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Item Reading habits and attitudes of Grades 8-10 learners toward English second language in Eersterust.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2016-11-01) Olifant, Tilla; Dr. E. Rautenbach; Prof. M.P. CekisoThe reading habits and attitudes of learners are continuously debated and discussed by academics, as well as reading enthusiasts on an international platform; in search of methods to cultivate a love for reading and improve reading skills among learners. The focus of this study was to investigate and describe the reading habits and attitudes of Grades 8 to 10 learners toward English second language in two high schools in the Eersterust area of the Tshwane south district. A total number of 100 learners and five teachers were selected purposefully for the study. A case study design was followed, which employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Data were collected through the use of a questionnaire survey; as well as individual and focus group semi-structured interviews. The findings of the study revealed that learners did read; although the majority learners indicated that they predominantly read for the purpose of academic progression. The findings further indicated that most of learners preferred technology-based reading platforms compared to traditional print material. Based on the findings, the study recommended the involvement of all stakeholders in order to assist and encourage learners to practise good reading habits and to cultivate a positive attitude towards English second language reading. These include, but are not limited to, parents, government officials, caregivers, librarians, peers, and community role models.Item Student's motivation in and attitudes toward third language learning: A study of Isizulu at a university of technology in Pretoria.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2016-04-01) Kabinde, Martha Lungi; Dr C. P. Chaka; Dr M. M. MakgatoThe study examines students ’motivation in and attitude towards third language learning among undergraduate University of Technology (UoT) students of isiZulu as a third language. It investigates whether UoT students are instrumentally or integratively motivated to study isiZulu. The study also looks at the relationship between UoT students’ motivation and their achievement in isiZulu. Forty UoT students studying isiZulu as a third language at a (UoT) participated in the study. These students had, as their language background, different L1s which included four African languages, English L2, which is the language of teaching and learning, and additionally, a language subject. For these students, the acquisition of an L3 was a course requirement, and isiZulu is one of the language options. Furthermore, the study also investigates the role that language attitude, be it positive or negative, can play in L3 acquisition. The quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative (interviews) research approaches adopted for data collection in the survey revealed that UoT students were highly instrumentally and integratively motivated to study isiZulu, and their integrative motivation appeared to be a little higher than their instrumental motivation. These unusual results were attributed to the UoT students’ interest in knowing more about the isiZulu-speaking people and learning about their societies and cultures, and that was due to the strong positive attitude these UoT students have had towards the language.Item Assessing the need for a language policy for the Makhado Municipality, Limpopo Province.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2015-04-02) Davhana, Livhuwani; Prof. M.C. Mashige; Dr. I.P. Mandende; Dr. S.M. HarperThe purpose of this research is to assess the need for a Language Policy within the Makhado Local Municipality (MLM) in Limpopo province. The study examines the languages of communication used within the Makhado Local Municipality to determine whether such (a) language(s) within that particular environment have been selected according to social status or following the Constitution of Republic of South Africa (1996), which pronounces that all eleven (11) official languages are to be used as a media of communication. It is important to ascertain if the Makhado Local Municipality followed the guidelines suggested in the Language Policy of the country as stated in the Constitution. The study reveals that although the Makhado Local Municipality consists of people from different ethnic groups, most of them prefer to use Tshivenḓa when requesting assistance from the municipality. This is largely attributable to fact that the majority of people in and around the municipality are Tshivenḓa speaking. In view of this, and taking into cognizance the prescripts of the RSA constitution and the Official Languages Act (2014) the study recommends that Makhado Local Municipality should develop a Language Policy to guide the choice of language(s) to be used as official languages, taking into consideration the need for equitable use of languages spoken within the boundaries of the Municipality. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches to collect data on respondents’ attitude toward a Language Policy within Makhado Local Municipality. Questionnaires were distributed and face to face interviews were conducted at Makhado Local Municipality offices and communities within Makhado Local Municipality.Item Translation strategies used by Tshivenda translators: Study of Grade 4 Geography concepts.