Universities and Online Degrees Guide

University of the Witwatersrand

Bachelor of Arts in African Languages

The Bachelor of Arts in African Languages in Language and Culture Studies is offered by University of the Witwatersrand.

Program Length: 3 YEARS.

Bachelor of Arts in African Languages offered by the University of the Witwatersrand

A major in African Languages equips students with the conceptual and theoretical foundations of the discipline.

African languages are increasingly making their mark in the post-apartheid corporate and public spheres, with different companies and government departments introducing language policy adjustments that are in tandem with the National Language Policy Framework. Expertise in African languages in these different spheres are therefore becoming a requirement as can be seen in media (both broadcast and print), in education, law, and the financial sector.

There are two major streams to the teaching and learning of African Languages courses; mother tongue and non-mother tongue instruction.

Mother tongue instruction exposes students to the study or linguistics, sociolinguistics, African-language literature, African popular culture, film and television productions in African languages. 

Non-mother tongue instruction concerns itself with the teaching of the language and culture. Students will familiarise themselves with speaking, reading, writing and hearing either IsiZulu or Sesotho at the elementary level.