Thesis (M.A. (Translation Studies and Linguistics)) --University of Limpopo, 2009 / This mini-research dissertation discusses the morphosemantic properties of the ideophone in Xitsonga.The ideophone is also analysed in terms of the Theta theory as proposed in the Government and Binding Theory.It is illustrated in this research paper that the ideophone can broadly be catagorised into the non-derived and the derived ideophone.It is furthermore demonstrated that it is possible for the ideophone in Xitsonga to be seen as a predicate that assigns various Theta roles to its external subject and internal complement arguement NPs in the subject and object Theta positions of linguistic expressions.It is held that whereas the predicate Theta-marks its external subject arguement NP indirectly,it assigns the Theta roles to its complement arguement NPs directly

MA (Xitsonga) / MER Mathivha Centre for African Languages, Arts and Culture / ni/kumbe swi ri hava maendli yo vulavula hi swa miehleketo eka Xitsonga. Ku xopaxopiwa ntsena maendli yo pfumala xiendliwa ni maendli ya xiendliwa xin’we eka dyondzo leyi. Maendli ya miehleketo ya swiendliwa swinharhu a ya katsiwangi eka ntirho lowu. Dyondzo leyi yi langutana ngopfu ni tinxaka tinharhu ta maendli ya swa miehleketo, ku nga maendli lama khumbaka swa miehleketo, maendli yo vulavula hi ntsako, na maendli yo vulavula hi nchavo. Tinhlamuselo leti talaka ku kumeka ni leti nga taliki ku kumeka eka swihlambanyisi leswi nga tirha eswivulweni ni maendli lama kumbe leswi nga tirhangiki na wona ma kaneriwa eka dyondzo leyi. Thiyori leyi landzeleriwaka eka dyondzo leyi i ya Lakoff (1992) ya Conceptual Theory of Metaphor. Ku ya hi thiyori leyi matirhelo ya swivulwa swa xivumbeko xa vutlhokovetseri swavugego ma le ka ririmi eka miehleketo. Thiyori leyi yi tirhisa mpimanyiso wa swilo leswi kumekaka eka michumu mimbirhi, laha nchumu wo karhi wu twisisekaka ku antswa hi ku xiya nchumu lowu pimanyisiwaka na wona. Eka dyondzo leyi, miehleketo yo pimanyisa milongoti leyi kumekaka eka michumu mimbirhi yo hambana yi tirhisiwaka eka ku xopaxopa swihlambanyisi swa Xitsonga leswi tirhaka na maendli ya swa miehleketo. Mahungu lama kamberiwaka eka ndzavisiso lowu ma tirhisiwa eka swivulwa hi xikongomelo xo kuma mikhuva ya tinhlamuselo leti humelelaka.

MA (Xitsonga) / Senthara ya M. E. R. Mathivha ya Tindimi ta Afrika, Vutshila ni Ndhavuko / See the attached abstract below

MA (Xitsonga) / Eka Senthara ya M. E. R. Mathivha ya Tindzimita Xiafrika, Vutshila na Mfuwo / Tindzimi to hambanahambana ta misava ti tirhisa tindlela to hambana ku tihluvukisa hi tlhelo ra ntivomarito. Maendlelo yo tanihi khoyineji, ku lomba, ku vumba rivitinkatsano, nhlanganiso, mpfelelo na mavulwankatso, mbuyelelo swi na nkoka swinene eku vumbeni ka marito eka ririmi. Eka Xitsonga, a hi maendlelo hinkwawo lama kombisiweke laha henhla ya tirhisiwaka, kambe endlelo ra mbuyelelo ri tirha swinene. Valavisisi vo fana na Novotna (2000), Nintemann (2016), Lidz (2000), Kallotaj (2016), Stols (2008), Rubino (2005), Osam, Marfo na Agyekum (2013) Wanja (2014) na van’wana va endlile ndzavisiso hi mbuyelelo eka tindzimi to hambanahambana. Hambileswi endlelo leri ri tirhaka swinene, vulavisisi hi tlhelo ra endlelo leri bya kayivela swinene eka Xitsonga. Mbuyelelo hilaha xiphemu xo karhi xa rito kumbe rito hinkwaro ri vuyeleriwaka ku vumba rito rin’wana leri nga ta va na nhlamuselo yo hambana na loko rito kumbe xiphemu xa rito xi nga si vuyeleriwa. Xikongomelo xa ndzavisiso lowu i ku kambisisa hilaha mbuyelelo wu humelelaka hakona eka Xitsonga, ku kombisa na ku hlamusela swiphemu swa ririmi leswi khumbekaka eka mbuyelelo, ku ntlawahata mbuyelelo wa marito eka Xitsonga na ku kombisa nkoka wa mbuyelelo eka Xitsonga. Ndzavisiso lowu wu simekiwile ehenhla ka modele wa Marantz (1982) wa ku kopa na ku fambelanisa (Copy and Associate Model) lowu welaka eka thiyori ya Autosegmental ya 1982. Ndzavisiso lowu wu landzelela maendlelo ya nkoka ku karhi ku tirhisiwa maendlelo ya khopasi ku kuma mahungu. Mahungu ya tsavuriwa ku suka eka matsalwa yo hambanahambana ya Xitsonga. Mahungu ya aviwa hi tinxakakulu timbirhi ta mbuyelelo, ku nga, mbuyelelo wo hetiseka na mbuyelelo wa xiphemu. Marito lama ma tsariwa ku karhi ku khwatihatiwa swiphemu leswi nga vuyelela. Endzeni ka swiangi ku kombisiwa xihluvi xa mbulavulo laha rito ri welaka eka xona. Ehansi ka rito rin’wana na rin’wana ku hlamuseriwa leswi mbuyelelo wu humeleriseke xiswona. Mulavisisi u tlhela a languta nhlamuselo ya ritoxidzi (RX) ku nga si humelela mbuyelelo ku yi pimanisa na nhlamuselo ya rito leri endzhaku ka mbuyelelo (RM) ku vona loko ku vile na ku hundzuka ka tinhlamuselo. . / NRF

