Public signage translation is essential in establishing an all-encompassing metropolis and promoting social cohesion. However, the translation from English to isiXhosa in the Cape Peninsula needs to be revised as many public signboards are found to be erroneous, a study at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) has found.
Thenjiswa Ntwana’s research, titled The Role of Language Ideology and Practice in the Translation of IsiXhosa in the Cape Metro, helped her to graduate with her PhD in African Languages at UWC last week.
She has become the first ever PhD graduate to come out of the University's Department of African Language Studies, as well as the first in this department to complete doctoral studies in IsiXhosa.
Dr Ntwana argued that South Africa has, since 1994, elevated the previously marginalised African languages and given them official status alongside English and Afrikaans to meet citizens' linguistic needs.
Each province has its language policy, and the City of Cape Town has a language policy that guarantees equal positions of the three official languages; Afrikaans, English, and IsiXhosa, as issued in terms of the Local Government Municipal Structure Act, 1988.
Therefore, the translation of public signs in Cape Town has become critical.
Her thesis shows that the translation from English to isiXhosa needs to be revised on many public signboards in the Metro. Her research found that several isiXhosa public signboards in the City of Cape Town are erroneous and deceptive.
The causes underlying these errors are tracked down and analysed in the research.
Among the public signage that had been erroneously translated by the City, according to Dr Ntwana, are categorised as ‘sensitive’, ‘big mistakes’, and those with ‘minor errors’.
These include the one for “no hawking” which has been translated to “no walking” in IsiXhosa. Another one for “strictly no ball games on lawn area” has been translated to mean “no games with grass in this area”. In Cape Gate Shopping Centre a signage for “trespassers will be prosecuted” has been translated to “Itrespass iyakufuneka” which could mean “trespassers are needed”.
"The findings show that all these errors in translating public signages to IsiXhosa show carelessness because these mistakes could have been avoided if the translations were given the importance they deserve," she said.
Dr Ntwana's work puts forward some constructive translation strategies to address the issue of incorrect use of isiXhosa in the City's landscape. A quality control procedure is proposed with linguistically prepared translators who are mentally present and socially accountable.
She said African language speakers, particularly those who speak isiXhosa, have bad negative attitudes about their language, and the country promotes linguistic and cultural awareness; it is high time that isiXhosa speakers embraced their mother tongue as well.
Dr Ntwana's journey has been challenging. She had to explain and motivate her wish to complete her thesis in IsiXhosa. It was argued that since the study is crucial and should be accessible to everyone, it shouldn't be written in isiXhosa. Nevertheless, her motivation succeeded in getting her thesis authorised.
"As an experienced SATI-certified translator, who did her master's degree in translation, I had little trouble translating the chapters into isiXhosa since I had already begun writing my thesis in English. I was confident in my abilities and that my thesis would be successful. Since this is a matter of human rights, we must speak out about our language and ensure that it is translated accurately to reduce the risks of misinterpretation,” she said.
"Due to the risks involved, the City of Cape Town must correct the mistakes on the signs. It appears that our ethnic rights are being violated when signs are translated into isiXhosa without any consideration for accuracy."
Dr Ntwana has urged Africans everywhere to speak up in support of preserving their native tongues, demanding that their languages be accorded the dignity they so well deserve.
Thenjiswa Ntwana’s research, titled The Role of Language Ideology and Practice in the Translation of IsiXhosa in the Cape Metro, helped her to graduate with her PhD in African Languages at UWC last week.
She has become the first ever PhD graduate to come out of the University's Department of African Language Studies, as well as the first in this department to complete doctoral studies in IsiXhosa.
Dr Ntwana argued that South Africa has, since 1994, elevated the previously marginalised African languages and given them official status alongside English and Afrikaans to meet citizens' linguistic needs.
Each province has its language policy, and the City of Cape Town has a language policy that guarantees equal positions of the three official languages; Afrikaans, English, and IsiXhosa, as issued in terms of the Local Government Municipal Structure Act, 1988.
Therefore, the translation of public signs in Cape Town has become critical.
Her thesis shows that the translation from English to isiXhosa needs to be revised on many public signboards in the Metro. Her research found that several isiXhosa public signboards in the City of Cape Town are erroneous and deceptive.
The causes underlying these errors are tracked down and analysed in the research.
Among the public signage that had been erroneously translated by the City, according to Dr Ntwana, are categorised as ‘sensitive’, ‘big mistakes’, and those with ‘minor errors’.
These include the one for “no hawking” which has been translated to “no walking” in IsiXhosa. Another one for “strictly no ball games on lawn area” has been translated to mean “no games with grass in this area”. In Cape Gate Shopping Centre a signage for “trespassers will be prosecuted” has been translated to “Itrespass iyakufuneka” which could mean “trespassers are needed”.
"The findings show that all these errors in translating public signages to IsiXhosa show carelessness because these mistakes could have been avoided if the translations were given the importance they deserve," she said.
Dr Ntwana's work puts forward some constructive translation strategies to address the issue of incorrect use of isiXhosa in the City's landscape. A quality control procedure is proposed with linguistically prepared translators who are mentally present and socially accountable.
She said African language speakers, particularly those who speak isiXhosa, have bad negative attitudes about their language, and the country promotes linguistic and cultural awareness; it is high time that isiXhosa speakers embraced their mother tongue as well.
Dr Ntwana's journey has been challenging. She had to explain and motivate her wish to complete her thesis in IsiXhosa. It was argued that since the study is crucial and should be accessible to everyone, it shouldn't be written in isiXhosa. Nevertheless, her motivation succeeded in getting her thesis authorised.
"As an experienced SATI-certified translator, who did her master's degree in translation, I had little trouble translating the chapters into isiXhosa since I had already begun writing my thesis in English. I was confident in my abilities and that my thesis would be successful. Since this is a matter of human rights, we must speak out about our language and ensure that it is translated accurately to reduce the risks of misinterpretation,” she said.
"Due to the risks involved, the City of Cape Town must correct the mistakes on the signs. It appears that our ethnic rights are being violated when signs are translated into isiXhosa without any consideration for accuracy."
Dr Ntwana has urged Africans everywhere to speak up in support of preserving their native tongues, demanding that their languages be accorded the dignity they so well deserve.
