Sabinet | Volume 47, Issue 4
Volume 47, Issue 4, 2007
Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe - Volume 47, Issue 4, January 2007
Volume 47, Issue 4, January 2007
Die akademiese professie in Suid-Afrika se belewing van die huidige rekonstruksie van die samelewing en die hoër onderwys : research article
Authors: Charl Wolhuter, Hannes Van der Walt, Leonie Higgs and Philip Higgs
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 47, pp 501 –515 (2007)
Omdat Afrika oor die hoof gesien is in die oorspronklike Carnegie-ondersoek (verslag gedateer 1996) betreffende die situasie en ervaringe van die akademiese professie in veertien verskillende lande van die wêreld, en ook omdat navorsing oor hierdie aangeleentheid tot op daardie tydstip nie in Suid-Afrika hoë prioriteit geniet het nie, is dieselfde Carnegie-ondersoeksinstrument in 2002 toegepas op 'n verteenwoordigende steekproef Suid-Afrikaanse akademici. Die doel van die ondersoek was om te bepaal hoe hulle die voortgaande rekonstruksie of transformasie van die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing en in die besonder van die hoëronderwys-sektor sedert die verdwyning van apartheid in 1994 ervaar het. Die Carnegie-ondersoek (aangevul met resente navorsingsresultate uit ander lande) het aan die lig gebring dat hoewel Suid-Afrikaanse akademici sekere van die onlangse ontwikkelinge inderdaad as struikelblokke ervaar het in die uitvoering van hulle akademiese pligte, hulle oor die algemeen nie van mening was dat die veranderinge hulle en hulle werk so negatief geraak het as hulle kollegas in ander lande waar soortgelyke omstandighede geheers het nie.
How the South African academic profession experiences the current reconstruction of society and of higher education
Since 1994 South African society in general and higher education in particular has been the terrain of radical change and reconstruction. Research, for example Altbach's (1997) comparison between the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Russia, has shown that the more extensive and the more radical societal change is, the more the academic profession is placed under pressure. The adaptability of the academic profession is not without limit. For example the post-1990 societal reconstruction turned academe in Russia into "... a dramatic picture of decline and deterioration... the conditions of research and advanced scholarship no longer exist" (Altbach 1997:339).
The aim of this research was to determine how the academic profession in South Africa experiences the current reconstruction of society and of higher education. The authors applied the questionnaire of the Carnegie International Investigation of the Academic Profession, which was conducted in 14 other countries and which led to the publication by Altbach (ed.) (1996), to a sample of South African academics.
Currently the South African academic profession finds itself amidst the following contextual factors:
government's educational policies, the principles of which are : equal educational opportunities, desegregation, multiculturalism and democratization
international trends in higher education : accountability, quality control, business principles, performativity and managerialism, all of which mean a significant erosion of the autonomy traditionally enjoyed by universities and by the academic profession.
The empirical study found that the percentage of female academics (47%) is of the highest in the world. This, together with the fact that female academics generally have been employed for fewer years than their male counterparts, and are more concentrated in the lower academic ranks than male academics, are an indication of how vigorous affirmative action with respect to the recruitment and appointment of female academics have been in recent years. The average age of respondents was 43 years. This means that the academic profession in South Africa is relatively young. In England, the United States of America and Japan, for example, the average ages of academics were respectively 47, 48 and 51 years. Respondents spent, on average, 12.9 hours per week lecturing. This is low compared to the international norm. On the other hand, the classes taught by South Africa academics are quite large. The democratisation and equalization of opportunities led to a large influx of students from previously disadvantaged communities. According to respondents, many students entering university are not academically equipped for university study, and are not committed to their studies.
Compared to the results obtained in the other 14 countries, the research output of South African academics is low. South African academics are not involved in community service activities either. Although respondents were of the view that government should not be responsible for higher education policy, they did not feel that there is too much governmental interference in university affairs. Respondents were of the view that respect for academics in South Africa is low, and is declining. Responses on the question measuring the morale of academics indicated that the morale of the South African academic profession is not particularly high. On the other hand, the morale is higher than the international average.
