M.A. (African Languages) / During the past few decades the short story as a literary genre has attracted much attention. Languages such as Russian, English, French, German and later Afrikaans have produced outstanding writers in this genre, whereas writers in relatively younger languages such as Northern-Sotho are- still grappling with complexities such as form and structure in this art-form. Up to the present, the North-Sotho writer I.T. Maditsi has produced three short story collections, namely Mogologolo, Monyane and Dipheko. A number of selected short stories were selected from the three anthologies for a literary analysis, with special emphasis on characterization, which is one of the most important elements of. a successful short story. Few similar attempts have been made so far in Northern-Sotho. Therefore this study will hopefully make a valuable contribution to a better understanding of the short story in general and the Northern-Sotho short story in particular.

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Dissertation (MA (Sepedi))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / African Languages / unrestricted

The main objectives of this study are to investigate the feasibility of using Northern Sotho as a language of commerce and industry and to determine the extent to which the environment favours the use of Northern Sotho as a language of marketing, advertising, business and acquiring entrepreneurial skills. The investigation is characterised by a two-pronged approach to data collection: a questionnaire survey and focus group interviews. A wealth of data was produced by these means. The data from the first phase were captured and decoded in categories set out in frequency tables. The categories were reduced to thematic constructs. Data from the second phase were captured and encoded in transcripts that were later decoded and reduced to themes, categories and sub-categories. The identified themes are consolidated as follows: · The exclusive hegemonic use of English or Afrikaans as a communication barrier to non-native speakers of these languages in commerce and industry · Socio-economic background of respondents · Existence of language policies for workers in commerce and industry · Dispositions of mother-tongue speakers of Northern Sotho and other languages towards the prospective development and use of Northern Sotho as a language of commerce and industry · Feasibility of developing Northern Sotho lexicography and terminology for the purposes of commerce and industry. The question here is: How does one determine feasibility? Before this issue could be addressed another important and sensitive matter had to be considered: to determine whether native speakers of Northern Sotho and the other South African languages are favourably disposed towards the prospective development and use of Northern Sotho as a language of commerce and industry. A negligible percentage of respondents expressed negative sentiments in this regard (cf. outcomes of focus group interviews). A distinct majority (64,7%) of respondents who filled in questionnaires was not favourably disposed but a significant minority (35,3%) was positive. However, it should be noted that the questionnaire was not designed to reveal explicit allegiances; hence responses in this regard are somewhat open to interpretation. The first step towards determining the feasibility of developing and using Northern Sotho as a language of commerce and industry was to determine the current situation in this regard. English and Afrikaans were naturally found to be dominant in commerce and industry while Northern Sotho was used among friends and colleagues in informal situations. Only 3% of the respondents to the questionnaire survey indicated that they used Northern Sotho for transactional purposes in commercial and industrial settings, while 46,8% reported using a smattering of Northern Sotho in a variety of situations. The second step was to determine the effects that could be expected on the current hegemonic use of English or Afrikaans as languages of commerce and industry. Most respondents reported that a lack of proficiency in English prevented them from performing well in their jobs in commerce and industry and some reported that it had been a significant impediment to their efforts to secure employment. In most instances they had no option but to use English to interact with potential employers because it was the only language in common use in commercial and industrial settings. The third step was to determine whether the respondents were proficient in Northern Sotho. It transpired that 68% of them had no command of the language while some reported that they were still learning it. This could be the contingent of 17,8% referred to above since 50,2% reported that they never use Northern Sotho for purposes relating to commerce and industry. The fourth step was to look for a model of language acquisition that would suit the communication needs of anyone who wished to acquire a command of Northern Sotho for use in commerce and industry. Models have been discussed and one has been recommended. The researcher also conducted a survey to establish the extent to which language policy documents exist in commerce and industry. The results of the questionnaire survey revealed that 42 of the 201 respondents are familiar with the language policy or language practice of the company at their place of work. This was in contrast to all the respondents (in the focus group interviews) who seemed to be unaware of the existence of such policies at their places of work. The need to develop and extend targeted/dedicated lexicographic and terminological resources for the use of Northern Sotho in commerce and industry was also identified. / Prof. L. C. Posthumus

