The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) announced that the annual multilingualism awards for 2010 are now open for entries.
PanSALB Acting Chief Executive Officer Chris Swepu announced in Pretoria today that individuals and organisations that promote and preserve multilingualism will be awarded in eight categories: music, media, language and literature, technology and business, public sector, education, interpretation and translation and the chairperson’s special award for a lifetime achievement.
Individuals and organisations that promote Khoi, San, Nama and sign language will also be awarded. Although these are not official South African languages, they are part of the languages that the Constitution recognises and we should ensure that they are promoted and protected.
The awards will be presented in Johannesburg on Saturday, 20 February 2010 to coincide with International Mother Tongue Day on 21 February.
In the category for music the effective use of multilingualism in song, including an album, will be awarded.
In the media category the Thetha Masombuka Award will be made to a journalist in the print and broadcast media who contributed to the promotion and preservation of mother tongue language while showing respect for any of the 11 official languages as well as for the Khoi, San, Nama and sign language. The same applies for a Television or radio programme.
Swepu said in the category for language and literature, individuals or writers who contributed to the promotion and preservation of all the official languages as well as the Khoi, San, Nama and sign language will be awarded.
He said in the technology and business category the effective innovation of technology to promote multilingualism, including business-to-business and consumer campaigns, will be awarded.
“In the public sector category the most effective service delivery campaign, project or programme that promotes multilingualism or any of the official languages as well as the Khoi, San, Nama and sign language will be awarded. National, provincial and local departments, district municipalities and constitutional bodies may enter.
“In the education category the use of multilingualism in language policy and those that are offering study guides and courses by institutions of learning will be awarded.
“In the interpretation and translation category, special projects that promote multilingualism will be awarded,” he said.
The chairman’s special lifetime award will be made to the individual or institution that has, according to the judges, made a meaningful contribution to multilingualism.
“These awards are part of PanSALB’s continued efforts to ensure that the diverse languages used in South Africa are developed and promoted to their fullest. South Africa is in the unique position to speak 11 languages, yet fly one flag. This unique property of a truly rainbow nation should be promoted and enhanced, culminating in the establishment of a South African Multilingualism Day,” Swepu said. Listed below are the specific categories in which awards will be granted for 2009/10. At the top of the entry form indicate the single category under which you wish your entry to be considered. The adjudication panel recognises all projects from January 2009 to January 2010. The judges may move your entry to another category if they deem it appropriate
Listed below are the specific categories in which awards will be granted for 2009/10. At the top of the entry form indicate the single category under which you wish your entry to be considered. The adjudication panel recognises all projects between January 2009 and January 2010. The judges may move your entry to another category if they deem it appropriate
Music category
For the effective use of multilingualism in album.
Language and written and oral literature category
For individuals/writers who contributed to the promotion and preservation of all the official South African languages i.e. Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa and isiZulu. Khoi, San, Nama as well as sign language.
Media category
The Thetha Masombuka Award will be presented to a journalist in the print and broadcast media who contributed to the promotion and preservation of his/her mother tongue and other languages including Khoi, Nama, San, as well as sign language.
For a television and radio programme that seeks to promote multilingualism or any of the 11 official languages including Khoi, Nama, San, as well as sign language.
For a print publication that seeks to promote and preserve any of the 11 official languages including Khoi, Nama, San, as well as sign language.
Technology and business category
For the effective innovation of technology to promote multilingualism in the technology sector, including business-to-business and consumer campaigns
Government/public sector category
For an effective service delivery campaign/project/programme in the public sector that seeks to promote multilingualism or any of the 11 official languages including Khoi, San, Nama, as well as sign language (national and provincial departments, local, district municipalities and constitutional bodies may enter this category).
Education category
Use and promotion of multilingualism in institutions of learning, this can be shown in their language policy, tuition material and signage in their building/s.
Translation and interpreting category
For the individual who contributed to language by way of training of interpreters and translators and or translating seminal text for wider accessibility.
Chairperson’s special award category
Multilingualism and nation building lifetime achievement award is awarded by the chairperson of the board at his discretion to any one who he feels deserves the award.
Entry forms are available on PanSALB’s website http://www.pansalb.org.za.Entries close on 5 February 2010 and can be e-mailed to: communication@pansalb.org.za
Mail:
PanSALB
Private Bag X08
Arcadia
0007
Delivered to:
PanSALB’s head office
523 Church Street
5th floor Provisus Building
Arcadia, Pretoria
Enquiries:
Sibusiso Nkosi
Tel 012 341 9638
Cell 082 855 4436
Issued by: Pan South African Language Board
18 January 2010