Finally on counts of internationalisation (such as the attendance of international conferences), the South African academic profession scored much higher than the academics of the other 14 countries which took part in the survey.
My toekoms in Suid-Afrika : perspektiewe en verwagtings van die Afrikaanssprekende jeug : research article
Authors: Gerrit Kamper and Miemsie Steyn
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 47, pp 516 –530 (2007)
Die vraag na die oriëntasie en aard van toekomsverwagting onder die jeug is besonder aktueel in Suid-Afrika vanweë die omvang van die maatskaplike problematiek wat tans in die land heers. Die media berig met ontstellende daaglikse reëlmaat oor geweldsmisdaad, korrupsie, wanbestuur, armoede en HIV / VIGS wat klaarblyklik buite doeltreffende beheer geraak het. Die jeug se persepsies oor hul toekoms in Suid-Afrika kan insiggewende aanduiders wees van (onder andere) die waargenome welstand van die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing. Heel prakties is die vraag : Hoedanig dra die maatskaplike problematiek in Suid-Afrika by tot 'n "wegkomwens" in die jeug se toekomsverwagtinge? In hierdie artikel word verslag gelewer oor die toekomsperspektiewe van die jeug in die breë Afrikaanssprekende gemeenskap. Die fokus is as geregverdig beskou omdat (a) die Afrikanerbevolkingsgroep spesifiek geraak is deur die politieke transformasie in Suid-Afrika vanweë die verandering in status van maghebbers na minderheidsgroep, en (b) die bruin Afrikaanssprekende gemeenskap in die nuwe politieke bedeling steeds 'n gemarginaliseerde groep is. Graad 11 leerders het by wyse van 'n fokusgroeponderhoud en 'n daaropvolgende vraelysondersoek aan die navorsing deelgeneem. As vernaamste gevolgtrekking geld dat die respondente oorwegend positief was oor die verwesenliking van hul toekomsideale in Suid-Afrika.
My future in South Africa : perspectives and expectations of the Afrikaans-speaking youth
The orientation and nature of the future expectations of adolescents is of particular relevance in South Africa due to the extent of social challenges currently experienced. Media reports on crime, corruption, mismanagement, poverty and HIV / AIDS are on the rise and many hold the view that it seems that crime has spiraled beyond control.
The social contexts in which the youth build their dreams and formulate their plans concerning the future are determined by politics and the domestic affairs of the state, such as political order and the efficiency and stability of the state. Larson (2002:16-17) cautions that governmental dysfunction and violent conflict have dire consequences for adolescents and for their preparation toward adulthood. Weak, destabilized and distracted governments are less able to provide a beneficial developmental infrastructure to children and adolescents. This prompted the research question: To what extent does a "beneficial developmental infrastructure" (see above) exist for the South African youth?
It was decided to make use of Afrikaans speaking grade 11 learners as research population for the study. This decision was based on the assumption that a negative future orientation would be strongest amongst the white and coloured Afrikaans-speaking adolescents for the following reasons: (1) The political transformation that took place in South Africa in 1994 had a substantial impact on the white Afrikaans speaking population, in the sense that they had to abdicate political power and became a minority group; (2)There appears to be a pertinent feeling amongst the coloured Afrikaans-speaking population that their situation has not really improved in the new dispensation in South Africa. They experience discrimination re. job opportunities and political opportunities, because they are not really regarded as part of the black population, and due to the perception that they actually received preferential treatment during the apartheid years (Beeld, 2006d). This situation causes considerable bitterness, in the realisation that they have not really advanced from a minority group position.
A qualitative approach was initially followed. Grade 11 learners from a large Afrikaans secondary school were probed on their future expectations. The school is multicultural with coloured and white learners and serves an affluent white community, as well as a coloured community with numerous socio-economic problems. By involving the Afrikaans language teacher, the learners had to write essays of 300 words on the topic : "My future in South Africa". The essays were analysed to determine the drift of, and themes on, future expectations. Useful data could be gathered and were verified by interviewing a focus group of eight learners, equally representing gender, race and positive / negative views as expressed in the essays.