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study examines the aspect of culture and gender in N.S. Zulu's novel Nonyana ya tshepo (The bird of hope) (1997). The approach shall be based on the study of culture and gender representation of male and female characters as viewed by scholars such as Payne (1997), Ruthven (1984), Bauerlin (1997) and Brooker (1999). However, because character is closely linked to plot, the study also outlines plot and character. The study emphasizes the portrayal of male and female characters in terms of culture and gender stereotypes because patriarchy in society dictates that men are seen as superior and women as inferior, women as the dispossessed and men as owners, women as child bearers and men as leaders. The study aims to find out whether or not this modern novel, Nonyana ya tshepo, portrays patriarchal images of men and women. In most of thE! Sesotho older novels sexism was enforced, and sexual inequalities in such novels were taken as universal and therefore normal. The issue of sexual difference and inequality is basically rooted in the tradition of patriarchy that advocates the subjection and oppression of women. Women characters are always subjected to ill-treatment, abuse, torture and suppression as a result of patriarchy and other related factors. In Nonyana ya tshepo women characters are portrayed as being submissive, powerless and easily manipulated by their male counterparts. They are victims of circumstances as they have no power and control. Male characters do not treat female characters with dignity. For example, when Mokwena arrives at his home in the night being drunk, he wakes up his wife Dijeng and swears at her. He accuses her of hiding a man in his bedroom and he finally beats her up. Women characters in Nonyana ya tshepo are also portrayed as victims of sexual abuse by male characters. Mokwena sexually abuses Dikeledi and impregnates her. The same abuse happens to Sebolelo who is sexually abused by her male employee. Sebolelo and Dikeledi become victims of the circumstances. Male characters in the novel are dominant, abusive, manipulative and oppressive. Male and female characters are portrayed in terms of culture and gender stereotypes in Nonyana ya tshepo. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die aspek van kultuur en gender in N.S. Zulu se novelle Nonyana ya tshepo (die voël van hoop) (1997). Die benadering tot die studie is gebaseer op die studie van kultuur en gender representasie van manlike en vroulike karakters soos gesien deur navorsers soos Payne (1997), Ruthven (1984), Bauer1in (1997) en Brooker (1999). Omdat karakterisering egter gekoppel is aan intrige, ondersoek die studie ook intrige en karakter. Die studie beklemtoon die uitbeelding van manlike en vroulike karakters in terme van kultuur en gender stereotipes aangesien patriargie in die gemeenskap voorskryf dat mans as meerderes en vroue as minderes is, vroue as die nie-besitters en mans as besitters, vroue as voortbringers van kinders en mans as leiers. Die studie ondersoek of, in die novelle, Nonyana ya tshepo daar 'n uitbeelding is van patriargale voorstellings van mans en vroue. In die meeste ouer Sesotho novelles, is stereotipes geforseer, en gender ongelykhede is beskou as universeel in hierdie novelles, en dus normaal. Die vraagstuk van gender verskille en ongelykheid is gewortel in die tradisie van patriargie wat die onderwerping en verdrukking van vroue voorstaan. Vroue karakters word altyd onderwerp aan mishandeling en verdrukking as gevolg van patriargie en ander verwante faktore. In Nonyana ya tshepo word vroue karakters uitgebeeld as onderdanig, magteloos, en maklik-manipuleerbaar deur hulle manlike eweknieë. Hulle is slagoffers van omstandighede en het nie mag of kontrole nie. Manlike karakters behandel nie vroulike karakters met respek nie. Byvoorbeeld wanneer Mokwena besope opdaag by die huis mishandel hy sy vrou. Vroulike karakters in Nongana ya tshepo word ook uitgebeeld as slagoffers van seksuele teistering deur manlike karakters. Mokwena word byvoorbeeld seksueel geteister deur Dekeledi. Soortgelyke teistering word ondervind deur Sebolelo wat deur haar manlike werkgewer geteister word. Manlike karakters word as dominerend en manipulerend uitgebeeld. Sowel manlike as vroulike karakters word l.t.v, kulturele en gender stereotipes uitgebeeld in Nonyana ya tshepo.

Thesis (M. A. (African Languages) --University of Limpopo,2005 / The study aimsat finding out thecategorical status of copulatives in Northern Sotho. This will be achieved by examining the morphosemantic features of various copulatives. From a morphological perspective, thestudy focuses on the following types ofcopulative verbs: ke, se, ba, le, na, and COP. The study argues that the foresaid copulatives are not particles but are fully-fledged verbs. As far as the semantic nature of the copulatives is concerned, the study discovered a variety of meanings associated with copulatives, such as the following: the identifying, descriptive,locational and associative. Lastly, the study contends that any research on the copulative in Northern Sotho should be a morphosemantic one, as previous studies focused on one and neglected the other.

