“VUT and PanSALB advance Sesotho terminology development by verifying Physics and Art Management glossaries, promoting African languages in higher education.”
13 October 2025 | Story By: Staff Reporter | Picture: Supplied.
2 minutes read time.
The Vaal University of Technology (VUT), through its African Language Development Unit (ALDU) under the Centre for Academic Development (CAD), continues to spearhead the intellectualisation of African languages in higher education.
From 25 to 26 September 2025, VUT participated in the Sesotho Verification Meeting held in Bloemfontein, in partnership with the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB). The meeting focused on verifying newly developed Physics I and Art Management I glossaries, representing a major milestone in the ongoing process of developing and standardising Sesotho academic terminology to ensure that the language evolves as a credible medium of teaching, learning, and research.
The verification process brought together linguists, terminologists, and subject experts from across institutions, including specialists from PanSALB’s language database and lecturers from VUT. Among the delegates was Mr Thabang Molatou, a Language Practitioner from VUT’s ALDU, who emphasised the broader impact of this work.
“The verification of Sesotho terminology in technical fields such as Physics and Art Management is a vital step in the indigenisation of knowledge and in strengthening multilingualism in higher education,” said Molatou. “Through neologism, creating new terms grounded in Sesotho roots, and careful adaptation of borrowed concepts, we are building a living academic language that speaks to both heritage and progress.”
Over the two days, participants reviewed, refined, and verified terms to ensure linguistic accuracy and contextual relevance. The collaboration ensured that the proposed terminology not only meets scientific standards but also aligns with the grammatical and cultural logic of Sesotho.
The process now advances to the authentication phase, which will finalise the verified Physics I and Art Management I glossaries. Once authenticated, these will serve as authoritative reference tools for educators, translators, students, and academic institutions.
This initiative reflects VUT’s steadfast commitment to knowledge transformation, inclusivity, and linguistic innovation, reinforcing the University’s role in advancing African scholarship. Working alongside PanSALB and other national partners, VUT continues to demonstrate leadership in mainstreaming indigenous languages as vehicles of learning and discovery in South Africa’s higher education landscape.