Papers by Stanley Madonsela
A critical analysis of the use of code-switching in Nhlapho's novelImbali YemaNgcamane
South African journal of african languages, Jul 3, 2014
Code-switching has become a common social phenomenon governed by social conversational needs. Cen... more Code-switching has become a common social phenomenon governed by social conversational needs. Central to the use of code-switching is the way in which social norms, which are also called rights and obligations, are attributed to speakers and listeners of certain social categories. Studies on code-switching reveal that its occurrence is indicative of group membership in speech communities where the use of more than one language in communication is the norm. Code-switching is looked upon as the practice of altering elements of language in order to contextualise talk in interaction. The contextualisation referred to may relate to discourse practices or make information beyond the current exchange relevant, including knowledge of society. This article seeks to investigate and critically analyse the use of code-switching by Nhlapho (1996) in the novel, Imbali YemaNgcamane (The flower of the Ngcamanes). It also seeks to explore whether the use of code-switching benefits or has adverse effects on the speakers of the Siswati language.
Journal of language and cultural education, Dec 1, 2023
Even though multilingual education has been in existence for a long time, the new era has brought... more Even though multilingual education has been in existence for a long time, the new era has brought another contestation around this educational substitute. Multilingual education which is often realized through multilingual language policy seems to be the best way to prepare future generations to participate in constructing democratic societies in and intercultural world. South Africa is no exception to this development. The language policy and governance in the schooling system of South Africa cannot be seen in isolation from that of the rest of the African continent and the world. This article disinters the extent to which the bodies responsible for the governing of schools in South Africa can formulate and implement language policies that serve the demographic language interest of societies that they serve. This article contextualizes the rights-based approach through fostering a deeper understanding of how different participants and role players in the education system can form the links between rights and participation with a view to bringing about change in language policy formulation and implementation in schools.
Language anxiety caused by the single mode of instruction in multilingual classrooms: The case of African language learners
Africa Education Review, Jul 3, 2015
ABSTRACT The capacity to use language is unique from one individual to another. This could also d... more ABSTRACT The capacity to use language is unique from one individual to another. This could also depend on the individual's exposure to a language. This article aims to contribute to the growing area of research on language anxiety by exploring the extent to which language anxiety affects learners’ performance in learning in multilingual classrooms, especially African learners who are learning English as a second language. Learners, especially in the Intermediate Phase in South Africa who are learning in a second language for the first time, may experience a certain level of anxiety because that language is foreign to them. The discussion idea is further advanced by exploring the use more than one language in teaching in order to promote learner autonomy in the learning process. The conclusion will try to provide possible means to deal with language anxiety amongst learners in order to improve learner performance.
دراسات: العلوم الانسانية و الاجتماعية, Nov 20, 2014
The Constitution of South Africa is the fundamental guideline determining the way the country sho... more The Constitution of South Africa is the fundamental guideline determining the way the country should be managed and governed. At the time of its drafting, the main aim of the Constitution was to heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on social justice, democratic values and basic human rights. However, the use of certain South African languages has been subjected to limitations, making the full implementation of some of the provisions of the Constitution impossible. The Constitutional provisions, especially as they relate to the indigenous South African languages, have given rise to the debate concerning the use of the term "practicable". Taking sections 29 and 35 of the Constitution as the point of departure, in this article I explore the use of this qualifier, the employment of which sometimes leads to misunderstandings and uncertainties with regard to language rights.
Assessment of vocabulary in First Additional Languages: A focus on Siswati Grade 12 examination papers
Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies
African Sun Media eBooks, Jun 14, 2022
Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, 2017
The African wordnet (AWN) provides South African indigenous languages with a platform to access a... more The African wordnet (AWN) provides South African indigenous languages with a platform to access a machine-readable lexical database organised by meaning. The creation of the African wordnet was based on the Princeton wordnet. As in the case of the Princeton wordnet, the African wordnet groups African language words into sets of synonyms along with short definitions and usage examples, as well as records relations between synonyms. This article examines a number of synsets in order to identify the word-formation processes used by various linguists in constructing the AWN. Since the English Princeton wordnet was used as the basis for the lexical database in the creation of the African wordnet, various word-formation strategies had to be used to account for lexical items that are not lexicalised in the African languages. Access to the created synsets was gained via a web browser, which is an automated text analysis application.
Code switching constitutes one of many language contact phenomena and it can be understood by pla... more Code switching constitutes one of many language contact phenomena and it can be understood by placing it in the double context of the speech economy of a multilingual society. It is a product of prolonged interaction among those who operate with shared beliefs regarding their own culture and communicating with others and is central to the understanding of human language and the making of meaning. The aim of this article is to explore whether code switching in the classroom environment can be an effective pedagogic tool to enhance teaching and learning and also expands the vocabulary of learners and the level of their communication in the classroom. The article also explores the distinctive nature of communication in the classroom environment by considering the different research paradigms and approaches that have been adopted in studying code switching in the classroom. The issue of code switching from the learner's first language (L1) and the second language (L2), which is usua...
