A research report in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (by coursework and research report) in the School of Science Education of the University of the Witwatersrand. March 1998 / This research report investigates the influence of Chope (a native Mozambican language) on the teaching and learning of fundamental electric' concepts. Two research instruments were used: a written task and an interview. The written task investigated students' understanding, in Chope and Portuguese (the instructional language), of twenty fundamental electric concepts, as well as translations of scientific sentences about electricity from Portuguese to Chope. The interview was used as an auxiliary instrument to better understand procedures used in the written task. The study showed that Chope as prior knowledge can be understood in three ways: (1) as a positive influence when knowledge acquired through Chope is scientifically acceptable; (2) as a negative influence when a Chope "definition" hinders understanding of an electric concept; and (3) as an auxiliary agent in the understanding of the precise meanings of electrical terms. There are however other influences such as childhood environment and common usage.

Text in English / Negation and tense markers in the verb structure have been the subject of diverse linguistic descriptions, especially in Bantu languages. In Mozambique, however, many Bantu languages, including Cilenge, have not been sufficiently studied. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to examine tense and negation in Cilenge, with special reference to the strategies used to indicate negation and various tenses, from data collected in the Valenge community in Chidenguele, Manjacaze district, Gaza province. The study has shown that this language has wide categories of the past, while the future may be closer or distant and the present appears as focused, habitual, continuous and progressive. The variation and positioning of tense markers are mainly determined by the characteristics of the verb root. In relation to negation, Cilenge employs three strategies: the negative concord, the post-initial and the post-verbal. In some contexts, negative markers may also signal tense. / African Languages / M.A. (African Languages)