Terminography in African languages in South Africa

Abstract

The various ways in which terminologies are being developed in African languages in South Africa are surveyed and the methodological and other problems endemic in the present situation are analysed. Term-development processes such as derivation, semantic transfer, deideophonization, paraphrase, compounding, and borrowing are discussed and standardization problems are outlined. Historico-political developments in South Africa have led to a situation of unco-ordinated efforts to satisfy the ever-increasing need for new terms in the African languages, and to a consequent lack of consensus on methodological principles. The purpose in analysing these problems is to provide information and proposals which may contribute to some amelioration of the situation.