The themes emerging from the essays were subsequently used to compile a questionnaire for application on a larger scale, involving five secondary schools, of which three were in Pretoria (representing varying socio-economic contexts), one in the Free State province (representing a mining community) and one in a semi-rural area of the Mpumalanga province.
The research departed from the theoretical hypothesis that the extent of social problems (violent crime, corruption and mismanagement) in South Africa would have a decidedly negative impact on the local orientation of the respondents' future plans, particularly as reflected in the aspiration to emigrate. This hypothesis was falsified. Although the respondents realized the seriousness of inter alia HIV / AIDS, unemployment and violent crime as social problems in South Africa, it became evident that they did not generally view the extent of these problems as cause to get away and seek their future elsewhere.
Publieke Administrasie aan 'n omvattende universiteit : research article
Author Kobus Wessels
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 47, pp 531 –542 (2007)
Hoe kan Publieke Administrasie sinvol by 'n omvattende universiteit aangebied word? 'n Omvattende universiteit blyk niks meer te wees as 'n samevoeging van voormalige universiteitsonderrigprogramme en technikononderrigprogramme in een instelling nie. Ten einde die twee programme sinvol met mekaar te integreer, is dit nodig om diploma- en graadprogramme duidelik van mekaar te onderskei. Hierdie onderskeid kan getref word op grond van vlak en inhoud. Dit kan wees dat diploma- en graadprogramme in die toekoms sekere modules met mekaar kan deel. Hoewel diplomaprogramme veronderstel is om beroepspesifiek te wees, is die Baccalaureusprogram veronderstel om meer algemeen vormend te wees. Beide die diploma- en graadprogram aan 'n omvattende universiteit is veronderstel om studente te lei tot kritiese denke op 'n kontinuum van kompleksiteit binne gegewe kontekste. Die vernaamste bydrae wat die vak Publieke Administrasie kan lewer, is gevolglik die stimulering van kritiese denke by sy studente.
Public Administration at a comprehensive university
The higher education sector in South Africa has experienced various changes during the past few years : technikons are now called universities of technology; some well known universities received new, unknown names. Other universities, such as the University of South Africa (Unisa), have retained their old names while the content thereof seems to have changed. The University of South Africa is now called a comprehensive university - a category of higher education institutions of which the reasons of existence have not been spelled out clearly. Public Administration is a subject which is offered at this university. The question is raised : how is the subject Public Administration practised at a comprehensive university? In order to understand the reason of existence of a comprehensive university, this article investigates the meaning of concepts such as "higher education", "university", "traditional university", "technikon" and "university of technology". A systematic analysis of the various official documents constituting the category "comprehensive university", reveals an absence of specific definitions of this and related concepts. However, a comprehensive university within the South African context seems to be nothing more than a compilation of former university and technikon teaching programmes in one institution. A comprehensive university is thus a specific type of university. It is argued in this article that a university exists with the view of knowledge: knowing how to learn and how to know. This knowledge aim implies a never ending search for the truth. This search is the result of the ability of human beings to look beyond the obvious views on violence, poverty, crime, injustices, race and culture to the not so obvious views. Although the university is part of society, it is not necessarily supposed to think and to work exactly as society. Lecturers who are involved with the subject Public Administration are part of society, which is served by the public service. Some of them are even former public servants. However, lecturers in Public Administration who make a study of public institutions and the people working there are not supposed to think as public officials think. The main challenge in presenting the subject of Public Administration at a comprehensive university, is thus the measure in which students' way of thinking can be changed to thinking beyond the obvious. This article shows that a typical three year diploma and a three year degree differ in terms of their level of complexity and composition although they may share specific building blocks (modules). If a university upholds a never-ending aim for the truth, it implies that critical thinking, irrespective of the level of complexity, should always be part of the tuition programmes of a comprehensive university. Students in Public Administration at Unisa, whether they are enrolled for diploma or degree programmes, should thus get the opportunity to solve occupation specific problems as well as scholarly problems on a continuum of complexity in a reflexive way. By doing that, thinking in its superlative form is acknowledged and promoted. The most important contribution that the subject Public Administration at a comprehensive university can make, is the stimulation of critical thought in its students.
