The University of Limpopo’s (UL) Sesotho sa Leboa Lexicography Unit and the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) have set aside R950 000 for a research project that will investigate and document 15 dialects spoken by various communities in Limpopo Province, in preserving and enriching the Sesotho sa Leboa language
The research project is led by the Sesotho sa Leboa National Lexicography Unit at UL, a subsidiary of PanSALB, and the project will run for the next 12 months.
Director of Lexicography Unit at UL, Motlokwe Mphahlele, stated that their research aims to source archaic and cultural words and domains in order to capture the meaning of those dialectical words in a General Monolingual Dictionary.
“This is a way of preserving both our dialects and the indigenous knowledge system that our dialects are rich in; some of those dialects will be reduced into writing for the first time,” Mphahlele explained.
The research project has already begun and will involve visits to various districts of Limpopo where various dialects of the Sesotho sa Leboa language are spoken by various communities.
Mphahlele noted that among the 15 dialects that will be documented are SeMamabolo, Setlokwa, Sepulana, Khelobedu, SeMoletji, Sekone, Sehananwa, Sekororo, Setebele-Sotho, and SeMatlala.
The unit has recruited thirteen (13) language interns to serve as project foot soldiers. Promise Themane, the project’s intern and researcher, stated that the opportunity will prepare her to be a researcher and language specialist.
“I am delighted to be a part of the incredible team putting together a Sesotho sa Leboa monolingual dictionary. It is an honour and a privilege to be entrusted with the retention and preservation of the Northern Sotho language, particularly its dialects, as is the vision of PanSALB. I believe this work will provide me with experience and exposure in the field of research and lexicography,” Themane concluded.
Reuben Maake