This study examines the historical and contemporary sociolinguistic status of three minority languages, namely Shangani, Kalanga and Tonga in Chiredzi, Plumtree and Binga respectively within the civil courts of Zimbabwe. This research problematizes the issue of language choice and usage in civil courtroom discourse by native speakers of the languages under study. The background to this research endeavor is the historical dominance of English, Shona and Ndebele in public institutions as media of communication even in areas where minority languages are dominant, a situation that has resulted in minority languages having a restricted functional space in public life. Respondents in this research included native speakers of the languages under study who have attended civil courtroom sessions either as accused persons or complainants, members of rural communities including community leaders, court interpreters stationed at Binga, Chiredzi and Plumtree magistrates‟ courts and members of the Judicial Services Commission (JSC). Data was also collected from minority language advocacy groups including Tonga Language and Cultural Committee (TOLACCO), Shangani Promotion Trust (SPAT) and Kalanga Language and Culture Development (KLCDA) using semi-structured interviews. In addition, participant observation of civil courtroom proceedings involving native speakers of Kalanga, Tonga and Shangani was done. Documentary analysis of colonial and postcolonial language policies in Zimbabwe was also done. Data was analyzed using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Ecology of Language theories. The findings for this research revealed that historically, language policy making in Zimbabwe has impacted negatively on the functional roles of Shangani, Tonga and Kalanga in civil courtroom communication because of the lack of implementation clauses in national constitutions. Furthermore, language attitudes that were analyzed in conjunction with a number of factors including age, demographics, naming of provinces, awareness of constitutional provisions on language and language-in-education policies were found to be key determinant factors influencing the sociolinguistic status of Kalanga, Tonga and Shangani in civil courtroom discourse. Court interpreting and initiatives by language advocacy groups also impacted on the sociolinguistic status of the languages under study in civil courtroom interaction. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / D. Phil. (Language, Linguistics and Literature)

Summary in Tsonga and English / Ndzavisiso lowu wu xopela xiyimo xa mavumbelo, matsalelo, mahikahatelo na mathyelo ya swikomiso na mavulwankatso eka Xitsonga hi xikongomelo xo bumabumela maringaneriselo ya swona. Switiviwa swi huma eka switshuriwa swo hambanahambana swa nomu na swo tsariwa ku katsa na swa dyondzo (swa vuvulavuri, swihlayahlaya na swihlamuselamarito) swihangalasamahungunyingi na swinavetiso etilayiburari, eswikolweni, emagondzweni, eka tibilibodo na le makhumbini ya miako.Tinxaka ta mikomiso ti kumeka eka swa vanhu (mavito, swiyimo, vuxaka), matiko, tin’hweti, masiku ya vhiki, mavito ya tiholideyi, ya tihuvo, ya mihlangano, ya tiyunivhesiti, nasw. Ku na nkomisokulu (wa switshuriwa swo leha swa ndzungulo na swa nkalandzungulo, xikombiso: xihungwana, vumbiwa) na nkomisotsongo (wa switshuriwa swo koma: xivulwa, xivulwahava, rito, xiaki, peletwana). Lowu ndzavisiso wu pakanise nkomisotsongo. Nkomisotsongo wu paluxa mikhetekanyokulu ya mune ya ‘rikhwanyano’, ‘rivulwankatso’, ‘xikomiso’ na ‘rivulwampfilungano’. Swikombiso hi nandzelelano i: ‘za’ < zela); Huriri/(HRR) < ‘Huvo ya Rixaka ya Ririmi’, na (NSFAS > En-es-FAS). Xikomiso xi tihlawulekisa hi