Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rhodes University, 1975. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 275-280).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1982. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-75).

Bibliography: leaves 210-220. / This dissertation centres on the social history of the Xhosa language as it became codified into writing during the nineteenth century. My particular is interest is in why efforts were made to learn written Xhosa, and how the written form of the languages was used variously by travel writers, missionaries, converts, interpreters, indigenous speakers, the educated African elite, and professional philologists between the late eighteenth and early twentieth centuries. The outcome of the uses to which the language was put was the construction of a standard form of the language.

Bibliography: leaves 149-160. / This study investigates language variation in the Transkei Xhosa speech community, focusing on the different dialects spoken in this geographical area and their impact on the education of children. As the study focuses on children's education, it is hypothesized that there is a possible correlation between the dialect spoken and the student's academic achievement and life's chances. It is the sociolinguistic view-point that there exists an intimate relationship between the relative status of a speaker's language and his socio-political status. The Transkeian Xhosa speech community comprises various tribes with different speech patterns (i.e. Gcaleka, Bomvana, Tembu, Cele, Ntlangwini, Baca, Hlubi, Mpondo, Xesibe). In the educational context some of these speech forms are labelled as dialectal or as deviations from the norm and therefore stigmatised. This implies that children enter the school setting as winners or losers depending on the dialect or variant they speak.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigates the speech act of complaining in Xhosa. It is organized into six chapters. Chapter 1 states the aim of the study. The method, design and the organization of the study are also presented. In Chapter 2 the speech acts and politeness theories are presented as the basic framework of this study. It is clear that people do not only produce utterances, which contain grammatical structures and words when attempting to express themselves, but they always perform actions via those utterances. The actions people perform via their utterances are done in accordance within a certain area of linguistic pragmatics. Chapter 3 deals with the speech act of complaining as discussed by various theorists. Chapter 4 is concerned with complaints strategies. Here it is revealed that one must be able to voice one's annoyance or anger while at the same time it is important to avoid embarrassment by creating a situation in which it becomes impossible for him/her to face the aversiveness of taking the blame. Chapter 5 deals with complaint situations in Xhosa. In order to make sense of what is said during an interaction, various factors have been examined, which relate to social distance and closeness. The relative status of the participants is based on social values. Complaint situations are divided into three social groups: power relations, friendship and strangers. Power relations involve people of superior and low status. This group is divided into two subgroups: people with superior status to people with low status and vice versa; those speakers with a lower status in a Xhosa speaking context tend to mark social distance between themselves and higher status speakers. Among friends, there is no social distance because people tend to treat one another as equals. The same is true of strangers, although they don't know each other; they tend to treat one another with mutual respect. Most of the time complaints in Xhosa express disapproval or negative feelings towards the source of the complaint. Complaints sometimes can be impolite. They can lead to conflict as they are sometimes very threatening, accusing and cursing. That is why a number of strategies have been introduced to a complainant who wants to avoid direct confrontation with the complainee. The indirect accusation strategy is the number one tool, which is always used by the complainers to avoid conflict, unlike annoyance, direct accusation and explicit blame of the accused's action or of the accused as a person. People who use indirect accusations do not want to run the risk of losing face, unlike the direct accusation, which is face-threatening. Responding to a complaint is also an important factor as it promotes further interaction. Response serves as a way of displaying interest in what the speaker is saying. It has been noticed that response gives the speakers the opportunity to voice their feelings. Finally, Chapter 6 presents the conclusions of the investigation and the main findings of the study are summarized. