Although the areas I intend to investigate are rather diverse, what unites them is a concern for the ancient and fascinating question of the relationship between language and thought. Assumptions concerning the latter are surely latent as the basis for any inquiry into language. One of my general purposes is to give some overt orientation to this problem which is all too often simply glossed over. More particularly, I am also concerned with shaping a new approach to Bantu linguistic inquiry in terms of an emphasis on discourse analysis. In the context of the burgeoning of discourse analysis internationally, the field has been seriously neglected in Southern Africa. Studies of discourse are, we believe, vital to advancing our knowledge of inter-ethnic communication and understanding, an area that cannot be ignored in Southern Africa. In more general terms, I hope that this thesis represents a challenge to linguistic inquiry in ways that we have already outlined above. Most importantly, is that while it appears that most South African linguists are satisfied with adopting a rigid monotheoretical approach, I differ, advocating a multitheoretical perspective. This, I believe, allows a greater and more holistic view not only of the 'data' in question but also in terms of the general nature of inquiry, as well as the 'world' it attempts to describe. The body of this thesis is divided into two sections which reflect the two central concerns we have outlined above. Section A, divided into three chapters, is chiefly concerned with the conceptual basis of Xhosa narrative and its linguistic manifestation. In this section we shall find cause to query and to redefine traditional approaches to the linguistic categories manifest in Xhosa narrative. In section B, also divided into three chapters, we shall be concerned with the development of a theory of narrative production with specific reference to intsomi production. In this section we include an in depth criticism of previous approaches to this problem before developing and applying our own theory. There are two appendices attached to this thesis. The first presents certain tables and figures relevant to chapter 4. while the second includes the narrative texts from which we draw our examples. (Introduction, p. 21-22)

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study aims to investigate the speech act of complimenting in Xhosa. The study constitutes of six chapters with respective to execute this aim. Chapter one provides special details regarding the aim of this study, the method that has been followed, and the organisational structure of the study. Chapter two focuses on both speech act and politeness theories. The central notion relates to (a) the acts of locution, (b) illocution and (c) perlocution. These elements of speech acts entail the notion that utterances that are produced by participants in a conversation comprises of (a) the actual sounds and words uttered, and those words and sounds (b) are intended towards the fulfilment of the force or intention behind them and (c) the effect of that force is intended to the hearer. Although there are other related elements, this notion is prominent in this chapter. Chapter three examines speech acts of complimenting in Xhosa along with their responses. This examination is informed by various ideas from respective researchers. For an effective and successful investigation of speech acts, a guideline which serves as a base follows a model of ethnography of communication. Almost all these researchers are putting emphasis on this view. This chapter takes this issue further by exploring the differences in compliments and responses with reference to gender, along with other qualities that have been mentioned. The elements of the responses the principles, their nature, structure and appearance in general conversations with specific reference to complimenting, are other key properties examined in this chapter. Chapter four focuses on the functions of the compliments. For example, almost all the researchers in the field are in agreement that compliments serve to revitalize, establish or create or encourage solidarity. Although there are other functions relating to this speech act, such as replacing other conversational formulas, e.g. greetings, softening criticism, the function