ku peleta kumbe ku komisa hi ku tsala ntsena, rito ra kona ri vuriwa hi ku hetiseka. Rikhwanyano na rivulwankatso swona swi tihlawulekisa hi ku vuleka tanihi rito rohelela. Rivulwampfilungano ri hlanganisa rivulwankatso na xikomiso. Rixaka rin’wana na rin’wana ri tlhela ri va na swivumbeko na mahikahatelo yo hambana. Matirhiselo ya swihikahato ya ya hi milawu ya ririmi ro karhi, xikombiso: nkomiso wa rivitavito wu fanele ku sungula hi letere lerikulu. Ndzavisiso wu paluxa leswaku ku tirhisiwa ka hiko (.) swi fanele ku papalatiwa eka nkomiso hikuva hiko yi teka ndhawu leyi nkomiso wu lwelaka ku hunguta yona hileswi hiko na vangwa swi hlayiwaka tanihi xitekandhawu loko ku hlayeriwa maletere. Ndzavisiso lowu wu basisile matheme lama thyiweke mikomiso eka Xitsonga, ku engetela nhlayo ya mikomiso na ku susumeta misinya yo yi ringanerisa. Ndzi bumabumerile swilaveko na swiyila ku pfuneta vahundzuluxeri na ku va seketela hi ku famba ndzi nyika maritondzingano ya Xinghezi laha swi kotekaka. Switandzhaku swi nyika vumbhoni bya leswaku nhluvuko wa mikomiso eka Xitsonga wa tshikeleriwa hi van’wana va lava nyikiweke matimba yo kondletela ntirho wa vuhundzuluxeri, leswi koxaka ku cinca ka maehleketelo. / This study analyses the state of shortenings (abbreviations and acronyms) in Xitsonga in order to determine their formation, structure, punctuation and naming patterns with the aim of recommending standardisation strategies. The data was collected from various oral and written sources. Various types of shortenings manifest in human phenomena (names, social positions and relations), names of countries, months, weekdays, holidays, boards, organisations, universities, etcetera. There are long shortened texts (e.g. abstracts, summaries) and short texts (sentence, phrase, word, morpheme, syllable). This study focusses on the short texts. Short texts fall into four major categories: ‘compression’, ‘acronym’, ‘abbreviation’ and ‘acreviation’ (combination of acronym and abbreviation). Examples of these forms are respectively ‘za’ < ‘zela’; ‘Huriri’/HRR < ‘Huvo ya Rixaka ya Ririmi’; and NSFAS > En-es- FAS. An ‘Abbreviation’ is characterised by spelling the word letter-by-letter or using it only in writing but uttering its full form when reading, while compression and acronym are characterised by the word’s ‘pronounceability’ in normal syllables. ‘Acreviation’ describes a combination of ‘acronym’ and ‘abbreviation’. Each of these forms further reveals different structural and punctuation patterns. The use of punctuation marks depends on the rules of a specific language, for example, the shortening of a proper name has to begin with a capital letter. The study also reveals that as much as possible, the use of a period should be avoided in the abbreviation as it occupies the space which the abbreviation intends to save because a full stop and space are counted as a character when a word count is done. This study has successfully clarifies the terminology used in the naming of shortenings in Xitsonga, increases the number of shortenings and proposes standardisation guidelines. The researcher recommends do’s and don’t’s for translators and provides English equivalents where applicable. The addenda provide evidence in support of the fact that the development of abbreviations and acronyms in Xitsonga is still thwarted by some individuals who are given coordination roles in translation projects and that a change of mindset is necessary. / African Languages / D. Litt. et Phil. (African Languages)

