scholarly journals ’n Oorsig oor die grammatiese beskrywing van die sogenaamde ‘onderwerpskakel’ in Sotho en Zulu: histories en kontemporêr

Literator ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-90
Author(s):  
W. J. Pretorius

A synopsis of the grammatical description of the so-called ‘subject concord’ in Sotho and Zulu: historical and comtemporary viewsThe term "concord” is generally used as an umbrella term for a diversity of language forms in the morphological description of language units in African languages. Since “concord" does not specifically indicate a unit of rank in the morphological hierarchy of language symbols, but implicitly refers to the function of language units, the result of this practice is that a purely grammatical distinction between related language units is not always possible. For example, historically and contemporarily, the so-called "subject concord" is often interpreted in morphologically diverse and often even contradictory ways. This article examines the grammatical status of the so-called "subject concord” in Northern Sotho and Zulu in terms of existing views regarding its morphological or word status in the light of Van Wyk's (1953, 1958 and 1967) research. Specific attention is paid to changes in rank, drawing a clear distinction between “subject concords” as verbal prefixal morphemes and “subject concords” as particle words. Finally, it is recommended that a clear grammatical distinction should be drawn between morphemes and words, and furthermore that reference to these units should differ terminologically. This viewpoint suggests that the term "concord" should rather be avoided completely.

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-287
Author(s):  
D J Prinsloo

Abstract As for many e-dictionaries across the globe, e-dictionaries for African languages embarked on the unfortunate route of being ‘paper dictionaries on computer’ often simply enhanced with additional search features or simply by perpetuating the practice followed in paper dictionaries of compiling e-dictionaries which are just translated word lists. In this article it will be argued that e-dictionaries for African languages should firstly be compiled through maximum utilization of ‘true electronic’ features enabled by the computer era. Secondly, specific attention should be given to the salient features of the Bantu language family, taking Sepedi (Northern Sotho) as a case in point. Thirdly attention is given to the issue of dictionary survival in the information era and how innovative e-support systems can contribute to ensure that future dictionaries will remain the preferred point of departure for users for information retrieval.


Author(s):  
Carien Wilsenach

Diagnostic testing of speech/language skills in the African languages spoken in South Africa is a challenging task, as standardised language tests in the official languages of South Africa barely exist. Commercially available language tests are in English, and have been standardised in other parts of the world. Such tests are often translated into African languages, a practice that speech language therapists deem linguistically and culturally inappropriate. In response to the need for developing clinical language assessment instruments that could be used in South Africa, this article reports on data collected with a Northern Sotho non-word repetition task (NRT). Non-word repetition measures various aspects of phonological processing, including phonological working memory (PWM), and is used widely by speech language therapists, linguists, and educational psychologists in the Western world. The design of a novel Northern Sotho NRT is described, and it is argued that the task could be used successfully in the South African context to discriminate between children with weak and strong Northern Sotho phonological processing ability, regardless of the language of learning and teaching. The NRT was piloted with 120 third graders, and showed moderate to strong correlations with other measures of PWM, such as digit span and English non-word repetition. Furthermore, the task was positively associated with both word and fluent reading in Northern Sotho, and it reliably predicted reading outcomes in the tested population. Suggestions are made for improving the current version of the Northern Sotho NRT, whereafter it should be suitable to test learners from various age groups.


2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Medicine Magocha ◽  
Johannes Ratsikana Rammala

Migration, enterprise and the related language and culture dynamics are critical to South Africa and Zimbabwe. In the past, some scholars were of the view that the language and cultural communities created by migration pose a threat, and others argued that they are advantageous. This article presents a single-factor analytical approach to issues, which suggests that co-existing modalities should be worked out for the host citizens to accept the migrants without reservations. This acceptance is imperative as its negation results in some contexts to the flaring of ugly xenophobic manifestations. The argument presented in this article is pertinent to African languages and education, the African Union, the United Nations, civic, humanitarian organisations, respective governments, interested stakeholders and language communities, amongst others. It provides insight on how to manage cultures and morals among migrants of diverse categories. The article used a mixed research methodology. It reviews ideas on migration globally and in Africa in particular, analysing how migration contributes towards emerging language and cultural societies or communities. A sample of 100 respondents was used for this study. The paper suggests that there should be unity, deregulation and liberalisation of movement of people across the continent for trade and skills-sharing to improve sustainability. The article intends to guide African leaders to co-exist and to encourage fair competition for continental expansion, poverty alleviation and development of positive international language policies. It is one of the recent attempts to expound on the existing perspectives on migration dynamics and the formation of viable diasporic language communities in Africa and highlight their contribution towards ubuntu.