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2022-12-01) Mudau, Thama; Dr I.P. Mandende; Mrs M.L. Kabinde-MachateTranslating between two languages with different cultural backgrounds, such as English and Tshivenḓa, is problematic due to the lack of equivalent concepts in specific disciplines, such as Geography. Hence, a study that proposes ways to circumvent non-equivalence is essential. Therefore, this study aims to identify and analyse the translation strategies used by Tshivenḓa translators to address problems of non-equivalence at the word level when translating Grade 4 Geography concepts. To conduct this qualitative phenomenology investigation, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 5 purposefully selected Tshivenḓa translators, and the text analysis method was also used to collect data. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted to analyse data collected for the study. Moreover, the Skopos and the Scan and Balance theoretical frameworks were adopted in this study to analyse and evaluate the data that was collected. The results of this study have shown that the main issue for Tshivenḓa translators is the lack of terminologies in fields like Geography. This is due to the difficulty of translating between two languages that have diverse cultural traditions. The findings show that Tshivenḓa translators used different methods to address problems of non-equivalence. They consist of paraphrasing, more general words, related words, transliteration, and omission. The findings may help Tshivenḓa, one of South Africa's minority languages, develop as a language by facilitating translation processes. The study recommends using the translation techniques identified to solve issues while translating English Grade 4 Geography concepts into Tshivenḓa.Item Exploring address terms in Tshivenda used by the youth: A study from Vuwani, Limpopo Province.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2022-06-08) Mudau, Phethani Progress; Dr I.P. Mandende; Dr M. MushaaṱhoniThis study aims to explore the importance of using address terms properly, as part of Tshivenḓa culture and tradition in Vuwani, Limpopo Province. Address terms are part and parcel of the language and culture of any society. However, it seems that the youth from Vuwani do not know the address terms in Tshivenḓa. Therefore, if these address terms are not applied or used properly, misunderstandings and the ultimate death of Tshivenḓa could result in the future. Language death means an erosion of the language. Failure to use these address terms properly may lead to a loss of respect and dignity toward the addressee. To explore the objectives of this study, a qualitative approach was adopted to fully comprehend this phenomenon. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Theoretical frameworks used to undergird this study were Social Identity, Ethnography of communication and Ethnopragmatic Theories. Therefore, the findings of this study revealed that youth from Vuwani communities do not know the importance of using address terms in Tshivenḓa, while elders are better off. It was recommended that the importance and awareness of address terms in Tshivenḓa should be taught from early childhood so that the young generation can grow up with the knowledge and understanding of these address terms.Item The depiction of female characters: A critical study of three Setswana novels by D.P.S Monyaise.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2020-01-02) Mthembu, Samukelisiwe; Dr M.M. Makgato; Dr I.P. MandendeThis study focuses on the depiction of female characters in the three selected Setswana literary works. The study explores the way in which female characters are portrayed in the selected Setswana novels. Similarly, the study also reveals who is involved and affected by this depiction. Intersectionality, Literary criticism and Womanism have been used as theoretical framework in this study. The study covered an analysis of female characters in the context of Setswana literature and culture. Most scholars have traced the depiction of female characters from different literary works in African Languages. This research study addresses the view that female depiction might not have changed even in the democratic era. The aspects that are discussed include, gender stereotypes and disparity, patriarchy, human rights, textual analysis, literary criticism, characterisation and characters. It is therefore upon such a basis that the current study treats the depiction of female characters in the three novels of Monyaise which are: Marara (1961), Ngaka Mosadi Mooka (1965) and Bogosi Kupe (1967). The study also includes the views and opinions of other writers and scholars who have already done research on the topic. The current study explored the portrayal of female characters in the selected Setswana novels to establish if there are any similarities/differences among the female characters’ delineation. The study is comparative rather than empirical. The investigation of the depiction of female characters assisted me to underscore the importance of catering for gender differences when analysing content in the selected novels. The idea was to make a significant contribution to society and to the Setswana authors to view women differently and to teach them that women must be treated equally with their male counterparts. The study used textual analysis, interpretivism and comparative method. The study found that Monyaise was influenced by his traditional cultural values that view females as inferior and subordinate.Item An analysis of literary onomastics in selected Xitsonga novels.