Thesis (Ph.D. (Translation Studies and Linguistics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / This study explores the influence of the Khelobedu Dialect on Standard Sepedi with a special focus on the students’ writing. A classroom is a space where students need to feel the confidence to take part in classroom activities, language should not be a barrier. Post-1994, South Africa had to take quick measures to redress the injustices that were implemented towards indigenous languages by the previous government. This meant that South African indigenous languages were elevated to official status. Part of this process of officiating indigenous languages of South Africa was based on the concept of language planning which required that official languages must have orthography. This meant that those dialects which did not have orthography could not form part of the standardisation process. Khelobedu is one of the dialects in Sepedi which was left out during the standardisation of Sepedi. This was because of the settlement of the missionaries in South Africa. With the growing need to promote multilingualism and to use indigenous languages for learning and teaching, students who speak Khelobedu as a first language face challenges in the Multilingual classroom where Sepedi is used as a medium of instruction. Instruments such as individual interviews, focus group interviews and document analysis was used to gather data for this qualitative study. The data for this study has revealed that students face various challenges in the Multilingual Studies classroom, in the individual interviews participants have highlighted challenges such as phonological, spelling and finding relevant terminologies from their first language to the standardised Sepedi. The data from the focus group has revealed that most of the participants agree that these challenges are predominant. Both types of interviews revealed that participants will appreciate having orthography from the first language be added to the standard Sepedi. Document analysis instrument data has revealed the challenges that the students face in the Multilingual Studies classroom. With the current trends in Higher Education where education is evolving and issues of inclusivity are of importance, the study suggests a model for the re-standardisation of Sepedi where orthography from Khelobedu can be added through the process of corpus language planning. / National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS)

The dissertation tries to explain why most of the Bapedi people do not feel free to speak their language when they are among other communities. It explains why the speakers of the so-called ‘inferior’ dialects of the Limpopo Province have an inferiority complex while the speakers of the ‘superior’ dialects are confident when speaking their dialects. The standardisation of the Northern Sotho Language Board and the missionary activities within the Bapedi communities led to the creation of 'superior' and ‘inferior’ dialects. A detailed discussion is presented of the social rural and urban varieties, which found in Bapedi culture. Some of these varieties are kept secret and therefore are unknown to the public; and others, which are not secretive in nature. The use of language and the impact of language contact between languages is discussed. / African Languages / M.A. (African Languages)

Thesis (MA (African Languages))-- University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / The study on accounts examines how people account for the activities and experiences through our personal stories emanating from how they behave in the community, and because of the past stories they tell. The study thus provides an examination of accounts as well as account-giving. It provides a scientific understanding of the value and impact of personal stories and story-telling in people’s lives. The problem experienced in relation to accounts relates to how accounts impact on people and vice versa. One hypotheses of this study on accounts relates to the nature of the process associated with people’s presentation of personal account to others. The aims and objectives of this study crucially relate to providing an analysis and understanding of accounts. The research method used in this study provides a basis to the analysis and understanding of accounts in the sense that individuals who were interviewed in the process, provided informative accounts of their childhood stories, some of whom were not aware that they have or had an impact on their daily lives. The main findings of the research provide insights into accounts. The findings are informative and contribute to theory development as regard account-giving, including factors relating to deference and respect. The recommendation that given in this work is that personal stories have a scientific merit in terms of a comunication-theoretic approach to narratives, as shown in the study.

The dissertation tries to explain why most of the Bapedi people do not feel free to speak their language when they are among other communities. It explains why the speakers of the so-called ‘inferior’ dialects of the Limpopo Province have an inferiority complex while the speakers of the ‘superior’ dialects are confident when speaking their dialects. The standardisation of the Northern Sotho Language Board and the missionary activities within the Bapedi communities led to the creation of 'superior' and ‘inferior’ dialects. A detailed discussion is presented of the social rural and urban varieties, which found in Bapedi culture. Some of these varieties are kept secret and therefore are unknown to the public; and others, which are not secretive in nature. The use of language and the impact of language contact between languages is discussed. / African Languages / M.A. (African Languages)

Thesis (M.A. (Translation studies and linguistics)) --University of Limpopo, 2010 / Refer to document

Thesis (M.A. (Translation Studies and Linguistics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2008 / Refer to document

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.