'n Organisasiediagnose van die doeltreffendheid van 'n menslike hulpbrondepartement binne 'n groot stedelike munisipaliteit : research article
Authors: Coen Bester and Cobus Pienaar
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 47, pp 543 –549 (2007)
Baie organisasies in Suid-Afrika, veral organisasies wat dienste lewer, word daarvan beskuldig dat hulle oneffektief is en nie in staat is om diens van gehalte te lewer nie. Veral munisipaliteite word in hierdie verband uitgesonder. Die menslike hulpbrondepartemente van munisipaliteite speel 'n belangrike ondersteunende rol om die ander departemente in staat te stel om meer effektief te funksioneer. Daarom was die doel van hierdie studie om die effektiwiteit van 'n menslike hulpbrondepartement binne 'n groot stedelike munisipalteit te ondersoek deur middel van 'n organisasiediagnose. Weisbord se teoretiese organisasiemodel is as basis vir die studie gebruik. Hierdie model maak voorsiening vir ses onderskeie komponente wat as aanduiders van organisasieeffektiwiteit beskou kan word, naamlik leierskap, doelstellings, struktuur, belonings, ondersteuningsmeganismes en verhoudinge. 'n Sewende komponent, naamlik houdings is bygevoeg om die spektrum van die ondersoek te verbreed. 'n Vraelys wat op Weisbord se model gebaseer is, is tussen werknemers van die menslike hulpbrondepartement van 'n groot stedelike munisipaliteit versprei. Die responskoers was bykans 30%. Die respondente het neutrale menings ten opsigte van ses van die sewe aanduiders van organisasie-effektiwiteit getoon. Volgens hulle is die belonings wat hulle ontvang, goed.
An organizational diagnosis of the effectiveness of a human resources department within a big urban municipality
In South Africa, many organizations, especially organizations that are rendering services, are blamed that they are ineffective and not capable of providing high quality services. Especially municipalities are singled out in this regard. Human Resources Departments in municipalities are playing an important role in supporting the other departments to perform effectively. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of a human resource department within a big urban municipality by means of an organizational diagnosis. Weisbord's theoretical organization model was used as the basis for this study. This model makes provision for six respective components that could be regarded as indicators of organizational effectiveness, namely leadership, purposes, structure, rewards, helpful mechanisms and relationships. A seventh component, namely attitudes, was added to broaden the scope of the evaluation. A questionnaire based on Weisbord's model was distributed among employees of the human resource department of a big urban municipality. Respondents were instructed how to complete the questionnaire correctly. They completed the questionnaires anonymously and were assured that their identity would not be revealed. The response rate was approximately 30%. The respondents expressed neutral views regarding six of the seven indicators of organizational effectiveness. Respondents indicated that they do not have a clear image regarding the objectives of the subdirectorate Human Resources, that they find it difficult to identify with the objectives, and that they are not strongly committed to those objectives. They were also not sure whether or not they have a say in determining the objectives. They exhibited neutral opinions regarding the effectiveness of the current structure of the subdirectorate and the distribution of the work. Respondents showed neutral opinions regarding the quality of leadership, especially in terms of the balance between leadership responsibilities and the effectiveness of the execution of these responsibilities. They also indicated uncertainty regarding the extent to which leaders support them to perform more effectively. It is evident from the results that respondents are not convinced that the working relationships between colleagues are sound and healthy, that they support one another, that they trust one another and that they are cooperating with one another. Respondents displayed neutral opinions regarding the effectiveness of supporting mechanisms. Supporting mechanisms include two-way communication, regular feedback to identify developmental areas, creative problem-solving, mentoring and moral and emotional support. Respondents indicated that they are not sure whether the subdirectorate will be able and willing to bring about changes and to adapt to these changes or not. According to the respondents the rewards provided by the municipality are good. The neutral opinions regarding a broad range of important focus areas that are indicative of organizational effectiveness that result from this study could be interpreted in different ways. It could be interpreted as a lack of commitment and enthusiasm to achieve objectives. It could also be interpreted as an unwillingness to criticise the status quo due to different reasons. This could impact negatively on job satisfaction and productivity. In order to improve job satisfaction, productivity and quality of service all the above-mentioned focus areas should be addressed.
