Mr Edward Nemutamvuni, member of the Tshivenda National Language Body (TNLB) responsible for convening the language standardisation technical committee, has announced that a new booklet on Tshivenda spelling and orthography rules has been published.
The TNLB is a structure for the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB). According to Nemutamvuni, language is not a static phenomenon and changes from time to time. "There are many factors that influence language and how it changes. Language is not limited to time, place, technology, generations or education, and the Tshivenḓa language is not immune to these changes either. The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), through its National Language Bodies (NLB) - in this case the Tshivenḓa National Language Body - has the responsibility to review the Tshivenda language and spelling each and every five years," he said.
Therefore, Nemutamvuni said, the TNLB had reviewed the old Tshivenda spelling system and made new changes to be used by everyone who used Tshivenḓa for speaking and writing. "The advantage of reviewing spelling and orthography is to ensure that languages accommodate new developments. The TNLB is encouraging Vhavenḓa communities who speak and write Tshivenḓa as their mother language, and others who speak and write Tshivenḓa as their second or additional language, to make use of these new spelling and orthography rules."
He said that, because it would not be possible to distribute the printed booklet to every single person, people were encouraged to visit PanSALB's website at www.pansalb.org to access their electronic copy.
More information about the new Tshivenḓa spelling and orthography rules is obtainable from PanSALB's provincial office on Tel 015 291 5888/5898, or send an email to palp@pansalb.org.