The adaptation of Zulu with special reference to the fields of politics and technology
M.A.Zulu, as one of the widely spoken languages in South Africa is subjected to change in these c... more M.A.Zulu, as one of the widely spoken languages in South Africa is subjected to change in these changing times. The intensified exposure of Zulu native speakers to the fields of politics and technology, amongst others, have caused the speakers of this language to accommodate specific linguistic needs in this regard to enable them to communicate on issues pertaining to these fields. This mini-dissertation sets out to investigate the various ways in which the Zulu language have been adapted to cater for these communicative needs. In order to investigate this adaptation of Zulu systematically, the first step was to define meaning, and hence discuss meaning in terms of the seven types of meaning as distinguished by Leech. Thereafter the various modes of language change such as codeswitching, borrowing and coinage have been discussed with reference to the fields of politics and technology. Hereafter, a discussion on the extension of meaning follows whereby reference is made to figures of speech such as metaphor. Ambiguity, polysemy and homonymy, are also discussed. In the final chapter the change of meaning is discussed concentrating on aspects such as the causes and consequences of semantic chang
The worth of using language to convey information is rooted in our cultural mythology. Media, thr... more The worth of using language to convey information is rooted in our cultural mythology. Media, through its role of teaching, can play its part in the socio-cultural empowerment of the people. It is a common belief that it is the faculty of language which has made it possible for the human race to develop diverse cultures and it is the acquisition of language which has permitted development to take place within some cultures. The power of using a language that people speak and understand resides not only in the conveyance of the cultural values and norms of the people, but also in educating them to become better people. Language embodies the history of people and carries their culture and this must eventually reflect in their image as people. The media is one of the powerful institutions that play a major role in the propagation of culture because it is the most commonly used source to communicate with people. It is on this basis that this paper explores the extent to which the media ...
In promoting a multilingual South Africa, the government is encouraging people to speak more than... more In promoting a multilingual South Africa, the government is encouraging people to speak more than one language. In order to comply with this initiative, people choose to learn the languages which they do not speak as home language. The African languages are mostly chosen because they are spoken by the majority of the country’s population. Most words in these languages have many possible senses. This phenomenon tends to pose problems to people who want to learn these languages. This article argues that the African WordNet may the best tool to address the problem of sense discrimination. The focus of the argument will be on the primary sense of the word ‘hand’, which is part of the body, as lexicalized in three indigenous languages spoken in South Africa, namely, Tshivenḓa, Sesotho sa Leboa and isiZulu. A brief historical background of the African WordNet will be provided, followed by the definition of the word ‘hand’ in the three languages and the analysis of the word in context. Las...
Proceedings of the 8th Global WordNet Conference, GWC 2016, Bucharest, Romania, January 27-30, 2016
Language as a fundamental right: How do the African languages benefit from this right?
South African Journal of African Languages, 2012
Fifteen years have passed since the South African Constitution first declared that there would be... more Fifteen years have passed since the South African Constitution first declared that there would be 11 official languages in South Africa. This declaration was intended to enhance the promotion and development of the historically marginalised ethnic languages of South Africa, redressing apartheid policies where all ethnic languages were suppressed and undermined by the highest authority. The new constitution brought millions of Africans hope that their identity would at last be acknowledged through the official recognition of their languages. The aim of this article is to investigate the role of the constitutional imperatives and other legal resources in addressing the issue of language, especially African languages, as a fundamental right.
South African Journal of African Languages, 2019
Semantic relatedness and semantic similarity play a vital role in information retrieval of words ... more Semantic relatedness and semantic similarity play a vital role in information retrieval of words in natural language processing applications. The multilingual nature of South Africa affords people a superficial (as opposed to an expert) knowledge of many languages, resulting in them finding it difficult to distinguish between semantic relatedness and semantic similarity. Computing semantic relatedness and semantic similarity using African Wordnet could help in developing a proper understanding of the meaning of certain words in the various languages. This article explores how African Wordnet can be used to identify semantic relatedness and semantic similarity. The focus of this article will be on isiZulu as one of the selected languages used in the African Wordnet Project. The purpose of the African Wordnet Project is the development of aligned wordnets for African languages spoken in South Africa. This article further discusses and analyses the examples of semantic relatedness and semantic similarity in the chosen language with a view to giving accounts of the two terms by providing examples and the usages of the words.
