Cooperation between PanSALB and terminology structures Dr Mariëtta Alberts Lexicography and Terminology Development PanSALB

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) PanSALB is a constitutional body established in terms of the PanSALB Act (Act No. 59 of 1995 as amended in 1999)

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand The Board was established to promote multilingualism and develop the official South African Languages, including the Khoe, Nama and San languages and the South African Sign Language (SASL)

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand The Board operates under three clusters:  Lexicography and Terminology Development  Development of Languages  Linguistic Human Rights and Advocacy

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand Lexicography and Terminology Development (L&TD)  Empower languages through NLUs  Avail resources towards language development (terminology)  Influence channels of communication  Promote multilingualism in society  Facilitate communication across all languages

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand Development of Languages  Language in Education  Development of Literature  Development of previously marginalised languages

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand Linguistic Human Rights and Advocacy  Status Language Planning  Linguistic Human Rights  Translation and Interpreting  Research and Development

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand PanSALB created advisory structures to assist it in achieving its mandate:  to promote multilingualism  to develop languages, and  to protect language rights

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand PanSALB structures  Provincial Language Committees (PLCs)  National Language Bodies (NLBs)  National Lexicography Units (NLUs)

PanSALB structures NLBs PLCs NLUs

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand Nine Provincial Language Committees (PLCs) have been established. A PLC is a provincial structure with the aim of taking care of the languages of that province.

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand Each PLC serves the linguistic needs of the people by determining the needs of the local speech communities.

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand A PLC ensures language policy implementation and practice  It advises PanSALB  It advises the Member of the Executive Council responsible for languages in that province

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand Provincial Language Committees (PLCs) (9)  Eastern Cape PLC  Western Cape PLC  North West PLC  Free State PLC  Gauteng PLC  KwaZuluNatal PLC  Mpumalanga PLC  Northern Cape PLC  Limpopo Province PLC

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand A PLC consists of 13 representatives proportionally representing each language in the province, including Sign, Heritage and possibly Khoe, Nama and San languages

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand National Language Bodies (NLBs)  The NLBs are responsible for providing advice to PanSALB on matters affecting a particular language

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand National Language Bodies (NLBs) (13)  IsiNdebele NLB  SiSwati NLB  IsiXhosa NLB  IsiZulu NLB  Afrikaans NLB  English NLB  Xitsonga NLB  Tshivenda NLB  Setswana NLB  Sesotho Sa Leboa NLB  Sesotho NLB  Khoe & San NLB  South African Sign Language NLB

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand A NLB for the Heritage Languages will be established soon (e.g. Dutch, French, German, Greek, Gujerati, Hindi, Italian, Portuguese, Tamil, Urdu, etc.)

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand Each of the thirteen NLBs consists of 13 members from across the country representing the speech community for the specific language group.

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand The NLBs advise PanSALB on issues relating to:  The development, promotion and maintenance of its particular language  Literature

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand  Spelling, orthography and language standards  Terminology development and dictionaries

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand NLBs are the authorising structures of terminology work in South Africa  NLBs are involved in the term creation process, and  in providing term equivalents  NLBs verify the terminology  NLBs approve terminology

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand National Lexicography Units (NLUs) (11) Government supports the preservation and development of languages in South Africa

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand In the previous dispensation:  South Africa had a bilingual policy  Government supported two dictionary offices: *The Bureau of the Woordeboek van die Afrikaanse Taal (WAT) *The Dictionary of South African English (DSAE)

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand With 11 official languages Government supports 11 national dictionary offices 11 National Lexicography Units (NLUs) were established according to the revised PanSALB Act of 1999

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand NLUs  Afrikaans NLU: Woordeboek van die Afrikaanse Taal (WAT)  English NLU: Dictionary of South African English (DSAE)  Xitsonga NLU  Tshivenda NLU

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand NLUs  IsiNdebele NLU: IsiHlathululi-mezwi SesiNdebele  SiSwati NLU: Silulu SesiSwati National Lexicography Unit  IsiZulu NLU: Isikhungo Sesichazamazwi SesiZulu  IsiXhosa National Lexicography Unit

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand NLUs  Setswana National Lexicography Unit  Sesotho sa Leboa NLU: Sesotho sa Leboa Dictionary Unit  Sesotho NLU: Sesiu sa Sesotho Lexicography Unit

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand NLUs are governed by a Board of Directors (BoD)  BoD members are stakeholders  BoD employs staff  NLUs are Section 21 Companies

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand  NLUs are situated at tertiary institutions  Within boundaries of the geolinguistic area of most first language speakers

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand Each NLU has to  Document, preserve and develop  Compile monolingual dictionaries  Compile other dictionary projects that will assist with development

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand PanSALB funds  The 11 NLUs on a monthly basis  Lexicography projects (e.g. Khoekhoegowab - Afrikaans Glossarium)  Terminology projects (e.g. Centre for Legal Terminology in African Languages (IsiZulu project))

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand Relationship between PLCs, NLBs and NLUs  Contact and liaison  Determine language needs  Language policy, practice, implementation  Promotion of multilingualism

Collaboration between PanSALB structures and the Terminology Coordination Section (TCS), NLS NLBs PLCs NLUs Terminology Coordination Section (TCS)

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand National collaboration  National Terminology Coordinator: Terminology Coordination Section (TCS), National Language Service  External compilers of terminology lists (e.g. private initiatives)

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand National collaboration  Advisory bodies (subject committees, linguists, NLBs, PLCs, NLUs)  National liaison (Government (national, provincial, local))  External bodies (industry, media, private sector, tertiary institutions)

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand International collaboration  Infoterm  TermNet  ISO TC/37  IOUTN, WBIT, IFTB, Danterm, etc.

National and International Collaboration

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand Human Language Technology Virtual Network  Research, coordination and consultation re field of HLT  Acquisition, enhancement and management of digital text and speech data for all official languages (including SASL)

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand  Usage of digital text and speech data as reusable resources for development of HLT applications  Development of open-sourced software for natural language processing (NLP)

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand  Human resource development through HLT implementation  Human resource training and reskilling

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand Research, coordination and consultation through HLT  Coordinated research  Central knowledge base  Liaison with roleplayers, stakeholders, funding agencies  Promotion and application of ISO TC37 standards  Technical assistance to NLUs re hardware and software

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand Conclusion  PanSALB structures are in place  Good working relationship between PanSALB structures and National Language Service Sections  Stakeholders willing to collaborate  HLT virtual network office to be established soon

TAMA Conference, February 2003, Midrand Speakers of the official and other South African languages should play the bigger role:

“They should take pride in their languages, use the languages in various domains, and exploit the indigenous knowledge systems embedded in these languages in order to avoid cultural stagnation. ” (Marivate 2001:5)