University Of Pretoria Zulu

Translation Studies have also been housed within the department of African languages. This does not imply that one has to have knowledge of an African language in order to enrol for Translation and Interpreting Studies, although being well versed in an African language is always an asset.

For further information, please visit : http://www.up.ac.za/translation-and-interpreting-studies

Undergraduate

Being able to communicate effectively, efficiently and appropriately in one or more of the indigenous African languages, and/or knowledge of multi- and cross-cultural communication, are highly sought after skills in the public as well as in the private sector. Having conversational skills in at least one of the 11 official African languages of the country will help you to handle the communicative situation with much more ease and self-confidence. One or more of the African languages are excellent in combination with any other subject and will add value to any field of study.
The modules that we offer in the department of African Languages can be included in a wide variety of academic programmes, and are not restricted to students within the Faculty of Humanities. In our department, we cater for everyone, from absolute beginners to mother tongue speakers of the language, from first up to third year level. The medium of instruction is aligned with the target group of each module. We offer courses in:

• IsiZulu, Setswana and Sepedi

– for beginners
– as first or second additional language
– as home language

• IsiNdebele as home language

In the courses for beginners, we strive towards a balanced approach, providing students not only with grammatical knowledge, but also with basic conversational, reaading and writing skills. In our modules aimed at home language speakers, a thorough grounding in grammar and literature is provided.
In order to register for the correct modules in your first year, please follow the guidelines below.

1. If you are a beginner learner, the module codes for the first semester are as follows:

Sepedi for Beginners: SEP 110

Setswana for Beginners: STW 110

isiZulu for Beginners: ZUL 110

2. If you are a home language speaker (or a first or second additional language learner) of any of the languages on offer, the codes are as follows for your first semester modules:

Sepedi for Home language speakers: SEP 111

Setswana for Home language speakers: STW 111

isiZulu for Home language speakers: ZUL 111

isiNdebele for Home language speakers: NDE 110

            For a full description of the contents of these modules, please see the description in the Yearbook

3. The modules listed in 1 and 2 above are all first semester modules. If you want to complete one full year in any particular language, you must register for the following modules in the second semester:

         The codes for the second semester modules for beginner learners are as follows:

SEP 120 follows SEP 110,

STW 120 follows STW 110 and

ZUL 120 follows ZUL 110.

All Home language speakers, i.e. students who registered for SEP 111, STW 111, ZUL 111 and NDE 110 in the first semester, must register for AFT 121 in the second semester.

The department offers four post-graduate programmes:
BA (Hons) African Languages
MA (African Languages) Coursework (Contains 50% Research)
MA (African Languages) Research
DLitt (African Languages)
Apart from modules on linguistics and literature, our Honours programme includes modules on terminology, lexicography, teaching of African Languages. Any person involved in the teaching of an African language will benefit by registering for this programme. Language practitioners, such as lexicographers, language planners, terminologists, linguists, persons interested in the study of modern and / or traditional literature, etc. will also find this a very useful programme.  The honours programme also contains a research component in the form of an extended essay.

The MA (African Languages) Coursework has proved to be very popular amongst our students, since it combines taught work with research. Students can choose from a variety of modules in order to focus their studies on a specific subject field such as lexicography, linguistics, literature, and terminology and copy editing. The research component is represented by a mini-dissertation in any of the above-mentioned disciplines.
The MA (African Languages) Research option caters for academically strong students who are highly self-motivated, able to work on their own for extended periods, and who are deeply interested in doing research.
Both the Coursework and Research MA can be completed within two years, but students studying on a part-time basis might take three years to complete the programme.