Intellectualization through Terminology Development

Langa Khumalo
2017 Lexikos  
The term intellectualization was famously used in the Prague School to describe a process that a language undergoes in its development and refinement. In our South African context intellectualization entails a carefully planned process of hastening the cultivation and growth of indigenous official African languages so that they effectively function in all higher domains as languages of teaching and learning, research, science and technology. This article critically examines the terminology
more » ... opment process that is being driven at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (henceforth UKZN) as one of the key agents of language intellectualization. The article critically evaluates the UKZN terminology development model that is used to harvest, consult and authenticate isiZulu terminology for Administration, Architecture, Anatomy, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Law, Physics, Psychology, and Nursing disciplines. Outflow platforms for the terminology in this development model are loosely listed as the 'database' and the 'development platform' but there is no clear end-user platform for students and lecturers, who seem to be the main end-user-targets of the whole terminology development initiative. The article will propose an improved model to cater for AnyTime Access, which is convenient for student needs between lectures, and improve the harvesting mechanism in the existing model. Opsomming: Intellektualisering deur terminologieontwikkeling. Die term intellektualisering is oorspronklik deur die Praagse skool gebruik om 'n proses wat 'n taal tydens sy ontwikkeling en verfyning ondergaan te beskryf. In ons Suid-Afrikaanse konteks behels intellektualisering 'n sorgvuldig beplande proses om die ontwikkeling en groei van plaaslike amptelike Afrikatale te bespoedig sodat hulle effektief op alle hoëvlakterreine funksioneer as tale van onderrig en leer, navorsing, wetenskap en tegnologie. Hierdie artikel doen 'n kritiese ondersoek na die terminologieontwikkelingsproses wat by die Universiteit van KwaZulu-Natal (voortaan UKZN) bestuur word as een van die sleutelfigure van taalintellektualisering. UKZN se terminologieontwikkelingsmodel word gebruik om isiZulu-terminologie binne die dissiplines Administrasie, Argitektuur, Anatomie, Rekenaarwetenskap, Omgewingswetenskap, die Regte, Fisika, Sielkunde en Verpleegkunde te oes, te raadpleeg en te staaf. Die artikel evalueer hierdie model krities. Afvoer-* Intellectualization through Terminology Development 253 platforms vir die terminologie in hierdie ontwikkelingsmodel word losweg gelys as die 'databasis' en die 'ontwikkelingsplatform', maar daar is geen duidelike eindgebruikerplatform vir studente en dosente nie, wat waarskynlik die belangrikste eindgebruikerteikengroep van die hele terminologieontwikkelingsinisiatief vorm. Die artikel stel 'n verbeterde model voor wat deurlopende toegang sal bied, wat gerieflik vir studente se behoeftes tussen lesings sal wees, en wat die oesmeganisme in die bestaande model sal verbeter.
doi:10.5788/27-1-1402 fatcat:nmcj2ynpszburksy2ddipl7g3q