Een- of meertalige openbare tekens? Perspektiewe op die regulering van taalsigbaarheid en die Suid-Afrikaanse linguistiese landskap : research article
Author Theodorus Du Plessis
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 47, pp 550 –567 (2007)
Hierdie artikel ondersoek 'n onderbeligte aspek van taalbeleid in Suid-Afrika, naamlik die vertoon van meer as een amptelike taal op openbare tekens, 'n taalbeleidsverskynsel waarna gewoonlik as taalsigbaarheid verwys word. Die artikel vertrek van die toenemende belangstelling onder geleerdes in die linguistiese landskap, 'n ondersoeksterrein waar taalsigbaarheid 'n pertinente rol speel. Voortvloeiend uit die algemene teoretiese posisies van die betrokke ondersoeksterrein betoog die artikel ten gunste van die openbare gebruik van meer as een amptelike taal op simboliese eerder as informasionele gronde. Voorts word die noodsaak aan konkrete beleidsriglyne rondom taalsigbaarheid beklemtoon. Die artikel ondersoek dan die huidige posisie rondom beleid met betrekking tot taalsigbaarheid in Suid-Afrika. Kerndokumente hieromtrent word ontleed, veral met betrekking tot taalbeleid binne die drie regeringsvlakke, sowel as die standaardisasie van geografiese name asook beleid rondom openbare tekens, spesifiek met betrekking tot padverkeerstekens. Heelwat tekortkominge rondom beleid met betrekking tot taalsigbaarheid word blootgelê en die noodsaak aan meer konkrete riglyne hieromtrent word beklemtoon.
Monolingual or multilingual public signs? Perspectives on the regulation of language visibility and the South African linguistic landscape
This article addresses an under-researched aspect of language policy in South Africa, i.e. the display of more than one official language on public signs, a language policy phenomenon usually referred to as language visibility. It departs from appeals made by some scholars for increased language visibility in languages other than the erstwhile official languages (i.e. English and Afrikaans), appeals that could be conceptualised within the constitutional requirements for the elevation of the status of the previously disadvantaged languages and the extension of their usage. The article is theoretically situated within the field of linguistic landscape research, a growing scholarly interest where language visibility plays an important role. Three important functions of the linguistic landscape are discussed, i.e. the informational, symbolical and mythological functions thereof. The close relation with language policy, as well as the importance of the regulation of linguistic visibility is also dealt with. In conjunction with the general theoretical positions held in this field of research, the article argues the case for the display of more than one official language on public signs on symbolic, rather than functional grounds. It also stresses the need for policy directives regarding language visibility. The article investigates the current position with regard to language visibility policy in South Africa, covering core documents regulating language policy within the three tiers of government, as well as the standardisation of geographical names and policy on public signage, in particular on road traffic signs. Language visibility as a language policy mechanism is not promoted by policy documents at national level. Although most provinces are currently in the process of drafting new language policies, there are some indications that language visibility does feature as a language policy concept at this level. Language visibility appears to receive more detailed attention in language policies at local government level. However, policy directives noticeably steer clear of overly prescriptive measures. With regard to the standardisation of geographical names, policy on language visibility is relatively absent. Policy regulating signage in public is also vague with regard to language visibility, in particular as far as signage on road and traffic signs are concerned. The article uncovers some shortcomings with regard to the alignment of the different sets of policies that could regulate language visibility.
