It is nearly 20 years since the birth of the new Republic with its demands to reconcile the then divided nation. Our invaluable contribution to this endeavour should have been to improve relationships within the Association. We were unfortunately lax throughout the first ten years of this century, hence we have not generally had positive responses from our colleagues in different parts of the continent. During this time when we were supposed to have established a larger network of connections than ever before, we lost touch with our bases. We would therefore like to announce that the year 2010 has come with a big bang, and we want to strive at continuously improving relationships. We want to revive the branches and increase the membership that once made this Association a formidable force in the southern hemisphere for many years.
Let us begin to put the pieces of the radii together in order to regain the former vibrancy in the regions. In times of thin financial resources it may perhaps be a good thing to once again keep to the same house and home with SAFOS and AFRILEX. It’s time to rebuild, and we hope to survive every storm through your vigilant eyes in each region.
Welcome to the year 2010, the year of Africa’s Soccer World Cup. In this issue we bring you various exciting news/initiatives and calls for papers. In the next newsletter we hope to give you conference reports and more calls for papers. Please use this newsletter as a conduit for news worth hearing about. It can keep you informed of present and future activities.
Research Projects:
Two interdisciplinary research projects, Computational Morphological Analysis and African Languages Wordnets, are conducted and managed from within the department in cooperation with the School of Computing and colleagues from North West University.
Rated researchers:
The department has two NRF rated researchers (Prof SE Bosch and
Prof MJ Mafela) and both of them applied for re-rating in 2009.
Research Fellows:
- Prof. Jeff Opland (School of Oriental and African Studies, London)
- Prof. Axel Fleisch (Institute for Asian and African Studies, University of Helsinki)
- Prof. CF Swanepoel (Professor Emeritus)
- Prof. R Finlayson (HR, UNISA)
Research Outputs:
2009 (to date): 9 articles in accredited journals
2 conference proceedings (peer-reviewed)
2 book chapters (peer-reviewed)
1.2 NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AFRICAN LANGUAGES AT STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY
Computer-assisted language learning (CALL) course for isiXhosa for Health Sciences
The department has designed and developed a multi-media course for isiXhosa for Health Sciences students. In this multimedia course the students’ voices are recorded and replayed together with the model voice utterances. At the same time the students see the text of dialogues on the screen, analysed with grammatical features to enhance their understanding of the Xhosa expressions.
Enquiries: Prof Marianna Visser (mwv@sun.ac.za)
Graduating/Graduated
Sikhwari and Moorosi were due to be awarded doctoral degrees during the December 2009 graduation. There are also a few more that will be graduating in March 2010.
Abroad as a visiting scholar
Dr Mawande Dlali was a visiting scholar at Leipzig University, Germany during November 2009. He participated in research seminars and taught in his specialization field of pragmatics.
1.3 NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AFRICAN LANGUAGES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN
Dr Abner Nyamende from the Department of African Languages reports as follows:
Towards the end of 2008 Prof Sandile Gxilishe retired. Ms Rose Smouse and Prof Tessa Dowling were appointed. Rose Smouse is Convenor for Xhosa at the Medical School. Prof Dowling is responsible for second language teaching and curriculum development.
Dr Abner Nyamende is doing research on Xhosa Clan names.
1.4 NEWS FROM THE SCHOOL OF ISIZULU STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU - NATAL
Prof Nhlanhla Mathonsi from the School of IsiZulu Studies reports as follows:
Graduating/Graduated
Dr Nompumeleo Zondi and Dr Gugu Mazibuko obtained their PhD’s in 2008.
Grants/Awards
The two doctors, together with Dr Nobuhle Ndimande were granted Mellon Merit Awards for younger scholars. Dr Zondi also applied and was further granted the Competitive Research Grant.
Promotions
Dr Nompumeleo Zondi and Dr Nobuhle Ndimande have been promoted to Senior lecturer and Associate Professor respectively with effect from the 1st of January 2010.
Sabbatical leave
Prof Adrian Koopman is on six months sabbatical leave, and we will resume work in January 2010. He will leave again at the end of July 2010.
Headship
Nhlanhla Mathonsi is the current Head of School and his Deputy (based at PMB campus) is Prof Mandla Maphumulo
Projects
Prof Nobuhle Hlongwa is wrapping up SANTED after its three years of existence.
Prof Nhlanhla and his students are busy working back to back on the NRF project, Gender Inequities reflected in language.
Dr Nompumelelo Zondi‘s project (linked to Competitive Research Grant) is: Songs as hidden transcripts for women in negotiating their spaces: A case of Zwelibomvu women.
1.5 NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AFRICAN LANGUAGES AT NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF LESOTHO
Dr Maleshoane Rapeane-Mathonsi from the Department of African Languages reports as follows:
- Lits'episo Matlosa and Mabitle Moorosi have recently acquired their PhDs, while Mr. Lehlohonolo Phafoli has been promoted to senior lectureship.
2. CALLS FOR PAPERS
- 3RD ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PHILOLOGY, LITERATURES AND LINGUISTICS 12-15 JULY 2010, ATHENS, GREECE
The Athens Institute for Education and Research (AT.IN.E.R.) is organizing its 3rd International conference on Philology, i.e. languages, literatures and linguistics, 12-15 July 2010. For more information about the conference and the institute please visit: www.atiner.gr/docs/Literature.htm
2.2 SOUTHERN AFRICAN FOLKLORE SOCIETY
International conference of the southern African Folklore Society (SAFOS)
Date: 27-29 SEPTEMBER 2010
Conference venue: National Cultural History Museum Visagie Street, Pretoria
First announcement and call for papers
Internet address: www.unisa.ac.za/safos 2010
2.3 NAMES SOCIETY OF AFRICA
The 16 International Congress of the Names Society of Southern Africa (NSA) will be held on 26, 27, 28 October 2010 at West Coast (Cape Town-RSA)