The challenges of translation in multilingual South Africa with specific reference to selected public space signage in the Western Cape province

Abstract

This article seeks to raise awareness of the impact – positive and negative – of practices that are perceived to be contributing towards the realisation of multilingualism in South Africa. The 1996 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa calls for the promotion of multilingualism and the provision of translation facilities. What lies at the centre of multilingualism and diversity, first and foremost, is access to information through the promotion of the previously marginalised indigenous languages of South Africa, for their equal use and enjoyment by the speakers. This could be achieved, among other things, through translating all government documents and signage into all languages of the country and provinces as per the prescripts of language policies of each province. The primary question then is how beneficial are the provided translations to the target recipients? In the case of flawed translations, do they convey respect or disrespect towards the affected linguistic communities? On the strength of these questions, the forthcoming arguments will be based on sociolinguistic conceptions and translation insights. For that reason, translated government signage collected from various physical sites in the province of the Western Cape, and the City of Cape Town in particular, will be analysed.