This dissertation investigates the revitalisation of Tonga, an endangered minority language in Zimbabwe. It seeks to establish why the Tonga people embarked on the revitalisation of their language, the strategies they used, the challenges they encountered and how they managed them. The Human Needs Theory propounded by Burton (1990) and Yamamoto’s (1998) Nine Factors Language Revitalisation Model formed the theoretical framework within which the data were analysed. This case-study identified various socio-cultural and historical factors that influenced the revitalisation of the Tonga language. Despite the socio-economic and political challenges from both within and outside the Tonga community, the Tonga revitalisation initiative was to a large extent a success, thanks to the speech community’s positive attitude and ownership of the language revitalisation process. It not only restored the use of Tonga in the home domain but also extended the language function into the domains of education, the media, and religion. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / M.A. (Sociolinguistics)

PhD (African Studies) / Department of African Studies / Vanhu vo tala va vile xiphemu lexi endleke leswaku ndzavisiso lowu wu humelela. Ndzi khensa nghamu na vana lava va ndzi hlohloteleke no ndzi seketela hi mianakanyo. Ndzi tata ku khensa eka vatswari lava va nga phuphu ya mina. Vamakwerhu lava a va ndzi khutaza eka gondzo leri a ri nga olovi, kambe va ri olovisa leswaku ndzi kota ku rhelela. Ndzi ri, xandla eka henhla xin’wana xandla! Eka wena mudzaberi wa thesisi leyi, Dokodela Chauke M.T, namuntlha ndzi dya mihandzu leyi u tikarhateke swinene hi ku chela manyoro u cheleta yi kala yi vupfa. U bile comana swikwembu swi kala swi huma kutani namuntlha ndzi thwasile hikuva nyongwa se ndzi yi khomile hi mavoko ya mina. Dokodela Babane M.T na wena u vile mupfuneti wa mudzaberi hi vutshembeki. Tatana Maluleke (Ngwenya) Tinyiko na vapfuneti va wena hi tlhelo ra ku thayipa xitsariwa lexi wa khensiwa. Hakunene u ngwenya. Sesi Kudakwashe Chirobe, nseketelo na mitirho ya wena eka vuhumelerisi bya thesisi leyi swi khenseka hi xiheri (Zvakanaka shamwari!). buti Respect Mlambo na wena sesi Kudakwashe migingiriko ya n’wina ya ku ya hala na hala ku tiyisisa leswaku xitsariwa lexi xi tixaxametisa na swilaveko swa xihofisi swi tswarile mihandzu leyinene. I vanyingi lava hoxeke xandla ehenhla ka ndzavisiso lowu, ndzi ba mandla ndzi vuyelela eka n’wina hinkwenu handle ko mi hlaya hi mavito. Ndzi tlangela ku humelerisiwa ka mafumelo ya xidemokirasi laha Afrika-Dzonga. Swi ta va swi nga hetisekangi eka mina ku va ndzi vulavula hi xidemokirasi xa Afrika-Dzonga loko vito ra Dokodela Rolihlahla Mandela ri nga boxiwangi. Hi un’wana wa tinghanakana ta valweri va ndzingandzingano wa tindzimi eka swin’wana swa swona. Ingi moya wa yena wu nga wisa hi kurhula swinene. Eku heteleleni, ndzi khensa Muvumbi tanihileswi masungulo ya vutlhari ku nga ku chava Yehovha. Hi yena loyi a ndzi tsetseleleke no ndzi hletela ku kondza ndzi gwaza. / NRF

This research investigates how the speech community living in Maputo city uses language in relation to HIV/AIDS and studies related stigmas which impede women's access to HIV/AIDS counselling services. My hypothesis is that frequent use of gender stereotypes in AIDS discourse aims at stigmatising women as AIDS propagators, while minimizing male sexual transgressions in the AIDS crisis. Interpretation of primary data collected via focus group discussions and interviews is done with five different approaches that study respectively: social meanings and representations of AIDS embedded in context, the stigmatising process correlating gender stereotypes and discrimination against women, stereotypical speech attitudes and speech mechanism as well as the functions and effects of stereotyping. My conclusion is that deeply rooted gender barriers are to be removed in order to combat the social plague of AIDS and that ethnography of communication offers interesting models for development projects that can initiate behavioural changes through speech. / Linguistics / M.A. (Sociolinguistics)

