Mqhayi, a Xhosa writer of the early 1900's is able to deconstruct the black and white dichotomy by using the twins as depicting some characteristics of black and white culture. The dissertation thus examines the way in which Mqhayi presents this dichotomy. He manipulates literary forms in order to articulate specific cultural attitudes which were dominant then. Xhosa writers at this time, being entirely dependent on the technologies provided by the missionaries, were forced to use metaphorical devices in order to avoid heavy censorship from the missionaries who were prescriptive and would not accept any book which they considered to be political, their main interest being in books which had a religious theme. The novel, Ityala Lamawele, coincides with some of the major political moods of its time. It is fully socialized and is absorbed directly into the dominant patterns of thought, mood and outlook of the moment from which it emerges. It addresses in a very subtle manner the socio-political conditions in which the Black people found themselves.

Includes bibliographical references.

In the new South Africa (after 1994), the education system required an extensive overhaul to ensure that the inequalities of the past do not continue to dominate the education system. As a result, a number of debates took place and in 1998 a new educational model that is competency based was introduced (Taylor & Vinjevold, 1999). The main aim of this change was to ensure that the curriculum would integrate academic and vocational skills. The other aims was to ensure that the new education system represent a complete opposite of the apartheid education system. Language, being central to education, is one of the areas that were totally overhauled. It is therefore the aim of this study, to investigate whether the expectations of the National Curriculum Statement (NCS), articulated through curriculum objectives and expected outcomes, are fulfilled at grade 12 level, with a particular focus on isiXhosa language as a Home language. This study aims to investigate the alignment between curriculum objectives and assessment through an interrogation of the curriculum aims and assessment tools.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves. 151-156). / Injongo yokubhalwa kwalo mqulu kukuphakamisa ulwimi lwesiXhosa kunye nababhali bolu lwimi abaphilayo nabangasekhoyo. Iilwimi zesiNtu zijongelwe phantsi kakhulu azijongelwanga kumgangatho omnye neelwimi zaseNtshona. Kuluxanduva lwethu thina bayibonayo le meko ke ngoko ukuba sizithande, sizixabise kwaye siziphakamise iilwimi zethu ngokuthi sibonise ukuba nazo ziyalingana nezinye iilwimi.

Includes bibliographical references.

This study examines how Xhosa speakers incorporate verbs of English origin into their lexicons with a specific focus on the -ish- suffix. The study deals with historical treatments of this phenomenon and debates its relevance and applicability to current scholarship on lexical borrowing. To ensure a wide range of data sources I used a corpus derived from interviews with 30 Xhosa speakers in Cape Town, as well as from three media sources: the first is a 1-hour long talk radio programme transcribed from the national Xhosa broadcaster, UMhlobo weNene, the second an interview with a Xhosa-speaking patient on the television programme, Siyayinqoba Beat It. The third is from social media, (Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp). The demographics of participants in this study are predominantly urban dwellers. The youngest participant (from the surveys) was 16 years old and the oldest participant was 45 years old. I say “predominantly” as it was not possible to obtain specific background data to the two Xhosa speakers on radio and television. Very little work has been done on the way in which African languages speakers grammaticalize verbs of English origin – why, for example, do some adopted words like suffix -a (e.g. Ndiyamotivate-a – ‘I am motivating') while others suffix -ish-a (e.g. Ndiyastudy-ish-a – ‘I am studying'). The main finding of the study is that speakers incorporated verbs of English origin by suffixing -a and -ish- in their speech, they were not consciously code mixing: rather, they used these suffixes as just another resource available to them to make their communication more strategic. This could indicate that in certain urban settings the -ish- verbalizing suffix might become even more popular as people need to negotiate lifestyles that require new lexicons. It is hoped that this research will shed more light on this growing phenomenon and provide a framework for discussion of verbalizers within the greater canon of language change scholarship in South Africa as a whole. A primary function of this study was to formulate rules for the adoption of -ish- and -a and to provide statistical data as to which one is preferred by speakers.

