MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
22 SEPTEMBER 2023, PRETORIA
The African Language Association of Southern Africa Conference (ALASA), in collaboration with the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) will be hosted by Tshwane University of Technology (TUT, on 27-29 September 2023, at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre, Boksburg, Gauteng. As some of the critical stakeholders within the language fraternity, we regard hosting this international conference themed ‘’Beyond the intellectualization of African languages for awakening potential in Africa’’, as a key strategic way of sharing the wealthy African historical linguistics, indigenous languages, their historiography, language planning and policy formulations, and language practices of the people of Southern Africa and the African continent at large. The conference has drawn about 250 scholars, academics, language practitioners and language managers mainly from Southern Africa (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe). The conference also provides an opportunity to advertise and share services on teaching, learning, and research achievements, with colleagues from the region and continent alike. It is our considered view that meaningful dialogues as a way of enhancing the quality of, and setting the tone for, an enriching academic, intellectual, and scholarly exchange of ideas amongst delegates and further reinforce the spirit of critical scholarship and academic exchange that Africa strives for. In addition, this will also contribute to facilitating integration between the relevant stakeholders and academic institutions. It will further foster collaborations that are necessary for the development of African indigenous languages and their role in society.
Members of the media are invited to attend the conference as follows:
Date: 26-29 September 2023
Time: 08h00 – 17h30
Venue: Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre, Boksburg, Gauteng
RSVP: Mr Siphiwe Mabasa | siphiwe@pansalb.org
Enquiries: Ms Ntombentle Huluhulu | 061 581 5216 | ntombi@pansalb.org
ABOUT ALASA
The African Language Association of Southern Africa (ALASA) is a non-profit association established in 1979 aimed at promoting interaction between researchers, language practitioners, students, educators and lecturers of African Languages and Literature. It also assists in the promotion of research, language development, and effective verbal and written communication in a multilingual society.
ABOUT PanSALB
PanSALB is a Constitutional body established in terms of the Pan South African Language Board Act 59 of 1995 as amended to promote and create conditions for the development and use of all official languages including the Khoe and San languages.
ABOUT TUT
Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) prides itself as a public university which offers many South African indigenous languages at first (home) language level. The six languages offered are as follows: Setswana, Sepedi, isiZulu, Xitsonga, Tshivenda, and Afrikaans. These languages six languages and French are also offered to non-home language speakers. In recognising that people who communicate in sign language need to be included in mainstream society, South African Sign Language (SASL) was recently introduced and it is offered at the introductory level to third-year Language Practice students.