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die spraakhandeling van klagte in Xhosa. Dit is georganiseer in ses hoofstukke. Hoofstuk 1 bied die doelstelling van die studie. Die metode, ontwerp en organisasie van die studie word ook bespreek. In Hoofstuk2 word die spraakhandelinge en beleefdheidsteorieë bespreek as die raamwerk van die studie. Dit word duidelik gemaak dat mense nie slegs uitinge produseer wat grammatikale strukture en woorde bevat nie, maar hulle voer altyd aksies uit via die uitinge. Hierdie aksies wat mense uitvoer via hulle uitinge word gedoen in ooreenstemming in bepaalde area van linguistiese pragmatiek. Hoofstuk 3 behandel in die besonder die spraakhandeling van klagte soos ondersoek deur verskillende navorsers. Hoofstuk 4 behandel klagte-strategieë. Hier word aangedui dat 'n spreker in staat moet wees om hy/sy se ontevredenheid of woede te lug terwyl dit terselfdertyd belangrik is om verleentheid te vermy deur die skep van 'n situasie waar dit vir hom/haar onmoontlik maak om te staan te kom voor die neem van die blaam. Hoofstuk 5 ondersoek klagte-situasies in Xhosa. Ten einde sin te maak oor wat gesê word en 'n interaksie, is verskeie faktore ondersoek wat verband hou met sosiale opstand en nabyheid. Die realtiewe status van die deelnemers word gebaseer op sosiale waardes. Klagte-situasies kan verdeel word in terme van drie sosiale groepe: magsverhoudinge, vriendskap en vreemdelingskap. Magsverhoudinge hou verband met die verhoudinge tussen mense met hoë en lae status. Hierdie groep word verdeel in twee sub-groepe: mense met superieuse status en mense met lae status en omgekeerd. Persone met 'n laer status in 'n Xhosasprekende konteks is geneig om sosiale afstand te markeer tussen hulleself en hoër status sprekers. Daar is geen sosiale opstand tussen vriende nie, omdat sulke persone geneig is om mekaar as gelykes te behandel. Dieselfde is waar van vreemdelinge, want alhoewel hulle mekaar nie ken nie, is hulle geneig om mekaar met respek te behandel. Die meeste van die klagtes oor tyd in Xhosa gee druk misnoeë of negatiewe gevoelens uit met betrekking tot die bron van die klagte. Klagtes kan soms onbeleefd wees. Hulle kan lei tot konflik, aangesien hulle soms baie bedreigend aantygend en beledigend kan wees. Daarom is 'n aantal strategieë beskikbaar vir 'n klaer wat direkte konfrontasie wil vermy teenoor die persoon waarteen gekla word. Die indirekte aantyging strategie is die voorkeur strategie wat deur die klaers gebruik word kom konflik te vermy, in teenstelling met kwaad word direkte aantyging en eksplisiete blaam van die aangetygde persoon se aksie of die persoon self. Persone wat indirekte aantygings gebruik, wil nie die risiko loop om "gesig" (face) te verloor nie, in teenstelling met die direkte aantyging, wat gesig-bedreiging is. Om te reageer op 'n klagte, is ook 'n belangrike faktor, aangesien dit verdere interaksie aanmoedig. Die gee van 'n reaksie is 'n wyse om aan te toon dat daar belangstelling is in wat die spreker sê. Daar is aangetoon dat 'n reaksie vir sprekers die geleentheid gee om hulle gevoelens te lug. Laastens, gee Hoofstuk 6 die gevolgtrekkings van die ondersoek, en die belangrikste bevindinge van die studie word opgesom.

Uit Inleiding: Hoe belangrik is die aanleer van woordeskat by die verwerwing van 'n vreemde taal? Indien dit van besondere belang is, kan met reg gevra word: watter beginsels moet in ag geneem word by die opstel van metodes en tegnieke om die aanleer van die woordeskat met optimum effektiwiteit te laat plaasvind? Wat is die teoretiese basis vir sulke metodes en tegnieke? Hierdie is enkele vrae wat in hierdie ondersoek aan die orde sal kom. Die begrip "semantiese velde" of "betekenisvelde" is 'n idee wat in die jongste tyd heelwat aandag geniet by linguiste. Die konsep "betekenisveld" veronderstel twee kenmerke van die leksikon: 1. Dat die betekenisaspek van elke individuele leksikale item, kragtens kontras bestaan en dat hierdie kontras tussen betekeniskomponente van leksikale items in die leksikon teregkom, veral binne 'n betekenisveldsiening. 2. Dat die leksikon kragtens die relasies tussen die leksikale items 'n georganiseerde en gestruktureerde versameling is. In ons ondersoek sal dit dus hoofsaaklik gaan oor: 1. Bestaande metodes en tegnieke om woordeskat te onderrig. 2. Bestaande toerieë oor die gestruktureerdheid van woordeskat. 3. Die moontlikhede wat hierdie teorieë inhou, om die onderrig van woordeskat meer effektief te laat plaasvind.

