Humanities’ first spelling bee tough and challenging

A-P-O-T-H-E-O-S-I-S. 

This was the most difficult English word given to the Faculty of Humanities students in their first spelling bee competition. 

Eighteen spellers took part in the three-round competition on 14 March 2023 on the North-West University (NWU) Potchefstroom campus. Three participants competed in Setswana, 3 in Afrikaans and 16 in English.

Mathlatsi Dambuza, the liaison officer at the Faculty of Humanities, said: “The event aimed to help students improve their spelling, increase vocabulary, enhance confidence and mostly develop correct language usage that will help them in their lives.”

The judging panel consisted of members of the Humanities Student Academic Chapter (SAC). Two pronouncers and four adjudicators sat on the panel to ensure that the competition ran smoothly. 

Participants were given two words each in all three rounds. The pronouncers would call out the word and the participant would attempt to spell it out loud. Participants could ask for the word to be repeated once, request a definition of the word, or request that the pronouncer use the word in a sentence. Spellers were each given 30 seconds to spell the words correctly in the first two rounds, and 10 seconds in the final round. 

English participants had to spell words like pneumonia (a lung inflammation caused by bacterial or viral infection), amalgamate (to combine or unite to form one structure) and conspicuous (very noticeable or attracting attention).

Afrikaans included words like geslagskunde (translates to sexology), intertekstualiteit (translates to intertextuality) and wysbegeerte (translates to desire to show).

Setswana participants had to spell words including mmamasilanoka (a heron), tshwantshanyo (metaphor) and kgangkhutswe (let’s be scared). Spellers who spelled the words incorrectly were eliminated.

Dambuza said that according to the spellers, their expectations were met. However, some spellers disagreed. Callum Maloy, the English division winner, said, “It was difficult to hear the adjudicators’ pronunciation of the words which made it difficult to ascertain what word I was expected to spell.” Several other spellers were disappointed at the poor management which led to the competition going on for longer than expected.

There were also hiccups before the competition started. It was originally scheduled for 13 March 2023, but apparently the SAC was not able to secure a venue and had to postpone the event to the next day. As a result, only 18 of the 26 spellers who originally registered, showed up. 

Although the spelling bee did not run as smoothly as anticipated, many spellers enjoyed the event. Ruhan Friedrichs, a student in journalism and media studies and Afrikaans division winner, said, “I am quite happy and glad that I participated. I never had the opportunity to enter a spelling bee and have always wanted to for the experience and to test my knowledge.”

Maloy, who entered the competition a few minutes before it started said, “I was surprised [after winning] because after witnessing my final competitor’s performance, I was so sure it was hers for the taking.” Maloy added that he was glad he entered the bee. “I was mainly unprepared but I entered just before the programme proceeded due to my close friend’s constant encouragement.”

Rethabilo Ntshole, communication student and the Setswana division winner, said, ‘’Monnawe (your brother), was the most difficult word in the competition. The competition was really tough and challenging, especially in the final round, but I’m very happy that I won.” Ntshole added that the competition helped her gain confidence by performing in front of an audience. 

All spelling bee participants received a certificate of participation. Winners received 50% off a public-speaking bootcamp while the runner-up received 25% off. The bootcamp will be hosted at the Nooitgedacht campsite, facilitated by a six times Distinguished Toastmaster and South African diplomat, Eric Kaila. A toastmaster is a person responsible to act as a host and conduct the entire programme, including introducing speakers, distributing awards and delivering communication to the best of their abilities. The Distinguished Toastmaster award is the highest award Toastmasters International bestows. By Martha Radebe and Tamry Esiri