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Die term deiksis is afgelei van die Griekse woord deiktikos wat 'wys na' betaken, en verwys na daardie uitdrukkings wat in 'n taal gebruik word om die belangrikste orientasiepunte in 'n gespreksituasie te verwoord. Aile deiktiese interpretasies kan net relatief tot 'n spesifieke verwysingspunt (deiktiese sentrum) gemaak word. Vyf deiktiese kategoriee word onderskei. Persoonsdeiksis hou verband met die deiktiese persona, m.a.w. die spreker en aangesprokeneen moontlik 'n derde persoon indian hy/sy/dit in die gespreksituasie teenwoordig is. Persoonsdeiksis word hoofsaaklik in Noord-Sotho se kongruensie-en pronominale sisteem gereflekteer. Sosiale deiksis verwys na daardie uitdrukkings wat die spreker se houding teenoor die aangesprokene of die derde persoon weergee. In Noord-Sotho word leksikale items met 'n sosiaal--deiktiese funksie aangetrefwat die spreker se bewondering, afkeer of respek teenoor die aangesprokene reflekteer, asook verwantskapstenne en aanspreekvonne. Alhoewel Noord-Sotho se pro nominate stelsel neutraal is ten opsigte van geslag, is daar ander maniere om taalkundig 'n onderskeid tussen die geslagte te maak. Plekdeiktiese uitdrukkings word gebruik om die Jigging van 'n objek relatief tot die deiktiese sentrum te beskryf. Die posisie van die gespreksgenote of hulle fisiese gestaltes kan hierdie deiktiese sentrum uitmaak. In Noord-Sothoword demonstratiewe, demonstratief-kopulatiewe, lokatiewe kopulatiewe,lokatiewe bywoorde en sekere werkwoorde vir hierdie doe I aangewend. Tyddeiksis word in Noord-Sotho hoofsaaklik deur middel van temporale bywoorde geleksikaliseer en deur middel van tydsvonne in die werkwoord gegrammatikaliseer. Die interpretasie van hierdie uitdrukkings is van die deiktiese sentrum (tyd wanneer die uiting gemaak is) afhanklik. Temporale bywoorde sowel as die tydsvonn van die werkwoord beskryf die tyd wanneer die handeling plaasvind. Hierdie vonne sal aandui of die handeling v66r koderingstyd plaasgevind het (verlede tyd), of dit na koderingstyd sal plaasvind (toe~omende tyd), en of die handeling met koderingstyd saamval (teenwoordige tyd). Diskoersdeiksis verwys na daardie uitdrukkings wat gebruik word om na dele van die diskoers, of na naamwoordelike antesedente waarvoor daar nie 'n referent in die buitetaalse werklikheid bestaan nie, te verwys. In Noord-Sothoword demonstratiewe, pronomina van die derde persoon, demonstratief-kopulatiewe, sekere bywoorde, identifiserende kopulatiewe, sekere kwalifikatiewe en sekere voegwoorde vir hierdie doel aangewend. / The term deixis is derived from a Greek word deiktikos which means 'point at' and it is used in grammar to refer to those expressions which describe the essential points of orientation in a speech situation. The interpretation of deictic expressions can only be made in relation to a specific reference point (the deictic centre). Five deictic categories are distinguished. Person deixis concerns the deictic persons, that is the speaker, the addressee and possibly a third person if he/she/it is present in the speech situation. Person deixis is mainly reflected in the concordia! and the pronominal system of Northern Sotho. Social deixis refers to those expressions which reflect the speaker's attitude towards the addressee or the third person. Such expressions include lexical items which reflect the speaker's admiration, dislike or respect towards the addressee, as well as kinship terms and vocatives. Although the pronominal system of Northern Sotho is neutral with regard to sex, there are other linguistic ways in which gender distinctions can be drawn. Place deictic expressions are used to identify the location of an object relative to the deictic centre. The location of the speech participants or their bodies may constitute this deictic centre. Demonstratives, demonstrative-copulatives, locational copulatives, locative adverbs and certain verbs are used for this purpose in Northern Sotho. Time deixis is mainly lexicalised by means of temporal adverbs and grammaticalised by means of tense morphemes in the Northern Sotho verb. The interpretation of these expressions depends on the deictic centre (time when the utterance is made). Time adverbs as well as the tenses describe the time of an event. These structures will indicate whether the action took place before coding time (past tense), whether it will take place after coding time (future tense), or whether it coincides with coding time (present tense). Discourse deixis pertains to those expressions which are used to refer to parts of the discourse, or to nominal antecedents of which the referent is not present in the extra-linguistic context of the utterance. Demonstratives, demonstrative copulatives, third person pronouns, certain adverbs, identifying copulatives, certain qualificatives and certain conjunctions are used for this purpose in Northern Sotho. / African Languages / D Litt. et Phil. (Afrikatale)