No abstract or keywords provided in dissertation / African Languages / M.A. (Bantu Languages)

The researcher’s decision to study the labelling of lexical items in dictionaries was prompted by the frustration experienced with subjective labelling in Afrikaans and English dictionaries. Some lexicographers rely too much on their subjective judgement when it comes to labelling lexical items. The problem with this is that the different dictionaries often label the same word differently or that words in the same dictionary which should get the same label are labelled differently. The question arose as to what exactly constitutes the correct handling of labels, especially with regard to Xhosa dictionaries. The search for an answer to achieve this aim dictated the necessity to examine the essence of the concept “label” in order to establish criteria for evaluating the effective usage of labels, because as Harteveld (1993:143) stated: “…the incorrect treatment of labels or the lack thereof can have important implications for a dictionary”. Since the hypothesis of this study is that it is possible to use labels objectively and correctly it is therefore possible to establish criteria that can be used to achieve this end. A literature review was undertaken to identify criteria for the handling of labels. Fieldwork with the aid of a questionnaire was conducted to supplement the establishment of such criteria. A number of criteria for handling labels was determined. Each criterion was discussed and its implementation was practically demonstrated by means of exemplars.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores the lexical semantic analysis of -bamba, -gcina and -Iondoloza. In chapter 1 the aim of the study is stated. Properties about the lexical semantic analysis of the verbs -bamba, -geina, and -Iondoloza as well as the generative lexicon theory by Pustejovsky (1996) are discussed. The theoretical framework and the organisation of study are also discussed in this chapter. Chapter 2 addresses in more detail the type system for semantics. A generative theory of the lexicon includes multiple levels of representation for different types of lexical information needed. Among such levels are Argument Structure, Event Structure, Qualia Structure and Leical Inheritance Structure. Chapter 2 also represents in more detail thé structure of qualia and the role they play in distributing the functional behaviour of words and phrases in composition. Chapter 3 examines the lexical semantic analysis of the verbs -bamba, -gcina and - londoloza to account for the range of selectional properties of the NP subject argument of these verbs, and the various interpretations that arise in terms of composition with their complement arguments. The polysemous behaviour of the verbs -bamba, -gcina and - londoloza are examined in sentence alternation constructions with respect to event structure properties. The lexical representation in terms of argument structure and the event structure of the verbs -bamba, -gcina and -Iondoloza in different sentences are also investigated. Chapter 4 is the conclusion, summarising the findings of all the previous chapters in this study on lexical semantic analysis of the 'hold' verbs -bamba, -gcina and -Iondoloza in Xhosa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die leksikaal-semantiese analise van die 'hou' werkwoorde - bamba, -gcina en -Iondoloza in Xhosa. In hoofstuk 1 word die doelstellings van die studie uiteengesit. Die teorie van Generatiewe Leksikon van Pustejovsky word ook kortliks bespreek, wat die teoretiese raamwerk is van di studie. Laastens word die organisasie van die studie bespreek. Hoofstuk 2 bespreek in grote besonderhede die model van Generatiewe Leksikon teorie. 'n Generatiewe teorie van die leksikon sluit in veelvuldige vlakke van representasie vir die verskillende tipes leksikale inligting wat benodig word. Hierdie vlakke van representasie sluit in die Argument struktuur, Gebeure ('Event') struktuur, Qualia struktuur en Leksikale Erf (Inheritance) struktuur. Hoofstuk 2 bied ook in meer detail die struktuur van qualia en die rol wat dit speel in die verspreiding van die funksionele gedrag van woorde en frases in kombinasie. Hoofstuk 3 ondersoek die leksikaal-semantiese analise van die werkwoorde -bamba, - gcina en -Iondoloza en die verskeidenheid interpretasies wat beskikbaar is vir hierdie werkwoorde in kombinasie met die komplement argument daarvan. Die polisemiese gedrag van die werkwoorde -bamba, -gcina en -Iondoloza word ondersoek in sinsalternasiekonstruksies ten opsigte van die gebeure ('event') struktuur. Die leksikale representasie in terme van argument struktuur en die gebeurestruktuur van hierdie werkwoorde in verskillende sinne met verskillende seleksiekenmerke van die subjek, word ook ondersoek. Hoofstuk 4 is die samevatting van die studie, wat 'n opsomming bied van die vernaamste bevindings van al die vorige hoofstukke van hierdie studie oor die leksikaal-semantiese analise van die werkwoorde -bamba, -gcina en -Iondoloza.