Research

I have initiated and led several exciting projects that have culminated in various publications (see publications), and in the development of isiZulu Human Language Technologies (HLTs). The major thrust of the language program is the building of an isiZulu National Corpus (INC), the creation of discipline-specific terminology in isiZulu, and the development of a contemporary body of literature in isiZulu. Other language activities include the provision of training workshops, translation and (simultaneous) interpreting services, Sign Language advocacy, the Sesotho Bua Le Nna (Let’s Talk) Program, language research, and the development of computational tools.

A corpus is a meticulous collection of linguistic data, which can be either written texts or transcribed recorded speech that is then processed and stored in a computer. The corpus is used for various research (initiatives), as a basis for developing HLTs and for posterity. ULPDO is developing an isiZulu National Corpus as an important national resource. The Office is also involved in the creation of terminology for all scientific disciplines. To date, we have completed terminology development processes in the following disciplines: Administration, Architecture, Anatomy, Criminology, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Law, Nursing Science, Physics, Psychology, Research, etc. The collection of language data and the creation of vast amounts of terminology in various disciplines has led to the development of human language technologies to improve access to these resources.

Interests

  • Bantu Morphosyntax
  • Corpus Linguistics
  • Computational Linguistics
  • Lexicography
  • Language Planning

Invited Guest Speaker

Invited Keynote Speaker: Developing (South) African languages for the digital future. BAAL Language in Africa SiG Annual Conference. Link, 05 October 2023.

Invited Keynote Speaker: Language Resources for the development of (African) Languages in South Africa. Southern African Linguistics and Applied Linguistics Society (SALALS). Mthatha, Eastern Cape. 3 – 6 July 2023.

Invited Keynote Speaker: Challenging the English hegemony: Enhancing multilingualism in Digital Humanities. South African Association for Language Teaching (SAALT). Pretoria, Gauteng. 19 – 22 June 2023.

Invited Keynote Speaker: Developing computational resources for the re-intellectualization of African languages. Batho Abantu African Languages Association (BAALA). Vanderbijlpark, North-West. 28 – 30 March 2023.

Invited Speaker: Leadership lessons from the Oxford Saïd Business School Strategic Leadership Programme. Strategic Planning Meeting, North-West University Faculty of Humanities. Magaliesburg, North-West Province. 25 January 2023.

Invited Expert and Panelist: Multilingualism in higher education: prospects and challenges. North-West University Law Awareness Week Colloquium. Mafikeng, North-West Province. 8 November 2022.

Invited Expert and Panelist: International infrastructures for the Digital Humanities. Building Digital Humanities Conference. Virtual. 7 November 2022.

Invited Expert and Panelist: Digital Humanities in Precarious Times. First International Conference on Digital Humanities in Precarious Times, North-West University & Digital Humanities Association of Southern Africa. Vanderbijlpark, North-West Province 4 November 2022.

Invited Keynote Speaker: African Languages in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution: A decolonization perspective. 6th John Langalibalele Dube Memorial Lecture. 15 September 2022.

Invited Keynote Speaker: Developing computational resources for the intellectualization of African languages. 18th ALASA International Conference. 25-27 September 2021.

Invited Speaker: Locating SADiLaR as a strategic centre for developing computational resources for African languages in the Context of 4IR. A colloquium for the National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences (NITheCS). 20 September 2021.

Invited Speaker: Using corpora in online isiZulu language teaching. Southern African Linguistics Network (SALN) Webinar, University of the Free State. 17 September 2021.

Invited Expert and Panelist: The role of African languages in fostering unity, social cohesion and economic transformation in Africa. The Pan African Cultural Experience with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (RSA). Roundtable Series. Virtual Zoom. 18 June 2020.

Invited Speaker: Language, Science and the Transformation of South African University Research and Teaching Spaces. Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study. 17 – 19 February 2020.

Invited Expert and Keynote Speaker: Developing corpora for African languages. African Academy of Languages (ACALAN) Coordination Meeting for the Kiswahili Corpus Project. Dar es Salam, Tanzania. 12 – 14 November 2019.

Invited Speaker: Corpus development and computational tools for the development of African languages. African Languages and ICTs. African Union-African Academy of Languages (AU-ACALAN). Bamako, Mali. 2-3 October 2019.

