Department of Linguistics and Modern Languages
College of Human Sciences |
School of Arts |
Department: Linguistics and Modern Languages |
Chair
|
Tel: |
012 429 6385
|
E-mail: |
letsone@unisa.ac.za
|
Qualifications
- PhD (Linguistics) (UL, 2019)
- MA (Translation Studies and Linguistics) (UL, 2016)
- BA Hons (Translation Studies and Linguistics) (Cum Laude) (UL, 2013)
- BA (Communication Studies) (UL, 2012)
Fields of academic interests
- Paremiology
- Indigenous languages and masculinity
- Indigenous language development
- Language and politics
- Youth registers
Field of Specialisation
- Phonetics
- Phonology
- Syntax
Books
- Letsoalo, N. 2022. What if it’s Culture? A Closer Look at the Gender Situation in Sepedi ‘Manyalo’ Songs. In: Baloyi, M.E., Molobi, V.M.S and Naicker, L. Religion, Marriage, Sexualities, Culture and Family Dynamics. Pietermaritzburg: Cluster Publications, pp 171-220.
Journal articles
- Letsoalo N & Rammala J R. 2020. Derivation of interrogative words from ‘wh-stems’ in Sepedi. South African Journal of African Languages, 40(2): 164-170, DOI: 10.1080/02572117.2020.1804216
- Letsoalo, N., Mabaso, D and Gouws, P. 2022. Access to information through translation: a case of multilingual OER robotics project at a South African university. South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science, 88(1): https://sajlis.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/2150/1623 doi:10.7553/88-1-2150.
- Letsoalo, N.E. 2018. Toward the development of political terminology for South Africa’s African languages. Paper presentation at the 7th Annual International Conference on Language, Literature & Linguistics, Singapore, 25 - 26 June 2018. (Print ISSN: 2251-3566, E-Periodical ISSN: 2251-3574)
- Ngoepe, M., Shaku, K and Letsoalo, N. 2022. Development of an indigenous language through crowd-sourcing on social media. Bulletin of the National Library of South Africa, 76(1): 63 – 78.
Paper presentations
- Letsoalo, N. 2023. Automated self-guided orientation through WhatsApp bots: A case of CODeL context. Paper presentation at the 11th Teacher Education & Interdisciplinary Research Conference, Swakopmund Hotel and Entertainment Centre, Namibia, 10-14 April 2023.
- Letsoalo, N & Kgasago, TJ. 2022. The quality of translation during COVID-19 crisis in Limpopo Department of Health: Crisis Communication in Sepedi. Paper presentation at the 2nd NIHSS Humanities and Social Sciences Alumni Conference, Online, 2-3 November 2022.
- Letsoalo, N. 2022. Modernizing Indigenous Knowledge: emoji-based proverbial writing system. Paper presentation at the 2022 Spring Lectures, University of Limpopo, 5-6 September 2022.
- Letsoalo, N. 2021. Masculinity in language: A psycholinguistic approach to the interpretation of figurative expressions in Sepedi among young men. Paper presentation at the 2nd NIHSS Humanities and Social Sciences Alumni Conference, Online, 3-4 November 2021.
- Letsoalo, N. 2021. Towards the development of multilingual OERs at Unisa: A case of Department of Linguistics and Modern Languages. Paper presentation at the CHS Unisa Curriculum Transformation Webinar on “Accelerating Transformation to Consolidate the African Intellectual Programme”, Online, 13-14 September 2021.
- Gouws, P and Letsoalo, N. 2021. Learning to Speak Robotics Indigenously. Paper presentation at the CHS Unisa Curriculum Transformation Webinar on “Accelerating Transformation to Consolidate the African Intellectual Programme”, Online, 13-14 September 2021.
- Letsoalo, N. 2020. What if it’s culture? A closer look at the gender situation in Sepedi ‘manyalo’ songs. Paper presentation at the NIHSS Inaugural Humanities and Social Sciences Alumni Conference, Online, 4-5 November 2020.
- Letsoalo, N.E. 2019. From social contact to social distance: results on gender attitudes from Sepedi dictionaries. Paper presentation at the SADiLaR language seminar, University of Limpopo, 31 July 2019.
- Letsoalo, N.E. 2019. Young men in denial: Exploring the meaning and interpretations of the saying ‘go pompa lebili leo le sa tlalego’. Paper presentation at the 21st BIENNIAL ALASA International Conference, University of the Free State, 8 -10 of July 2019.