of solidarity is perceived to be central. Another area which receives attention is the structural qualities of the compliment, along with syntactic and lexical features. This analysis explores the syntactic categories that relate to this work, together with the formulaic nature of this speech act. In addition, the status and gender of the participants in an interaction, as informed by situations or friends who like to be complimented, are all matters that receive scrutiny in this chapter. Chapter five constitute the central part of the study. The differences in compliments and responses receive attention with the aim of establishing possible difference between compliments given by males and females. Chapter six is the last chapter, it presents the findings and conclusion of the study. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het as doelstelling die ondersoek van die spraakhandeling van komplimentering in Xhosa. Die tesis beslaan ses hoofstukke wat gestruktureer is om uitvoering te gee aan hierdie doelstelling. Hoofstuk een gee spesifieke besonderhede betreffende die doelstelling van die studie, die metode wat gevolg word, en die organisasie van die studie. Hoofstuk twee fokus op spraakhandelingsteorie en hoflikheidsteorie. Die sentrale konsep hou verband met (a) die handelinge van lokusie, (b) ilokusie en (c) perlokusie. Hierdie elemente van spraakhandelinge behels die begrip dat die uitinge wat deur deelnemers in 'n gesprek geproduseer word bestaan uit (a) die werklike klanke en woorde wat geuiter word, en wat (b) die intensie het om uitdrukking te gee aan die fors daaragter, en (c) die effek is gerig op die hoorder. Hierdie oorweging is sentraal in die hoofstuk. Hoofstuk drie ondersoek die spraakhandeling van komplimentering in Xhosa tesame met die response daarop. Hierdie ondersoek word ingelig deur sieninge van verskillende navorsers. Vir die effektiewe ondersoek van spraakhandelinge, is 'n rigtinggewende basis vanuit die etnografie van kommunikasie nodig. Hierdie hoofstuk ondersoek die verskille in komplimente en die response daarop met betrekking tot gender en ander eienskappe. Die aspekte van die response, hulle beginsels, aard, en struktuur, en die gebruik daarvan in gesprekke wat komplimente bevat, word ondersoek. Hoofstuk vier fokus op die funksies van komplimente. Feitlik al die navorsers in die veld van komplimentering stem saam dat komplimente die doel het om solidariteit te skep of te versterk. Alhoewel daar ander funksies is van komplimentering, bv. die verplasing van gespreksformules, soos groet, kritiek, is die bevestiging van solidariteit sentraal. 'n Ander area wat aandag kry in die hoofstuk, is die strukturele kenmerke van komplimente, insluitende sintaktiese en leksikale kenmerke. Die analises behels 'n ondersoek na die sintaktiese kategorieë wat komplimente realiseer, tesame met die formule-agtige aard van komplimente as spraakhandelinge. Voorts word die status en gender van die gespreksgenote ondersoek. Hoofstuk vyf vorm die sentrale deel van die studie betreffende die bepaling van moontlike gender verskille in komplimente. Hoofstuk ses bied die samevatting en gevolgtrekkings van die studie. / ISISHWANKATHELO: Esi sifundo sikwiphulo lokuphanda ngezenzo zentetho zezincomo. Kuqulunqwe izahluko ezintandathu ezineenjongo ezahlukiyo ukufezekisa eli phulo. Isahluko sokuqala sinika umkhombandlela malunga nenjongo yesifundo, imethodi elandelweyo kananjalo nolwakhiwo zinikwa ingqwalasela. Isahluko sesibini sinika ingqwalasela kwithiyori yezenzo zentetho kananjalo neyentlonelo. Uluvo olungundoqo nolunika umdla kule ngxelo luqulathe izenzo ze (a) ilokhushini, (b) 1- ilokhushini ne (c) nephelokhushini. Ezi zenzo zixhibe ingcamango yokuba intetho eveliswa ngabo bathatha inxaxheba kunxibelelwano iqulathe (a) izandi zolwakhiwo Iwesigama, ukuze eso sigama (b) sijoliswe kwinjongo ethile ekuyimfuneko ukuba iphunyezwe ekugqibeleni (c) ifuthe laloo mpumelelo lingqale lowo kunxityelelwano naye okanye umphulaphuli. Nasekubeni ekhona namanye amasolotya axhagileyo, kodwa le ngcamango iphawuliweyo iphume izandla kwesi sahluko. Isahluko sesithathu siphonononga izenzo zeentetho zezincomo kananjalo neempendulo zazo. Olu phononongo lungqongwe zizimvo zeengcali eziphuma kwiinkalo ngeenkalo. Umkhombandlela osisikhokhelo kwiphulo lophando Iwezenzo zeentetho