Die probleem van rekenaarterminologie in 'n land met verskeie amptelike tale

Abstract

The writer has written several manuals in Afrikaans for the use of computer programmes and has encountered many problems in deciding on suitable translations for specific terminology. In South Africa there are eleven official languages. The writer's plea is that terminology must be in English whenever the English word sounds different from the equivalent mother tongue word Terminology should also be in English when the mother tongue word is such that it is difficult to figure out the English equivalent. The English words could be marked (in italics or underlined) to show that they are to be pronounced in English. Although the writer is no language expert, his article presents a possible solution to a very real and complex language problem.