Browsing Research articles (Dept of African Lang & Lit) by Title
Now showing items 1-20 of 25
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An alalysis of two setswana colour terms: ntsho and tshweu
(University of Botswana, Department of English, http://www.ub.bw, 2008)This paper explores the linguistic contexts, uses and meanings of the colour terms ntsho (black) and tshweu (white) in Setswana. Using a corpus data, the paper argues that the two terms display cultural and linguistic ... -
“All that is fine in the human condition”: crafting words, creating Ma-Ramotswe
(Indiana University Press, www.iupress.indiana.edu, 2006)Acclaimed Edinburgh-based author Alexander McCall Smith is a professor of Medical Law and a prolific fiction writer. He has written over fifty books. It is, however, with the fictional character Ma-Ramotswe that his name ... -
Central Delta languages: an overview
(Stellenbosch University, https://www.sun.ac.za/, 2017)This paper presents an overview of the phonology, morphology and syntax of Central Delta languages. It also provides information on the geo-linguistic, demographic and sociolinguistic situation of these languages. It notes ... -
Cognate object constructions in Degema
(Sage publications,www.sage.com/, 2017-06)This paper provides a descriptive analysis of cognate object constructions in Degema. Cognate object constructions refer to constructions that involve a verb and a cognate nominal object that is morphologically and semantically ... -
Cognate object constructions in Degema
(Linguistique et Langues Africaines (LLACAN); llacan.vjf.cnrs.fr/lla/, 2017)This paper provides a descriptive analysis of cognate object constructions in Degema. Cognate object constructions refer to constructions that involve a verb and a cognate nominal object that is morphologically and ... -
The dual nature of Setswana wedding songs: expressions of peace and conflict within families
(Department of communications, Polytechnic of Namibia, 2007)Songs are very important components in the folklore of Botswana as they accompany almost all social activity. Every occasion in which people come together has particular songs for the event, including work, wedding and ... -
English pronouns in the writing of some Batswana students
(University of Botswana, Department of English, http://www.ub.bw, 2008)This paper examines the morphological and syntactic differences between English and Setswana pronouns, and how these differences manifest in students usage of English learners may be assisted to become more proficient in ... -
The influence of school on the choice of language learning strategies in Botswana
(University of Botswana, Department of English, http://www.ub.bw, 2008)This research seeks to examine the role that context or learning situation plays in strategy choice by comparing the strategy patterns of a private English medium secondary and a government secondary school in Botswana. ... -
Intersuffixing in Setswana: the case of the perfective -ile, the applicative -ela, and the causative -isa
(University of Botswana, Office of Research and Development, http://www.ub.bw, 1996)Our motivation and inspiration to undertake this aspect of the phonology of Setswana is derived from research in Setswana phonology by Creissels (Notes, 1991-1992) and from the Bantu languages phonology by Bastin (1983). ... -
Investigating language vitality in some parts of North Eastern Botswana
(University of Botswana, www.ub.bw, 2017)The main objective of this article is to investigate the level of language vitality in Botswana on the basis of patterns of language use, transgenerational language transmission, language attitudes and ethno-cultural ... -
Language maintenance or shift? attitudes of Bakalanga youth towards their mother tongue
(Routledge (Taylor and Francis)/www.routledge.com, 2009)This article reports the findings of a study whose objective was to investigate whether there was a likelihood of a language shift (or loss) from Ikalanga (a minority language spoken in Botswana) to either Setswana or ... -
The languages of Rivers State of Nigeria: An overview
(University of Botswana, www.ub.bw, 2019-11-06)This paper provides an updated overview of the languages of Rivers State of Nigeria in respect of the number, linguistic classification and features of the languages, as well as the distribution of the languages across the ... -
The nature and origin of sex-related euphemisms in Setswana
(University of Botswana, Department of English, http://www.ub.bw, 2008)The aim of this study is to investigate sex-related euphemisms in Setswana. Although sex matters, as embarrassing phenomena, are not usually talked about in Setswana communities, they have recently been brought to the open ... -
On the status of subject markers in African languages
(Joongwon Linguistic Society of Korea, http://submission.jwl.or.kr/sobis/jwl.jsp, 2017)This paper discusses subject markers in African languages, noting that whereas the grammatical functions of these morphemes are fairly clear; their status as affixes or clitics is not. The unclear status of subject markers ... -
Parasynthesis in Degema: Simultaneous affixation or suffixation and concomitant prefixation
(Linguistics Association of SADC Universities, 2015-04)This paper discusses parasynthesis, also known as circumfixation, in Degema. It highlights the fact that circumfixes are controversial not only because of the possibility to analyze them as discontinuous units consisting ... -
Patterns of language use and language preference of some children and their parents in Botswana
(Routledge (Taylor and Francis) www.routledge.com, 2002)This paper examines the patterns of language use and language preference of some children aged 6–15 and their parents at the University of Botswana. The results indicate that the majority of the children speak Setswana ... -
A phenomenological interpretation of Kerebe greetings
(Taylor and Francis, 2001)This article argues that greeting among the Kerebe is a phenomenological project of everydayness in which the concept of being manifests itself in a dialogic manner. This is revealed through the four variables on which ... -
Politeness in language use in Tswana Kgotla meetings
(The Joongwon Linguistic Society of Korea, http://eng.jwl.or.kr/, 2021-04-30)This paper focuses on politeness in language use in kgotla meetings among the Tswana ethnic groups of Balete, Bangwato and Bakhurutshe. It investigates how interlocutors’ use of language reflects social behaviour and how ... -
Post Africa(n) feminism?
(Routledge (Taylor and francis), www.routledge.com, 2010)The growing body of literature authored by women in Africa and the African Diaspora over the past four decades has been accompanied by vigorous debates out of which has evolved a body of theories pertaining to African ... -
Restrictions on the attachment of verbal extensions in Degema
(The Joongwon Linguistic Society of Korea, http://submission.jwl.or.kr/sobis/jwl.jsp, 2016)This paper discusses restrictions observed in the attachment of verbal extensions to all verb bases in Degema. Kari (1995) discusses verbal extensions in Degema focusing on the number, underlying forms, and phonological ...