A comparison of three Northern Sotho dialects for possible inclusion into the standardized writing language form. BY MOLEBOGENG LESHABANE Student no: 553149 A RESEARCH PROPOSAL SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN AFRICAN LANGUAGES AND LINGUISTICS Supervisor: Dr Kgomotso Theledi Year: 2020 DEDICATION This work is dedicated to the Kgoši ya dikgoši My God, for the gift of life, strength and courage to embark on this journey. Secondly to the only human who knows the sound of my heart beat from the inside, my beautiful daughter Ditebogo Tlhonololofatso Leshabane. Thank for choosing me to be your mother and allowing me to study for you and with you. It has been nothing, but a wonderful journey with you. …………………………. M.D Leshabane 11 September 2020 I ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to God my father in heaven, for giving me the strength I needed to succeed and for never leaving me nor forsaking me. I am grateful to my supervisor, Dr Kgomotso Theledi for her undying patience and understanding. Supporting me throughout the study believing that I write and discover the best tenets about my research. Her guidance and assistance have been more than enough. Modimo a go dire a go loka mme. I would like to extend special thanks to my family, my mother Refilwe Leshabane, sister Dimakatšo Leshabane, nephew Boikgantšho Leshabane and the rest of my extended family members for your love, prayers, support, sacrifices and always believing in the beauty of my dreams. To my friends and entourage, Moshibe Kgarose, Mmanape Hlungwane and Thabiso Raphaphula thank for holding my hand and walking with me throughout the journey, it has been a hard yet fruitful one, here is to us having the world as our oyster more together. A special thanks to the community and community leaders of Polokwane, Tzaaneen and Louis Trichadt this research would not be possible without your co-operation and understanding. Last but no least; to my dearest friends Lesego Mkhonza, Mphasha Chokoe, Mokgaetši Maleka and Itumeleng Maja for all your prayers and encouragements. I am thankful always. ABSTRACT II This study aims to investigate the relatedness of the three related Northern Sotho dialects, that is, Sepedi, Setlokwa and Khelobedu. The rationale of this study is that since Sepedi is the standardized dialect to the exclusion of other dialects it has created attitudes amongst excluded speakers of Northern Sotho dialects and social instability within the speech community. The dialects of the Northern Sotho are assumed to have originated from one language and later diverged as result of different societal exposures such as status based on the socio-historical or political forces of a language that are in its favour. Thus, nouns, locatives and verb cognates, from the three dialects will be analysed. Analysis will involve comparing for morphological and phonological similarities and differences. As a result, this study will shed light on the relatedness of these dialects. Finally, the results will serve as recommendations for possible inclusion of the other two dialects in the standard variety Table of contents: DEDICATION ................................................................................................................................................ I III ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................................................... II ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................................... II ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................................... VI 1. INTRODUCTION. ..................................................................................................................................3 1.2. Background of the study .............................................................................................................3 Figure 1. Linguistic representation of Sotho language Family tree .................................................................. 6 1.2.1. Background of Northern Sotho dialects .............................................................................................. 6 1.2.2. Background of Batlokwa ........................................................................................................................ 7 1.2.3. Background of Balobedu ..................................................................................................................... 8 1.3. Statement of the problem ............................................................................................................9 1.4. Aim of the study .................................................................................................................................10 1.5. Objectives of the study .......................................................................................................................10 1.6. Research Questions ............................................................................................................................10 1.7. Literature review ....................................................................................................................... 11 1.7.1. Nature of Language and a dialect ...........................................................................................................11 1.7.2. The role of missionary activities on Northern Sotho .............................................................................11 1.7.3. Standardization of Northern Sotho ....................................................................................................12 1.8. Research design and Methodology ............................................................................................ 12 1.8.1 Research Design .......................................................................................................................................12 1.8.3. Quantitative approach ............................................................................................................................13 1.8.5. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................................................................ 14 1.9. Chapter Outline ........................................................................................................................ 16 1.10. Conclusion................................................................................................................................ 17 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................................................ 17 2.1. Nature of Language and a dialect ............................................................................................. 18 2.1.1. THE ROLE OF MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES ON NORTHERN SOTHO .............................................................. 23 2.1.2. Standard language and standardization ........................................................................................ 27 2.1.3. Attitude of the excluded dialect speakers towards the standard form .............................................. 30 2.2. Northern Sotho Morphology and orthography................................................................................ 32 2.2.1. Standard Northern Sotho structural morphology .......................................................................... 33 Figure 3. classification of morphemes ............................................................................................................37 2.2.2. Morphological processes ............................................................................................................. 38 2.3. SOUND CHANGES AMONGST SEPEDI, SETLOKWA AND KHELOBEDU......................................................... 39 2.4. LANGUAGE CLASSIFICATION................................................................................................................. 41 2.4.1. Van Warmelo (1935) ...............................................................................................................................42 2.4.2. Mokgokong (1966) ..................................................................................................................................43 2.4.3. Ziervogel (1969) ......................................................................................................................................43 2.4.4. Typological Classification .......................................................................................................................44 Table 1: Noun classes in traditional grammars of Northern Sotho ...................................................................48 Table 2: Noun class system of Khelobedu .......................................................................................................49 2.5. CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................................................... 51 3. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................. 53 3.1. Research Design ....................................................................................................................... 53 3.2 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY