year, was duly appreciated.
In conclusion, Dr Rakgogo emphasised the significance of this event in the national discourse on the intellectualisation of African languages and as a platform for reflection, interrogation, and interruption of the coloniality of knowledge and western epistemologies imposed during the 18th and 19th centuries, as far as African languages and their classification is concerned.
(From left) Vincent Mahlangu, Michelle du Plessis,
Ntombhi ya Mutsonga, Unathi Mzwakali, Mmanape
Hlongwane, Mampho Masemola and Dr Tebogo J Rakgogo.
Applied languages students who received academic
excellence awards at the event