Bachelor of Arts Honours in Tshivenda

Purpose

Taking into account the past history where Tshivenda was marginalised and undermined, a qualification of this nature is important to demonstrate a true liberation of the Venda community. The promotion and preservation of Tshivenda.

Rationale

South Africa is a multilingual and multicultural country with eleven languages (of which Tshivenda is one of them) as enshrined in the constitution. It is also spoken in one of the neighbouring countries namely, Zimbabwe. It serves as a repository of peoples' values, cultures, belief systems lifestyles and medium of people's cosmologies and cosmographies. There is no recognised body that must be provided in respect of the need.

On completion of this Degree, learners will be able to fit well in the following professions: Teaching, Journalism, Interpreting, Creative writing and Book Reviewing, Broadcasting, Translating, Editing, Proofreading, Terminology Development, Indexing, etc.

A student for an Honours Degree must have obtained a Bachelors' Degree with Tshivenda as one of the major modules at third year level. An applicant who obtained a Bachelors' Degree at another institution must apply for status recognition subject to the prescribed condition. The qualification helps the learners with communication skills which promote and preserve language. Through language, people convey their sense of belonging.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Admission on the basis of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be considered in line with the faculty requirements. Portfolio of Prior Learning is subjected to assessments by the relevant selection committee.

Entry Requirements

An applicant for an Honours Degree programme must have obtained a Bachelors' Degree with Tshivenda as one of the major subjects/modules at third year level. A student must have an average of 60%. An applicant who obtained a Bachelors' Degree at another institution must apply for status recognition subject to the prescribed conditions. A student shall not register for an Honours Degree unless s/he has passed all the modules, and fulfilled all the requirements, for the awarding of a Bachelors' Degree. For part time students, the difference between the numbers of modules taken in the first or second years of study shall not be more than three modules.

NQF Level 8 modules Electives

• Sociolinguistics, 20 Credits.
• Semantics, 20 Credits.
• Word structure in Tshivenda, 20 Credits.
• Speech sounds in Function in Tshivenda, 20 Credits.
• Sentence structure in Tshivenda, 20 Credits.
• Lexicography and Terminology in Tshivenda, 20 Credits.
• Prose, 20 Credits.
• Drama, 20 Credits.
• Poetry, 20 Credits.
• Research Methodology in Tshivenda, 25 Credits.
• Mini-dissertation, 30 Credits.
• Speech sounds in Tshivenda, 25 Credits.
• Oral tradition (Compulsory), 20 Credits.

Total number of credits= 120.

On completion, the student will be awarded with a certificate.

1. Competent knowledge of Tshivenda as one of the indigenous language in South Africa.
2. A distinction between translation, interpretation and editing skills.
3. Develop scientific enquiry to conduct research and implement research findings.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Being sensitive to Tshivenda culture and assigned meanings and perceptions across a range of social context should be taken into consideration.
• Knowledge of the religious dimensions of the Vhavenda.
• Equipping the students with developmental knowledge and techniques to enable him/her to participate in societal transformation.
• Knowledge of sociological backgrounds and research methodologies.
• Knowledge of the philosophies of Vhavenda.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• The knowledge of translation, interpreting and editing is taken into consideration.
• An unacceptable language usage in social context should never be entertained.
• Editing and proofreading symbols for specific cultural context is engaged.
• A knowledge of cultural from one language to the other is important.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Have knowledge of different methodologies for conducting a research.
• To develop skills for language analysis.
• To study the major contemporary research issues and current theories.
• To acquire knowledge of some of the underlying principles of language change.

Integrated Assessment

• Continuous Assessment is used on essays, projects and tests.
• Summative Assessment during examination.

The papers are internally and externally assessed.