This research investigates how the speech community living in Maputo city uses language in relation to HIV/AIDS and studies related stigmas which impede women's access to HIV/AIDS counselling services. My hypothesis is that frequent use of gender stereotypes in AIDS discourse aims at stigmatising women as AIDS propagators, while minimizing male sexual transgressions in the AIDS crisis. Interpretation of primary data collected via focus group discussions and interviews is done with five different approaches that study respectively: social meanings and representations of AIDS embedded in context, the stigmatising process correlating gender stereotypes and discrimination against women, stereotypical speech attitudes and speech mechanism as well as the functions and effects of stereotyping. My conclusion is that deeply rooted gender barriers are to be removed in order to combat the social plague of AIDS and that ethnography of communication offers interesting models for development projects that can initiate behavioural changes through speech. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / M.A. (Sociolinguistics)

Summaries in English, Tsonga and Venda / Dyondzo yi lavisisa vutlhari lebyi nga kona eka marungula ya tiprosi ta Xitsonga byo kambisisa swikili swa vulawuri na switirateji swa mbulavurisano leswi tirhisiwaka hi varhangeri va sweswi eka tisosayiti. Mahungu hinkwawo ya mbulavurisano wa swiharhi na vanhu ya nyikiwile lama kongomisaka eka tinxaka ta vurhangeri na swikili. Marungula ya tiprosi ta Xitsonga lama hlawuriweke na ku dokhumentiwa na marungula hi varhangeri va sweswi ya hlengeletiwile naswona ya xopaxopiwile. Dyondzo yi leteriwile hi Nxopanxopo wa Mbulavulo wa Nkoka, Mbulavurisano wa Vanhu, na maendlelo ya vutitivisi bya Vanhu. Datara yi lulamisiwile hi mitlawa ku ya hi mikhetekanyo leyi hlawuriweke ya switirateji swa mbulavurisano wa nomu na wo ka wu nga ri wa nomu. Mavulavulelo ya vanhu lava nga eka swiyimo swa vurhangeri eka marungula ya tiprosi na ya vanhu va sweswi ya hlamuseriwile na ku va ya xopaxopiwile hi ku ya hi maendlelo lama hlawuriweke. Leswi nga kumiwa swi humeserile erivaleni leswaku hakunene, varhangeri va sweswi va kayivela swikili swa vulawuri na switirateji swa mbulavurisano. Milawu ya vurhangeri leyi kambisisiweke leyi languteriweke ku suka eka varhangeri votala va vanhu yi kumiwile yi nga ri kona. Swiyimo swa malawulelo na mafumelo yo biha hi ndlela ya ntirhiso wo ka wu nga ri kahle kumbe nkucetelo swi kombisiwile ku suka eka ku tirhisa switirateji swa mbulavurisano wa nomu na wo ka wu nga ri wa nomu hi ndlela yo ka yi nga ri kahle. Makolo, vukari na ku tshembhela eka swa vukhongeri kumbe swikwembu swa le hansi a ku ri swona a swi vanga malawulelo na mafumelo yo biha. Vatirhivotala va xiyimo xa le hansi va hlanganile na ku xanisiwa emimoyeni, ku xanisiwa hi ku vulavula na ku xanisiwa emirini, ku xanisiwa hi swa masangu na ku susiwa eka swiyimo swa vona ehansi ka vulawuri bya varhangeri va vona eka sosayiti. Varhangeri va sweswi va nga dyondza swotala hi swikili swa vulawuri na switirateji swa mbulavurisano ku suka eka marungula ya tiprosi ta tindzimi ta Afrika, ngopfu-ngopfu marungula ya tiprosi ta Xitsonga. Dyondzo yi humesela erivaleni leswaku ntsheketo wu fuwile hi vutlhari bya swikwembu swa le hansi, lebyi nga pfunaka eka swiphiqo swa vurhangeri bya sweswi. Dyondzo yi nga va na nkoka eka varhangeri na vatirhikulorhi va vona va xiyimo