CoPAL contemplates driving a joint language conference with other associations
The Community of Practice for the Teaching and Learning of African Languages (CoPAL) of Universities South Africa (USAf) is exploring the possibility of convening an all-encompassing language indaba for all South Africa’s leading language associations and stakeholders. The aim is to host that indaba in 2026.
This suggestion was made during CoPAL’s first sitting, online, on 20 March, where leading language associations updated CoPAL members on their work and upcoming conferences
Dr. Tebogo J. Rakgogo (right), Head of the Department of Applied Languages at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and Deputy Chairperson of the African Language Association of Southern Africa (ALASA), made and motivated this suggestion.
“In South Africa, we have nine to 10 academic language associations with similar goals,” he said. “Often, when those associations hold conferences, the themes are similar, and they all target a common audience. We must emulate international organisations and convene one all-inclusive conference for all these academic associations.”
Furthermore, Dr Rakgogo said convening one academic conference could revive and revitalise many existing associations, contributing to their long-term sustainability.
Professor Nobuhle Hlongwa (left), the CoPAL Chairperson, applauded this submission but also suggested that this matter be tabled to the ministers of Basic Education and Higher Education and Training, whose portfolios would be impacted by this decision. “We would have to investigate the logistics involved and explore a cycle of three to five years for the all-encompassing conference, thus allowing individual associations to continue with their annual conferences,” she said.
Professor Langa Khumalo, Executive Director of the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR) at North-West University (NWU), and President of the African Association for Lexicography (Afrilex), also agreed that the proposal needed to be carefully considered.
“ALASA tested that format through Cluster 2017, a joint conference with other language associations, hosted by Rhodes University eight years ago,” said Professor Khumalo. “It was an excellent initiative which should be revived. Perhaps we need to explore the lessons learnt at that event and why the momentum was not sustained, to avoid similar pitfalls in future.”
He suggested that CoPAL plan and drive the 2026 conference while working on a sustainability plan for two subsequent conferences.
Below, we glimpse into three language associations and what they’re currently up to.
African Association for Lexicography (Afrilex)
Afrilex aims to promote and coordinate research, study and the teaching of lexicography through publishing in journals and other appropriate platforms. It hosts regular conferences and seminars to facilitate an exchange of ideas, Professor Khumalo (right), the Afrilex President, told CoPAL members.
Afrilex cooperates with other international lexicography associations and local bodies interested in language studies and are Globalex affiliates — an organisation seeking to foster collaboration between professionals making dictionaries and other language resources.
Afrilex’s journal, Lexikos, is the only one in Africa exclusively devoted to lexicography.
Professor Khumalo announced that the 29th International Afrilex Conference would be held at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in July. This conference would feature Professor Iztok Kosem from Ljubljana, Slovenia, as an international keynote speaker, and Professor Theo Bothma from the University of Pretoria, as the African keynote speaker.
African Language Association of Southern Africa (ALASA)
ALASA was established in 1979 as a non-discriminatory, non-profit-making association at a conference hosted by the Department of African Languages of the University of South Africa (UNISA). It aims to promote interaction between students, researchers and teachers of African languages and literature and to promote research, language development and effective verbal and written communication in a multilingual society.
Dr Rakgogo announced that the 26th International ALASA Conference would be co-hosted by the University of Limpopo in Polokwane, in July, under the theme African Languages Beyond Expansion and Preservation In The Digital Age.
Dr Rakgogo said they had already received more than 220 abstracts and looked forward to an interesting and informative conference.
The Batho Abantu African Languages Association (BAALA)
BAALA, an initiative of the Language Directorate & Faculty of Humanities at NWU’s School of Languages, was formed to promote, develop and preserve South Africa’s African languages. It is a platform for academics, researchers and practitioners to collaborate and address challenges facing African languages in modern contexts.
Dr Keaobaka Seshoka (left), Director: Language Directorate at NWU said the second BAALA Conference had already taken place in March at Sun City. She said that conference had provided a platform for researchers, educators and language practitioners to explore innovative strategies for integrating African languages into modern academic and societal contexts. The conference was themed Repositioning and Revitalisation of Indigenous African Languages in South African Higher Education in the Digital Era.
Southern African Folklore Society (SAFOS)
CoPAL members heard that the annual International Conference of Southern African Folklore Society (SAFOS) would be hosted by Walter Sisulu University’s (WSU) Department of African Languages on the Mthatha campus in September 2025, under the theme Transformation of Folklore: From the Fireplace to the Digital Space.
Dr Madira Thetso (right), lecturer and researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand, and a member of SAFOS, said the transformation of folklore in the digital era was fundamental for its preservation for future generations.
She said students, academics, researchers and language practitioners were invited to share their research findings and recommendations.
Abstracts would be subjected to a peer review and evaluation for originality, technical and research depth, accuracy, and relevance to the conference’s sub-themes. These were:
- Learning and Teaching of Folklore in a Digital Age
- Artificial Intelligence and Folklore in a Digital Era
- Orality and Folklore in a Digital Age
- Transformation and Transmission of Folklore in a Digital Age
- Folklore and Law in a Digital Era
- Intellectual Property and Digitalisation
- Folklore and Economy in the Digital Era
- Folklore and Social Media
- Folklore and New Technologies
- Folklore and Education in the Digital Age
- Folklore and Globality
- Folklore and Commercialisation
She said abstracts and articles may be submitted in any official South African language to safos2025@wsu.ac.za, by 30 June.
Janine Greenleaf Walker is a contract writer for Universities South Africa.
