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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System --------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 21 May 2007 Title: Govt info online from Afrikaans to isiZulu --------------------------------------------------------------- By Lavinia Mahlangu Pretoria - Information on government services is now available in all 11 official languages, from Afrikaans to isiZulu on www.services.gov.za. The new website has information on government services for citizens, foreigners, individuals and organizations on issues ranging from registering births and companies, to finding a place to live and making travel arrangements. So far, the most popular queries accessed are transport related and include how one goes about registering for learners' and drivers' licences and registering motor vehicles. Boasting a clean design and hundreds of pages of information, the site allows users to select the language of their choice from a drop-down menu on the left hand side of the main page, just under the national coat of arms. South Africa's Constitution recognises 11 official languages, namely Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho sa Leboa, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga. Recognising the historically diminished use and status of the indigenous languages, the Constitution expects government to implement positive measures to elevate the status and advance the use of these languages. According to the national Census of 2001, isiZulu is the mother tongue of 23.8 percent of the population, followed by isiXhosa at 17.6 percent. Afrikaans first language speakers make up 13.3 percent of the population, while Sesotho sa Leboa is spoken by 9.4 percent, and English and Setswana each represent 8.2 percent of the population. The least-spoken official language in South Africa is isiNdebele, which is spoken by 1.6 percent of the population. Although English is the mother tongue of only 8.2 percent of the population, it is the language most widely understood, and the second language of the majority of South Africans. However, government is committed to promoting all the official languages, through various organs, some of which are overseen by the Department of Arts and Culture. The National Language Service (NLS) provides a range of language services for official documentation, develops and promotes national language policy, and advises on standardising and disseminating information on a range of terminology. The NLS functions as government's professional language support system, by translating official documents in all the official languages. Its terminology service assists with the development and modernisation of the technical vocabularies of the official languages. The language-planning functions include advising government on the development of language policy and implementation strategies. Another organ is the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) which promotes the recognition, implementation and promotion of multilingualism in South Africa, and the development of previously marginalised languages. PanSALB's vision is to achieve equal status and use of all official languages and extends this vision to Khoi, Nama, San and South African Sign Language. - BuaNews **************************** Disclaimer ****************************** Copyright: In accordance with Title 17, United States Code Section 107, this material is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material posted to this list for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Content: The sender does not vouch for the veracity nor the accuracy of the contents of this message, which are the sole responsibility of the copyright owner. Also, the sender does not necessarily agree or disagree with any opinions that are expressed in this message. ********************************************************************** Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AfricanLanguages/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AfricanLanguages/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/