naziphi na, ukuze lube yimpumelelo kwaye lusulungeke kufuneka luiandeie imodeli okanye umgaqo weethinografi yonxibelelwano phantse bonke aba baphandi babeke umnwe kule ngcamango. Ngokunxusa oku, esi sahluko, xa sihlabela mgama, siphawula ngeyantlukwano yezincomo neempendulo zazo ngesini, nangezinye iimpawu ezikhankanyiweyo. Uqulunkqo Iwemigaqo yokuphendula, ubunjani, ubume nembonakalo yayo entethweni gabalala ngokunxulumene nezincomo ngamanye amasolotya abalulekileyo nanika umdla kwesi sahluko. Isahluko sesine sinika ingqwalaselo kwimisebenzi yesincomo. Umzekelo, phantse zonke ezi ngcali zikweli phulo ziyayingqina nento yokuba izincomo zivuselela , ziyila okanye zikhuthaza umanyano. Nangona ibonakala ikhona eminye imisebenzi ekhankanywayo engqonge esi senzo sentetho njengokuthabatha indawo yezinye zeefomuia zonxulumano, umz. imibulisi, ukuthomakalisa ugxeko-ncomo, olu luvo lomanyano lubonwa njengoluhamba phambili. Enye indima ephononongwayo ziimpawu zolwakhiwo Iwezincomo, kananjalo neempawu zesintaksi neleksikali. Olu hlalutyo lulo oludulisa izigaba zentetho ezibandakanyekayo kananjalo nobufomula besi senzo sentetho. Ukwaleka, iwonga nesini sabo bathabatha inxaxheba kolu nxibelelwano ngokulawulwa ziimeko okanye izihlobo ezikholisa ukunconywa, konke oku yimibandela efumana ukuphicothwa kwesi sahluko. Isahluko sesihlanu siqulathe umongo wesi sifundo. Uhlalutyo Iwezincomo neempendulo zazo lunikwa ingqwalasela ngamehlo abukhali; ngeenjongo zokufumanisa umahluko ongaba ukhona phakathi kwezincomo zamaduna namabhinqa. Isahluko sesithandathu nesokugqibela sinika iziphumo zophando nesiphelo sesi sifundo.

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.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores the speech act of refusal in educational contexts in isiXhosa. The speech utterance is used to accept or refuse request. The request can be made by a friend, parent, school principal etc. The authority of the one making request is very important because it makes the recipient of the request to think twice before he or she refuses. This is done by the fact that the recipient is afraid to damage the face of the requestor. Secondly, the rights that people have make it difficult for the person in authority to use his powers in a way that is not satisfactory, because people belong to unions that protect their rights. For instance, the teacher requests leave because he wants to go and make provisions for his son who is coming from the initiation school. In this regard, the principal is unable to refuse fully although the exams are around the corner. He has to use certain strategies in convincing the teacher about the importance of the forthcoming exams. In the Department of education there is a district director and his team, responsible for certain departments, the school inspectors, subject-advisors, school principals, teachers and students. Each and every one of the above-mentioned has a right to make request. Some of them resort into using politeness strategies when requesting or refusing to obey the request. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die spraakhandeling van weiering in opvoedkundige kontekste in isiXhosa. Die spraakuiting word gebruik om 'n versoek te aanvaar of te weier. Die versoek kan gemaak word deur 'n vriend, ouer, skoolhoof, ens. Die gesag van die persoon wat die versoek maak is baie belangrik, want dit veroorsaak dat die ontvanger van die versoek deeglik dink voordat hy/sy dit weier. Dit word veroorsaak deurdat die ontvanger van die versoek bang is om die gesig ('face') van die versoeker te beskadig. Die regte wat mense het, maak dit moeilik vir die persoon met gesag om sy/haar magte te gebruik op 'n wyse wat onbehoorlik is, want mense behoort aan vakbonde wat hulle regte beskerm. Byvoorbeeld, 'n onderwyser versoek verlof want hy wil voorsorg gaan maak vir sy seun wat terugkeer uit die inisiasieskool. In hierdie gval is die skoolhoof nie in staat om die versoek volledig te weier nie, alhoewel die eksamens binnekort geskryf sal word. Die skoolhoof gebruik sekere strategieë om die onderwyser te oortuig van die belangrikheid van die eksamens. In die Departement van Onderwys, is daar 'n distriksdirekteur en sy span, verantwoordelik vir sekere departemente, die skoolinspekteurs, vakadviseurs, skoolhoofde, onderwysers en leerders. Elkeen van die genoemde persone het die reg om versoeke te rig. Sommige persone maak gebruik van beleefdheidstrategieë in die weiering of reg van 'n versoek.