Sepitori forms in the academic writing of grade 12 Setswana learners: A case study from Winterveldt.
Selepe, Mmapule Prhodesia
Selepe, Mmapule Prhodesia
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Abstract
This 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.
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Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for degree of Master of Language Practice, Department of Applied Languages in the Faculty of Humanities at the Tshwane University of Technology
Date
2023-06-20
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Tshwane University of Technology
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Keywords
Black South African, Indigenous languages, Sepitori, Academic writing, Winterveldt, Setswana, Standard language, Non-standard language variety, Academic writing.