- Letsoalo, N.E and Motseki, M.C. 2018. Language usage in the construction of gender and culture in a Pedi context: A criticism of toxic masculinity. Paper presentation at the International Conference on “Complexities, Appeals and Paradoxes of Language”, Birkbeck, University of London, 17 November 2018.
- Letsoalo, N.E. 2018. Decolonising the craft of translation for academic purpose in South Africa. Paper presentation at Thetha sizwe: Intersections, Practices, and Identities - Rethinking Gender in African Languages and Literature (International Conference), University of Pretoria, 5 - 6 April 2018.
- Letsoalo, N.E. 2018. Derivation of interrogative words from wh-stems in Sepedi’. Paper presentation at the NIHSS Annual National Doctoral Conference, Johannesburg, 31 October - 1 November 2018.
- Letsoalo, N.E. 2018. Language in Conflict: politeness in the street version of Sepitori’. Paper presentation at the International Congress of Linguists, Cape Town, 2 - 6 July 2018.
- Letsoalo, N.E. 2018. Toward the development of political terminology for South Africa’s African languages. Paper presentation at the 7th Annual International Conference on Language, Literature & Linguistics, Singapore, 25 - 26 June 2018.
- Letsoalo, NE. 2017. In Other Words - Defrosting Sepedi Idiomatic Expressions for Translation Purpose, presented at the 2017 Faculty of Humanities’ Spring Lectures, 2017, University of Limpopo.
- Letsoalo, NE. 2017. The Youth Version of the Popular Multilingual Register in Pretoria: #LearnSepitori, presented at the 2017 Faculty of Humanities’ Spring Lectures, 2017, University of Limpopo.
- Letsoalo, NE. 2016. Some aspects of verbal morphophonemics in Northern Sotho, presented at the Conference for Language Associations of Southern Africa, 2017, Rhode University.
- Letsoalo, NE. 2016. Toward the development of political terminology for South Africa’s African languages, presented at the Conference for Language Associations of Southern Africa, 2017, Rhode University.
Professional positions, fellowships & awards
- Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans (Mail & Guardian, 2022)
- Multilingualism Award (Pan South African Language Board, 2022)
- Best Digital Humanities Collection: Community Engagement (National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences, 2022)
- Best Paper Award (National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences, 2020)
- Excellence Award in Tuition: Student Assessment (University of South Africa, 2019)
- L3 Conference Best Student Paper Award (Global Science and Technology Forum, Singapore, 2018)
- LSSA Annual Young Linguist Award (Conference for Language Associations of Southern Africa, 2017)
Projects
- Masculinity in language: A psycholinguistic approach to the interpretation of figurative expressions in Sepedi among young men
- Learning to Speak Robotics Indigenously
- Multilingual and multicultural approach to language learning and communication
- Skills Training for corpus building and presentation
- WhatsApp Chatbot for Education Purpose
- Soshanguve+ Paremiology
- A Comprehensive Sepedi Online Dictionary
Other
- Ngoepe, M & Letsoalo, N 2023, ‘Unisa plays its part by supporting linguistic diversity: Awards encourage the love for writing children’s literature in indigenous languages’, Sowetan Live, 31 May, https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/opinion/columnists/2023-05-31-mpho-ngoepe-and-napjadi-letsoalo-unisa-plays-its-part-by-supporting-linguistic-diversity/
- Ngoepe, M & Letsoalo, N 2023, ‘Transforming education through multilingualism: Universities should offer bilingual or multilingual education programmes’, Sowetan Live, 21 February, https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/opinion/columnists/2023-02-21-mpho-ngoepe-and-napjadi-letsoalo-transforming-education-through-multilingualism/
- Ngoepe, M & Letsoalo, N 2022, ‘Multilingual spelling bee promotes mother tongues’, Sowetan Live, 07 October, https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/opinion/columnists/2022-10-07-mpho-ngoepe-and-napjadi-letsoalo-multilingual-spelling-bee-promotes-mother-tongues/
- Letsoalo, N 2021, ‘Abuse on a woman is an abuse on society’, Limpopo Tribune, 01 – 07 February, p. 3.
- Letsoalo, N 2021, ‘Marriage is (not) an achievement’, Limpopo Tribune, 10 – 14 February, p. 3.
- Letsoalo, N 2021, ‘Big boys don’t cry and die from within’, Limpopo Tribune, 18 – 24 February, p. 3.
- Letsoalo, N 2021, ‘Black person’s success should not threaten other Black people’, Limpopo Tribune, 01 – 07 March, p. 3.