Thesis ( M.A. ( African Languages)) -- University of Limpopo, 2012 / The study handled a variety of taboos applicable in Tshivenda, that is, taboos that pertain to food, plants, initiation schools and ceremonies and animals. The study has highlighted whether taboos still have any role to play in present-day life as far as Tshivenda is concerned. Again, the study has examined whether the beliefs that some Tshivenda speaking people still have taboos which are based on facts or myths. Lastly, the study has investigated the impact of taboos regarding the preservation of Tshiven􀦒a identity and culture. Thodisiso iyi yo bvisela khagala zwiila zwine zwa vha hone kha lushaka lwa Vhavenda. Zwiila izwi ndi zwi kwamaho zwidiwa, zwimela, mula na zwifuwo. Ngudo iyi yo sumbedza uri zwiila zwi vhonala zwi tshe na ndeme na kha lushaka lwa Vhavenda namusi. Yo dovha ya sengulusa uri fulufhelo line Vhavenda vha vha nalo kha zwiila lo disendeka na nga mazwifhi kana ndi ngoho na. Tshinwe tshe tsenguluso iyi ya bvisela khagala ndi masiandaitwa a u tevhedza kana u sa tevhedza zwiila kha mvelele ya Vhavenda.

Thesis (M. A. (Tshivenda)) --University of Limpopo, 2011 / The mini-dissertation shows that language and culture go hand in hand. For instance, in Tshivenḓa taboos are largely reflected through language. This study highlights social taboos that exist in Tshivenḓa and how they impact on Tshivenḓa as a language. If someone does not understand the language that is used to express taboos, he or she is likely to violate these taboos. The study deals with social taboos pertaining to marriage, death, birth, relations between relatives and strangers and so on. Nowadays these taboos are becoming unfamiliar and as such this negatively impacts on the use of Tshivenḓa as well as relations among people.

MA (Tshivenda) / MER Mathivha Centre for African Languages, Arts and Culture

MA (Xitsonga) / Senthara ya M.E.R. Mathivha ya Tindzimu ta Afrika, Vutshila ni Ndhvuko / The study examines the taboos of death and their significance in the context of Xitsonga culture in the Hlanganani Area of the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province of South Africa. The study deals with social taboos pertaining to death and how Vatsonga perceive their dead. The principal aim of the study is to highlight the significance of taboos pertaining to death, the burial and the post-burial rites/rituals amongst Vatsonga in the Hlanganani Area. The study guarantees the continuity and resilience of the post-burial rituals. Accordingly, the study shows that the taboos are largely reflected through language. The study will recommend that the taboos as the important components of Xitsonga culture must be incorporated in the South African education system. More importantly, the study shows that language and culture are interlinked and cannot be separated. The researcher will employ the Renaissance Theory. The Renaissance Theory argues that a number of indigenous cultural identities, values and norms which used to be functional for society in the past can still be used today if properly utilised because they are the building blocks of indigenous existentiality. It is an emerging postcolonial philosophy which envisions reclaiming the glories of the African past. It posits that to think of the African life is to think of the unity of the shared perennial communitarian values. Data will collected through interviews and focus groups.