Andiswa Mvanyashe - Researcher 

Email: Andiswa.Mvanyashe@mandela.ac.za

Academic Profile: https://lit.mandela.ac.za/IsiXhosa

 

Academic background and areas of specialisation

Andiswa Mvanyashe, an academic and language enthusiast from South Africa, is deeply committed to the preservation, development, and growth of the isiXhosa language and culture.

Her academic journey commenced at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Media, Communications, and Culture in 2008. This foundation paved the way for her pursuit of knowledge, leading to her Bachelor of Arts with Honours in IsiXhosa Language in 2009, specialising in Research, Literature, Theory, and Linguistics. Subsequently, she attained her Master of Arts in Xhosa in 2011, demonstrating her commitment to scholarly excellence. In 2018, Andiswa achieved the pinnacle of her academic endeavours, earning her Doctor of Literature (DLitt) with a focus on isiXhosa Language.

Throughout her academic journey, Andiswa has been deeply involved in research, with her work being published in reputable journals such as the Southern African Journal for Folklore Studies and Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies. She has presented her findings at various conferences, including the Africa Indigenous Knowledge Systems Summit and the University of Namibia's ALASA conference.

In addition to her scholarly pursuits, Andiswa has garnered extensive experience in teaching and academia. Since 2016, she has served as a Lecturer in Language and Literature at Nelson Mandela University, where she is presently the Acting Head of the Department, where she teaches her knowledge to undergraduate and postgraduate students alike. Her expertise spans a wide range of subjects, from IsiXhosa for Beginners to Creative Writing, Language Change, Literature and Sociolinguistics.

Beyond her role as a Lecturer Andiswa has contributed to numerous organizations, including Translate.org.za and Gnome, where she served as IsiXhosa Translator and IsiXhosa Language Practitioner, respectively. Her commitment to community engagement is evident in her involvement with organisations such as Unako, where she supported pupils in Port Elizabeth's underserved areas.

Primary research interests and areas of expertise within digital humanities

Digitilising Languages

Background overview, research, and role within the hub

Andiswa will be responsible for making sure the IsiXhosa books are available digitally.

Notable publications or research projects related to digital humanities

Journal Papers

  • Mvanyashe, A. (2019). IsiXhosa Proverbs and Idioms as a Reflection of Indigenous Knowledge System and an Education Tool. Southern African Journal for Folklore Studies, Vol 29. Issue 2

 

  • Andiswa Mvanyashe (17 Jul 2023): The connotative meaning of the Xhosa word uMlungu before and during the democratic era, Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, DOI: 10.2989/16073614.2022.2153709