A descriptive overview of the interpreting service in Parliament

Language and language policy played a seminal role in the transformation of South Africa. The legislative framework laid down a multilingual language policy with the recognition of eleven official languages. Besides questions regarding its economic viability, there is a perception that the language...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Harold Lesch
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of the Free State 2010-08-01
Series:Acta Academica
Online Access:https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/aa/article/view/1256
Description
Summary:Language and language policy played a seminal role in the transformation of South Africa. The legislative framework laid down a multilingual language policy with the recognition of eleven official languages. Besides questions regarding its economic viability, there is a perception that the language policy is merely an attempt at political correctness. Nevertheless, societal issues and linguistic realities in the public arena necessitate that language service delivery in a multilingual country be granted a prominent role. This article portrays the reality of an interpreting service within the context of the public domain with specific reference to the highest state organs – nationally and provincially – as transformed entities, but also critically investigates the tasks to be fulfilled by language practitioners.
ISSN:0587-2405
2415-0479