Korrek, volledig, relevant. Dít is die vraag aan leksikografiese definisies : research article
Authors: Henning Bergenholtz and Rufus Gouws
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 47, pp 568 –586 (2007)
In verklarende woordeboeke, hetsy woordeboeke vir algemene taalgebruik hetsy vakwoordeboeke, is die leksikografiese definisie 'n belangrike aanduider waardeur die betekenis van 'n gegewe lemma weergegee word. Waar die leksikografiese praktyk deur taalkundige beskouings oorheers word, is daar veral vroeër dikwels 'n onderskeid gemaak tussen die aanbod van ensiklopediese en semantiese inligting in definisies. Hierdie artikel toon dat so 'n onderskeid nie relevant vir die leksikografie is nie. Wat ter sake is, is dat woordeboekdefinisies die inligting moet verstrek wat vir die teikengebruikers van daardie woordeboek ter sake is. Woordeboekdefinisies moet feitelik korrek wees en daar word gewys hoe foute soms in hierdie verband gemaak word. Wat ook van belang is, is dat definisies volledig genoeg moet wees om 'n ondubbelsinnige inligtingsoordrag moontlik te maak. Vervolgens word aangetoon dat die belangrikste kenmerk van 'n goeie leksikografiese definisie sy relevantheid vir die betrokke teikengebruiker in 'n spesifieke gebruikersituasie is. Met die oog hierop word verskillende gebruikerstipes onderskei en word 'n aanduiding gegee van hulle onderskeie behoeftes. Die benadering van leksikografiese funksies word gebruik om die gebruikersbehoeftes vas te stel en die aard en omvang van die verskillende definisies te bepaal.
Correct, complete, relevant. That is the question confronting lexicographic definitions
In explanatory dictionaries, both general language dictionaries and dictionaries dealing with languages for special purposes, the lexicographic definition is an important item to present the meaning of a given lemma. Due to a strong linguistic bias, resulting from an approach prevalent in the early phases of the development of theoretical lexicography, a distinction is often made between encyclopaedic information and semantic information in dictionary definitions, and dictionaries had often been criticized when their definitions were dominated by an encyclopaedic approach. This used to be seen as detrimental to the status of a dictionary as a container of linguistic knowledge. This paper shows that, from a lexicographic perspective, such a distinction is not relevant. What is important, is that definitions should contain information that is relevant to and needed by the target users of that specific dictionary. The contents of dictionary definitions need to be factually correct and factual errors should not occur. However, they do occur and examples are given of dictionary definitions not adhering to the principle of factual correctness. In this paper the notion of correctness is not regarded as extremely interesting to lexicographers because it merely reflects the degree to which a dictionary applies certain lexicographic principles. Dictionaries should convey enough information and it is emphasized that dictionary definitions should be comprehensive enough to ensure an unambiguous transfer of information. It is shown how certain definitions are so brief and abridged that users have difficulties in retrieving the necessary information. The lack of important semantic information due to attempted briefness can also be regarded as a lexicographic mistake. Examples from dictionaries are given to illustrate this. The paper focuses on the notion of relevance and indicates explicitly how important it is that a good dictionary definition should be relevant for the target user in a specific user situation. With regard to the relevance of dictionary definitions a distinction is made between different types of dictionary users and an indication is given of their different needs. It is shown how information regarding the general language competence of dictionary users, their competence in the language of a specific subject field and their knowledge in that subject field can help to constitute different types of dictionary users. No less than thirty different user types are identified and the possibilities of more types resulting from different combinations of user characteristics are mentioned. The notion of lexicographic functions is introduced and the different types of lexicographic functions, their role in the decisions regarding user-driven dictionaries and their relevance in devising criteria for the selection of relevant lexicographic definitions are discussed. With regard to dictionaries dealing with languages for special purposes the user types are linked with an existing distinction, i.e. between experts, semi-experts and lay persons. It is shown how each one of these user types will impose different demands on a dictionary definition. The suggestions for different user types are complemented by suggestions for dictionary definitions that would be applicable in dictionaries for the identified target user types. By giving these definitions it is illustrated that the same word should be defined in different ways for different user groups. Here the notion of correctness is not merely determined by the contents of the definition but rather by its aptness for a specific user situation. Finally it is stated that a dictionary does not have to reflect the whole truth but only that section of the truth that is relevant to the identified target user group in the envisaged dictionary user situation. In the words of Hanks (1993:105) : "For many words, there are a number of different but equally true statements that can be made, and the lexicographer has to choose those likely to be most relevant to potential users (not those that are 'essential' or 'invariably true')".
