DEPARTMENT

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DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
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RESEARCH FOCUS 2005-2007
Research Focus Identity and Marginality
(specifically in South African literature,
related to cultural identity) Strategic
importance of our research To contribute to the
transformation and development of our
communities, and to offer insight into the
complex South African socio-political realities
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1a) San Khoi oral tradition in SA Lit (VVuuren
John)
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1b) San Khoi orality at the interface with
South African literature (Van Vuuren, John).
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2. Xhosa oral tradition, praise poetry, and its
syncretic nature (Somniso)
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3. Whiteness as a continued hegemonic force in
post-apartheid writing, and how such hegemony
operates (West)
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4. Afrikaans, isiXhosa and South African English
linguistic literary texts which express
marginalization, or address and reflect social
conflicts in society
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Research 2005

• 6 accredited articles (Jeffery, John x 2,
  KochKriel, Maqagi West)
• 1 contribution to book (Van Vuuren)
• 1 D.Litt. theses 5 MA dissertations
• 2 international conference papers (Kwatsha) 1
  national conference paper (Van Vuuren)
• 26 book reviews (academic based) (John Van
  Vuuren)
• NRF grant (2005-2007) Dr PH John (research
  associate)
• Thuthuka grant (2005-2008) Dr S Goddard
• Dept of Arts Culture award for drama Prof BB
  Mkonto

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RESEARCH CONTEXT HISTORY2005-2007
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(No Transcript)
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RESEARCH 2006

• 9 accredited articles (John x 3, VVuuren x 2,
  Kriel, Kwatsha, West, Malan VVuuren)
• 3 contributions to books (Mkonto, Kriel VVuuren
  x2)
• 3 D.Litt. theses 6 MA dissertations
• 1 international conference paper (VVuuren), 6
  national conference papers (Mkonto,
  Krielx2,VVuuren, Somniso, West) 9
  international lectures (VVuuren)
• 20 book reviews (based on academic research)
  (VVuuren John)
• NRF grant (2005-2007) Dr PH John (research
  associate)
• Thuthuka grant (2005-2008) Dr S Goddard
• Award Dept Arts Culture Prof BBMkonto

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Dr West (D.Litt) Ms Botha (MA, cum laude)
graduated 2006, with supervisors Dr K Goddard
Prof v Vuuren
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RESEARCH 2007

• 11 accredited articles (BothaVVuuren x4,
  Kwatsha, Smith, Somniso, Kwatsha, VVuuren,
  VdSpuyVVuuren, WestVVuuren)
• 3 contributions to books (Mkonto, Kriel,
  VVuuren x2)
• 4 D.Litt. theses 5 MA dissertations
• 1 international conference paper (S Goddard), 5
  national conference papers (Mqagi, Kwatsha x
  2, Somniso, S Smith)
• 9 book reviews (based on academic research)
  (VVuuren John)
• NRF grant (2005-2007) Dr PH John (research
  associate)
• Thuthuka grant (2005-2008) Dr S Goddard

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Postgraduate students lecturers, National
English Museum, Grahamstown, 2007
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Outstanding aspects of research (a)

• Increase in outputs
• 2005 6 accredited articles 1 contribution to a
  book
• 2006 9 accredited articles 3 contributuions to
  books
• 2007 11 accredited articles 1 forthcoming book
  (March 2008)
• NRF rating
• 2002-2007 Two rated NRF human scientists Dr
  John Prof van Vuuren
• 2008- 2013 One rated NRF human scientist Prof
  van Vuuren ( Dr John did not apply again)
• Thuthuka award
• 2005-2007 Ms (now Dr) S Goddard
• Faculty of Arts Researcher of 2007 Prof van
  Vuuren
• Increase in Successful Postgraduate Candidates
  Throughput
• Increase in high quality research (Dr Wests
  thesis accepted for publication, Ford foundation
  bursary to Ms M Botha for best MA dissertation
  in Human Sciences at NMMU)

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Outstanding aspects of research (b)

• Interdisciplinary in nature, across
  languages, and across disciplines
• Comparative literary framework
• Texts read within cultural and socio- political
  context
• Rethinking South African Literature
  re-evaluation of the canon, including
  orality
• Literary theory formation

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Research collaboration

• Departmental research collaboration
• Developing younger researchers growing our own
  timber through targeted co-publication of M D
  results (D.Litt West Vd Spuy, MA Botha,
  Malan)
• Focusing on South African literature as area of
  expertise, rather than disparate research topics
  for postgraduates established researchers.
• International research collaboration
• University of Hasselt (Belgium) Prof Luc
  Renders
• University of Amsterdam Prof Ena Jansen
• University of Leiden Dr Gitte Postel
• Prof Tony Voss emeritus professor (UKZN)

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Institutional Community involvement

• Honorary doctorates linked to the department
• Dr Athol Fugard, dramatist
• Dr Antjie Krog, poet (2007)
• Staff serving on national prestigious committees
• SA Academy for Science and Arts (Literature
  Commission Prof VVuuren Language Commission
  Prof Otto)
• Eastern Cape Arts Culture Council (Prof Mkonto)
• English National Language Body (Mrs Maqagi)

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Antjie Krog, honorary D.Litt. NMMU 2007
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Research Associates

• Dr PH John (2001-) Afr Dutch
• Prof Luc Renders (2006-) Afr Dutch
• Prof AE Voss (2007- ) English
• Prof SE Koch (2007- ) ABLE Project leader
• Dr Gitte Postel (2008-) Afr Dutch
• Prof C Jeffery (2003- ) English
• Dr BE Lewis (1997- ) Classical Culture (now
  connected to French)