MOTTO 

Language for national development.

MANDATE

Empowerment of languages to ensure that no one is left behind in socio-economic and scientific advancement of the nation.

  VISION

To be a leading, one-stop, innovative, inclusive and technologically driven world class language research, consultancy and techno-scientific services centre dedicated to the development, modernisation and internationalisation of Zimbabwe for the empowerment of society and wealth creation.

MISSION

Pursuant to its vision, MSUNLI is committed to conducting language research and offering techno- scientific services to its diverse stakeholders, locally, regionally and internationally.                                           

CORE VALUES

  • Hard work
  • Teamwork
  • Professionalism
  • Inclusivity
  • Ubuntu/Hunhu

STAFFING

Highly qualified native speakers of the different indigenous languages work at the Institute as language researchers. The language researchers cover a wide range of roles and responsibilities. These include functions and roles such as those of researchers, advisors, teaching assistants, technicians, counsellors, software developers and events managers among other duties. 

LANGUAGES ON OFFER

  • Chewa 
  • ChiBarwe
  • English
  • Kalanga
  • Koisan
  • Nambya
  • Ndau
  • Ndebele
  • Shangani
  • Shona
  • Sign Language
  • Sotho
  • Tonga
  • Tswana
  • Venda
  • Xhosa

KEY ACTIVITIES

Language Consultancy Services

  • Document proof reading and editing. 
  • Translation services. 
  • Interpreting services.
  • Transcription services.
  • Speech writing and report writing training services.
  • Braille services for schools, colleges and universities.
  • Sign language services for the nation.

Research and Publications

  • DPhil and MPhil Dissertation Supervision.
  • Hosting international language research conferences.
  • Language research.
  • Book reviews
  • Typesetting. 

Promotion and Development of Indigenous Languages

  • Promoting the growth of indigenous literature by organising creative writing competitions for marginalized languages and support book publications in indigenous languages.
  • Developing orthographies for the previously marginalised indigenous languages of Zimbabwe.
  • Lexicography research in all officially recognised indigenous languages.
  • Intensive research in language, culture and literature.

Language Policy and Planning

  • Promoting and supporting the establishment of a National Language Board for Zimbabwe.
  • Promoting and supporting the establishment of Indigenous Languages Associations.
  • Spearheading the development of a national language policy and a language in education policy for Zimbabwe.

CONTACT US

Telephone:   +263 54 231583

Fax:               +263 54 260233/260311

Email:            info@languageinstitute.msu.ac.zw

Mobile:          +263 77 288 3047 / +263 71 680 0586

Staff Profiles

Dr. Beatrice Taringa

Dr. Beatrice Taringa

Position: Research Fellow

Research Interests:

    Language Education for National & Economic Development Language Policy and Planning Psycho &Sociolinguistics Culture, Gender and Human Rights Issues Community enhancement through Language Development

Dr Munyai Vhengani

Position: RESEARCH FELLOW-Venda

Research Interests:

Dr Khoza Trenance

Position: Research Fellow

Research Interests:

    Language and Education Language Policy and Planning Communication

Ms Loice Ngomacheza

Ms Loice Ngomacheza

Position: Language Research Assistant

Research Interests:

    Chewa morphology Language planning and policy  Translation and Interpretation Challenges of language in teaching and learning

Miss Lister Matsilele

Miss Lister Matsilele

Position: Language Researcher

Research Interests:

    Translation  Interpretation  Typesetting  Research work Article writing 

Amon Mudenda

Position: Researcher - Tonga

Research Interests

    Tonga morphology Tonga culture and gender Education and culture

Bhasera Maruzani

Position: Researcher – Braille

Research interests:

    Inclusion of persons with disabilities Braille technology Visual impairment and braille Deaf-blind and tactile signing Disability in the community

MARETHA DUBE

Position: Researcher-Sotho

Research Interests

    Indigenous knowledge systems Indigenous languages and education

Ms AGNES NOMBEMBE

Position: RESEARCHER-XHOSA

Research Interests:

    LANGUAGE POLICY AND PLANNING LANGUAGE IN EDUCATION HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES ONOMASTICS INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS

MRS LAURENCIA VIRIRI

Position: RESEARCHER- SHONA

Research Interests:

Mr. Tendai Chirimaunga

Position: Researcher - ChiBarwe

Research Interests:

    phonology morphology lexicography terminography translation and interpretation   sociolinguistics language policy and planning indigenous knowledge systems

Mrs Elina Mukutu

Position: Researcher - English

Research Interests:

    Phonetics and Phonology Sociolinguistics Academic and Professional Communication Second Language Teaching and Learning

Hlalani Ndhlovu

Position: Researcher-Kalanga

Research Interests
    Indigenous Language Development through literature production Indigenous Language Teaching And Learning Comparative Studies For Zimbabwean Indigenous Language Orthographies For Dialectal Languages   Kalanga Folklore

Adrian Mafa Phiri

Position: Researcher - Nambya

Research Interests
    Language policy and planning Language education Oral literature

Ms NHEMACHENA NANCY

Position: Researcher – English

Research interests:
    Language Technology Academic and Professional Communication Language Policy and Planning Language teaching Literature