Lexikos (Sep 2012)
Science through Sepedi: Is Terminologisation a Worthwhile Venture? Wetenskap in Sepedi: Is terminologisering die moeite werd?
Abstract
<p>The terminologisation of the African languages has been hotly debated for more than a decade, yet little progress has been made in devising strategies to guide this process. The following are among the indicators that the time is ripe to realise the ideal of terminologisation: the lack of success thus far achieved in facilitating scientific knowledge through non-mother-tongue education; the existence of a noteworthy stock of technical terms in the African languages; and the positive attitudes of educators towards the use of the mother tongue, especially in rural areas. These indicators are backed up by statistics on pass rates for Physical Science in the Northern Province; the results of an attitude/opinion survey among teachers of Science in this region; lexical data obtained from an empirical survey as well as from an independent source. The results of the research seem to validate terminologisation of Sepedi from an educational point of view. It is, however, realised that the attitudes and perceptions of other stakeholders such as pupils and parents need to be taken into account when recommendations are made with regard to sensitive issues such as terminologisation and the language of scientific communication.</p> <p> </p><p> </p><p>Die terminologisering van die Afrikatale word al vir langer as 'n dekade druk bespreek. Tog is weinig vordering nog gemaak met betrekking tot die beplanning van algemene strategieë wat rigting aan hierdie proses kan gee. Daar is veral drie aanwysers dat die tyd ryp is om erns te maak met terminologisering: die min sukses wat tot dusver behaal is in die fasilitering van wetenskaplike kennis deur medium van niemoedertaalonderrig; die bestaan van 'n noemenswaardige korpus tegniese/wetenskaplike terme in die Afrikatale; en die positiewe gesindheid van wetenskaponderwysers teenoor die gebruik van die moedertaal, veral in landelike gebiede. Ter ondersteuning van hierdie aanduidings word die volgende getuienis aangebied: statistiek oor die slaagsyfers vir Natuurwetenskap in die Noordelike Provinsie, die uitslae van 'n houdingstudie / meningspeiling onder wetenskaponderwysers in hierdie gebied; leksikale gegewens wat sowel uit 'n empiriese ondersoek as van 'n onafhanklike bron verkry is. Vanuit 'n opvoedkundige oogpunt blyk die resultate van die navorsing die terminologisering van Sepedi te staaf. Daar word egter besef dat die houdings en persepsies van ander rolspelers, bv. leerlinge en ouers, in berekening gebring moet word wanneer aanbevelings gemaak word oor sensitiewe kwessies soos die taal van wetenskapskommunikasie.</p><p> </p>
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