{"id":76637,"date":"2025-04-03T15:19:17","date_gmt":"2025-04-03T13:19:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spu.ac.za\/?p=76637"},"modified":"2025-04-03T16:44:25","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T14:44:25","slug":"bridgette-brandt-joins-language-commission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spu.ac.za\/index.php\/bridgette-brandt-joins-language-commission\/","title":{"rendered":"Bridgette Brandt joins language commission"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Demonstrating the values at the heart of SPU\u2019s<\/span><\/a> academic mission, alumna and current master\u2019s student Ms Bridgette Bernice Brandt has achieved a remarkable milestone in the linguistics sector. She has been appointed to serve on the esteemed Language Commission Board of the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns (SAAWK)<\/span><\/a> for a three-year term. The Language Commission is responsible for updating, maintaining, and finalising the Afrikaans Wordlist and Spelling Rules, contributing to the continued development of the standard variety of Afrikaans through careful curation of the language.<\/p>

From a young age, Ms Brandt had an insatiable curiosity for words and language, \u201cI remember asking my mother to borrow books from the library because of my love for reading, and I became especially intrigued by words I didn\u2019t understand\u201d she highlights. This love and curiosity progressed throughout her schooling years where the passion was further fuelled by her high school Afrikaans teacher who always encouraged her to participate in debate and spelling competitions to expand her vocabulary, reminding her of the potential she has in linguistics.<\/p>

In 2019, Ms Brandt enrolled to study for a Bachelor of Arts degree at SPU, dedicated to learning more about linguistics. As she progressed with her studies, her fascination in the Afrikaans language grew and she excelled in the Afrikaans module, earning recognition as a top student in Afrikaans, in her third year. After completing her undergraduate studies, she was accepted into the Bachelor of Arts Honours in Languages (Afrikaans) programme. Her research project \u201cOccurrences of misunderstandings in Namaqualand Afrikaans\u201d delved deeper into understanding the language, with a specific focus on analysing Anzil Kulzin\u2019s Namaqualand Stories (2015), through a pragmatic lens. \u201cI passed my research project with an 81% distinction in 2023, which I consider a significant milestone in my academic career,\u201d highlighted Ms Brandt.<\/p>

Her appointment to the Language Commission Board for a three-year term, from February 2025 to December 2027, marks a significant milestone in her academic and personal journey, a role that enables her to contribute meaningfully to a cause close to her heart. This achievement resonates deeply with SPU\u2019s mission to graduate competent citizens who engage critically with society to foster development. In her work on the Language Commission, Ms Brandt will embody SPU\u2019s commitment to community engagement and social justice and strives to uphold SPU\u2019s values of diversity and inclusivity, ensuring that all dialects of Afrikaans are represented and celebrated.<\/p>

Ms Brandt expresses her heartfelt gratitude to her supervisors, Dr Marga Stander, Prof Victor Teise, Dr Fredericks Botha and Dr Felix Awung, for their unwavering support throughout her academic journey. Their expert guidance, encouragement, and mentorship have been instrumental in shaping her growth as a researcher. \u201cI feel incredibly fortunate to have had the privilege of working with such knowledgeable and passionate mentors,\u201d she acknowledges. \u201cTheir impact extends beyond my academic achievements, as they have inspired me to give back to the academic community and promote language diversity, particularly for underrepresented dialects.\u201d<\/p>

Ms Brandt\u2019s passion for linguistics is deeply personal, rooted in her upbringing and connection to the Afrikaans language. \u201cGrowing up, speaking Afrikaans at home and in my community has profoundly shaped my identity,\u201d she shares. \u201cAfrikaans is not just a language I speak, it\u2019s central to who I am. It\u2019s the language I dream, think, and speak in.\u201d This personal connection motivated her to apply for a position on the Language Commission, driven by a desire to preserve and promote her beloved language. By doing so, she aims to ensure that Afrikaans, particularly its underrepresented dialects, receives the recognition and respect it deserves.<\/p>

SPU proudly celebrates her success, and we look forward to witnessing the impact she will make in the Language Commission board.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Demonstrating the values at the heart of SPU\u2019s academic mission, alumna and current master\u2019s student Ms Bridgette Bernice Brandt has achieved a remarkable milestone in the linguistics sector. She has been appointed to serve on the esteemed Language Commission Board Read More …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":76643,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[184,4,66],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"coauthors":[189],"class_list":["post-76637","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni-news","category-news","category-postgraduate-news"],"yoast_head":"\nBridgette Brandt joins language commission - Sol Plaatje University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Demonstrating the values at the heart of SPU\u2019s academic mission, alumna and current master\u2019s student Ms Bridgette Bernice Brandt\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.spu.ac.za\/index.php\/bridgette-brandt-joins-language-commission\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Bridgette Brandt joins language commission - 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