By focussing on literary translation dynamics, and on how the current vernacular Bibles (specifically John 1:1-18 in Southern and Northern Sotho) encourage certain and not other understandings of the Bible (popular theology), this project attempts to achieve three related goals: (a) to reintegrate me as a Mosotho Biblical Studies student into the world and discourse of my people, (b) to bridge the gulf between the world of the Basotho believers and the academic world which has produced copious resources for the study of the Bible, and (c) to explore the implications of, or to assess the value of, the availability of the Bible in the vernacular for the Church and the academy in South Africa. The first goal is rather subjective and difficult to quantify. The second is critical in a complex plural society like South Africa. The third cannot be dealt with conclusively, perhaps the use of this project lies in pointing out various possibilities in this arena. The overarching bias (hypothesis) is that conscious critical work with the Bible in the vernacular is enriching in more ways than one. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.

M.A. / This study deals with the portrayal of female characters in three novels of K.E. Ntsane. The novels are Masoabi ngwana Mosotho wa kajeno, Nna Sajene Kokobela, C.I.D. and Bao batho. CHAPTER ONE This chapter deals with the aim and scope of the study, approach, the biography of K.E. Ntsane and his contribution to Sesotho literature, a short summary of the three novels, the cultural image of a Mosotho woman and the conclusion. CHAPTER TWO This chapter consists of the origin of feminism and its effect on women. The definition and method of characterization are discussed in relation to the female characters in selected works. The woman in a Sesotho culture is examined in some detail. CHAPTER THREE In chapter 3, the portrayal of female characters in the novels is discussed. Their behaviour as well as the author's attitude is examined. CHAPTER FOUR Chapter 4 deals with Ntsane's style in the three novels. CHAPTER FIVE This chapter is a general conclusion to this study.

Analyses of Sotho and Xhosa seem to concentrate predominantly on morphological, tonological and phonological studies. Semantics seems to be a relatively neglected area in African Languages. It is the view of the writer that attention should now be turned increasingly to semantics. In fact, except perhaps for van Rooy's Venda work semantic field analysis does not seem to have been undertaken in African Languages. This thesis is an attempt to contribute in this particular area of linguistic analysis. In addition to that, the present study is an attempt to explore new dimensions in African language study, namely the application of componential analysis to two African languages, Sesotho and Xhosa. In general terns, the aim of the present study is to explore the relationship between language and culture. Very little seems to have been done in this particular area in African languages. In this connection the only work that comes to mind is van Rooy' s Venda work which has already been referred to above. In that work, van Rooy tries to show the integration of language and culture in the communication of the Christian message as illustrated by the Venda Bible. Perhaps with the notable exception of Siertsema there seems to be some scholarly concensus about the relationship between language and culture as the following brief survey will show. Boas, the American anthropologist, for example has investigated the interplay of the environment, cultural life and linguistic form. This be has done by comparing Kwakiutl, an American Indian language, with the Eskimo language. Lotz shows how the structure of one semantic field, or area of semantically related terms, namely numerals, can shape the goals a particular linguistic community strives for in a major cultural activity such as sports. Conklin shows how languages may differ not only in their segmentation of a semantic field e.g. colour, but also in the dimensions of semantic fields themselves. Siertsema, on the other hand, takes a different view from the above views. Only a brief summary of his views will be given here. A fuller exposition will be made in the next chapter when some theoretical issues are considered. He disputes the view that language and culture are related. It must be noted though that he does not speak specifically of culture but of a world view. He examines four "properties" of language and on their basis disputes the language - world view relationship which he eventually dismisses as showing circular reasoning. Perhaps another scholar that needs to be mentioned is Whorf who admittedly is not writing about semantic fields. His relevance to the present discussion lies in the fact that he also considers the relationship between language and other phenomena, namely thought. He writes, "We dissect nature along lines laid down by our native languages. The categories and types that we isolate from the world of phenomena we do not find there because they stare every observer in the face; on the contrary, the world is presented in a kaleidoscopic flux of impressions 'Which has to be organized by our minds - and this means largely by the linguistic systems in our minds. We cut nature up, organize it into concepts, and ascribe signfiicances as we do, largely because we are parties to an agreement to organize it in this way - an agreement that ... is codified in the patterns of our language". Whorf 's theory has been called the Dissection Theory from the opening line of the quotation that has just been referred to. Put in a nutshell, what Whorf is saying is that language has a constraining influence on thought or cognition. Or, perhaps put in another way, it is through language that reality is NECESSARILY apprehended. Thought and cognition have to be seen as necessarily dependent on language, at least in certain respects. Whorf discusses a linguistic - philosophic problem which is not really relevant to a study that addresses itself to semantic fields. In exploring the relationship between language and culture some semantic fields will be analyzed. A lexical analysis of each semantic field will then be done applying some of the insights and techniques of componential analysis. What this means, is that we shall start with vocabulary, analyze it and see through its structure the structured world of culture. The question may well be asked, why Sotho and Xhosa? Firstly, the reason for choosing these two languages is for comparison and contrast. Sotho and Xhosa belong to the same language area, traditionally known as the south-eastern zone. As a result, these two languages share certain morphological, syntactic and phonological phenomena. Because the present study is basically semantic one can also add that the choice of the two languages is meant to reveal the extent of semantic similarities and differences between them. Secondly, the writer is, so to speak, bi-cultural. He is very well acquainted with both Basotho and amaXhosa cultures firstly, because of the circumstances of his birth and secondly, because of his education. The writer is actually Sotho speaking with a Xhosa speaking mother. He also has university training in both Sotho and Xhosa, languages he can speak fluently. All these factors are mentioned here in order to lay some claim to competence in both Sotho and Xhosa. Basotho and amaxhosa live in slightly distinct worlds despite all linguistic affinities between their languages. They have slightly different perceptions of the same reality. This accounts for the difference in the organization of any selected field, however slight in some cases. This factor seems to be an indication of the fact that the conceptualization of the universe differs from language to language. This is the point that is also made by Hoijer and Lyons. Hoijer argues that the "real world" to a large extent depends, perhaps unconsciously , on the language habits of the speakers. He goes on to say that no two languages are so similar as to be considered to represent the same social reality. This naturally goes for Sotho and Xhosa as well. The world in which different peoples live are different and cannot merely be characterized as the same world with only different labels. Lyons is even more pertinent to the present study, ''Every language is integrated with the culture in which it operates; and its lexical structure reflects those distinctions which are (or have been) important in the cultures. This statement cannot be overemphasized. While the assumption will be held that language reflects culture, one may hasten to add that not every word in a language does so. For example, there does not seem to be anything particularly cultural about interjectives or about ideophones. In other words, some lexical items are more significant than others in this respect. One should therefore rather speak of lexical items as being a mirror of culture in 'a selective kind of way. As Hymes puts it, "In a particular culture a language serves as a sort of "metalanguage", a cultural way of communicating about much, not all of the culture". (Emphasis added).

