Intellectualisation of African indigenous language at the University of the Free State and academic implications for the speakers
Authors: Ngubane Nomalungelo , Khohliso Xolani 
Published: July 2024

The University of the Free State Language Policy 2024 takes off from the premise that, firstly, students come from diverse linguistic backgrounds, of which the majority come from a Sesotho language background. Secondly, when our students join the university, they are confronted by English as the medium of instruction which is not their language, thus, it creates a barrier to effective learning. Thirdly, when our students join their specific disciplines, they are also confronted by unfamiliar environments of new disciplinary terminology and concepts which they are expected to learn and master in a foreign language. The language policy made a conscious commitment to develop and intellectualise Sesotho so that it becomes an academic language and a resource for supporting academic access and success for African students, in alignment with the Language Policy Framework for Higher Education 2020. This paper employs a literature-based methodological approach, focusing on a single university as a qualitative case study. Underpinned by the Language Management Theory, we argue that the African indigenous language, Sesotho, requires an effective and conscious process of intellectualisation. Strategies like terminology development are proposed to effectively support the learning of new concepts and theories across disciplines and thus reduce the burden imposed by English instruction among Sesotho speakers. The paper also argues that the intellectualisation of African languages in higher education is critical for ensuring that African students are not provided access without support in the persistent English monolingual higher education fraternity. IQOQA INqubomgomo Yolimi YeNyuvesi YaseFreyistata Yowezi-2024 isusela embonweni wokuthi, okokuqala, abafundi baphuma ezizindeni ezahlukene zezilimi, iningi labo liphuma emakhaya okukhulunywa ulimi lweSesotho. Okwesibili, uma abafundi bengena enyuvesi babhekana nesiNgisi njengolimi lokufundisa okungelona ulimi lwabo, ngaleyo ndlela, kudala isithiyo ekufundeni ngempumelelo. Okwesithathu, lapho abafundi bengena emikhakheni yabo ehlukahlukene abazikhethele yona baphinde babhekane nezimo ezingajwayelekile zamagama amasha aqondene nemikhakha yemfundo abakuyo okulindeleke ukuthi bawafunde futhi bawazi kahle ngolimi lwangaphandle. Inqubomgomo yolimi inika isibophezelo ekuthuthukiseni nasekuhlakanishisweni kweSesotho ukuze sibe ulimi lolwazimfundo kanye nensizakusebenza yokweseka abafundi abangama-Afrika ukuba bafinyelele kulwazimfundo ngempumelelo. Le nqubomgomo iyahambisana futhi noHlaka Lwenqubomgomo Yolimi Yemfundo Ephakeme wezi-2020. Ukubukwa kwalezi zinqubomgomo neminye imibhalo yocwaningo kungenye yezindlela zocwaningo ezisetshenzisiwe njengocwaningo lwesimo ngaphansi kwendlelande yocwaningo lobunjalo botho. Leli phepha elisekelwe Injulalwazi Yokulawulwa Kolimi liqakulisa ngokuthi ulimi lomdabu lwase-Afrika, iSesotho, ludinga inqubo esebenzayo neqaphelayo yobuhlakani ngokusebenzisa amasu afana nokwakhiwa kwamagama. Lokhu kusemqoka ukuze kusekele ngempumelelo ukufundwa kwemicabangonzulu nezinjulalwazi ezintsha emikhakheni yemfundo abakuyo abafundi abakhuluma ulimi lweSesotho. Okunye futhi lokhu kuzophinde kunciphise amandla athweswa isiNgisi phakathi kwabakhulumi bolimi lweSesotho. Leli phepha liphinde liphakamise ukuhlakanishiswa kwezilimi zomdabu zase-Afrika emfundweni ephakeme kubalulekile ukuze kuqinisekiswe ukuthi abafundi abangama-Afrika abanikezwa amathuba okufunda ngaphandle kokusekwa kodwa benikwa imfundo yesiNgisi ewubulimibunye.