This study focuses on the predicate argument structure (PAS) of a sub-class of verbs in Xitsonga - verbs of change of possession: give, contribute, future having, providing, obtaining and verbs of exchange. It is shown that these verbs select various theta roles to form their PAS in the different alternations allowed in this language. The effects of the applicative {-el-} and causative {-is-} verbal affixes on the PAS of such verbs are also considered. The study confirms the fact that the ordering of objects in ditransitive verbs is determined by an interplay of syntactic and semantic factors. Ambiguity arises in the case of two animate objects. In this case the object with a definite reading will appear adjacent to the verb. / African Languages / M. A. (Arican Languages)

This study focuses on the predicate argument structure (PAS) of a sub-class of verbs in Xitsonga - verbs of change of possession: give, contribute, future having, providing, obtaining and verbs of exchange. It is shown that these verbs select various theta roles to form their PAS in the different alternations allowed in this language. The effects of the applicative {-el-} and causative {-is-} verbal affixes on the PAS of such verbs are also considered. The study confirms the fact that the ordering of objects in ditransitive verbs is determined by an interplay of syntactic and semantic factors. Ambiguity arises in the case of two animate objects. In this case the object with a definite reading will appear adjacent to the verb. / African Languages / M. A. (Arican Languages)

MA (Xitsonga) / Ehansi Ka Senthara ya M. E. R. Mathivha ya Tindzimi ta Afrika Vutshila na Mfuwo / Xikongomelonkulu xa ndzavisiso lowu i ku xopaxopa maendli mo susa ma xiendliwa xin’we eka Xitsonga hi ku kongomisa eka tindlela leti ma tirhaka hatona exivulweni. Xikongomelo lexi xi aviwa hi marhavi manharhu. Rhavi ro sungula ri kongomana na ku xopaxopa maendli mo susa lama paluxaka mukhuva na mbuyelo hi xikongomelo xo kumisisa michumu leyi nga tirhaka tanihi tiagumente ta nhlokomhaka na tiagumente ta swiendliwa, xikan’we na ku lavisisa michumu leyi nga tirhaka tanihi switirho swa maendli mo susa. Rhavi ra vumbirhi rona ri langutana na ku lavisisa maendli mo susa ma xiendliwa xin’we lama paluxaka mukhuva na mbuyelo lama tirheke eswivulweni ma ri na swivulwana swa mahlanganisi swa xivangelo, xikongomelo na xipimelo. Kasi rhavi ra vunharhu ri tirhana no kambisisa tinhlamuselo/mitirho ya xisemantiki leyi nyikiwaka tiagumemnte hi maendli mo susa ma xiendliwa xin’we lama paluxaka mukhuva na mbuyelo. Eka ndzavisiso lowu ku tirhisiwa thiyori ya vunongoti, ku nga thiyori leyi kongomanaka na ndlela leyi vanhu va twisisaka xiswona marito. Mhaka leyi endlekaka eka thiyori leyi, hi leswi vanhu va twisisaka xiswona marito emiehleketweni ya vona eka leswi ma vulaka swona hi ku angarhela. Swiphemu swa nkoka leswi thiyori leyi yi jikajikaka eka swona i nhlokomhaka leyi nga xiendli xa leswi susiwaka, riendli leri hlamuselaka leswi susiwaka na hilaha swi susiwaka hakona, xiendliwa lexi khumbekaka hileswi vuriwaka hi riendli, na xilandzelandzhaku lexi nga vaka ndhawu, xitirho na swin’wana ni swin’wana. Ndzavisiso lowu wu endliwa hi ku landzelela maendlelo ma nkoka, laha ku nga na maendlelo mambirhi mo kongoma ehansi ka wona; ku nga mo tirhisa ntlawa wo karhi wa vavulavuri va Xitsonga lava nga xiyayiya swivulwa leswi mulavisisi a swi vumbeke leswi vaka swi tirhisile maendli mo susa. Mulavisisi u lulamisile papila ra swivutiso leri longoloxeke swivulwa leswi a lavaka leswaku vavulavuri lava va swi xiyayiya ku xiya loko swi twala kumbe swi nga twali na maendlelo ma nxopaxopo wa vundzeni bya tsalwa lama tirhisiwaka ku xopaxopa swivulwa leswi nga tirhisiwa tanihi mahungu ya ndzavisiso lowu. / NRF

