Abstract

ALBERTS, Mariëtta. The first century of Afrikaans as language for special purposes, 1925-2025. Tydskr. geesteswet. [online]. 2025, vol.65, n.1, pp.4-40. ISSN 2224-7912.  https://doi.org/10.17159/2224-7912/2025/v65n1a2.

This article traces the history of terminology development in South Africa from 1925 to 1999 and from 2000 to 2025, while also exploring potential future directions for language for special purposes in the country. It highlights the various subject areas that were prioritised during these periods. Although there were several instances of duplication, Afrikaans terminology managed to achieve standardisation, despite the development of multiple terms for some concepts, which can result in miscommunication. After Afrikaans had been declared an official language, South African terminology practice bloomed. This meant that, in the dispensation of the time, Afrikaans had to function alongside the dominant global language English in all matters of state. The development of Afrikaans terminology benefited from the need to create equivalent terms for English, allowing Afrikaans to effectively function alongside English as an official language. This process was rooted in a language-planning approach to terminography. Initially, subject specialists and academics compiled bilingual dictionaries and term lists to enhance communication by sharing subject-specific terminology in both languages. They utilised a subject-oriented terminography approach, where each concept was represented by the term in the source language (English) and its corresponding term in the target language (Afrikaans). Later, translators employed by language bureaux began documenting the terms from their translation work to facilitate reuse. The approach, known as translation-oriented terminography, aims to standardise terminology within specific subject areas. Over time, terminologists were hired to document terminology across various fields, often collaborating with subject specialists to clarify concepts and their translation equivalents. Previously, the focus was primarily on creating bilingual dictionaries to provide users with easy access to terminology. Through consistent use, these terms became standardised in both languages within their respective fields. In the last thirty years, there has been a greater emphasis on developing terminology in the Sintu languages and signs in South African Sign Language, as mandated by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. Explanatory and translating term lists, along with technical dictionaries, are now created with enhanced information, including definitions. Current terminography practices still adhere to a language planning approach; however, a language-community approach is also implemented better to address the needs of language communities. While government agencies continue to document Afrikaans terminology, most of the new terminology being developed in the Sintu languages already has corresponding Afrikaans terms. As a result, there is limited new terminological development for Afrikaans in the public sector. Fortunately, subject specialists, language practitioners, and individuals continue to document and share terminology relevant to theirfields. During the course of the past century, various organisations, government institutions, and individuals contributed to the creation of Afrikaans term lists and technical dictionaries. Terminography, the practice of terminology work, is a complex process, and it is encouraging to see its continued advancement. Various tertiary institutions are actively developing terminology for their academic fields; however, a lack of collaboration among them has resulted in an overabundance of terms within specific subject areas and languages. The National Terminology Development Directorate, known as the Terminology Coordination Section (TCS) of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, has yet to fully fulfil its role in coordinating terminology development. This has sometimes led to project duplication, and the national term bank, intended to serve as a comprehensive repository for multilingual terminology, is still in progress. Several institutions currently have the capacity to participate in the online dissemination of terminology and digitisation of outdated printed term lists and technical dictionaries that are no longer easily accessible. The terminological data in these publications remain relevant and can be revised. Once digitised and formatted into a database, these data can be used to develop term equivalents in official South African languages beyond English and Afrikaans. The article concludes with guidelines for future terminology development in South Africa, with particular focus on enhancing Afrikaans for special purposes.

Keywords : community-oriented terminography approach; disseminate; equivalent; language for special purposes; language planning-oriented terminography approach; online; open source; source language; standardisation; subject-oriented terminography approach; target language; technical dictionary; term; term bank; terminology; terminology policy; terminology training; term list; translation-oriented terminography approach.

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