M.A. / An overview of reviews on Antjie Krog’s ‘n Ander Tongval (2005), shows that critics find it difficult to classify the text and to determine the genre of the book. This study is intended to investigate the hybrid nature of ‘n Ander Tongval which is a mixture of poetry, essays, journalistic report, autobiography, academic research and personal anecdotes. This study is primarily an examination of a specific example of a text that can be considered “literary non-fiction” to contribute to the description of the nature of this particularly problematic genre, while at the same time contributing to the literary criticism of Krog’s “literary non-fiction”. Secondly ‘n Ander Tongval is examined to determine the specific demands that this kind of text makes of the reader. This examination of ‘n Ander Tongval contributes to the description and problematising of the term “literary non-fiction” and many other genres which can be associated with these kind of texts because of its hybrid nature. This is also linked to the current debate about the growing interest in what Leon de Kock (2010) describes as “Creative Non-fiction”. De Kock considers this kind of writing distinctive of South African literature. Eventually it becomes clear that ‘n Ander Tongval does not only advocate change (transformation), but makes a change possible by the choice of genre (literary nonfiction) which is itself a text that “changes” established genre conventions and thereby guides the reader to read differently and look at the text and the country in a different way.

Thesis (MA (Afrikaans and Dutch))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Autobiography is a growing, but elusive literary genre. However, when texts are read as autobiographical – and thus as a form of self-representation – the theme of identity provides the reader with an interesting and useful method by which to approach it. In this study, two Afrikaans autobiographical texts are approached in a comparative manner, with the aim being to examine the writers’ representations of themselves. The texts studied are ’n Wonderlike geweld (2005) by Elsa Joubert, and ’n Ander tongval (2005) by Antjie Krog. Besides the autobiographical nature of these texts, the comparison is also based on: the writers’ status in the Afrikaans literary system, similarities beween them and their backgrounds, and the corresponding publication dates. The theoretical basis from where the concepts autobiography and identity are viewed is explained briefly. The emphasis falls on autobiography as a hybrid genre, that is defined mainly by how it is read. The use of identity as a reading strategy is suggested, with identity being understood as an unstable construction that changes constantly, depending on the context in which it is constructed. Consequently, the different identities according to which Joubert and Krog reveal themselves to the reader and the autobiographical forms through which they achieve this, are examined and discussed in separate chapters. Specific emphasis is placed on how they convey the spirit of the time and on the influence of the context in which the texts are published. Finally, the differences and similarities in the writers’ representation of themselves are summarised. In the end it emerges that the reading strategy focused on identity provides the reader with a useful approach to the study of texts in the autobiographical genre, since it is possible to successfully apply it to two texts with diverse autobiographical qualities. Furthermore, it becomes clear that the structure and style of these texts mirror the writer’s approach to identity to a great extent. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Outobiografie is ’n groeiende, maar onpeilbare literêre genre. Wanneer tekste as outobiografies – en dus as ’n vorm van self-representasie – benader word, bied die tema van identiteit egter ’n interessante en nuttige invalshoek. In hierdie studie word twee Afrikaanse outobiografiese tekste vergelykend benader, met die doel om die skrywers se voorstellings van hul identiteit daarin te ondersoek. Die twee tekste wat gebruik word, is ’n Wonderlike geweld (2005) van Elsa Joubert, en ’n Ander tongval (2005) van Antjie Krog. Benewens die outobiografiese aard van die tekste, sluit die basis vir vergelyking ook die skrywers se status binne die Afrikaanse literêre sisteem, ooreenkomste tussen hulle en hul agtergronde, en die ooreenstemmende publikasiedatums in. Die teoretiese basis vanwaar die begrippe outobiografie en identiteit beskou word, word kortliks uiteengesit. Die klem val op outobiografie as ’n hibridiese genre wat veral gedefinieer word op grond van hoe ’n mens dit lees. Die gebruik van identiteit word dan as ’n lees-strategie voorgestel, met identiteit wat verstaan word as ’n onstabiele konstruksie wat konstant verander op grond van die konteks waarbinne dit gekonstrueer word. Die verskillende identiteite waarvolgens Joubert en Krog hulself aan die leser openbaar en die outobiografiese vorme wat hulle hiervoor gebruik, word dan ondersoek en bespreek in twee afsonderlike hoofstukke. Spesifieke klem word gelê op die tydsgees wat vasgevang word en die invloed wat die konteks waarbinne die tekste gepubliseer word, het. Uiteindelik word die verskille en ooreenkomste in die skrywers se voorstellings van hulself saamgevat. Ten slotte blyk dit dat die lees-strategie wat fokus op identiteit ’n nuttige invalshoek bied vir die studie van tekste binne die outobiografiese genre, aangesien dit met vrug op twee tekste met uiteenlopende outobiografiese eienskappe toegepas kan word. Verder word dit ook duidelik dat die struktuur en styl van die tekste in ’n groot mate die skrywer daarvan se benadering tot identiteit weerspieël.