Endemann's Wörterbuch der Sotho Sprache (1911) : a worthy candidate for digitisation

Abstract

ENGLISH : This article re-evaluates Wörterbuch der Sotho Sprache, a historically significant, yet neglected Sotho–German dictionary, published in 1911 by Berlin missionary Karl Endemann. Its marginalisation stems from its choice of German as target language, outdated orthography, missionary orientation, and deviation from modern lexicographic principles. Rather than a conventional comparison with modern Sepedi dictionaries, this study positions Endemann's work within its historical and cultural context. Key lexicographic elements such as grammatical formatives, alphabetical categories, high-frequency lemmas, semantically related paradigms, and culturally significant entries are analysed in detail. The findings often reveal strengths that match or even surpass those of later Sepedi dictionaries. Despite its value, user access remains limited due to linguistic complexity and unavailability. With digitisation now permitted by the publisher, this study outlines a multi-phase strategy to enhance usability, including the use of OCR4all, an open-source tool for text recognition. While the digitisation process is not without challenges, the application of OCR4all has yielded impressive accuracy. However, despite the high-quality output, this margin of error necessitates manual verification to ensure the integrity of the digitised content as a reliable and accessible resource for modern users.

AFRIKAANS : Hierdie artikel herevalueer Wörterbuch der Sotho Sprache, 'n histories betekenisvolle dog verwaarloosde Sotho–Duitse woordeboek, wat in 1911 deur die Berlynse sendeling Karl Endemann gepubliseer is. Die marginalisering daarvan spruit uit sy keuse van Duits as doeltaal, verouderde ortografie, sendingoriëntasie en afwyking van moderne leksikografiese beginsels. Eerder as 'n konvensionele vergelyking met moderne Sepedi-woordeboeke, plaas hierdie studie Endemann se werk binne sy historiese en kulturele konteks. Sleutelleksikografiese elemente soos die hantering van grammatikale formatiewe, alfabetiese kategorieë, hoëfrekwensie-lemmas, semanties-verwante paradigmas en kultureel betekenisvolle inskrywings word in detail ontleed. Die bevindinge openbaar dikwels sterkpunte wat ooreenstem met of selfs dié van latere Sepedi-woordeboeke oortref. Ten spyte van die waarde daarvan, bly gebruikerstoegang beperk weens linguistiese kompleksiteit en onbeskikbaarheid. Met digitisering wat nou deur die uitgewer toegelaat word, sit hierdie studie 'n multifase strategie uiteen om bruikbaarheid te verbeter, insluitend die gebruik van OCR4all, oopbronsagteware vir teksherkenning. Alhoewel die digitiseringsproses nie sonder uitdagings is nie, het die toepassing van OCR4all indrukwekkende akkuraatheid opgelewer. Ten spyte van die hoë kwaliteit uitset, noodsaak 'n foutmarge egter handmatige verifikasie om die integriteit van die gedigitiseerde inhoud te verseker as 'n betroubare en toeganklike hulpbron vir moderne gebruikers.