The First Comprehensive Catalogue of Dictionaries
Developed on behalf of the Government of South Africa
The Directors and Editors of the official language National Lexicography Units present the first comprehensive catalogue of dictionaries they have developed on behalf of the Government of South Africa, in partial fulfilment of Constitutional and Legislative mandates on indigenous languages.
Foundation Phase Caps Picture Dictionaries
User-friendly dictionaries are beautifully designed and illustrated to meet the requirements of CAPS Foundation Phase for Grades 1 to 3. Developed in response to our Constitutional mandate that all languages must be treated equally and no language may be disadvantaged over another.
Legislation
Advantages
Supported Languages
The National Lexicography Units publish dictionaries in all official indigenous languages.
We are close to finalizing publication of definitive single volume monolingual and English bilingual dictionaries in all nine languages. The Sesotho monolingual, isiXhosa bilingual and revisions of the Xitsonga monolingual and bilingual are underway, and when published will complete the first phase of the State’s indigenous language publishing programme.
Subject specific dictionaries and other projects to “elevate the status and advance the use” of our indigenous languages will be identified in discussion with relevant Government Departments.
Foundation Phase CAPS Linked Dictionaries
The use of these dictionaries is essential in supporting indigenous language mother tongue speakers to learn English at the Foundation Phase, in preparation for the transfer to English as language of teaching and learning from Grade 4 upwards. They also support non-indigenous mother tongue language speakers wishing to learn an indigenous language.
Regular use of these dictionaries will improve learner’s spelling, vocabulary and basic reference skills contributing to improved literacy levels. The content of all ten, currently available dictionaries, is identical on each page allowing easy use by teachers in multilingual classrooms.
The Units intend initiating actions in support of our non-official indigenous languages in consultation with specialists in these languages.
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Only the purchase and use of dictionaries will achieve our constitutional language obligations. Government structures and regulations can only facilitate their development.
Parliament of the Republic of South Africa ATC Report dated 24 October 2017 states:
The dictionaries in indigenous languages should be made available to the respective groups and schools as soon as possible.
Monolingual dictionaries are the building blocks of literacy, assisting users to improve their vocabulary in their home language.
Bilingual dictionaries help learners to navigate between their home language and the language of instruction.
Elevate the status and advance the use of our indigenous languages
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You can fulfill your constitutional mandate by being part of ensuring that every child has access to a monolingual and bilingual dictionary in their mother tongue.