xa le hansi. Swiringanyeto na swibumabumelo swi nyikiwile eka varhangeri va sweswi ku va pfuna ku teka xiboho xo hundzuluxa switirateji swa vona swa mbulavurisano na ku cinca mavulavulelo ya vona. Varhangeri va sweswi va fanele va kopela ku suka eka vutlhari lebyi nga kona eka marungula ya tiprosi ku kambisisa ku kayivela ka swikili swa vona swa vulawuri na switirateji swa mbulavurisano ku antswisa mbulavurisano exikarhi ka vona na vatirhikulorhi va vona lava nga eka xiyimo xa le hansi. / Ngudo i todisisa vhutali vhu re hone kha nganetshelo dza phurosa ya sialala ya Xitsonga malugana na khaedu ya zwikili zwa ndangulo na ndila dza vhudavhidzani zwi shumiswaho nga vharangaphanda vha musalauno zwitshavhani. Mafhungo a u rangela malugana na vhudavhidzani ha phukha na ha vhathu o netshedzwa ho sedzwa maitele na zwikili zwa vhurangaphanda. Nganetshelo dzo vhulungwaho na u nanguludzwa dza phurosa ya sialala ya Xitsonga na nganetshelo malugana na vharangaphanda vha musalauno dzo kuvhanganywa dza senguluswa. Ngudo iyi yo disendeka kha ndila dza Tsenguluso ya Vhudavhidzani ha Tsasaladzo, Ngudo ya luambo ho sedzwa zwa u Tshilisana kha Vhudavhidzani na Nzudzanyele ya Vhushaka ha vhathu. Data yo vhekanywa u ya nga zwigwada zwa ndila dza vhudavhidzani dza u amba na dzi si dza u amba. Maitele a u davhidzana a vhaanewa kha vhuimo ha vhurangaphanda kha nganetshelo dza phurosa dza sialala na kha zwitshavha zwa musalauno o talutshedzwa a senguluswa ho d isendekwa nga ndila dzo nangwaho. Mawanwa o dzumbulula uri nangoho, vharangaphanda vha musalauno vha shaya zwikili zwa ndangulo na ndila dza vhudavhidzani. Mirando ya vhurangaphanda yo tolwaho ine ya lavhelelwa kha vharangaphanda vhanzhi vha zwitshavha a vha nayo. Zwiwo zwa ndangulo na u laula zwa u shumisa maanda kha tshivhumbeo tsha u shumisa kana u tutuwedza hu sa vhuedzi zwo vhonala kha tshumiso i si yone ya ndila dza vhudavhidzani dza u amba na dzi si dza u amba. Tseda, tsinyuwo na lutendo lwa vhurereli vhu si hone kana vha kale zwo vha zwiko zwa ndangulommbi na u toda u laula. Vhunzhi ha vhalanda vho vhaisala muyani, kha u amba na u tambudzwa muvhilini, vho tambudzwa kha zwa vhudzekani na u sudzuluswa nga vharangaphanda vhavho tshitshavhani. Vharangaphanda vha musalauno vha nga guda zwinzhi nga ha zwikili zwa ndangulo na ndila dza vhudavhidzani kha nganetshelo dza phurosa ya sialala ya nyambo dza vharema, zwihulu kha nganetshelo dza phurosa ya sialala ya Xitsonga. Ngudo yo bvukulula uri zwa sialala zwo pfuma nga vhutali ha vha kale, vhune vhu nga thusa malugana na thaidzo dza vhurangaphanda ha musalauno. Ngudo iyi i nga vha ya ndeme kha vharangaphanda na vhalanda vhavho. Madzinginywa na themendelo zwo netshedzwa kha vharangaphanda vha musalauno u vha thusa uri vha kone u tshea malugana na u dzudzanya nga huswa ndila dzavho dza vhudavhidzani, nahone vha kone u shandukisa kuitele kwavho kwa u davhidzana. Vharangaphanda vha muisalauno vha fanela u guda kha vhutali vhu re kha nganetshelo dza phurosa ya sialala vha lulamise tshiimo tsha u shaya havho zwikili zwa ndangulo na nd ila dza vhudavhidzani malugana na u khwinisa vhudavhidzani vhukati havho na vhalanda vhavho. / The study investigates the wisdom embedded in Xitsonga oral prose narratives to address management skills and communication strategies used by current leaders in societies. Background information on animal and human communication is provided with a focus on leadership styles and skills. Selected documented Xitsonga oral prose narratives and narratives about current leaders were collected and analysed. The study is guided by the Critical Discourse Analysis, Interactional Sociolinguistics and Social Constructionist approaches. Data was