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Die term deiksis is afgelei van die Griekse woord deiktikos wat 'wys na' betaken, en verwys na daardie uitdrukkings wat in 'n taal gebruik word om die belangrikste orientasiepunte in 'n gespreksituasie te verwoord. Aile deiktiese interpretasies kan net relatief tot 'n spesifieke verwysingspunt (deiktiese sentrum) gemaak word. Vyf deiktiese kategoriee word onderskei. Persoonsdeiksis hou verband met die deiktiese persona, m.a.w. die spreker en aangesprokeneen moontlik 'n derde persoon indian hy/sy/dit in die gespreksituasie teenwoordig is. Persoonsdeiksis word hoofsaaklik in Noord-Sotho se kongruensie-en pronominale sisteem gereflekteer. Sosiale deiksis verwys na daardie uitdrukkings wat die spreker se houding teenoor die aangesprokene of die derde persoon weergee. In Noord-Sotho word leksikale items met 'n sosiaal--deiktiese funksie aangetrefwat die spreker se bewondering, afkeer of respek teenoor die aangesprokene reflekteer, asook verwantskapstenne en aanspreekvonne. Alhoewel Noord-Sotho se pro nominate stelsel neutraal is ten opsigte van geslag, is daar ander maniere om taalkundig 'n onderskeid tussen die geslagte te maak. Plekdeiktiese uitdrukkings word gebruik om die Jigging van 'n objek relatief tot die deiktiese sentrum te beskryf. Die posisie van die gespreksgenote of hulle fisiese gestaltes kan hierdie deiktiese sentrum uitmaak. In Noord-Sothoword demonstratiewe, demonstratief-kopulatiewe, lokatiewe kopulatiewe,lokatiewe bywoorde en sekere werkwoorde vir hierdie doe I aangewend. Tyddeiksis word in Noord-Sotho hoofsaaklik deur middel van temporale bywoorde geleksikaliseer en deur middel van tydsvonne in die werkwoord gegrammatikaliseer. Die interpretasie van hierdie uitdrukkings is van die deiktiese sentrum (tyd wanneer die uiting gemaak is) afhanklik. Temporale bywoorde sowel as die tydsvonn van die werkwoord beskryf die tyd wanneer die handeling plaasvind. Hierdie vonne sal aandui of die handeling v66r koderingstyd plaasgevind het (verlede tyd), of dit na koderingstyd sal plaasvind (toe~omende tyd), en of die handeling met koderingstyd saamval (teenwoordige tyd). Diskoersdeiksis verwys na daardie uitdrukkings wat gebruik word om na dele van die diskoers, of na naamwoordelike antesedente waarvoor daar nie 'n referent in die buitetaalse werklikheid bestaan nie, te verwys. In Noord-Sothoword demonstratiewe, pronomina van die derde persoon, demonstratief-kopulatiewe, sekere bywoorde, identifiserende kopulatiewe, sekere kwalifikatiewe en sekere voegwoorde vir hierdie doel aangewend. / The term deixis is derived from a Greek word deiktikos which means 'point at' and it is used in grammar to refer to those expressions which describe the essential points of orientation in a speech situation. The interpretation of deictic expressions can only be made in relation to a specific reference point (the deictic centre). Five deictic categories are distinguished. Person deixis concerns the deictic persons, that is the speaker, the addressee and possibly a third person if he/she/it is present in the speech situation. Person deixis is mainly reflected in the concordia! and the pronominal system of Northern Sotho. Social deixis refers to those expressions which reflect the speaker's attitude towards the addressee or the third person. Such expressions include lexical items which reflect the speaker's admiration, dislike or respect towards the addressee, as well as kinship terms and vocatives. Although the pronominal system of Northern Sotho is neutral with regard to sex, there are other linguistic ways in which gender distinctions can be drawn. Place deictic expressions are used to identify the location of an object relative to the deictic centre. The location of the speech participants or their bodies may constitute this deictic centre. Demonstratives, demonstrative-copulatives, locational copulatives, locative adverbs and certain verbs are used for this purpose in Northern Sotho. Time deixis is mainly lexicalised by means of temporal adverbs and grammaticalised by means of tense morphemes in the Northern Sotho verb. The interpretation of these expressions depends on the deictic centre (time when the utterance is made). Time adverbs as well as the tenses describe the time of an event. These structures will indicate whether the action took place before coding time (past tense), whether it will take place after coding time (future tense), or whether it coincides with coding time (present tense). Discourse deixis pertains to those expressions which are used to refer to parts of the discourse, or to nominal antecedents of which the referent is not present in the extra-linguistic context of the utterance. Demonstratives, demonstrative copulatives, third person pronouns, certain adverbs, identifying copulatives, certain qualificatives and certain conjunctions are used for this purpose in Northern Sotho. / African Languages / D Litt. et Phil. (Afrikatale)

