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The purpose of the Pan South African Language Board is to promote
multilingualism in South Africa by:
- Creating the conditions for the development of and the equal use ofall official languages;
- Fostering respect for and encouraging the use of other languages in the country;
- Encouraging the best use of the country's linguistic resources, in order to enable South Africans to free themselves from all forms of linguistic discrimination, domination and division and to enable them to exercise appropriate linguistic choices for their own well being as well as for national
development.
To provide for the recognition, implementation and furtherance of multlilingualism in the Republic of South Africa through the development of previously marginalised languages.
PANSALB sees as its responsibilities to co-operate with civil society organs in the development of:
- Community and service based on interpreting and translation;
- Educational materials and literature in indigenous languages;
- Dictionaries which maximize access to language within families of languages;
- Networks with neighbouring countries on language related matters;
- Capacity training programmes amongst speakers/users of indigenous languages, in language training and development work;
- And programmes which uncover indigenous knowledges of South Africa.
In order to achieve this, the Board has three structures:
- Provincial Language Committees·
- National Language Bodies
- and the National Lexicographic Units.
The role of the Provincial Language Committees in each province is to advise the Board on language related matters affecting any province. On the other hand, National Language Bodies, which are yet to be established, shall advise the Board on any particular language, sign language or augmentative and alternative communication. The role of National Lexicographic Units is to champion the compilation of dictionaries of all official languages as part of promoting the principles of language development.
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