Research-informed translation of mental strategy teaching materials into isiXhosa

South African Journal of Childhood Education

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Research-informed translation of mental strategy teaching materials into isiXhosa
 
Creator Booi, Tabisa Vale, Pamela Graven, Mellony H.
 
Subject — mental strategies; translation; isiXhosa; Foundation Phase; transliteration; doubling and halving
Description Background: This article critically examines the nature of isiXhosa translations in mathematics learning materials, specifically focusing on the doubling and halving unit within the ‘South African Grade 3 Mental Starters Assessment Project (MSAP): Teacher Guide’. Teaching in home languages is encouraged in the Foundation Phase, but unfamiliar standardised isiXhosa translations in support materials often contain barriers to understanding and/or distortion in meaning.Aim: The article addresses three questions: (1) To what extent is there fidelity and alignment of the translated isiXhosa materials to the original mathematical meaning? (2) To what extent do the selected terms align with the everyday isiXhosa that learners are accustomed to? (3) What are the implications for future translation of such materials?Setting: Analysis of the isiXhosa translation of a doubling and halving teaching unit and adapted translation for use in a Grade 3 classroom in the Eastern Cape.Methods: This qualitative research uses Toury’s Descriptive Translation Studies theory.Results: The findings highlight several ambiguities and incoherent translations. The article advocates for a comprehensive approach to translation, emphasising the importance of maintaining conceptual fidelity and clarity.Conclusion: The authors suggest the need for transliteration techniques in translations to support teacher and learner access to mathematical sense-making.Contribution: This research provides insights for translators of materials and implications for teachers, proposing an approach to translation. In particular, it argues that the involvement of Foundation Phase teachers in the translation of such materials is crucial.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor South African Numeracy Chair Project, Rhodes University
Date 2024-08-27
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — —
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/sajce.v14i1.1554
 
Source South African Journal of Childhood Education; Vol 14, No 1 (2024); 11 pages 2223-7682 2223-7674
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/1554/3075 https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/1554/3076 https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/1554/3077 https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/1554/3078
 
Coverage — — —
Rights Copyright (c) 2024 Tabisa Booi, Pamela Vale, Mellony H. Graven https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ADVERTISEMENT