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21 February 2019 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Rulanzen Martin
Jennifer Östlings and Elin Stengvist,
Jennifer Östlings and Elin Stenqvist, two of our international students from Sweden also celebrated #WorldMotherTongueDay.

Back in 2000, UNESCO declared 21 February as World Mother Tongue Day. It is an effort to raise the importance of multilingualism across the world. Every year, the day is commemorated through various projects and campaigns all over the world.

At the University of the Free State (UFS), we pride ourselves in the diverse languages spoken by our staff and students across the three campuses.  Read below what some of our language academics at the UFS wrote on #WorldMotherTongueDay.

#WorldMotherTongueDay: Keteka puo ya hao ya Mme

UNESCO e ile ya phatlalatsa letsatsi la la 21 Hlakola jwalo ka letsatsi la lefatshe la puo ya Mme morao kwana ka 2000. Ke boikgathatso bo boholo ho hlahisa poaneng bohlokwa ba dipuo tse ngata tse fapaneng ho parola le lefatshe. Selemo se seng le se seng letsatsi lena le ketekwa ka diprojeke tse fapaneng le ka matsholo lefatsheng ho pota.

Mona Yunivesithing ya Freistata (UFS) re motlotlo ka hore re na le dipuo tse fapaneng tse sebediswang ke moifo wa rona le baithuti ho parola le dikhamphase tse tharo.  Bala hore na ke eng e boletsweng ke diakhamemiki tse ding tsa puo mona UFS ho #WorldMotherTongueDay.

#Wêreldmoedertaaldag: Vier jou moedertaal

UNESCO het in 2000 reeds 21 Februarie as Wêreldmoedertaaldag verklaar. Dit is ’n poging om die belangrikheid van veeltaligheid oor die wêreld heen te beklemtoon. Hierdie dag word elke jaar wêreldwyd deur middel van verskeie projekte en veldtogte herdenk.

By die Universiteit van die Vrystaat (UV) is ons trots op die verskillende tale wat ons personeel en studente op die drie kampusse praat.  Lees hieronder wat sommige taalakademici aan die UV oor #Wêreldmoedertaaldag geskryf het.


English is a blend of different lexicons ( Dr Susan Brokensha, Department of English)

Celebrating My Mother Tongue (Menzi Thango, Department of African Languages)

Meertaalighied skep ruimte vir diversiteit(Prof Angeqliue van Niekerk, Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French)


 


News Archive

Video made by a student residence
2008-02-27

Statement by the Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State (UFS), Prof. Frederick Fourie

A video, made by residents of the Reitz men’s residence on the Main Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein, surfaced this morning (Tuesday, 26 February 2008) and was brought to my attention.

The Executive Management (EM) of the UFS condemns this video in the strongest possible terms as a gross violation of the human dignity of the workers involved.

We have immediately started with a most urgent investigation into this matter. The students involved have been identified and we are going to take steps to suspend them.

We are also going to lay criminal charges with the South African Police Service against the students concerned.

I am deeply saddened that students apparently see nothing wrong in producing such an offensive and degrading video. I have publicly said several times that the UFS is not a place for racism.

The UFS does not want such actions and people who indulge in it, on our campus.

The fact that it is openly linked to the integration process in UFS residences is also most disturbing.

I want to apologise to our colleagues who were unwittingly involved in this video and to the broader South African public.

Our staff unions Nehawu and Uvpersu have also condemned this incident.

The university is going through a difficult time with its efforts to racially integrate its residences and to create a new residence culture based on diversity, respect, human dignity and human rights.

These kinds of actions make it all the more important that we succeed with establishing such a new institutional culture on the campus.

I appeal to all staff and students to remain calm and to act in the best interests of the university.

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za  
26 February 2008

 

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