Our Service

The Free State Language Service provides the following services to the Free State Provincial Government – translations, editing and language advice in Sesotho, Afrikaans and English.

The unit is the first of the language units in the country that has been using translation memory and terminology management software for quite some time.The unit also manages an electronic trilingual terminology database (English, Afrikaans, Sesotho). At present the database, except for AIDS terms which are in the 3 languages, consists only of English and Afrikaans terms. Sesotho terms first have to be standardised through consultation with relevant stakeholders before they can be incorporated into the database and the language unit at present lacks the capacity to perform this function. Therefore all enquiries about Sesotho terms are handled telephonically by the Sesotho language practitioners.

There is a constant demand for translations, editing and language advice from officials of all 11 Free State Provincial  Government departments. The translations done vary from ordinary to highly technical and legal documents, including Acts. The Sesotho practitioners are also involved in terminology projects of the Sesotho Lexicographic Unit and the National Language Service. The unit has developed a draft FSPG Language Policy. This draft will be used to produce a policy framework for the FSPG in collaboration with relevant stakeholders in 2005.

When the funds, resources and legal framework are in place, the unit will facilitate the implementation of a multilingual dispensation in the Free State Provincial Government and will get additional functions.

The unit has a database of freelance translators for Sesotho, Afrikaans, English, IsiXhosa, Setswana and IsiZulu. Due to lack of capacity, as an interim measure, the unit will only translate certain specified documents for other departments. (See circular below).  The rest will have to be outsourced by departments until a properly staffed central service has been established. (Click on Outsourcing to access database)

Policies, priorities and strategic objectives

The policies and legislation that preside over this unit at a national level include the Constitution, Act 108 of 1996, Chapter 1, section 6 and Chapter 2, sections 9(3), 29(2) and 30, the Pan South African Language Board Act No 59 of 1995,  the National Language Policy Framework and Implementation Plan adopted by Parliament in February 2003, the latest guidelines for implementation by the National Language Service and the Batho Pele principle

At a provincial level, the unit will be administered by the Free State Provincial Government Language Policy when adopted.

FREE STATE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

FREE STATE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

____________________________

DEPARTMENT OF SPORT, ARTS, CULTURE, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

CR Swart Building, 55 Elizabeth Street, Private Bag X20606, BLOEMFONTEIN, 9300

Enquiries: Mrs R Sempe                                                Fax: (051) 403-3567

E-mail: hod@sac.fs.gov.za                                          Tel: (051) 405-4680

TO: THE HEADS OF ALL FREE STATE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS

 

USE OF THE TRANSLATION AND EDITING SERVICES RENDERED BY THE LANGUAGE SERVICE UNIT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SPORT, ARTS, CULTURE, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The Language Service Unit has been doing translations and editing in Sesotho, Afrikaans and English for clients of all FSPG departments.

However, due to an increasing demand and lack of capacity, the following interim measure for use of the service will apply until the unit is able to appoint more translators, i.e.:

  1. In future the unit will translate and edit only the following documents in Sesotho, Afrikaans and English for FSPG clients:

  • Letters written by the public to the FSPG

  • Response letters written by the departments to the public

  • Short information pamphlets to the public

  • Public speeches by MECs and HODs

  • Free State Bills

  1. When the unit’s translators have to work overtime to finish translations due to urgent and short-notice due dates, or the simultaneous arrival of large volumes of work, any overtime paid will be recovered from the client departments.

 

  1. Due dates for bulky documents (identified under point 1) must be realistic and negotiated with the translators. If the unit cannot accommodate them, clients will be requested to outsource.

 

  1. For any translations and editing other than the documents mentioned under point 1, the departments will have to outsource. The cost for translation into African languages such as Sesotho ranges from R50 to R100 per 100 words. The cost for Afrikaans and English translations ranges from R25 to R50 per 100 words. Departments will have to negotiate prices with the service providers.

 

  1. A list of freelance translators in Sesotho, Afrikaans, English, IsiXhosa, Setswana and IsiZulu is enclosed. Translations can be outsourced by departments to these (or other) freelancers until a proper central unit for translation has been established.

 

  1. The unit will continue to render a telephonic language advice service to clients from all FSPG departments.

    2.  

    You are kindly requested to bring this circular to the notice of all officials in your department.

    SIGNED BY

     

    MRS R SEMPE

    HEAD: DEPARTMENT OF SPORT, ARTS, CULTURE, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

    Date: 4/10/2004