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2022-01-02) Mathye, Lushia Kulani; Dr I.P. Mandende; Dr R.F. Mabaso-NkunaThe study focuses on the depiction of characters and development of themes through naming in selected five Xitsonga novels, namely, Swi tlula magandzelo (Shabangu, L.S. 2015), Hlayisa (Baloyi, K.G. & Mongwe M.J. 2015), Mibya ya Nyekanyeka (Mtombeni, B.K. 2008), I vutomi (Lubisi, C.M. 1998) and N’waninginingi ma ka tindleve (Tshuketana, F.A. 1978). It explores how some Xitsonga writers use character naming as a technique to depict characters and develop themes in their novels. The descriptive theory of names has been used as a theoretical framework in this study. This study is based on the interpretivist paradigm, the descriptive case study research design, and the reader-response research approach. The population of the study was Xitsonga novels and the texts were extracted from the five different Xitsonga novels to support the analysis of the use of the naming techniques in the depiction of characters in relation to the development of themes from these novels. The documentation method as well as the note-taking method, were used to collect the data. Furthermore, content analysis as well and the comparative method were used to analyse the data. The findings of this study revealed that some of the characters’ names in the selected novels were more tied to the contexts; some of the characters’ names reflect their bearers’ personalities, behaviour, or/and situations. The findings also reveal that some of the names in the novels were used as a strategy to develop themes. This study may make an important contribution to Xitsonga writers who still give meaningless names to their characters, so that a naming technique can assist them in depicting characters and developing themes in their novel writing. The study has shown that the writers of the selected novels applied the Vatsonga naming practices in their novels. It is recommended that the future scholars who may be interested in this field, should look into other genres of literary work such as drama, to explore how some Vatsonga writers use naming in that genre the same way they used it in the novels.Item Perceptions on the ethnolinguistic vitality of Xitsonga: A case study of Thulamela Local Municipality, Limpopo Province.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2022-03-01) Mashwele, Rhulani Sibongo.; Dr I.P. Mandende; Dr. C.M. KamangaThe aim of this study is to establish the perception of the ethnolinguistic vitality of Xitsonga as perceived by its speakers in the TLM Limpopo Province. The objective of the study is to explore the perceptions of the ethnolinguistic vitality of Xitsonga at TLM. The above-mentioned municipality caters for three languages, which are Tshivenḓa, Xitsonga and English. These languages do not appear to be treated equally in most settings of TLM. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996) stipulates that all South African languages should be equally represented and enjoy parity of esteem and be treated fairly, especially at a local level such as a municipality. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews such as research methods to investigate the perception of the ethnolinguistic vitality of Xitsonga in TLM. Data were collected from Xitsonga mother-tongue speakers and TLM officials (N= 80). Yet, the results of this study reveal that Xitsonga mother-tongue speakers hold positive perceptions towards Xitsonga as their L1.Item The attitudes of Xitsonga L1 urban youth in Soshanguve toward the dialet accents of the rural elderly.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2020-08-01) Malatji, Khutso Alpha; Prof C.C. Mann; Dr T. DitseleLanguage attitudes studies are very special and important in social psychology of language. Formal measurements of attitudes provide us with findings that could be analyse or used to predict the linguistic behaviour of members of a particular social group, in terms of their use of linguistic varieties in bilingual and bidialectal situations (Agheyisi, 1970). This study investigated the attitudes of Xitsonga L1 urban youth in Soshanguve toward the dialect accents of the rural elderly from Giyani. It also investigated the attitudes of the Xitsonga L1 rural elderly in Giyani toward urban youth dialect accents in Soshanguve. Forty urban youth and ten rural elderly respondents participated in the study, using an adaptation of the Matched Guise Technique, focus and semi-structured interviews. The survey findings showed that the attitudes of the Xitsonga L1 urban youth toward the dialect accents of rural elderly were significantly negative, while the attitudes of the Xitsonga L1 rural elderly toward the dialect accents of urban youth were equally significantly negative.Item Sepitori forms in the academic writing of grade 12 Setswana learners: A case study from Winterveldt.