LANGUAGE COMMITTEE
		The Western Cape Language Committee is responsible for (amongst others) ensuring the equal status of the three official language of the province, for promoting multilingualism, for developing previously marginalised indigenous languages.
		UPCOMING EVENTS
		Travelling South African Literature Exhibition more events >

• Overview
• Services
• Projects

OVERVIEW

The Language Unit was established to perform any administrative work that might flow from decisions taken by the Western Cape Language Committee. Members of the Unit also assist with various projects across government departments and works with the National Language Service and the Pan South African Language Board.

SERVICES

The primary aim of the Language Unit effectively and efficiently support the Western Cape Language Committee to ensure that the Committee carries out its legal mandate.

With the launch of the Western Cape Language Policy in February 2005 the Language Unit will also be assisting and advising other provincial government departments with the implementation of the provisions of the policy.

PROJECTS

Some of the projects that the Language Unit is engaged in include:

• The implementation of the provincial language policy.
• An annual isiXhosa awareness week aimed at increasing the status of isiXhosa in the province.
• An annual multilingualism awareness week to create awareness of and respect for the different languages and linguistic communities in the Western Cape.
• A campaign to actively develop the previously marginalised indigenous languages and Sign language.
• A travelling literature exhibition aimed at creating awareness of South African writers in the three official languages of the province. This project is done in collaboration with the National Language Service.
• A series of Afrikaans Dialect and Storytelling festivals across the province to highlight the different dialects of the Afrikaans language spoken in the province as well as capturing the oral history of the people of the Western Cape.

Members of the Language Unit also serve on the National Language Forum established by the National Language Service to create a forum where language matters could be discussed at a national level.