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Microsoft in isiZulu, Afrikaans
23 September 2003
The South African government has entered into a partnership with Microsoft to develop software in isiZulu and Afrikaans.
Microsoft announced the translation of its software into the two languages in Johannesburg on Monday, saying the software was now ready to be released for demonstration.
Andile Ngcaba, the director-general in the department of communications, said the government was attempting to communicate with the public in their own spoken languages.
The development of the software is a result of discussions between the ministry of communications and various national institutions about the translation of Microsoft products into African languages.
Other languages to be developed include seSotho sa Leboa, seTswana, isiXhosa, and Swahili, the most dominant languages in southern, central and eastern Africa.
"Our aim is to equip our society by making the languages available on their computers", Ngcaba said, adding that
developing such programmes would enhance learning and teaching in schools.
Microsoft's chief executive officer for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Jean Philliep Touis, said the company envisaged partnering with African governments to sustain efforts to localise its software.
Touis said these partnerships would help reduce the complexities of developing languages by providing specific tools such as spelling and grammar checks as well as the adoption of a common dialect for the languages.
"During the last decade we have seen the impact that technology has had in building South Africa into a socio-economic leader in Africa," Touis said.
"We believe there are no limits to the potential that South Africa and its citizens can reach if all its people are equipped with the information and communication tools in their language of choice to actively participate in the world economy."
Microsoft will also put engineers at the disposal of South Africa to help
implement the translations.
Source: BuaNews
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