classified per the selected categories of the verbal and nonverbal communication strategies. Communicative behaviours of characters in leadership positions in the oral prose narratives and those of the current societies were interpreted and analysed based on the selected approaches. Findings revealed that indeed, current leaders lack management skills and communication strategies. Examined leadership principles expected from many societal leaders were found to be non-existent. Cases of power mismanagement and dominance in the form of negative manipulation or influence were identified from their misuse of verbal and nonverbal communication strategies. Greed, anger and defective religious or ancestral beliefs were sources of such power mismanagement and dominance. Most subordinates suffered emotional, verbal and physical abuse, sexual harassment and displacement at the hands of their leaders in the society. Current leaders can learn much about management skills and communication strategies from the African languages oral prose narratives, particularly Xitsonga oral prose narratives. The study reveals that folklore is rich with ancestral wisdom, which can assist in current leadership problems. The study can be valuable to both leaders and their subordinates. Suggestions and recommendations are offered to the current leaders to help them decide on adjusting their communication strategies and ultimately changing their communicative behaviour. Current leaders should take a leaf from the wisdom embedded in oral prose narratives to address their lack of management skills and communication strategies to improve communication between them and their subordinates. / African Languages / D. Litt. et Phil. (African Languages)

Summaries in English, Xitsonga and Afrikaans / Reading literacy for many black South African learners is a problem. In order to understand what happens in the South African foundation phase classrooms that affect learners’ reading performance, this study uses the adapted early grade reading assessment (EGRA) tool to assess Grade 1 learners’ reading abilities in the home language (four schools) and in the first additional language (one school). The EGRA is important for measuring foundational literacy skills. Its outcomes help teachers plan instruction that accommodates diverse learning capabilities. Data were collected through observing literacy practices and activities in the Grade 1 classrooms, evaluate classroom settings and interview Grade 1 teachers and curriculum advisors of the general education and training band to understand their perception of Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS). The main findings revealed that the Grade 1 learners are acquiring foundational reading skills in Xitsonga very slowly during the first year of schooling and on all measures, performance was either low or very low. The teachers’ lack of deep understanding of how early reading develops and how each of the reading activities contributes to different aspects of this development may have contributed to the learners’ reading outcomes. Findings further revealed that the ability to read fluently and with comprehension is determined by hierarchical relationships between various reading skills. Thus, knowledge of letter-sounds facilitates word reading which impacts reading fluency and then reading comprehension – all these skills are important for reading development during early learning only if they are taught well in the classroom. / Ku hlaya ni ku tsala swi tikela vadyondzi vo tala laha Afrika Dzonga. Eka ndzavisiso lowu, ku va hi ta kota ku twisisa leswi swi humelelaka mayelana na matirhelo yo hlaya ya vadyondzi va ntangha R-3, hi