Includes bibliographical references. / The title of this thesis, Country and City - Autobiographical tropes in Ncumisa Vapi's Litshona Liphume arises out of a complex understanding of the author's narrative and literary intentions. Country refers to the fact that the story is set in a specifically named rural area in the Eastern Cape in the late 1960s and early 1970s. City on the other hand does not refer to any particular city, but is rather a symbol of changed and challenge, of opportunity and wealth but also of a world view deficient in tradition and spiritual connection with the land and the ancestors.

S.E.K. Mqhayi has been declared the most successful of all the modern Xhosa writers. He has been proclaimed "The Shakespeare of the Xhosa language". The showering of such praises upon a man have prompted us to study some of his major views about life and the manner of expressing these. * The first chapter deals with the formative influences which played a prominent part in Mqhayi's literary creativity. These are: the home, the school and the church. The portrayal of the man is made more explicit by citing what literary critics in general, and Xhosa poets in particular, have said about Mqhayi. A list of Mqhayi's published works and various comments on these add dimension to his stature. The chapter ends with a brief outline of the development of thought in Mqhayi's works. It is pointed out that each principal thought or major theme constitutes a chapter of this thesis. The first chapter serves as a thread that knits the different chapters together. * The second chapter is a study of Mqhayi's views on the nature and operation of law in Xhosa traditional society. The various techniques employed by Mqhayi in articulating his views are pointed out. Mqhayi intimates in his works that law functions in a Xhosa traditional society in a manner similar to the operation of law in modern society. we have supported Mqhayi's contentions by drawing parallels with the western legal system. It is emphasized in this chapter that "the traditional Xhosa legal system is an integral part of the Xhosa religious order". The idea that Xhosas and other Black races had no laws governing them prior to contact with Whites is refuted by conclusive argument. * Chapter three is a discussion of Mqhayi's serious concern about disunity and a lack of socio-political advancement among the Blacks of South Africa and the breaking down of law and order among the Xhosa people in general and among the various Black races in particular. The reader's attention is drawn also to Mqhayi's concern about deteriorating relations between Blacks and Whites in South Africa. We show how the author offers solutions to these grave problems. Towards the end of the chapter, Mqhayi emerges as a patriot and a humanist. * The concept of patriotism receives attention in chapter four. Biographical sketches of various Black and White leaders whom Mqhayi regarded as patriots are given. These biographies help in interpreting the poems written by Mqhayi about the said patriots. Of great interest to the reader should be the various devices employed by the poet in revealing patriotic action. A consistent and comforting note in most of the poems is the assurance that the patriots who departed from this earth are alive and active in the spiritual world. * Throughout his works Mqhayi denigrates undesirable characters and deprecates evil actions or situations. This is brought out in sharper focus in chapter five. The various techniques he uses are mentioned and discussed. The reader's attention is drawn to the following: (a) virtue is extolled in Mqhayi's writings; (b) the author "preaches the gospel of hope and faith in human progress". Thus, brief notes on the transformation of the undesirable characters bring the chapter to an end. * Literary critics will always point out what they consider as merits or demerits in a man's creative work(s). Chapter six deals with a critical appraisal of criticisms levelled against Mqhayi as a literary artist. The validity or otherwise of the opinions expressed is discussed. * Chapter seven is a general conclusion. The main observations are summarised and suggestions for further studies are indicated. * It is hoped that the entire study will serve as a design or model for understanding the creative works of S.E.K.L.N. Mqhayi. For additional information on the possible value of this study, the literary critic is referred to chapter seven (pages 249-254).

Includes bibliographical references. / This dissertation analyses creative trends in Shona and Ndebele poetry published after the attainment of political independence in 1980. The research tries to establish the close link between poems in the two national languages and post-independence Zimbabwean history in order to examine the link between creative writing and nationalism, which is the context in which creativity takes place, an attempt is made to outline major trends in nationalist history vis-a-vis colonialism. Having set the background for analysis, the research focuses on texts that are published in the context of the apparent cultural renaissance that is ushered by the apparent victory of African nationalism over colonialism. The texts are analysed in the context of the dialectic of nationalism and colonialism.

Bibliography: [355]-364.