Thesis (Ph.D.(African Language)) -- University of Pretoria, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 258-275)

Thesis (M.A. (African languages))--University of Pretoria, 2008.

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M.A. (African languages) / The aim of this study is to give an overview of Setswana grammatical description since 1837 when the first Setswana grammar was published by James Archbell. This study will investigate the various approaches used by linguists to describe Setswana grammar, and the word classes that resulted from these approaches. This thesis will only focus on published grammar books and school handbooks ...

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

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

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

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study examines data from advice-giving in Setswana relating to pragmatic theorists' argument that every human interaction, to a large extent carries with it an element of threatening one or both participants' face. The speech act of politeness has been identified as one of the most effective speech acts to be employed in giving as well as soliciting advice. Every speech act is influenced by contextual, cultural and many other background factors associated to age, gender and rank to mention a few, which contribute towards how the speech is composed. The issues relating to the theory of politeness prompted this study on the extent to which politeness plays a role in giving advice in an educational context of Setswana speaking students. The study has evaluated Brown and Levinsons' theory of politeness as a universal phenomenon against the findings of my data, in that the universality of these theorists does not quite fit with this study. The variable percentages in this data, especially in giving advice, indicate that politeness does not always exist in terms of positive and negative face in the participants' mind but other considerations related to the goal of the speech act are the main source of the speech act. In this study, politeness in the Setswana school context has demonstrated that politeness has been employed as a strategy for encoding distance between the speaker and the solicitor. The purpose of advising teachers and students through politeness behavior is to mitigate face and to create a favorable context anticipated by the solicitor. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek data oor advies-gee in Setswana wat verband hou met pragmatiekteoretici se argument dat elke menslike interaksie tot 'n groot mate 'n element het dat een, of beide, deelnemers se gesig bedreig word. Die spraakhandeling van beleefdheid is geïdentifiseer as een van die mees effektiewe spraakhandelinge wat ingespan word in die gee, sowel as die vra van advies. Elke spraakhandeling word beïnvloed deur kontekstuele, kulturele en talle ander agtergrondfaktore wat verband hou met onder andere ouderdom, gender en rang, wat bydra tot die wyse waarop die spraakhandeling saamgestel word. Die vraagstukke rakende die beleefdheidsteorie het aanleiding gegee tot hierdie studie oor die mate waartoe beleefdheid 'n rol speel in advies-gee in opvoedkundige kontekste deur Setswana-sprekende persone. Die studie evalueer Brown en Levinson se teorie van die Universele beginsels wat dit stel teenoor die bevindinge van die data verkry in die navorsing oor Setswana-sprekende studente en daar word afgelei dat Brown en Levinson se universalia nie volledig bevestig word nie. Die varieerbaarheid waargeneem ind ie data oor advies-gee dui aan dat beleefdheid nie altyd manifisteer in terme van negatiewe gesig in die deelnemers se oorwegings nie, maar dat ander oorwegings rakende die doelstelling van die spraakhandeling die hoofbron vorm van die spraakhandeling. In hierdie studie, het beleefdheid in die Setswana opvoedkundige konteks aangetoon dat beleefdheid ingespan word as 'n strategie om afstand te vestig tussen die spreker en die hoorder. Die doel van advies-gee aan onderwysers en studente deur beleefdheidsgedrag is om 'n gunstige konteks te vestig, wat verwag word deur die hoorder.

Ph.D. (African Languages) / The main concern of this study has to do with the investigation of linguistic variation and standardization in Setswana. We are of the idea that linguistic variation and standardization occur as a result of both internal and external factors. Focus of this study was both on some of those areas inhabited by Batswana both in Botswana and South Africa. An investigation has been made on the different orthographies used in these countries. Although their orthographies presently differ, they were initially the same. They separated after the revision of the 1937 orthography version by the then Tswana Language Committee in South Africa. But, however, Setswana Standard Orthography 1981 (1981) in Botswana, is the same as Tswana Terminology and Orthography No.3 (1972) in South Africa. This similarity was caused by the great influence and presence of Professor E.S. Moloto. Botswana dependency on South Africa during that time, on language planning may have been because 'South Africa has more speakers of Setswana, has had larger total resources in money and manpower, and thus rather naturally took the lead and Botswana ended following suit' (Janson and Tsonope, 1991:78). During that time, South African policies were directed by the ideology of the apartheid system. So, 'to ignore linguistic developments in South Africa was impossible, but to accept them has often been unpalatable and maybe important' (Janson and Tsonope, 1991:78). Data collected bear testimony that standard language is what Botswana people really want to be taught at schools and tertiary institutions. Most of them do not really understand why their children are expected to use standardized language as formal style. The reason behind all these is that they were never involved in language planning. Therefore, there is great need to involve people from different sectors where Setswana is involved. The language policy for the new South Africa in the future should be written in all official languages not just in English and Afrikaans only (refer to Government Gazette, 9 May 1997).