Die Akademie en die Afrikaanse radio : 70 : research article
Author Pieter Kapp
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 47, pp 587 –597 (2007)
Die Afrikaanse Radiodiens, vandag Radio Sonder Grense, is vanjaar sewentig jaar oud. Soos met die meeste instellings en aksies waarby Afrikaans en sy welgevalle betrokke is, het die Akademie ook met die Afrikaanse Radiodiens van die vroegste tye 'n besondere verhouding gehad. Dit het ook heelwat inspanning en stryd gekos om 'n suksesvolle Afrikaanse radiodiens tot stand te bring en op 'n stygende peil te handhaaf. Die Akademie het 'n bydrae tot die opbou van die diens gelewer. Die naamsverandering in 1995 van die SAUK na SABC en van Radio Suid-Afrika na Radio Sonder Grense terwyl die Engelse omroep die naam South Africa FM gekry het, impliseer dat die Engelse diens Suid-Afrikaans is en die Afrikaanse diens net 'n omroep is. Ná 1995 het baie deure vir die Akademie by die SABC toe gegaan.
The Akademie and the Afrikaans radio : 70
This year is the commemoration of the 70th birthday of the official Afrikaans Radio Service, today known as Radio Sonder Grense. The Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns played a significant role, similar to its role in other activities concerning the Afrikaans language, in promoting the development of quality programmes in Afrikaans, the use of a high standard of the language in public broadcasting and the eventual establishment of a separate Afrikaans radio service. The decision in 1995 to replace the multilingual name of the SABC to English only and renaming the Afrikaans Radio Radio Sonder Grense while the English Service was called South Africa FM is indicative of the changing attitude towards Afrikaans. It was henceforth to be regarded as not truly South African but as only serving a unspecified community. After 1995 the Akademie experienced the closing of a number of doors at the SABC to its close cooperation.
The Inhuman Condition. Looking for Difference after Levinas and Heidegger, Rudi Visker : book review
Author Marinus Schoeman
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 47, pp 598 –599 (2007)
Die Leuvense filosoof Rudi Visker is geen onbekende in wysgerige kringe in Suid-Afrika nie. Hy besoek ons land gereeld en in die tydskrif Fragmente het reeds verskeie artikels van en oor hom verskyn. Hierdie onlangse boek van hom (waarvan die inhoud ten dele oorvleuel met 'n Nederlandse boek wat ook ondertussen uit sy pen verskyn het) gaan, soos tewens blyk uit die subtitel, uit van die volgende vraagstelling: Waarom word daar so 'n ophef gemaak van die "verskil" (differensie) oftewel die "Ander" in sy andersheid (alteriteit) in die hedendaagse samelewing en in die denke van byna al die vooraanstaande filosowe van ons tyd? Hierdie vraag hang saam met verskeie ander vrae soos dié aangaande die feitelike populariteit van die etiek, asook die feit dat intellektuele diskussies grootliks oorheers word deur kwessies soos intersubjektiwiteit, kommunikasie, multikulturaliteit, pluralisme, rassisme, seksisme, ensovoort.
Twee mens-mens boeke
Nog altyd hier gewees. Die storie van 'n Stellenbosse gemeenskap, Herman Giliomee
In ons bloed, Hilton Biscombe : book review
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 47, pp 600 –602 (2007)
Dit is mense wat die geskiedenis maak. Kragte en magte is van groot belang maar dit is hoe dit op mense inwerk en hoe mense daarop reageer wat per slot van sake die gang van gebeure bepaal. Hierdie twee belangrike boeke van uiteenlopende aard maar met 'n aansluitende tema, is onderskeidelik tydens vanjaar se die Woordfees op Stellenbosch en verlede jaar op 'n groot byeenkoms in die HB Thom-teater bekend gestel.
Dowe in die huis : gedig
Author Corlietha Swart
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 47 (2007)
'n Sonore klankewaterval bruis
teen gespanne oortrommelvlies;
eggo in die akoestiese slakkehuis,
sonder die geringste klankverlies.