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2023-06-20) Selepe, Mmapule Prhodesia; Dr M.M. Makgato; Dr I.P. MandendeThis study focuses on Sepitori forms in the academic writing of Grade12 Setswana L1 learners, who were born and raised in Winterveldt township, in the Tshwane metropolitan area, South Africa. Sepitori is one of the most dominant urban language varieties spoken in Winterveldt. It is a combination of Setswana, Northern Sotho, Afrikaans, English, and other Black South African indigenous languages. The aim of this study was to determine how much influence Sepitori forms have on the academic writing of Grade 12 Setswana L1 learners, and to find out what Setswana teachers are doing to prevent the interference of Sepitori forms in the use of standard Setswana in an academic setting. The data were collected from two selected High Schools, where 20 Grade 12 Setswana L1 learners between the ages of 17-20 were selected (ten from each school), as well as eight (8) Setswana HL teachers (four from each school) for the interview. The participants were randomly selected from the group of Grade 12 learners who were doing Setswana HL as a subject as both high schools are the only ones offering Setswana HL. The study employed content analysis and a qualitative approach as methods of collecting data for the study. The Grade 12 Setswana L1 learners were given a topic on which to write an essay in Setswana for one hour. The Grade 12 Setswana L1 learners were chosen, because they have been exposed to Setswana HL from the lower level and, therefore, must be highly proficient in Setswana. The findings of this study showed that, indeed Sepitori has an enormous influence on the academic writing of Grade 12 Setswana L1 learners. Most Setswana HL learners used non-standard language varieties in their academic writing, and it was evident that the Sepetori was frequently used.Item Exploring translation strategies for developing English-Tshivenda financial terms.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2022-10-02) Sephodi, Hangwani Douglus; Dr I.P. Mandende; Prof. L. Van HuyssteenThe main aim of this study is to explore the strategies translators of English financial terms use when they are faced with zero-equivalents in Tshivenḓa. The study explores the problem associated with the lack of Tshivenḓa equivalents in financial terms when translating from English into Tshivenḓa. Due to this lack of equivalents in the Tshivenḓa language, financial terminology has been a concern for the users of the language and has often led to problematic translation equivalents in terms of the word-formation strategies applied during the translation process. A qualitative research approach was used in this study, which involved the use of specific methods such as semi-structured interviews with translators, lexicographers and terminographers for data collection purposes. Thereafter, the translation strategies used in the selected financial document were analysed using content analysis. The theory of Descriptive Translation Studies (DTS) undergirded the study and guided the analysis of the data. The DTS theoretical framework provides guidance on the appropriate translation of financial terms and strategies for word formation. Three intertwined approaches are embedded in DTS: process-oriented, product-oriented and function oriented, without which a translator can provide an appropriate and accurate translation of terms. This research contributes to a relatively small and yet growing field of descriptive translation studies. The research will serve as a reference for other scholars, translators, terminographers and lexicographers who are interested in creating a user-friendly bilingual dictionary for technical terms in specialised fields such as finance. It will also play a role with regards to how technical terms in finance are treated in the text. In lieu of the findings, it is argued that methods such as borrowing and transliteration are inadequate when it comes to developing a minority African language such as Tshivenḓa. However, the formation of neologisms, although challenging, represents indigenous coining and may be conceptually better understood by the target users.Item Language and identity loss: A survey of Tshivenda L1 speakers in Pretoria.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2022-03-01) Muavha, Muthuhadini Lufuno; Dr I.P. Mandende; Dr M.M. MakgatoThis study aims to explore the possibility of language and identity loss of Tshivenḓa L1 speakers in Pretoria (PTA). This study is, therefore, important for Tshivenḓa L1 speakers, who live in Pretoria, to be made aware of their practices, that is, of the possibility of moving away from speaking their own language in public places and speaking other languages - which may have a negative impact on the survival of their own language and keeping their identities alive. People are who they are, because of their language and culture. Above all, language survival and identity preservation mean that the next generation will know the language of their ancestors, as well as the language that constitutes their identity. To explore the objectives of this study, a mixed-methods approach was adopted to understand this phenomenon and its impact on language and identity loss better. The study used fifty-six respondents, who were Tshivenḓa L1 speakers in Pretoria. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were used to collect data. In addition, data were collected, using concurrent mixed-methods data analysis techniques. The theoretical frameworks used to underpin this study are the M ethnolinguistic vitality, social identity and self-determination theories. The study was carried out to persuade Tshivenḓa L1 speakers, who move from one place to another, where they are surrounded by different speakers, to speak their own language. The findings of this study revealed that there is no language and identity loss by Tshivenḓa L1 speakers in Pretoria. However, the findings of this study further revealed that Tshivenḓa L1 speakers are not aware of the effect on their language and identity when shifting from speaking their L1.