The purpose of this study is to explore the nature of socio-cultural rules underlying address behaviour in face-to-face interactions in Xitsonga. In the study, a socio-pragmatic approach is used. This approach is a combination of sociolinguistics and pragmatics. Data are collected using semi-structured interviews from 29 participants in Hlanganani region. Hlanganani is a Xitsonga speech community located in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The participants were selected in terms of five variables, namely their age, gender, marital status, educational status and occupation. Five theories are tested in this study, namely Brown and Gilman’s (1968) theory of power and solidarity, Brown and Levinson’s (1987) politeness theory, the theory of accommodation, the theory of universal grammar and the Gricean theory of conversation. The study finds that Hlanganani is an age-set society in that the age of a person is the primary determiner of address choice. The male gene also receives superior status in address behaviour in Xitsonga. It is also found that women are given the same lower status as children. It is observed that women’s statuses reflect their graduation in terms of marriage and the production of children. It is recommended that more studies of a similar kind should be undertaken based on either different speech communities or on a comparative basis of particularly African languages. Such studies will go a long way in describing similarities and differences in both the linguistic and the social structures of different cultures. / African Languages / D. Litt. et Phil. (African Languages)

Summary in Tsonga and English / Ndzavisiso lowu wu xopela xiyimo xa mavumbelo, matsalelo, mahikahatelo na mathyelo ya swikomiso na mavulwankatso eka Xitsonga hi xikongomelo xo bumabumela maringaneriselo ya swona. Switiviwa swi huma eka switshuriwa swo hambanahambana swa nomu na swo tsariwa ku katsa na swa dyondzo (swa vuvulavuri, swihlayahlaya na swihlamuselamarito) swihangalasamahungunyingi na swinavetiso etilayiburari, eswikolweni, emagondzweni, eka tibilibodo na le makhumbini ya miako.Tinxaka ta mikomiso ti kumeka eka swa vanhu (mavito, swiyimo, vuxaka), matiko, tin’hweti, masiku ya vhiki, mavito ya tiholideyi, ya tihuvo, ya mihlangano, ya tiyunivhesiti, nasw. Ku na nkomisokulu (wa switshuriwa swo leha swa ndzungulo na swa nkalandzungulo, xikombiso: xihungwana, vumbiwa) na nkomisotsongo (wa switshuriwa swo koma: xivulwa, xivulwahava, rito, xiaki, peletwana). Lowu ndzavisiso wu pakanise nkomisotsongo. Nkomisotsongo wu paluxa mikhetekanyokulu ya mune ya ‘rikhwanyano’, ‘rivulwankatso’, ‘xikomiso’ na ‘rivulwampfilungano’. Swikombiso hi nandzelelano i: ‘za’ < zela); Huriri/(HRR) < ‘Huvo ya Rixaka ya Ririmi’, na (NSFAS > En-es-FAS). Xikomiso xi tihlawulekisa hi ku peleta kumbe ku komisa hi ku tsala ntsena, rito ra kona ri vuriwa hi ku hetiseka. Rikhwanyano na rivulwankatso swona swi tihlawulekisa hi ku vuleka tanihi rito rohelela. Rivulwampfilungano ri hlanganisa rivulwankatso na xikomiso. Rixaka rin’wana na rin’wana ri tlhela ri va na swivumbeko na mahikahatelo yo hambana. Matirhiselo ya swihikahato ya ya hi milawu ya ririmi ro karhi, xikombiso: nkomiso wa rivitavito wu fanele ku sungula hi letere lerikulu. Ndzavisiso wu paluxa leswaku ku tirhisiwa ka hiko (.) swi fanele ku papalatiwa eka nkomiso hikuva hiko yi teka ndhawu leyi nkomiso wu lwelaka ku hunguta yona hileswi hiko na vangwa swi hlayiwaka tanihi xitekandhawu loko ku hlayeriwa maletere. Ndzavisiso lowu wu basisile matheme lama thyiweke mikomiso eka Xitsonga, ku engetela nhlayo ya mikomiso na ku susumeta misinya yo yi ringanerisa. Ndzi bumabumerile swilaveko na swiyila ku pfuneta vahundzuluxeri na ku va seketela hi ku famba ndzi nyika maritondzingano ya Xinghezi laha swi kotekaka. Switandzhaku swi nyika vumbhoni bya leswaku nhluvuko wa mikomiso eka Xitsonga wa tshikeleriwa hi van’wana va lava nyikiweke matimba yo kondletela ntirho wa vuhundzuluxeri, leswi