Introduction

Theory

Theory and Practical

Subject

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Language in context

Orality in African languages with a focus on orality as a predecessor to literacy in isiXhosa

History of the writing of isiXhosa and understanding the general rules pertaining to writing in isiXhosa (missionaries, colonialism, apartheid)

 (Course material - Makalima, Pinnock, Peires)

The development of isiXhosa orthography including language shift in terms of borrowing, code-switching etc (from a language structure point of view)

( (Course material – PanSALB booklet, Eastman in Herbert, Anna Deumert)

The syntax and semantics related to language in context – how to practically relate what you have learned to newspapers and other written forms. Designing a newspaper in terms of practical application

 (Course material – Wardaugh and Hudson)

Literary Discourse

The above applied to isiXhosa literary genres/authors – the rise of literature in African languages in relation to historical backdrop. Development of literary eras in other languages (Sotho, Zulu – see Gerard etc) can also be brought in here. Excerpts from books etc will also be studied (Mgqwetho etc)

Orality in African languages with a focus on orality as a predecessor to literature in isiXhosa – shift from orality to literacy

Theoretical approaches to African literature (Swanepoel) in relation to 2 main genres (Drama and Novel)

(Suggested Course material - Amaza)

Capturing and disseminating orality through technology: technauriture

Creative Writing for Publishing: Students will produce their own work

Analysis of books from 2 genres (Short Story, Poetry and Drama)

Translation Studies, HLT and Lexico-graphy

Awareness on translation/HLT practice and theory and its relation to language policy and corpus planning. (Translation and localisation tools – translate@thon)

Theories and scholars related to Translation and HLT + practical translate@thon

Practical Translation in relation to web-based material

Visiting government and quasi-government bodies

Language and society

Language in relation to contemporary societal debates such as gender, identity, education, language as a human right and issues of multilingualism in Africa

Language Policy, multilingualism and globalisation, and Gricean maxims

Research related to language and the workplace