Thesis (M.A. (African Languages)) -- University of Limpopo, 2014

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The classificatory system for features of humans in Sesotho has been investigated to show the unique nature of such human features. There are various models to handle the lexicon of a language and one of these models has been applied to Sesotho, i.e. the theory of the Generative lexicon. In chapter one attention has been given to the purpose of the study as well as various problems within lexical semantics such as lexical ambiguity. Chapter two is concerned with the theory of lexical semantics in which attention has been given to the various levels of representation of a noun in the lexicon. A representation has been given of the semantic entry of a noun in the Sesotho lexicon. Chapter three has the core of the study which investigates the semantic features of human nouns in Sesotho. Various semantic categories have been found within which such human nouns may be classified. The major categories contain nouns of humans with various physical and psychological features as well as nouns with features of various types of behaviour and features of wealth vs. poverty. Chapter four contains the conclusions of the study. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die klassifikasie sisteem vir kenmerke van mense in Sesotho is ondersoek met die oog op die unieke aard van sulke menslike kenmerke. Daar is verskillende modelle om die leksikon van 'n taal te hanteer en een van hierdie modelle is toegepas op Sesotho, d.i. die teorie van die Generatiewe leksikon. In hoofstuk een is aandag gegee aan die doel van die studie asook verskeie probleme binne die leksikale semantiek waaronder leksikale dubbelsinnigheid. Hoofstuk twee handeloor die teorie van leksikale semantiek waarin aandag gegee is aan die verskillende vlakke van representasie van 'n naamwoord in die leksikon. 'n Voorstelling is gegee van die semantiese representasie van 'n naamwoord in die Sesotho leksikon. Hoofstuk drie bevat die kern van die studie wat handeloor semantiese kenmerke VIr naamwoorde wat mense aandui. Verskeie kategorieë is gevind waarin sulke naamwoorde tereg kom. Die belangrikste kategorieë bevat naamwoorde van mense met verskillende fisiese en psigologiese kenmerke asook naamwoorde wat dui op gedragspatrone en rykdom teenoor armoede. Hoofstuk 4 bevat die konklusies van die studie.