Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 16-10-2017
The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) has announced “state-capture” as its 2017 South African Word of the Year.
The SA Word of the Year which was announced on Monday is a term or expression preferred to reflect the passing year in language.
For the first time in history, PanSALB and its Lexicography Units have decided to endorse this practice which has been happening internationally.
The shortlisted words for SA Words of the Year were “Blesser” “State Capture” and “White Monopoly Capital”
It was found that “State Capture” was used 20 231 times in over 11 000 South African newspapers.
The majority of the coverage was found in Daily Newspapers, accounting for 68% of the total coverage mentioning “state capture”, followed by Sunday Newspapers at 19%.
Dr Mpho Monareng, Chief Executive Officer of PanSALB says the use of the word state-capture has increased significantly in 2017.
“We are happy with the choice as it echoes a year dominated by highly-charged political and social discourse.”
Monareng adds that it does not look like the usage of the term will slow down in the near future.
“If one takes into account the ANC conference in December. I wouldn’t be surprised if state-capture becomes one of the defining words of our time.”
Monareng says the concept of state-capture has been in existence, but PanSALB has seen a spike in frequency this year in the context of the Gupta email leaks and systemic political corruption.
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