CGE launches isiXhosa gender terminology booklet in a national project to incorporate English gender terms in all official languages
The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) has today launched an isiXhosa Gender Terminology booklet that contains newest gender and sexuality terminologies in the Xhosa language, at the Eastern Cape provincial legislature in Bisho. The booklet was launched in conjunction with the Pan South African Language Board (PANSALB), the Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, the Eastern Cape Provincial Language Committee as well as the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders.
The CGE has started a process to roll out the gender terminology project in all the nine provinces, to translate English official gender terminologies into indigenous languages. This national project follows the organisation’s recognition and acknowledgement that language is a tool used by people on day to day to communicate and can be used to create a conducive environment where human dignity is upheld, and human rights are protected. Terminologies such as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA), sexual harassment, gender equality, abortion, gender parity, gender mainstreaming and gender stereotypes, sexual orientation, are commonly recognised in English vocabulary but not necessarily in all other official languages. The isiXhosa Gender Terminology booklet provides a comprehensive list containing hundreds of translated gender-related terms.
“The gender terminology project aims to mainstream gender equality through incorporation of gender sensitive terminologies in all South African official languages,” said Mr. Rabbuh Raletsemo, CGE’s Acting Head of Public Education and Information. “This language development project is in line with our mandate to educate, inform and empower the public with gender terminologies that uphold human dignity and protect human rights,” Raletsemo added. The Commission has already launched Sesotho and Afrikaans gender terminology booklets and is preparing to launch booklets in other languages. The booklet will be made available on the Commission’s website, www.cge.org.za.
Contact Person: Javu Baloyi (Spokesperson)
Email: media@cge.org.za
Cell: 083 579 3306a
