Challenges of Zero Equivalence in the Development of Tshivenḓa Financial Terms from English

This article explores the challenges of zero equivalence in the development of Tshivenḓa financial terms from English, particularly within the broader context of African languages striving for recognition in specialised fields such as finance. The study examines the implications of zero equivalence, where no direct terminology exists for certain financial terms, leading to potential misunderstandings and inconsistencies in financial communication. Using a qualitative approach, data were collected through face-to-face structured interviews with ten (10) participants who were working as terminologists, as there are no trained Tshivenḓa terminologists. The findings reveal that these terminologists are aware of the challenges posed by zero equivalence and struggle with specific English financial terms that lack direct Tshivenḓa counterparts. To address these challenges, the study recommends minimising borrowing as a solution and instead suggests alternatives such as paraphrasing and compounding. These strategies help ensure more precise and culturally relevant development of terms, reducing the risk of misinterpretation in financial discourse. By investigating zero equivalence in the development of financial terminology, this research contributes to the growing field of Term Creation Studies and supports Tshivenḓa terminologists in developing effective strategies for creating technical terminology, particularly in finance and other specialised domains. The findings also imply that addressing zero equivalence is not only crucial for linguistic accuracy but is essential for empowering indigenous language communities to participate fully and confidently in formal economic systems.