Bytes Document Solutions has fulfilled the second instalment of R150 000 to the North West University as part of its R450 000 sponsorship for the Centre for Text Technology (CTexT) on the university`s Potchefstroom campus.
In 2004 the sub-Saharan distributor of Xerox products and solutions and the Altron Charitable Trust committed R150 000 per year for three years to the text technology research and development centre, established in April that year as part of the university`s Faculty of Arts research focus on language and literature in South Africa.
"CTexT aims to foster the human language technology industry in South Africa through language empowerment," says professor Gerhard van Huyssteen, head of the centre. "As a collaboration between various disciplines, organisations and the university, we hope to contribute significantly to the promotion of multilingualism and diversity in the country."
The support provided by Bytes Document Solutions and the Altron Charitable Trust is earmarked for the strategic positioning of the centre, the maintenance of appropriate infrastructure and the payment of various operating expenses.
A capacity building and community awareness campaign focused on gathering support from tertiary institutions, secondary schools, businesses and the community is a secondary destination for the sponsored money.
"Language is bound up with the culture it serves and when it is linked to race, cultural groups or social classes, it becomes a vitally important issue," says Yolisa Tashe, employment equity programme manager at Bytes Document Solutions.
"The South African language environment is a kaleidoscope of 11 official languages and several unofficial ones. Therefore language and any technology that can play a part in making it accessible to everyone is a necessity. Human language technology is a fast growing field, but it is relatively new in South Africa. We were prompted to support the creation of CTexT to strengthen the country`s activities in this area. The applications that CTexT develops will enable every South African to learn to communicate in any language they choose."
Products already developed at CTexT include two language acquisition software packages, namely Ngenani! isiZulu and Tsenang! Setswana. These multimedia applications enable learners to acquire the basics of a new language in 45 hours in the comfort of their home or office.
The Afrikaanse Speltoetsers and Woordafbrekers were also developed at the centre, which is deeply involved in Microsoft`s local language programme. The software giant facilitates the development of localised software and proofing tools for minority languages. Apart from localisation work for Afrikaans and Setswana, spellcheckers are also being developed for isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho sa Leboa and Setswana.
"The centre is always on the lookout for sustainable funding for continued community awareness and capacity building, the running of special projects and recruitment events, and the awarding of bursaries," Prof Van Huyssteen says. "We also need additional funding for the development of more computer-assisted language learning software."
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As the authorised Xerox distributor to 24 sub-Saharan countries, Bytes Document Solutions, previously known as Xerox South Africa, is engaged in the marketing and servicing of the complete range of Xerox document equipment, software, solutions and services, and operating through an extensive network of dealers, concessionaires and channel partners. With black economic empowerment partner Kagiso Holdings owning a 27% stake of the business, it is a wholly owned member of the JSE Securities Exchange-listed Bytes Technology Group.
For more information on Bytes Document Solutions and Xerox, visit www.xerox.com/news.
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