Wamkelekile kwiSebe leeLwimi zesiNtu / Welcome to the section of African Languages & Literatures.

Wamkelekile     Re a o amohela     Karibu

The main languages taught in the African Languages and Literatures Section are isiXhosa, Sesotho, and Swahili.

We believe that the study of African languages is critical to a proper understanding of South Africa’s dynamic and diverse population and we are committed to on-going and rigorous research into all forms of discourse in the field of African languages.

IsiXhosa Health Sciences

The multilingual reality of the Western Cape is evident in workplaces such as hospitals, where health care professionals might use Afrikaans, isiXhosa, and/or English when communicating with their patients or colleagues. To meet doctor-patient language needs, the University of Cape Town made it obligatory for students studying medicine to graduate with proficiency in either Afrikaans or isiXhosa. In pursuit of this requirement, the African Languages and Literatures Section has played a pivotal role in designing isiXhosa courses tailored specifically for medical students over nearly two decades. It is imperative for students to be proficient in the languages of their patients to provide optimal health care services, including conducting effective interviews, demonstrating cultural awareness and sensitivity, making diagnoses, prescribing treatments, and facilitating referrals.

The inclusion of isiXhosa in Health Sciences spans Years 2 through 4 (Semesters 3 to 6), encompassing Rehabilitation Sciences such as Speech and Audiology, Occupational Therapy, and Physiotherapy. Students are trained to communicate with patients whose language and culture differ from their own. This training not only focuses on linguistic skills but also emphasizes an understanding of how cultural backgrounds influence both doctors' and patients' perspectives on health, discussions of illness and disease, and the doctor-patient relationship. By the conclusion of the course, students are equipped to communicate with patients and gather pertinent social and medical history information in isiXhosa, with a particular emphasis on developing oral communicative competence.