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / Full text to be digitised and attached to bibliographic record. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores a framework for the implementation of task-based instruction for Xhosa second language at tertiary level. Central to the task-based approach to second language learning are the goals of complexity, accuracy and fluency as outcomes. The principles of task-based instruction to syllabus design are examined as this approach to syllabus design is believed to provide an effective base for successful second language acquisition. Theoretical assumptions as propounded by vanous researchers are discussed paymg particular reference to the nature of second language learning and teaching pedagogy. Most linguists agree on the view that Universal Grammar is a constant background against which any language learning process takes place. Universal Grammar is also viewed as the faculty which influences second language acquisition. The study will explore the relationship between second language theory and pedagogy. The Communicative Language Teaching is advanced in this study as an appropriate method for teaching language. The task-based syllabus is discussed with reference to different syllabus types which exhibit tasks as a unit of analysis. The relationship between grammar pedagogy and taskbased methodology is illustrated. A range of communication tasks for Xhosa is presented as an example of a task-based course design and analysed according to a task typology to investigate the communicative value of each task type. Salient functions, notions and language structures are identified based on Xhosa communicative task dialogues. It is hoped that Xhosa second language teachers and researchers will pursue the approach that are advanced here and that they will be able to make a contribution to Xhosa second language course design. It is also hoped that this study has succeeded in dealing with aspects of Xhosa second language learning and that Xhosa teaching will benefit in a variety of respects. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie ondersoek 'n raamwerk vir die implementering van taakgebaseerde onderrig vir Xhosa tweedetaal op tersiêre vlak. Die doelstellings van kompleksiteit, akkuraatheid en vlotheid is sentraal aan die taakgebaseerde benadering tot tweedetaalleer. Die studie sal die beginsels van taakgebaseerde onderrig tot sillabusontwerp ondersoek aangesien hierdie benadering algemeen beskou word as 'n doeltreffende basis vir suksesvolle tweedetaalleer. Die studie sal voorts die teoretiese aannames bespreek wat deur verskillende navorsers gemaak is met betrekking tot die aard van tweedetaalleer en onderrigmetodologie. Die meeste taalkundiges is dit eens dat Universele Grammatika 'n konstante basis is waarop tweedetaalleer plaasvind. Universele Grammatika word beskou as die mentale fakulteit wat tweedetaalleer beïnvloed. Die studie salook die verwantskap tweedetaalteorie en onderrig bespreek. Die kommunikatiewe taalonderrigbenadering word aangevoer in die studie as die mees gepaste metode vir taalonderrig. Die taakgebaseerde sillabus sal bespreek word met verwysing na verskillende sillabustipes wat die taak as eenheid vir analise vertoon. Die verwantskap tussen grammatika-onderrig en taakgebaseerde metodologie sal geïllustreer word. 'n Verskeidenheid kommunikatiewe take in Xhosa sal bespreek word as 'n voorbeeld van eenhede in kommunikatiewe kursusontwerp, en die take sal geanaliseer word om die kommunikatiewe aard van elke taak te ondersoek. Prominente taalfunksies, -begrippe en taalstrukture sal geïdentifiseer word vanuit die Xhosa kommunikatiewe taak-dialoë. Die hoop word uitgespreek dat onderwysers en navorsers van Xhosa tweedetaal die benadering wat in hierdie studie ondersoek is verder salontgin, en dat hulle in staat sal wees om 'n bydrae te maak tot kommunikatiewe Die studie ondersoek 'n raamwerk vir die implementering van taakgebaseerde onderrig vir Xhosa tweedetaal op tersiêre vlak. Die doelstellings van kompleksiteit, akkuraatheid en vlotheid is sentraal aan die taakgebaseerde benadering tot tweedetaalleer. Die studie sal die