South African Review of Sociology, 2017
Social cohesion is the cornerstone of social relationships, which depend critically on the social... more Social cohesion is the cornerstone of social relationships, which depend critically on the social systems that determine people's behaviour. Members of society are defined by their cultural values and beliefs, in terms of which interactions may meet with social approbation or disapprobation. In any society, interactions that draw endorsement from other people are more likely to be welcomed and encouraged, as opposed to interactions that elicit disapproval within the social structure. This article is intended to clarify the concept of social cohesion by reviewing its inherent dimensions in context with the sociological perspectives exemplified in O. E. H. M. Nxumalo's short story, Lo mngcwabo ngowabakhethiweyo (This Funeral Is for the Chosen Ones). The dimensional notion of social cohesion is considered in light of sociological approaches that are prominent in the ongoing critical debate around social relations in context with religion as a pivotal agent in establishing social cohesion and stability within a broader society. At present, religion is considered a belief system that shapes people's thinking and world view, and by the same token serves as a social institution that mediates social action as an expression of how people use beliefs and practices to attribute meaning to their existence.
Language Matters, 2018
People, as members of a society and members of the intelligentsia, are, inevitably, involved in d... more People, as members of a society and members of the intelligentsia, are, inevitably, involved in discourse and conversational systems which define their diverse positions of power in the discourse. The term "discourse" is used mostly to label the forms of representation and routines of language that yield certain reactions and customarily located denotations. This article examines the unsuccessful discourse attempts by university management, education authorities and students in South Africa during the #FeesMustFall campaign. It analyses the forms of engagement used by the parties involved in the campaign by means of Critical Discourse Analysis. It suggests that contradictory discourses may lead to conflict, instability and intolerance amongst the parties involved.
Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 2014
The ability to use language is unique from one individual to another. Learners, like many other p... more The ability to use language is unique from one individual to another. Learners, like many other people, use language to express their feelings, desires and thoughts, but most of all to learn. Classrooms normally consist of learners from different language backgrounds and, therefore, what is happening in the classroom in terms of language used for learning requires rethinking. Interaction in the classroom could maximise the outcomes of learning if the language issue is approached in a manner that confirms the importance of each learner's language. This article explores the extent to which the use of a single code becomes a source of stress in a classroom that is multilingual. It argues that a multingual approach in the learning process can promote learner autonomy in the classroom. The multilingual approach I refer to in this article also affords learners the opportunity to realise the goals of learning and makes it possible for critical intercultural connections amongst learners.
Language anxiety caused by the single mode of instruction in multilingual classrooms: The case of African language learners
Africa Education Review, 2015
ABSTRACT The capacity to use language is unique from one individual to another. This could also d... more ABSTRACT The capacity to use language is unique from one individual to another. This could also depend on the individual's exposure to a language. This article aims to contribute to the growing area of research on language anxiety by exploring the extent to which language anxiety affects learners’ performance in learning in multilingual classrooms, especially African learners who are learning English as a second language. Learners, especially in the Intermediate Phase in South Africa who are learning in a second language for the first time, may experience a certain level of anxiety because that language is foreign to them. The discussion idea is further advanced by exploring the use more than one language in teaching in order to promote learner autonomy in the learning process. The conclusion will try to provide possible means to deal with language anxiety amongst learners in order to improve learner performance.
2011 Seventh International Conference on Computational Intelligence and Security, 2011
Words should not be treated as if all they do is fulfil roles; they can also have relationships. ... more Words should not be treated as if all they do is fulfil roles; they can also have relationships. In our everyday talk, we normally give the meanings of words in terms of their relationships. The approach for measuring semantic relatedness between words is determined by means of a set of words that are closely related to them, and these are normally referred to as the set of determiner words. This article examines the measures of semantic relatedness to which words are associated by means of the variety of types of semantic relationships -such as synonymy, hyponymy, function and association. This relationship is considered within the context of African Wordnet (AWN), which provides South African indigenous languages with a platform to access a machine-readable lexical database organised by meaning. This article argues that computing semantic relatedness using African Wordnet could be helpful in developing an understanding of the meaning of related words for use in different African languages.
A critical analysis of the use of code-switching in Nhlapho's novelImbali YemaNgcamane
South African Journal of African Languages, 2014
Code-switching has become a common social phenomenon governed by social conversational needs. Cen... more Code-switching has become a common social phenomenon governed by social conversational needs. Central to the use of code-switching is the way in which social norms, which are also called rights and obligations, are attributed to speakers and listeners of certain social categories. Studies on code-switching reveal that its occurrence is indicative of group membership in speech communities where the use of more than one language in communication is the norm. Code-switching is looked upon as the practice of altering elements of language in order to contextualise talk in interaction. The contextualisation referred to may relate to discourse practices or make information beyond the current exchange relevant, including knowledge of society. This article seeks to investigate and critically analyse the use of code-switching by Nhlapho (1996) in the novel, Imbali YemaNgcamane (The flower of the Ngcamanes). It also seeks to explore whether the use of code-switching benefits or has adverse effects on the speakers of the Siswati language.
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Papers by Stanley Madonsela