Invited Keynote Speaker: A Symposium on Language Practices in Higher Education. HSRC. Stellenbosch, South Africa. 15 – 17 September 2019.

Invited Speaker: Terminology development for the intellectualization of African Language. African Union-African Academy of Languages (AU-ACALAN) Regional Meeting, Bamako, Mali. 23-24 July 2019.

Invited Keynote speaker: Language intellectualization in the context of internationalization. University of Denver, Colorado, USA, Internationalization Summit. 10 – 12 April 2019.

Invited Speaker, Chair and Anchor: Language of Teaching and Communication in Higher Education. USAf’s Transformation Managers’ Forum Colloquium on Social Cohesion and Transformation in South Africa’s Higher Education Institutions: Collective Reflections. 2-3 September 2018.

Invited Keynote Speaker: A colloquium on Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Higher Education Transformation: Creating space for local solutions in the global knowledge economy. CIKS, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 25 May 2018.

Invited Keynote Speaker: African Languages Development in Higher Education Symposium, Vaal University of Technology, 19-20 April 2018.

Invited Keynote Speaker: Colloquium on Mother Tongue Language in a Culturally-Sensitive Science and Technology Curriculum, NRF Centre in IKS, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 30-31 March 2017.

Invited Plenary Speaker: First International Conference of the Institute of Lifelong Learning and Development Studies, Chinhoyi University of Technology, CUT Hotel, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe. 02 – 05 August 2016.

Invited Keynote Speaker: Fundani Centre for Higher Education Development, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, SARETEC Auditorium, Cape Town. 14 June 2016.

Invited Plenary Speaker: The Great Language Debate. University of South Africa. 1 March 2016.

Invited Keynote Speaker: A Seminar on Multilingualism in Higher Education. North West University, Potchefstroom. 20 January 2016.

Invited Keynote Speaker: A Conference on Multilingualism at NMMU. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. 12 November 2015.

Invited Plenary Keynote Speaker: National Conference on Multilingualism in Higher Education. University of South Africa. 20-21 August 2015.

Invited Plenary Speaker: 8th Annual Teaching and Learning Conference. University of KwaZulu-Natal. 25-27 September 2014.

Research Projects

  • IsiZulu Spellchecker

    The spellchecker is a useful resource in language editing

    The spellchecker is a useful resource in language editing. Using the isiZulu national corpus as a basis for training the spellchecker, this tool will complement the university effort in teaching the isiZulu modules and assist book and newspaper editors in editing their texts written in isiZulu. The spellchecker boasts a 90 % recognition rate, and is also an open resource downloadable from the ULPDO website

    Click to Download

  • IsiZulu Term Bank

    The isiZulu Term Bank was developed in order to provide access to isiZulu terminology for a variety of disciplines such as anatomy, architecture, etc.

    The isiZulu Term Bank is a resource that was developed in order to provide access to isiZulu terminology which has been developed for a variety of disciplines such as anatomy, architecture, accounting, biodiversity, criminology, economics, law, nursing, physics etc. The resource is a work-in-progress with other disciplines set to be added. The isiZulu term bank is available as an open source resource on UKZNTermbank.

  • Zulu Lexicon: A Mobile-Compatible Application (Android and iPhone)

    This is a mobile application of the isiZulu Term Bank

    This is a mobile application of the isiZulu Term Bank. It is available free, and its development is to enhance end-user access to various multidisciplinary terminology. ULPDO has introduced the notion of ANYTIME ACCESS so that students and other general users can access the terms anytime they need to. ULPDO has thus exploited technology to develop improved end-user access through the development of this mobile-compatible application. This application is called the Zulu Lexicon App, which is short for isiZulu Lexicon. It affords students and other users anytime access to all the authenticated (multidisciplinary) terminology, with search functions in both English and isiZulu.

    Click to Download

  • IsiZulu National Corpus

    One of the biggest African language corpora in the world, with just over 20 Million running words that are reflective of the isiZulu creative genius

    One of the biggest African language corpora in the world, with just over 20 Million running words that are reflective of the isiZulu creative genius. With this resource, anyone around the world will have access to study isiZulu as a language in all its complexities.

    Click to begin