Literator ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 107-130
Author(s):  
W.J. Pretorius

The hierarchical development and grammatical features of the Northern Sotho verb stem -ba The objective of this article is to describe the synchronic grammatical features of the Northern Sotho verb stem -ba as well as to indicate the diachronic developmental process of this language form. A lack of sufficient knowledge in this regard exists due to the fact that very little information can be obtained from any publication or research project. The focus of this article is particularly on the structural and semantic characteristics of -ba when functioning as an auxiliary verb stem in word group context. The cognitive meaning as well as various delicate shades of meaning, which are generated as translation possibilities in different contexts, is investigated. Reference is also made to tense and aspect that are respectively determined by the auxiliary and complementary verbs per se. Categorial and hierarchical rank shifting is also illustrated by means of suitable examples. Data and examples are mainly obtained from the study of Pretorius (2004). These examples have been recorded after some sound ground-work has been undertaken. Various examples of auxiliary verb groups have not only been recorded from the literature, but also from daily conversations. It should, however, be made clear that no direct quotations from the literature have been made – only structures from the examples have been selected and processed before being submitted for verification. The data of selected examples have been submitted to three Northern Sotho first language speakers. These people are well equipped in both the practical as well as theoretical knowledge of Northern Sotho. The people concerned are Mr. S.M. Mabule (Vista), Mr. R.J. Mampuru (Vista), and Mr. S.J. Motshegoa (Institute for African Languages). These gentlemen are also fluent in Afrikaans which they all studied at tertiary level.


Author(s):  
G.C. Bellolio ◽  
K.S. Lohrmann ◽  
E.M. Dupré

Argopecten purpuratus is a scallop distributed in the Pacific coast of Chile and Peru. Although this species is mass cultured in both countries there is no morphological description available of the development of this bivalve except for few characterizations of some larval stages described for culture purposes. In this work veliger larvae (app. 140 pm length) were examined by the scanning electron microscope (SEM) in order to study some aspects of the organogenesis of this species.Veliger larvae were obtained from hatchery cultures, relaxed with a solution of MgCl2 and killed by slow addition of 21 glutaraldehyde (GA) in seawater (SW). They were fixed in 2% GA in calcium free artificial SW (pH 8.3), rinsed 3 times in calcium free SW, and dehydrated in a graded ethanol series. The larvae were critical point dried and mounted on double scotch tape (DST). To permit internal view, some valves were removed by slightly pressing and lifting the tip of a cactus spine wrapped with DST, The samples were coated with 20 nm gold and examined with a JEOL JSM T-300 operated at 15 KV.


Author(s):  
Xie Nianming ◽  
Ding Shaoqing ◽  
Wang Luping ◽  
Yuan Zenglin ◽  
Zhan Guolai ◽  
...  

Perhaps the data about periplasmic enzymes are obtained through biochemical methods but lack of morphological description. We have proved the existence of periplasmic bodies by electron microscope and described their ultrastructures. We hope this report may draw the attention of biochemists and mrophologists to collaborate on researches in periplasmic enzymes or periplasmic bodies with each other.One or more independent bodies may be seen in the periplasmic space between outer and inner membranes of Gram-negative bacteria, which we called periplasmic bodies. The periplasmic bodies have been found in seven species of bacteria at least, including the Pseudomonas aeroginosa. Shigella flexneri, Echerichia coli. Yersinia pestis, Campylobacter jejuni, Proteus mirabilis, Clostridium tetani. Vibrio cholerae and Brucella canis.


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