Teaching and researching in the information age, with specific reference to African languages

Abstract

In order to survive and flourish in the information age today a society needs to be able to handle information adequately. Of particular importance is the ability of members of a society to transform information into knowledge that can be utilized in the process of decision making, to the benefit of the whole society. Since universities are the major creators and disseminators of knowledge in the form of scientific research and training in a society, they can play an important role in this regard. In the case of developing countries, this role becomes crucial, since developing countries are to a large extent dependent on knowledge imported from the major developed countries of the world. Similar to other developing countries, there is a need in South Africa for high-quality research to be undertaken so that a body of indigenous knowledge can be generated that addresses local needs. Given the prominent role that African languages have been afforded by the new language policies and the new education system, scholars in African languages have an important role to play in generating research that can be utilized to address current needs. In this manner they can contribute to the development of South Africa into an information society that will survive and flourish in the information age.