The use of the mother tongue (MT) as a medium of instruction in schools is still a problematic subject of debate in South Africa and the continent at large. In most African countries, English remains the medium of instruction (MoI). This structured research sought to highlight the pros and cons of using mother tongue instruction in schools, specifically Northern Sotho, which is spoken by one of the ethnic groups in South Africa. Currently, in South Africa, children receive mother tongue education from grade one to three. In this study, the researcher argues that mother tongue should be used from grade one to twelve. For this study, the researcher relied on extant literature on mother tongue education. The concept of Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALP) by Cummins (2001) was used to guide this study. The argument for mother tongue education is premised on the fact that it is crucial for the success and progress of children at school. As an example, studies have shown that children who are taught in their mother tongue such as Afrikaans and English, which remain the defacto mediums of instruction in the schools in South Africa, and French, German, Mandarin, etc. in other countries, excel in school and understand subjects such as Maths and Science better. / Ngangišano ya tšhomišo ya polelo ya gae bjalo ka polelo yeo e šomišwago go ruta dikolong e sa le taba ye bothata dinageng tše ntši le mo Afrika Borwa. Dikolong tše ntši mo dinageng tše, Seisemane ke leleme leo le sa šomišwago bjalo ka leleme la go ruta. Tlhamo ya nyakišišo ye e nyaka go gateletša bohlokwa bja go šomiša polelo ya gae bjalo ka polelo yeo e ka šomišwago dikolong, kudukudu Northern Sotho yeo e bolelwago ke ye nngwe ya dihlopha tša MaAfrika Borwa. Gonabjale mo Afrika Borwa, bana ba rutwa ka leleme la gae go tloga go mphato wa 1-3. Mo thutong ye, monyakišiši o nganga gore polelo ya gae e swanetše go šomišwa go tloga go mphato wa pele go fihlela go wa masomepedi. Thutong ye, monyakišiši o ipotile ka dingwalo tšeo di ngwadilwego ka ga thuto ya polelo ya gae. Kakanyo ya “Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALP)” yeo e tlilego ka Cummins (2001) e tla šomišwa go tlhahla thuto ye. Ngangišano ka ga thuto ya leleme la gae e theilwe godimo ga nnete ya gore le bohlokwa kudukudu go katlego le tšwelopele ya bana sekolong. Bjalo ka mohlala, dithuto di bontšhitše gore bana bao ba rutwago ka leleme la gae bjalo ka leleme la SeAfrikaanse le Seisemane, ao e sa lego maleme a thuto dikolong mo Afrika Borwa, SeForentšhe, Sejeremane, SeMandarini bjalobjalo kua dinageng tše dingwe, ba dira mošomo wo mobotse sekolong gomme ba kwešiša dithuto tša go swana le Thutadipalo le Saense bokaone. / African Languages / M.A. (African Languages)