A detailed inventory of linguistically and culturally sensitive speech- and language assessment material, available to speech- language therapists working in South Africa

Abstract

The importance of culturally and linguistically sensitive speech and language assessment is emphasized in the subject literature. This is particularly relevant to speech-language therapist working in the South African context. Over the past 25 years a number of research projects, conducted at academic departments involved, focused on the adaptation, translation and development of such assessment material. The problem is that although the materials were included in undergraduate and postgraduate research reports speech-language therapists are not always aware of the availability of the assessment material. The aim of this study was to develop a detailed inventory of culturally and linguistically sensitive material, available for use in speech and language assessment in South Africa. A literature study and electronic survey was conducted to collect data. Results shows that a total of 97studies were conducted in this regard and there are assessment material available in only seven of the eleven official languages of South Africa. Assessment material for Afrikaans and South African English attracted the most attention from researches but only 35 studies were conducted for black African languages. Detailed information of the studies and materials identified is presented in table format and quantitative data provided and discussed. Further research is recommended to develop, translate, and adapt as well as standardize more assessment material in the indigenous languages of South Africa languages to ensure culturally and linguistically service delivery.

English: Die belang van kultureel en linguisties sensitiwe spraak- en taal assessering word in die vakliteratuur beklemtoon. Dit is ook van besondere belang vir spraak-taal terapeute wat werksaam is in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Verskeie studies is oor die afgelope 25 jare by akademiese departemente in die verband uitgevoer, met die oog op die aanpassing, vertaling en ontwikkeling van sulke assesseringsmateriaal. Die probleem is dat hoewel hierdie materiaal in voor- en nagraadse navorsings verslae vervat is, praktiserende spraak-taalterapeute nie noodwendig daarvan bewus is nie. Die doel van hierdie studie was om 'n gedetailleerde inventaris te ontwikkel van kultureel- en linguistiese sensitewe materiaal vir spraak- en taalassessering in Suid-Afrika. 'n Literatuurstudie is uitgevoer om data in te samel. Resultate toon dat 'n totaal van 97 studies in die verband uitgevoer is en dat assesseringmaterial beskikbaar is vir sewe van die elf amptelike tale van Suid-Afrika. Assessiringmateriaal vir Afrikaans en Engels het die meeste aandag ontvang, maar slegs 35 studies het op swart Afrikatale gefokus. Gedetaillerde inligting van ge"identifiseerde studies en materiaal in tabelformaat opgesom en kwantitatiewe inligting word aangebied en bespreek. Verdere aanpassing, vertaling, ontwikkeling, asook standardisering van assesserings materiaal vir inheemse tale van Suid-Afrika word aanbeveel, ten einde kultureel- en linguisties sensitiwe dienslewering te verseker.