UCT boosts use of isiXhosa, while Afrikaans remains fully excluded

The University of Cape Town (UCT) has launched the Mechanical Engineering isiXhosa Glossary, a new initiative to enhance student success by providing key terms in an indigenous language. Developed by the Centre for Higher Education Development’s Multilingualism Education Project, the glossary aims to address language barriers affecting success rates and access for students.

In such projects, the institution provides new terms which do not exist in the original language in order to convey technical terms and concepts which may only exist in more developed languages. Afrikaans went through a similar project throughout the 20th century, which saw the language used as a medium for tertiary instruction in several major technical subjects until its demotion across the South African educational landscape under the new regime.

The project began in May 2022 and currently includes over 300 terms, authenticated by the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB). The head of the Mechanical Engineering department, Professor Brandon Collier-Reed, emphasized the importance of better literacy and language practices, especially for first-year students who struggled to understand terms in textbooks.

The glossary was welcomed as a crucial contribution to promoting multilingualism in education, aligning with constitutional ideals and fostering inclusion and high-quality learning. Lance Schultz, CEO of PanSALB, praised UCT for upholding the standardization process and encouraged other institutions to follow suit.

The glossary’s digitalization and dissemination aim to make it accessible to students across universities, promoting the safeguarding of indigenous languages and enhancing student access and success.