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

The inability to attribute art objects to the Basotho culture remains a problem for art historians and anthropologists alike. Current publications on the arts of Africa include few, if any, objects attributed to South Sotho-speakers, and often attribute Basotho objects under the broad label of "southern African," rather than linking them to artists from this particular culture. This is largely due to a lack of research on Basotho arts and culture, as well as the widespread belief that the cultures of the region are simply too enmeshed with one another for the arts to be distinguished. However, it is important that we be able to tell the art of one African people from another if we are ever to understand accurately how art expresses peoples' ideas and beliefs about themselves and the world in which they live. Through this project I challenge the label of "southern Africa" that is so often used in attributing art objects from the region, and develop a definitive system of identification for Basotho objects. This system differentiates Basotho arts from works produced by other cultures in southern Africa, and produces the first all-inclusive anthology of South Sotho art history. While my work first and foremost demonstrates the existence of a unique and identifiable Basotho visual style, it also investigates the roles that stylistic characteristics have played in the presentation of southern Sotho identity beginning with the formation of the Basotho polity 200 years ago. Furthermore I identify the contextual and cultural significance of an entire range of Basotho forms, generating a better understanding of Basotho art and culture. In order to complete this, I use a Morellian approach to identify and define the unique and specific visual aspects found among Basotho arts. This type of analysis is based solely on the external physical characteristics of a work of art, and focuses on the identification of similarities and differences within a group of objects. The resulting data provides a taxonomy for the classification of cultural, regional, and local styles through the isolation of the visual aspects of individual objects. However, because the Morellian methodology takes a morphological approach, I use historical literature and contemporary interviews to connect the function and social context to the objects in order truly to develop an art history of the Basotho. Through this analysis, I identify visual aspects that are unique to southern Sotho arts, and further locate visual signs that assert one's specific clan lineage within the broad "southern Sotho" cultural grouping. This allows me to clearly define the meaning and significance of the "Basotho" cultural moniker, and develop a nuanced understanding of identity amongst southern Sotho peoples.

Thesis (M.A. (African Languages)) --University of Limpopo, 2010 / This study is a comparative analysis of two English monolingual dictionaries and two Northern Sotho – English bilingual dictionaries, namely Concise Oxford English Dictionary(2006), Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (2006), Pharos Popular Northern Sotho Dictionary (1995) and Sesotho Sa Leboa – English Pukuntšu Dictionary (2006). The above four dictionaries are compared in terms of cross – referencing, pronunciation and parts of speech. The microstructure of certain dictionaries does not address most problems that dictionary users have. It is in the microstructure, where dictionary users learn that certain lemmata are synonymous, polysemous in sense, antonyms or that a lemma has two alternative spellings, and that both spelling are acceptable. This is done through cross –referencing. Dictionary users need to be guided on how lemmata are pronounced, otherwise the meaning of lemmata become distorted. The other problem which the microstructure has to deal with, is to indicate the type of parts of speech lemmata are. This research is an attempt to make lexicographers aware of the importance of including the above aspects in the microstructure of their dictionaries.

Thesis (M.A. (African Languages)) --University of Limpopo, 2013 / This study entails the translation of scientific terms from English into Northern Sotho. The reason one conducted this study is because translators experience difficulties in finding the correct equivalent terms, especially in Northern Sotho. Consequently, borrowing and transliteration of terms becomes their last resort. However, that does not help users of dictionaries to achieve their communicative goal. The study highlights that, the borrowing of terms leads to language shift and death as users no longer consider other equivalents. In addition, the study indicates that the constant usage of the borrowed terms causes the terms to lose meaning and function. The way in which people translate idiomatic expressions is a huge problem as well. Mostly, people end up using literal translation and subsequently, the whole meaning of a text is lost or misunderstood.

The study investigated the beliefs and practices of Sotho antenatal women. The aim was to describe the beliefs and practices of Sotho antenatal women in order to contribute to the identification of guidelines for a teaching programme for both midwives and traditional birth attendants. A non-experimental, qualitative research approach, which was exploratory-descriptive and contextual in nature, guided the researcher to explore and describe the beliefs and practices of Sotho antenatal women. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the Sotho antenatal women as well as traditional birth attendants. Six themes emerged from the study through the interviews:  the nature of pregnancy  prescriptive practices  restrictive practices  sexual activity  the practice of clinic attendants  the practice of attending traditional birth attendants / Health Studies / M.A (Department of Health Studies)

The dynamic nature of drama is reflected in the inherent dichotomous composition of text and performance. The continuing controversy about the infrequent public performances of the almost 250 published texts in African languages and the literary approach towards Northern Sotho texts have prompted the present survey. Two main reasons are identified for the existing textual centricity in the approach towards Northern Sotho dramas, namely text-external and text-internal factors. The latter forms the main focus of attention in this study. The role of the didascalies as semiotic sign-system - referring to all aspects of the dramatic text which contain instructions for a potential performance - are investigated. The scrutiny of the stage directions afforded an unequalled vantage point in revealing the ostensive or performance nature of the three dramas by M.S. Serudu. In conclusion possible solutions for the future are offered against the background of the findings arrived at in the analysis. / African Languages / M.A. (African Languages)

M.A. (African Languages) / The aim of this dissertation is to make a critical analysis of the poetry of M.I Mogodi. The study comprises of five chapters. The first chapter is the introduction where the focus is on why the poet's work is chosen for research. We will look into how the writer uses language to communicate his ideas in an understandable way. In the second chapter of our study we intend to develop a stylistic framework by looking deeper into the stylistic and other contributions made by different critics. In the third chapter of this study the intention is to analyze Mogodi's poetry books by looking into the different poetic techniques used by the poet. The analysis is undertaken by looking into the lexical, phonological and syntactic level. The fourth chapter of this work will endeavour to indicate how the poet has used proverbs, idioms and imagery as stylistic features to bring about more understanding in the literary work. Chapter five is the conclusion where we look back at how Mogodi managed to employ a variety of stylistic features to reveal his intention in his literary work.

M.A. (African Languages) / The aim of this study is to make a critical survey of the development of Northern Sotho drama and specifically the treatment of kingship in Marangrang and Tswala e a Ja. Kingship in real life is usually accompanied by conflicts. The dramatists Maloma and Makgaleng in Marangrang and Tswala e a Ja respectively are aware of this fact.' The two texts are based on kingship conflicts. Conflict is an important element in drama, especially tragedy. Kingship is studied under the Characterization, Plot and Dialogue.

M.A. / The primary aim of this study is to make an appraisal of some short stories from H.M Nkadimeng's Selepe Gomela. The concept "appraisal" means to evaluate or to estimate the value, amount, quality or success. Like other literary genres, a short story has certain requirements. There is a great diversity in the form of the short story, but some distinguishing elements are its plot structure, setting, theme, characterization and style. It is in the light of these elements that Nkadimeng's collection Selepe Gomela will be appraised. As the title of this study indicates, only six of the nine short stories will be analysed. They are as follows: Lehumo le tliga bokgoba. Ruri o mpolaile hlogo ye ntsho. Mahlajana a a lahletga a le rufi. Mogwera ke tlo fihla le wena mo o yago. Letuku ke mokadikatga. Ke belegetS'e dithaka. It is hoped that these six short stories will adequately measure Nkadimeng's success or failure in the light of the aforementioned elements. The method of analysis in this study will be based on the existing critiques and some of the outstanding works of short story writers in older literatures such as English, Afrikaans and other African Languages. Attention will also be focused on earlier short story collections of Northern Sotho writers to present - day ones.

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