kambela vuswikoti lebyi vadyondzi va ntlawa wo sungula (Giredi 1) va nga na byona byo hlaya hi ririmi ra manana (mune wa swikolo) na hi ririmi leri ri nga le eka xiyimo xa masungulo (xikolo xin’we) hi ku tirhisa xikambelwana lexi xi vuriwaka early grade reading assessment (EGRA). Xikambelwana lexi (EGRA) xi ni nkoka lowu kulu mayelana ni ku kambela vuswikoti bya n’wana byo hlaya. Mbuyelo wa xikambelo lexi wu pfuna ngopfu mayelana na leswaku vadyondzisi va kota ku kunguhata madyindziselo lama ya angarhelaka vadyondzi hinkwavo. Ndzavisiso lowu wu humelerisiwile hi ku kambela madyondziselo yo hlaya ni ku tsala eka ntlawa wo sungula (Giredi 1), ku kambela xivumbeko xa kamara ro dyondzela eka rona, ni ku kambela vutivi bya kharikhulamu bya vadyondzisi va ntlawa wo sungula na vaseketeri va vona (curriculum advisors). Mbuyelonkulu wu humesele erivaleni leswaku vadyondzi va kuma ntokoto wo hlaya hi Xitsonga hi ku nonoka va ha ri eka lembe ra vona ro sungula xikolo. Leswi swi thlela swi nyanyisa na hi leswaku mbuyelo wa vona wo hlaya eka swiyenge hinkwaswo swa xikambelo lexi xi nga tirhisiwa ku va kambela a wu ri ehansi ngopfu. Eka ndzavisiso lowu, ku pfumala ka vadyondzisi vutivi hi vuenti bya ku dyondzisa vana eku hlaya swi nga va swi vile na xiave eka mbuyelo wa vadyondzi wo hlaya. Vulavisisi lebyi byi thlela byi humesela erivaleni leswaku vuswikoti byo hlaya hi ku twisisa swi koteka ntsena loko mudyonzi a ri ni ntokoto eka swiyenge hinkwaswo swa ku hlaya hikuva swi na vuxaka. Hikokwalaho, vuswikoti byo hlaya mimpfumawulo ya maletere swi pfuneta ku hlaya marito lawa ya thlelaka ya pfuneta ku hlaya hi nkhuluko ni ku twisisa leswi swi hlayiwaka. Vuswikoti lebyi hinkwabyo byi ni nkoka mayelana ni ku dyondza ku hlaya ntsena loko madyondziselo yo hlaya ya landzelerisa leswi kunguhatiweke eka kharikhulamu. / Leesgeletterdheid vir baie swart Suid-Afrikaanse leerders is ‘n probleem. Om te verstaan wat in die Suid-Afrikaanse grondslagfase-klaskamers gebeur wat die leesprestasie van leerders beïnvloed, word in die studie die aangepaste instrument vir vroeë graad leesassessering (EGRA) gebruik om die leesvermoëns van Graad 1-leerders in die huistaal (vier skole) en in die eerste addisionele taal (een skool). Die EGRA is belangrik vir die meting van fundamentele geletterdheidsvaardighede. Die uitkomste daarvan help onderwysers om onderrig te beplan wat voldoen aan verskillende leervermoëns. Data is versamel deur die waarneming van geletterdheidspraktyke en aktiwiteite in die Graad 1-klaskamers, die klaskamerinstellings te evalueer en onderhoude met Graad 1-onderwysers en kurrikulumadviseurs van die algemene onderwys- en opleidingsband te onderneem om hul persepsie van Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) te verstaan. Die belangrikste bevindings het getoon dat die graad 1-leerders in die eerste jaar van skool baie stadig basiese leesvaardighede in Xitsonga verwerf, en dat prestasies op alle maatstawwe laag of baie laag was. Die onderwysers se gebrek aan diep begrip van hoe vroeë lees ontwikkel en hoe elkeen van die leesaktiwiteite bydra tot verskillende aspekte van hierdie ontwikkeling, het moontlik tot die leerders se leesuitkomste bygedra. Bevindinge het verder aan die lig gebring dat die vermoë om vlot en met begrip te lees, bepaal word deur hiërargiese verwantskappe tussen verskillende leesvaardighede. Kennis van letterklanke vergemaklik dus die lees van woorde wat die vloeiendheid van lees en dan leesbegrip beïnvloed - al hierdie vaardighede is slegs belangrik vir leesontwikkeling tydens vroeë leer as dit goed in die klaskamer geleer word. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / Ph. D. (Languages, Linguistics and Literature)