Dagbreek Diski Dance

Dagbreek Diski Dance @ Soccer Terminology Booklet release.

Trilingual soccer terminology gets South Africans speaking the lingo.

Whether it's a handball, header or a hat trick, the language of soccer is characterised by interesting and sometimes confusing terms, usually known only to the players themselves. To spread the lingo of South African football, Stellenbosch University, in collaboration with a number of coaches and researchers, has released a new soccer terminology booklet, just in time for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The booklet is the result of months of research into football culture, formal soccer terms and the current colloquial lingo used by players and their fans. Published in English, isiXhosa and Afrikaans and compiled by the University's Language Centre, it aims to provide a definitive list of all the soccer terminology you might need when watching your favourite team in action.

"We often speak of the remarkable spirit that characterises this country," comments Professor Julian Smith, Vice-Rector: Community Interaction and Personnel, who is also responsible for sport at Stellenbosch University. "We see the booklet as an extension of this -- enabling supporters, players and our international visitors the opportunity to speak a shared language. It also forms part of our joint Stellenbosch 2010 initiative with the local Municipality, which seeks to promote soccer within the Stellenbosch community at large. The soccer terminology booklet promotes multilingualism, one of the University's strategic objectives, and we see it as part of a lasting legacy linked to the Soccer World Cup."

Primarily compiled by avid footballer, Pumlani Sibula, who heads up the Unit for isiXhosa at the Language Centre, the terminology list sought references from a host of different sources, with input from the University's Sports Bureau, the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, coaches and soccer players to name a few. Each entry was also field-tested with local football teams to ensure the correct usage and context for the terms.

"The trilingual booklet is about celebrating South Africa and our achievements as hosts of the most renowned soccer event in the world, while also promoting the University's vision of multilingualism," notes Ruth Baitsewe, acting director of the University's Language Centre. "We wanted to make an academic contribution to the event, but also to retain the playful spirit that has characterised our own Stellenbosch 2010 soccer campaign."

And some of the most notable terms or phrases found in the book? "I particularly liked the Xhosa translation of 'dribbler', which is 'umenzi-mathayithayi'," comments Baitsewe. "It was also rather amusing to find that 'Zakumi', the name of our official mascot, is used across all three languages -- it seems some symbols transcend all attempts at translation."

The Soccer booklet (isiGama seSoka/ Sokker-Terminologie) will now be distributed free of charge to over 40 schools in the greater Stellenbosch area, and to key sporting personalities across the country. For any soccer supporters looking to brush up on their lingo, the booklet is available for purchase at the Stellenbosch University Language Centre, at a cost of R55. For more information please call the Language Centre on 021 808-2155 or visit www.stellenbosch2010.com.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Diski Dance
• Dance
• Diski
• Dagbreek
• Stellenbosch
• University
• Universiteit
• Soccer
• 2010
• Booklet
• Terminology

[kvaughter]

AWESOME! Thanks for teaching us this. it was amazing. watching you guys do it puts us to shame though. :)