End of study Project: Translation | By
Page 33 of 39 8 - Article review (Training Translators in Post-Apartheid Democratic SouthAfrica)Training Translators in Post-Apartheid Democratic South Africa is an academic article written by
ANNE MARIE BEUKES, A professor in rand African University South Africa. In this article, she
argues that translators can play a role in a future democratic South Africa according to her, “the
Language professions have a vital role to play in delegitimating linguistic inequality in a future
democratic South Africa". The Article tackles language policy. In the case of South Africa is a
multilingual country (twelve languages) but only two languages are official English and Afrikaans.
The effect of the policy of adapting only two languages have been problematic issue in South
African society. Historically speaking this language policy is a leftover of the colonial period.
Translators in South Africa are facing a dilemma of the working language since English is the
language of state affairs but now translators are giving more interest to their varieties in order to
contribute in POST APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA. According to ANNE MARIE BEUKES
Translation and interpretation mirror how society communicates, taking this as a point of start
translators should reflect how South African society released itself from Apartheid. Moreover,
translators should change their negative attitude and vision about their mother tongue into a vivid,
passional one. The article also discusses two major variables that impact translation profession in
South Africa. First, Political Variables such as a new constitution that will guarantee a linguistic
justice in other words all spoken languages in South Africa will be recognized “the state shall
promote respect all the language spoken in South Africa" ( NDEBLE 1991 ). Second, social
variables, the main variable is "tribalism". This term involves ethnicity. People who speak
indigenous languages suffer from discrimination since they are always linked
to very low jobs, which leads to the Apartheid. All in all, the article emphasizes on the role of
translators in a Post-Apartheid South Africa by adapting themselves to the social and political
changes. A new training for translators is strongly needed so they can respond to the needs of the
language industry in South Africa.