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigates the speech acts of complimenting in Xhosa. It is divided into five chapters, which are arranged as follows: Chapter 1 states the aims of the study. The method, design and the organization of the study are also investigated. Chapter 2, the speech act theory and the politeness theory have been dealt with. These theories included the basic assumptions of this study. Chapter 3 deals with compliments and compliment responses as they are discussed with regard to various languages, i.e. the works of Wolfson and Manes (1980), Wolfson (1983), Manes (1983), Holmes (1988) and Herbert (1990). Chapter 4 deals with compliments and compliment responses in Xhosa. In this chapter the compliments have been divided into three social groups, namely males and females; friends and people of unequal status. The people of unequal status are divided into two sub-groups, people with superior status and lower status. In Xhosa people of lower and high status do compliment one another. Also Xhosa males and females; friends and people of unequal status tend to compliment one another. The most common compliments concentrate on appearance, ability and possession. In some cases the compliments are used to a way of encouragement and showing of appreciation. People who are being complimented tend to respond to the compliment. The response can be positive or negative. The person who is complimented can agree or disagree with the compliment. The response depends on how he/she feels about the compliment. Chapter 5 is the last chapter of this study. It represents the conclusion in which the main findings in the study are summarized. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die spraakhandeling van komplimentering in Xhosa. Die studie is in vyf hoofstukke ingedeel wat soos volg georganiseer is. Hoofstuk 1 bespreek die doelstellings, die navorsingsontwerp en -metode, en die organisasie van die studie. Hoofstuk 2 bied 'n bespreking van die terme van spraakhandelinge en beleefdheidsteorie. Hierdie teorieë is van belang vir die basiese vraagstukke wat in die studie ondersoek word. Hoofstuk 3 bied 'n oorsig van vorige navorsing oor die spraakhandeling van komplimente en komplimentresponse soos ondersoek met betrekking tot verskillende tale. Die navorsing van Manes (1980), Holmes (1988), Herbert (1990) en Wolfson (1983). Hoofstuk 4 ondersoek die spraakhandeling van komplimente en komplimentresponse in Xhosa. In hierdie hoofstuk is die spraakhandeling van komplimente en komplimentresponse onderneem met betrekking tot drie sosiale groeperinge, naamlik tussen manlike en vroulike persone, tussen vriende, en tussen persone van ongelyke status. Laasgenoemde groep is verder verdeel in terme van twee sub-groepe, naamlik: persone met hoër en laer status, respektewelik. In Xhosa diskoers, komplimenteer persone van hoër en laer status mekaar. Voorts komplimenteer manlike en vroulike persone, vriende, en mense van ongelyke status mekaar in Xhosa. Die mees algemene komplimente hou verband met voorkom, vermoëns, en besittings. In sommige gevalle word komplimente gebruik as 'n wyse van aanmoediging of waardering. Die studie bied evidensie uit Xhosa dat mense wat gekomplimenteer word, neig om te reageer op die kompliment. Hierdie respons kan positief of negatief wees. Die persoon wat gekomplimenteer word kan saamstem of verskil met die kompliment. Hierdie reaksie word bepaal deur hoe die hoorder voeloor die kompliment. Hoofstuk 5 is die laaste hoofstuk van die studie. Dit bied die gevolgtrekking van die navorsing oor die spraakhandeling van komplimentering in Xhosa en gee 'n opsomming van die hoofbevindinge. / ISIHWANKATHELO: Esi sifundo siphononga izenzo ntetho zoncomo esiXhoseni. Sahlulwe saba zizahluko ezintlanu ezicwangciswe ngolu hlobo: Isahluko sokuqala sichaza iinjongo zesi sifundo. Kukwaqwalaselwe, indiela, isicwangciso kunye noluhlu Iwesi sifundo. Isahluko sesibini sixusha ithiyori yesenzo ntetho kunye nethiyori yentetho echubekileyo. Ezi thiyori zibandakanye imiba engundoqo yesi sifundo. Isahluko sesithathu siqwalasela izincomo kunye neempendulo zezincomo njengoko zichazwa kwezinye iilwini, oko kukuthi, imisebenzi ka Wolfson no Manes (1980), Wolfson (1983); Manes (1983); Holmes (1988); no Herbert (1990). Isahluko sesine siqwalasela izincomo kunye neempendulo zezincomo esiXhoseni. Kwesi sahluko izincomo zohlulwe zaba zindidi ezintathu: amadoda nabafazi; izihlobo; abantu abanamawonga angalinganiya. Abantu abanamawonga angalinganiyo bohlulwe bangamaqela amabini: abantu abanamawonga aphezulu kunye nabo banamawonga asezantsi. EsiXhoseni abantu abanamawonga aphezula kwakunye nabo banamawonga asezantsi bathi bancomane omnye nomnye. Kwakhona esiXhoseni amadoda nabantu ababhinqileyo, izihlobo kunye nabantu abanamawonga angalinganiyo badla ngokuncomana. Ezona zincomo zibalaseleyo zezo ziquka imbonakalo, ingqondo kunye nobumnini. Kwezinye iziganeko izincomo zisetyenziswa njengendlela yokukhuthaza kunye nokubonisa ixabiso. Abantu abanconywayo badla ngokuphendula isincomo eso. Impendulo yesincomo isenokuba yeyakhayo okonye engakhiyo. Umntu onconywayo usenokuvumelana okanye angavumelani nesincomo. Impendulo yakhe ixhomekeke ukubeni uziva njani na ngesincomo eso. Kwesi sifundo, isahluko sesihlanu sesokugqibela kulapho kuchazwa khona izigqibo ekufikelelwe kuzo nezithe zashwankathelwa.