beginsels van taakgebaseerde onderrig tot sillabusontwerp ondersoek aangesien hierdie benadering algemeen beskou word as 'n doeltreffende basis vir suksesvolle tweedetaalleer. Die studie sal voorts die teoretiese aannames bespreek wat deur verskillende navorsers gemaak is met betrekking tot die aard van tweedetaalleer en onderrigmetodologie. Die meeste taalkundiges is dit eens dat Universele Grammatika 'n konstante basis is waarop tweedetaalleer plaasvind. Universele Grammatika word beskou as die mentale fakulteit wat tweedetaalleer beïnvloed. Die studie salook die verwantskap tweedetaalteorie en onderrig bespreek. Die kommunikatiewe taalonderrigbenadering word aangevoer in die studie as die mees gepaste metode vir taalonderrig. Die taakgebaseerde sillabus sal bespreek word met verwysing na verskillende sillabustipes wat die taak as eenheid vir analise vertoon. Die verwantskap tussen grammatika-onderrig en taakgebaseerde metodologie sal geïllustreer word. 'n Verskeidenheid kommunikatiewe take in Xhosa sal bespreek word as 'n voorbeeld van eenhede in kommunikatiewe kursusontwerp, en die take sal geanaliseer word om die kommunikatiewe aard van elke taak te ondersoek. Prominente taalfunksies, -begrippe en taalstrukture sal geïdentifiseer word vanuit die Xhosa kommunikatiewe taak-dialoë. Die hoop word uitgespreek dat onderwysers en navorsers van Xhosa tweedetaal die benadering wat in hierdie studie ondersoek is verder salontgin, en dat hulle in staat sal wees om 'n bydrae te maak tot kommunikatiewe kursusontwerp. Die studie poog om ook aspekte van Xhosa tweedetaalleer te identifiseer wat die onderrig van Xhosa tot voordeel kan strek in verskillende opsigte.

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.

Thesis (MA (African Languages))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / This study deals with the analysis of accounts of marriages in isiXhosa. Gergen (1994) proposes the following aspects that such narratives should cover: structure of narrative account; narrative form; self-narrative: process; pragmatics of self-narrative, interknitting of narratives, and emotion. Each of the listed aspects has its own variants. The variants will be dealt with in Chapter four, where Gergen’s theory is being summarised. The proposals Gergen (1994) made are central and significant in this research, since the narratives that have been given by five Xhosa-speaking married persons will be analysed according to his theory on self-narratives. This research seeks to verify the validity of Gergen’s (1994) theory of narratives in the Xhosa context. The research has been conducted by involving five Xhosaspeaking married persons. Each person had to give his or her account of marriage in line with the topic of this research, namely, the analysis of accounts of marriage in Xhosa. After narratives had been collected, an analysis of each narrative has been done in Chapter five of this research. The analysis reveals how each narrative reflects the following: the structure of the narrative account, narrative form, selfnarrative: process, pragmatics of self-narrative, practices of self-narratives, and emotions, as suggested by Gergen (1994). Analyses vary from one narrative to another because an account of married life varies from one person to another. Bakhtin (1981) suggest that the words that narrators use are inter-individual. The understanding of social morals, values, norms, justice, and the history of the community by the narrators enables them to be intelligible in their narratives. It is therefore crucial that this study be pursued in the Xhosa language because narratives are socially embedded. The narratives in this study could assist people to think correctly about the marriages in the Xhosa context. The issue of marriage affects all people, despite language diversity, and it is therefore proper that this study be conducted in all languages. If this is not done, others may think that the findings from this research is applicable to the Xhosa-speaking community only. The analytic part of this research would help communication practitioners and language practitioners to analyse narratives in their languages in the same manner as they have been analysed from Xhosa narratives. This research analysis would assist developing communicators to grow into competent communicators.

