The Department of English Language and Linguistics graduated a record three PhDs in April 2019, as well as three MA students, two with distinction. We celebrated with a bumper Graduation Reception on Friday 12 April.
This is the text of the speech that Head of Department Prof. Ron Simango gave at the Reception:
Let me start by welcoming the graduating students, parents, family members, guardians and friends to this celebratory event. We are gathered here to celebrate the achievements of our students and to thank all those who have supported them through the years – more of that later.
The 2019 graduation is a very special occasion for the Linguistics department. For the first time we have graduated three PhD candidates – it’s a record for us, for which we are very proud! We extend hearty congratulations to our new Doctors, Iyad Issa, Ian Siebörger, and Jade Smith, for their achievement which we know is a result of hard work, commitment and sacrifice. Well done to each of you! You now have the world at your feet and the future is yours. We also celebrate the achievement of three Master’s candidates on this occasion: Hlumela Mkabile for obtaining her Masters with distinction, Kelly Kilian – who also obtained her Masters with distinction – and Jenny Katz. Congratulations to the three of you! We can’t wait to see you ascend to greater heights in the coming years. Lastly, I would like to congratulate the recipients of the Honours degree in linguistics and of course the 3rd year class of 2018 who have obtained their Bachelor’s degrees. It’s been a long journey with a good ending for each one of you. We are proud of you for your wonderful achievement. On this note I would like to congratulate in a special way, Kyra-Aynsli Davies for being awarded the Bill Branford Prize for 2018. This prize is awarded to the best student (overall) in third year. It was well deserved and congratulations once more.
The Linguistics department is a family – at least that is how we see ourselves. We want to maintain our bond with each one of you regardless of how far you are going to be from Rhodes. Stay in touch and let us know about your successes in life. A family is a family because it has people who work together to make thing happen. In this connection I would like to end by thanking those who made all this possible. First, my colleagues – both academic and support staff – Ralph Adendorff, Mark de Vos, Ian Siebörger, Tracy Probert, Tracy Kitchen and, our new kid on the block, Mbali Jiyane as well as Nomvula Sitole and Caron Kara for making sure that everything was in the right place at the right time. If you guys who are graduating today felt linguistics was hard work, these are the people who worked so hard to make sure you worked hard! I would also like to thank Tino Makoni, who has joined us at this occasion. Tino deserves special mention for her energy and commitment over the years. Tino tutored Professional Communication in the department from 2013 to 2017 and contributed immensely to the success of the Professional Communication courses in that period. Tino, we are ever so grateful for the sacrifice you made and your love for the department.
It would be remiss of me not to mention Sally Hunt who is not present on this occasion. Sally left Rhodes last month and now lives in England. Many of us will not forget the enormous contribution Sally made to the Linguistics programme for so many years. It feels rather strange that she is not here – it will take quite a while for the department to come to terms with the fact that she is no longer in the department. So, I would like for us to send our appreciation to Sally for her contribution to the achievements of our graduands.
I promised this was not going to be a long speech, so I better stop. Let me end by wishing each one of you, on behalf of the Linguistics department, success in your future careers, prosperity and happiness in your lives. Enjoy the graduation ceremonies and the festivities that go along with them. Thank you; we love you all.
Graduates Dr Iyad Issa and Dr Jade Smith
Dr Jade Smith
Prof. Ralph Adendorff and Dr Ian Siebörger