Thesis (MA. (African Languages)) -- University of Limpopo, 2013 / This research is aimed at encouraging and empowering the Northern Sotho speaking people to make use of idioms in their everyday communication. A deep explanation of idioms was done as to how, where and when to use them. It has been discovered that idioms are not properly used at different places and levels. The researcher urges people to make use of idioms because they are rich with cultural values such as love and respect. It is very important, therefore, to understand and use idioms correctly as they have the literal as well as the figurative meanings.

M.A. / CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The idiom is defined in this chapter. Information gathered from different sources including books is used to differentiate the idiom from the proverb. CHAPTER 2 THE ORIGIN OF IDIOMS Some sources, from which Northern Sotho idioms originate are discussed. The semantic and grammatical characteristics of idioms are also examined in the second chapter. CHAPTER 3 SOME SYNTACTICAL PATTERNS OF NORTHERN SOTHO IDIOMS This chapter is based on the main aim of this study. Most informants from whom some idioms were gathered, could not give their syntactical patterns, nor differentiate them from proverbs. Special idiomatic patterns are formed with verb-stems in the infinitive mood followed by nouns, pronouns, adverbs etc. as adjuncts. CHAPTER 4 THE SUBJECT-MATTER OF IDIOMS In the fourth chapter, the content of idioms and experiences to which these idioms give expression, are treated comprehensively. CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION Idiomatic patterns in Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Tswana and Tsonga

M.A. / Growth and change in the idiomatic lore of Northern Sotho in Mamelodi has emphasized the need for a thorough study on emergent idioms. There is abundant evidence that Northern Sotho as a language abounds in idioms covering all phases of the experience and life of the people ...

M.A. (African Languages) / Please refer to full text to view abstract