Completely couched in and steered by the qualitative research method, this study examines the linguistic constraints on the code-switching of the bilingual Shona-Xhosa speakers in Cape Town. The views of the key research participants obtained through participant observation, interviews and questionnaires were heavily relied on. The motivations for the code-switching of the bilingual Shona-Xhosa speakers in Cape Town were explored in this study, including the Shona-Xhosa interlink. Myers-Scotton‟s Markedness theory was scrutinized to discern the assorted social variables motivating the bilingual speakers to code-switch in Cape Town while the Matrix Language Frame Model was used to determine that Shona is the base language and isiXhosa is the embedded language in the Shona-Xhosa code-switching in Cape Town. Diverse linguistic constraints were examined in the context of the Shona-Xhosa code-switching and their universality was disputed. Similarities between Shona and Xhosa were unearthed and the researcher recommends that further Shona-Xhosa studies be pursued. / African Languages / M.A. (African Languages)

South African indigenous language teaching and learning materials do not provide sufficient information to help additional language learners learn the target languages effectively. While there are institutions that are tasked with developing and sharpening the skills of students in speaking South African indigenous languages, such students hardly, if at all master the art of speaking them eloquently. Students who study these languages in order to converse proficiently with their mother-tongue speakers experience insurmountable difficulties, in spite of various efforts made by the teachers who train them to read books on their own. Passing their examinations does not mean that the students’ ability to communicate with mother-tongue speakers will improve to the extent of eliminating the prevailing misunderstanding between the two groups. The persistence of this problem reveals a discrepancy between the studies of indigenous languages in South Africa and the way of speaking them, whereby important linguistic elements that make communication more authentic are excluded in language materials. This study analyses the use and significance of CIFWs in daily interactions by investigating the two Xhosa CIFWs words wethu and bethu. The overall aim of this study is to explore the use of a corpus in the examination of CIFWs in general, and wethu and bethu in particular. Both a quantitative approach based on the Gothenburg-Unisa spoken corpus and a qualitative approach based on Allwoods’ ACA theoretical framework were used in the analysis and description of the functions and significances of wethu and bethu as communicative and interactive function words. / Linguistics / MA ((Applied Linguistics)

South African indigenous language teaching and learning materials do not provide sufficient information to help additional language learners learn the target languages effectively. While there are institutions that are tasked with developing and sharpening the skills of students in speaking South African indigenous languages, such students hardly, if at all master the art of speaking them eloquently. Students who study these languages in order to converse proficiently with their mother-tongue speakers experience insurmountable difficulties, in spite of various efforts made by the teachers who train them to read books on their own. Passing their examinations does not mean that the students’ ability to communicate with mother-tongue speakers will improve to the extent of eliminating the prevailing misunderstanding between the two groups. The persistence of this problem reveals a discrepancy between the studies of indigenous languages in South Africa and the way of speaking them, whereby important linguistic elements that make communication more authentic are excluded in language materials. This study analyses the use and significance of CIFWs in daily interactions by investigating the two Xhosa CIFWs words wethu and bethu. The overall aim of this study is to explore the use of a corpus in the examination of CIFWs in general, and wethu and bethu in particular. Both a quantitative approach based on the Gothenburg-Unisa spoken corpus and a qualitative approach based on Allwoods’ ACA theoretical framework were used in the analysis and description of the functions and significances of wethu and bethu as communicative and interactive function words. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / M.A. (Applied Linguistics)