Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study focuses on the phonological process of Nasal Strengthening in Northern Sotho. It sets out to employ two phonological models to describe the phenomenon in order to determine which model presents the most credible explanation for the phenomenon. The core elements of a classical linear model, the so called SPE model of Transformational Generative (TG) phonology is described and applied to the phenomenon. It is indicated that a number of phonological rules are actually involved in the process as a whole. It is argued that the following rules are in fact involved in the generation of appropriate phonetic outputs: a strengthening rule, a homorganic nasal assimilation rule and a nasal deletion rule. The previously inexplicable /k'/ insertion rule is shown to be nothing more than part of a more general process of glottal stop strengthening. This is indeed a new view with respect to the traditional stance on "vowel strengthening." Although the majority of the sound changes may be accounted for within a TG model, the formalism of the strengthening rule itself unfortunately does not reflect any phonetic explanation for the phenomenon. A second, non-linear, phonological model, i.e. a Feature Geometry model (FG) is described and applied to the same phenomenon. It appears that although the more contemporary FG model presents innovative ideas on the structure of phonological representations and processes, it can not account for the strengthening of voiced fricatives at all. At the most this model seems to be able only to account for voiceless fricatives being strengthened to voiced obstruents. It is clear that none of the models can present a complete and credible account of Nasal Strengthening in Northern Sotho. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie focus op die proses van Nasaalversterking in Noord Sotho. Twee fonologiese modelle word gebruik in die analise van die verskynsel ten einde te bepaal welke model die mees geskik is om 'n geloofwaardige verklaring aan te bied. Die hoofelemente van 'n lineere Transformasioneel Generatiewe (TG) model word beskryf en toegepas in Noord Sotho. Daar word aangetoon dat die proses uit 'n verskeidenheid verwante prosesse bestaan en daar word geargumenteer dat die volgende reels almal 'n rol speel: "n verstekingsreel, 'n homorgane assimilasiereel en 'n nasaaldelesiereel. 'n Vorige onverklaarbare Ik.'/ invoegingsreel word geherinterpreteer as 'n glottale stop versterkingsreel wat nuwe verduidelikings bied vir die sg versterking van vokale. Alhoewel die meeste van die klankwisselinge verantwoord kan word binne 'n TG model, bied die format van die versterkingsreel ongelukkig geen fonetiese motivering vir die proses aan me. 'n Tweede model, die sg Kenmerkgeometrie (KG), is vervolgens beskryf en toegepas. Dit het heel gou geblyk dat hierdie model, ten spyte van baie innovasies, nie in staat is om die versterking van sternhebbende frikatiewe te verantwoord nie. Dit kon slegs 'n sinvolle beskrywing van die versterking van stemlose frikatiewe moontlik maak. Uit hierdie studie blyk dit dat nie een van die twee modelle wat aangewend is 'n volledige en geloofwaardige beskrywing van die verskynsel van Nasaalversterking in Noord Sotho kan aanbied nie.

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

African Languages / M.A. (Bantu Languages)

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study intends to describe and explain syllable structure processes in Northern Sotho. It deals with phonological processes such as vowel deletion, semivocalization and semivowel insertion. The major aim of these processes is to restore the preferred ICVI syllable structure which has been violated by morphological processes such as passive, diminutive, the construction of absolute pronouns, etc. Two phonological models are applied with the intention to determine the one that presents the most credible explanation for the phenomenon at hand. The two models employed are, respectively, the Transformational (TG) and Feature Geometry (FG) models. It appears that Feature Geometry model yields better results in the description of syllable structure processes in Northern Sotho. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie beskryf en verklaar sillabestruktuur prosesse in Noord-Sotho. Die tersaaklike fonologiese prosesse is vokaaldelesie, semivokalisasie en semivokaalinvoeging. Die doel van hierdie prosesse is om "n bepaalde voorkeursillabestruktuur IKVI te herstel wat versteur word deur morfologiese prosesse met die vorming van die passief, diminutief, die konstruksie van absolute voornaamwoorde ensovoorts. Twee fonologiese modelle word geïmplementeer ten einde te bepaal welke model die mees geloofwaardige verklarings vir die betrokke verskynsels kan bied. Die Transformasioneel-Generatiewe (TG) en Kenmerk Geometriese(KG) modelle word respektiewelik toegepas. Dit skyn asof die Kenmerk Geometriese model beter resultate lewer in die beskrywing van sillabestruktuurprosesse in Noord-Sotho.

M.A. (African Languages) / The interjective demonstrative appears to be a problematic word category. This study investigates the current views on this subject in Northern Sotho. The morphology, semantics, syntax and the phonology of the interjective demonstrative are investigated and analyzed with the help of native speakers of Northern Sotho. The investigation reveals new perspectives concerning the unique character of the interjective demonstrative as a word category ...

Thesis (M.A. (Translation Studies and Linguistics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / The aim of this study was to examine the morpho-phonological properties of the anaphoric constructions in Northern Sotho using Binding Theory. This study adopted the qualitative research method, where participant observation was used to collect data. The study employed Textual Analysis to analyse the data. The study identified reflexive and reciprocal data that constitute anaphors in Northern Sotho. The study’s findings indicate that there are two types of anaphors, namely: reciprocals and reflexives. In Northern Sotho, anaphors are in the form of verbs. The basic structure of the reciprocal is the root verb, the reciprocal suffix (-an) plus the terminative vowel (-a). The study found that reciprocals do not change or influence the phonology of the verb. Yet another finding is that reflexives change the phonology of the verb. When the reflexive prefix -i is attached to the root verb, it sometimes changes the assimilation process.

South Africa is a multilingual country and this has certain implications on the development of cognitive-linguistic skills such as phonological processing (amongst others), which are essential for reading development. Research has, in the past, not adequately addressed the development of, and relationship between, a broad range of phonological processing and reading skills in South Africa. The study investigates the relationship between phonological processing skills and reading development in Northern Sotho-English bilingual children. Ninety-eight participants, divided into group 1 (n=48) and group 2 (n=50) based on their Language of Learning Language of Teaching were sampled. Group 1 received literacy instruction in Northern Sotho, whilst group 2 in English. Participants were assessed using a battery of phonological processing tests and on reading abilities in English and Northern Sotho. Correlations, multiple regressions and multivariate analyses of variance were conducted. Findings revealed that phonological processing skills are essential in reading development in both the first and second language of the participants. / African Languages / M.A. (Linguistics)