A COMPARATIVE STUDY of MEDICAL and HEALTH TERMS with SPECIAL REFERENCE to SESOTHO SA LEBOA and WESTERN TERMINOLOGY by SELEKA
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH TERMS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SESOTHO SA LEBOA AND WESTERN TERMINOLOGY by SELEKA MARIA TEMBANE submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF LITERATURE AND PHILOSOPHY in the subject AFRICAN LANGUAGES at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA SUPERVISOR: PROF. M.J. MAFELA CO- SUPERVISOR: PROF. M.L. MOJAPELO 2019 Student Number: 07306172 DECLARATION I declare that A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH TERMS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SESOTHO SA LEBOA AND WESTERN TERMINOLOGY is my own work and that all sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. I further declare that I submitted the thesis to originality checking software and that it falls within the accepted requirements for originality. I further declare that I have not previously submitted this work, or part of it, for examination at University of South Africa for another qualification or at any other institution of higher education. Signature: Date: 18/06/2019 Seleka Maria Tembane DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my late parents, Morwangwato Lesiba Moses Bapela and Boledi Forogwana Ramadimetja Johanna Bapela and to my late brothers, Skuns Abram Bapela, Boreledi Petros Bapela and Sekiti Samuel Bapela. May their soul rest in peace. i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Firstly, I would like to thank my Shepherd, Almighty God, for being with me throughout my study. It was not easy, but because He is my refuge and fortress, I managed to conduct this study. Special thanks to Kwamhlanga Church of Christ members for praying for me to complete this thesis. Ke leboga dithapelo. My sincere gratitude goes to my supervisors, Professors M.J Mafela and M.L Mojapelo, whose depth of knowledge of supervision has enabled me to produce this study. I will never forget the supervision skills that you instilled in me. Ndi a livhuwa! Ke a leboga, Mohlalerwa! Words of appreciation go to my colleagues at the University of South Africa in the Department of African Languages. You are my inspiration and you are always brighter than the morning star. You all supported me from the first day I started with my thesis and held my hand when I had academic challenges. Ke le leboga ka moka. Words of gratitude go to the Bapela family, the family into which I was born. I am an academic pioneer today because of the blessings, love of education, and words of encouragement from my parents. Rest in peace batswadi ba ka, I am carrying forward your legacy. To my brothers and sisters, Abel Mošemane Bapela, Dorcas Ramatsobane Mologadi Mokobodi, Granni Koko Rebecca Morwešadi Bapela-Selepe and Maesela Joel Jowie Bapela, your support throughout my entire academic path is much appreciated. Malome Jowie, thank you for taking pictures of medicinal plants at Mogoto. To my late brothers Boreledi Petros Bapela, Skuns Abram Bapela and Sekiti Samuel Bapela, you always encouraged me to study hard – today I fulfilled your wish. Ke le leboga ka moka Ditau Masenya ’a Molokwane, bana ba Boledi, ditlogolo tša gaLepogo. Modimo a le atišetše mahlatse le matšatši a go phela lefaseng. Thank you to my brothers and sisters-in-law for supporting me. My sincere gratitude goes to my husband, Resemate Lucas Tembane, my two sons: Kgothatso Peter Bapela and Nkateko Success Tembane, my only daughter Naledi Tembane, and granddaughter Bokang for their support during busy days and hectic sleepless nights. You ii missed the much-needed company and care of a loving wife, mother and grandmother and allowed me to take out my academic frustrations on you. Ndza khensa! I dedicate this study to all of you. Special thanks to my participants; if it were not for you, I would not have accomplished my dreams. To the traditional healers and elders, thank you for the indigenous knowledge you provided. I promise to pass this knowledge on to the next generation in writing. I would like to thank all my friends who helped me directly and indirectly to complete this study. May God strenghthen our friendship. Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who contributed towards the successful completion of this study. God bless you all. iii ABSTRACT This study focuses on the comparison of medical and health terms with special reference to Sesotho sa Leboa and Western languages. The study was conducted in the communities of Zebediela, Groblersdal and Marble Hall. From time immemorial, traditional medical and health terms were associated with certain types of diseases and health problems among Africans. With the introduction of Western civilisation, most of the medical and health terms which were used in the past by the Basotho ba Leboa, are no longer in use, as Western languages are regarded as prestige languages compared to the indigenous African languages. This perception led to a shortage of Sesotho sa Leboa documents that explain medical and health terms. The literature review revealed that traditional medicine is used for healing by many communities. Scholars further revealed that Western health terminology is more developed than traditional health terminology. The study uses the qualitative approach to explain concepts, and coding schemes were used to categorise medical and health terms. Ethnographic and historical theories were used to analyse data. The similarities and differences between the Sesotho sa Leboa terms and their Western counterparts were discussed and assessed. The study found that a relationship exists between diseases and the body parts in both Sesotho sa Leboa and Western terminology, and that the diseases were classified according to the affected body parts. The medical terms of both languages have similar and different semantic properties. Most of the differences were brought about by the cultural differences of the two communities. As the Sesotho sa Leboa medical terms are inimitable, the culture specific terms used in this study are discussed in Sesotho sa Leboa rather than in Western terminology. Conversely, as most of the recent outbreaks of diseases are named in Western terminology, they are translated into Sesotho sa Leboa. KEYWORDS: African traditional medicine Disease Disorders Indigenous knowledge systems Medical and health terms Medicine Sesotho sa Leboa Terminology Western medicine Western terminology, medicinal plants iv ACRONYMS: DACST Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology DNA Deoxyribonucleic Acid FTT Failure to Thrive HIV/AID Human Immuno Virus/Acquired Deficiency Syndrome IKS Indigenous knowledge systems NGO Non- governmental Organisation TB Tuberculosis TM Traditional Medicine SANBI South African National Biodiversity Institute STD Sexually transmitted diseases WHO World Health Organisation v TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction and background to the study ......................................................... 1 1.2 Research problem statement ............................................................................. 4 1.3 Research questions ........................................................................................... 5 1.4 Aim and objectives .......................................................................................... 5 1.5 Justification of research…………………………………………………………6 1.6 Significance of research ................................................................................... 6 1.7 Definition of terms ………………………………………………………………7 1.7.1 Medicine …………………………………………………………………………7 1.7.2 Western medicine ………………………………………………………………..7 1.7.3 African traditional medicine …………………………………………………….7 1.7.4 Term …………………………………………………………………………….8 1.7.5 Western medical and health terms ………………………………………………9 1.7.6 African traditional medical and health terms ……………………………………9 1.8 Research design …………………………………………………………………10 1.8.1 Research methods ……………………………………………………………...10 1.8.2 Population and Sampling ……………………………………………………10 1.8.3 Methods of data collection …………………………………………………..11 1.8.3.1 Interviews …………………………………………………………………….12 1.8.3.2 Existing documents ………………………………………………………….12 1.8.3.3 Direct non-participant observations …………………………………………13 1.8.4 Data analysis …………………………………………………………………13 1.8.4.1 Theoretical approaches ………………………………………………………14 1.9 Chapter delimitation ....................................................................................... 16 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW....................................................................... 18 2.1. Introduction ................................................................................................... 18 2.2 Review........................................................................................................... 18 2.2.1 Western medical and health terminology ………...............................................17 2.2.2 African traditional medical and health terminology ……………………………………………24 2.2.3 Sesotho sa Leboa medical and health terminology ……………………………………………….31 2.3 Conclusion ..................................................................................................3635 vi CHAPTER THREE: COLLECTION AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA ...................... 37 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 37 3.2 Research environment .................................................................................... 37 3.3 Data collection methods ................................................................................