MA (Northern Sotho) / Senthara ya M. E. R. Mathivha Dipopelong tsa Afrika, Bokgabo le Setso / See the attached abstract below

Thesis (Ph. D.(Translation and Linguistics Studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2017 / This thesis assesses the use of Northern Sotho as an official language in the Capricorn and Mopani District Municipalities of Limpopo Province. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa stipulates clearly that all eleven official languages are equal. The study argues that Northern Sotho, as one of the 11 official languages of the Republic of South Africa, deserves to be treated with respect. It (the study) has shown that Northern Sotho is currently not enjoying the proper status that is afforded to it by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996). The business world does not make use of Northern Sotho as it is regarded as an inferior language which is associated uneducated people. Furthermore, the study has discovered that many of the public and private sector companies communicate with their employees and members of the public in English, while most of these employees and members lack the necessary linguistic proficiency. Information that is directed to employees and members of the public only serves the purpose if it is distributed to them in the languagethat they best understand. The main factor with regard to the use of Northern Sotho in all spheres of life is that many Northern Sotho speakers feel ashamed of speaking the language, particularly in public. This is not surprising because many, mainly educated African people, despise their indigenous languages because they consider them backward, inferior and under-developed. English is still used as a dominant language. The researcher drew on theories of scholars such as Piaget, Laswell, Weaver and Schramm to ground this study. Ethnolinguistic vitality theory is also considered as the study of minority languages and more specifically, Northern Sotho, involves language vitality issues. The researcher has used qualitative research methodology designed through document analysis, observations and individual interviews. Research findings confirm that the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996) indicates that all the 11 official languages should be used in all spheres of life with equal regard and consideration. This implies, among others, the entrenchment of the right of learners and students to be taught in the language that they best understand. The 12 participants from Capricorn and the 12 from Mopani Districtv Municipalities stated that the use of English should not be tampered with. All the other remaining respondents concurred that Northern Sotho should be granted its rightful status in all official communication. Northern Sotho was found to have linguistic vitality in that majority of Capricorn and Mopani District Municipalities’ residents are Northern Sotho speakers who deserve to be afforded their constitutional right to be served in the medium of Northern Sotho as their indigenous language of choice