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New Official Language Policy – Final Compliance Date

The ‘Use of Official Languages Act’ has been awaited with both excitement and trepidation by many sectors of both South Africa’s private and government business landscape. Minister of Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, has extended the final compliance date for new official language policy to 2 May 2015. This extension has been based on three conditions,

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Exploring the “Use of Official Languages Act” in South Africa

The Use of the Official Languages Act was drafted to ensure the usage of the marginalised indigenous African languages. Through the use of the governments statutory language planning agency, The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB). PanSALBs mandate, as provided for in section 6(5) of the Constitution, is to “promote, and create conditions for, the

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Reading Book with letters

The Use of Official Languages Act – changing the face of South African business.

Government departments across South Africa have recently found out about new legislation that will change the face of South business. The Use of Official Languages Act specifies that: Every government department/entity across South Africa must identify at least three official languages. Every department has to describe how these languages will be used to communicate with

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The Importance of Translation in an African Business Environment

The African continent is full of diversity, with approximately 2000 – 3000 languages and an estimated 8000 dialects spoken across the 55 (internationally recognized) countries.  Most Africans can be considered to be multilingual (having the ability to speak several languages) or at least bilingual (being able to speak two languages fluently). So when it comes

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Jargon or Genuine – The Use of South African Languages in Election Campaigns

It is estimated that more than 25 million South Africans are registered to vote in the 2014 elections. The parties involved are pulling out all the stops to reach as many diverse voters as possible. There have been rallies, debates, interviews, campaign posters and television adverts, with much difficulty for some parties (http://mg.co.za/article/2014-04-28-da-launches-new-election-ad-eff-marches-over-sabc-ban), all with

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How working through an agency benefits freelance language practitioners

If you are a freelancer in the language field (writer, plain-language writer, editor, translator or proofreader) or in the branding field (copywriter, graphic designer or web designer), you need to explore the benefits of working through a language and branding agency. 1. Marketing Unlike most freelancers, agencies can afford to market their language and branding

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The Marketing Conundrum

Marketing: The mix of paid-for platforms and publicity, combined with free, earned interest that sells your product or service. Ask many a business owner and they will talk about their need to market more, market better and find new customers. This is particularly true of businesses with declining profits or market share. This brings us

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