koxaka ku cinca ka maehleketelo. / This study analyses the state of shortenings (abbreviations and acronyms) in Xitsonga in order to determine their formation, structure, punctuation and naming patterns with the aim of recommending standardisation strategies. The data was collected from various oral and written sources. Various types of shortenings manifest in human phenomena (names, social positions and relations), names of countries, months, weekdays, holidays, boards, organisations, universities, etcetera. There are long shortened texts (e.g. abstracts, summaries) and short texts (sentence, phrase, word, morpheme, syllable). This study focusses on the short texts. Short texts fall into four major categories: ‘compression’, ‘acronym’, ‘abbreviation’ and ‘acreviation’ (combination of acronym and abbreviation). Examples of these forms are respectively ‘za’ < ‘zela’; ‘Huriri’/HRR < ‘Huvo ya Rixaka ya Ririmi’; and NSFAS > En-es- FAS. An ‘Abbreviation’ is characterised by spelling the word letter-by-letter or using it only in writing but uttering its full form when reading, while compression and acronym are characterised by the word’s ‘pronounceability’ in normal syllables. ‘Acreviation’ describes a combination of ‘acronym’ and ‘abbreviation’. Each of these forms further reveals different structural and punctuation patterns. The use of punctuation marks depends on the rules of a specific language, for example, the shortening of a proper name has to begin with a capital letter. The study also reveals that as much as possible, the use of a period should be avoided in the abbreviation as it occupies the space which the abbreviation intends to save because a full stop and space are counted as a character when a word count is done. This study has successfully clarifies the terminology used in the naming of shortenings in Xitsonga, increases the number of shortenings and proposes standardisation guidelines. The researcher recommends do’s and don’t’s for translators and provides English equivalents where applicable. The addenda provide evidence in support of the fact that the development of abbreviations and acronyms in Xitsonga is still thwarted by some individuals who are given coordination roles in translation projects and that a change of mindset is necessary. / African Languages / D. Litt. et Phil. (African Languages)

The purpose of this study is to explore the nature of socio-cultural rules underlying address behaviour in face-to-face interactions in Xitsonga. In the study, a socio-pragmatic approach is used. This approach is a combination of sociolinguistics and pragmatics. Data are collected using semi-structured interviews from 29 participants in Hlanganani region. Hlanganani is a Xitsonga speech community located in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The participants were selected in terms of five variables, namely their age, gender, marital status, educational status and occupation. Five theories are tested in this study, namely Brown and Gilman’s (1968) theory of power and solidarity, Brown and Levinson’s (1987) politeness theory, the theory of accommodation, the theory of universal grammar and the Gricean theory of conversation. The study finds that Hlanganani is an age-set society in that the age of a person is the primary determiner of address choice. The male gene also receives superior status in address behaviour in Xitsonga. It is also found that women are given the same lower status as children. It is observed that women’s statuses reflect their graduation in terms of marriage and the production of children. It is recommended that more studies of a similar kind should be undertaken based on either different speech communities or on a comparative basis of particularly African languages. Such studies will go a long way in describing similarities and differences in both the linguistic and the social structures of different cultures. / African Languages / D. Litt. et Phil. (African Languages)