Dr Elbie Adendorff, a senior lecturer in the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, has joined the ranks of the South African Academy of Science and Arts as a full member. She has been lecturing in the Department since 2004.

Although anyone can apply to become a member, the Academy, founded in 1909, has strict membership criteria. If an applicant complies with these criteria, the Academy Board may elect them as a member. According to the Academy's Deed of Foundation, these criteria include “high-quality work", “a responsible position in the field of specialisation" and “peer recognition in the field of specialisation or area of work".

Dr Adendorff's research output and the excellent supervision she provides to her postgraduate students, is not only a tremendous boon to the Department, but also to scientific writing in Afrikaans and her specialisation of language acquisition.