Collaborative Dynamics in Translating Financial Terminology: Bridging Gaps and Promoting Linguistic Equity in South Africa Focusing on Tshivenḓa

This study investigates the collaborative dynamics between language practitioners and financial term specialists in translating financial terminology from English into Tshivenḓa. Grounded in South Africa’s constitutional mandate to promote linguistic equity, the research addresses systemic gaps in cross-disciplinary collaboration that hinder the development of accurate, culturally relevant financial terminology. Employing a qualitative approach, the study analyses data from in-depth interviews with 10 Tshivenḓa language practitioners, supported by theoretical frameworks from Sociolinguistics, Knowledge Management (Nonaka and Takeuchi’s SECI model), and Skopos Translation Theory. Findings reveal a critical lack of structured collaboration between translators and financial experts, leading to reliance on networks within the same profession and ad hoc translation strategies. Key challenges include technological resource gaps, cultural mismatches in term adoption, and institutional frameworks that prioritise linguistic development over interdisciplinary integration. The study highlights how limited knowledge exchange disrupts the SECI model’s socialisation phase, while sociolinguistic factors and translation purpose (skopos) shape term acceptability in Tshivenḓa’s ‘linguistic marketplace’. Practical implications call for institutional reforms, including mandated collaboration mechanisms, localised technological tools, and dual-validation protocols involving financial specialists and community stakeholders to ensure technical accuracy and cultural relevance. The research underscores the need to reconceptualise financial translation as a socio-technical endeavour, bridging disciplinary divides to enhance financial literacy and linguistic equity. Future studies should explore term adoption over time, cross-language comparisons, and insights from financial experts to overcome collaboration barriers. This work contributes to global discourse on language development, offering insights for policymakers, translators, and financial institutions in multilingual contexts.