28 March 2025 | Story: Nontobeko Moimane| Photo: Supplied.
2 minutes read time.
The African Languages Development Unit (ALDU) of the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) hosted a successful Working Committee Meeting from 10 to 14 March 2025, focused on developing comprehensive Sesotho and Sepedi glossaries for Art Management I and Physics I.
Held in Clarens, Free State, the meeting brought together language practitioners, specialists, and industry experts to refine technical terminology, ensuring accessibility and clarity for students studying these disciplines in African languages. The project aligns with national efforts to strengthen indigenous language use in higher education.
Participants worked rigorously, refining key terms and ensuring the definitions met academic and professional standards. Industry experts provided insights into current terminology trends, enhancing the glossaries’ relevance. While the initial drafts for both glossaries were completed, the Physics glossary in Sesotho is set for finalisation in the coming week.
The dedication and collaboration displayed during this session were commendable. The glossaries will be a vital student resource and contribute to the broader academic and professional communities.
Mr Jacob Thamaga, Manager at ALDU, expressed his gratitude to the specialists from various institutions for their meaningful support and for travelling with VUT on the terminology development journey since this unit’s inception. He has developed nine terminologies to date. He emphasised that VUT highlights the importance of collaboration rather than working in silos. This gathering, which involved numerous institutions from across the country, reflects a key principle advocated by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) to avoid duplication of efforts and the waste of government resources.
Dr Muntuwenkosi Chili, Executive Director of the Centre for Academic Development (CAD), emphasised that language is at the heart of teaching and learning, and developing a standardised glossary is a crucial step in ensuring clarity, consistency, and comprehension across disciplines. “By refining key academic and technical terms, we empower students to engage meaningfully with their studies, reduce barriers to understanding, and ultimately enhance student success. This work is especially vital in a diverse and multilingual country like South Africa, where language is fundamental in shaping knowledge and learning experiences,” said Dr Chili.
He sincerely appreciated each expert’s dedication, expertise, and passion for this project. “Your contributions will not only strengthen the academic experience at our university but also serve as a lasting resource for future generations of students and educators, ” added Dr Chili.
Once polished, the glossaries will be made available to students, advancing language inclusivity in technical disciplines. This initiative highlights VUT’s commitment to fostering linguistic diversity in education.
