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The significance of the Musanda language in Venda: a diglossia

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dc.contributor.advisor Finlayson, Rosalie, 1943-
dc.contributor.author Khuba, Asnath Elelwani
dc.date.accessioned 2022-11-10T07:09:40Z
dc.date.available 2022-11-10T07:09:40Z
dc.date.issued 1993-06
dc.identifier.uri https://hdl.handle.net/10500/29555
dc.description.abstract The musanda language is spoken by the members of the royalty in Venda, who form part of the Venda nation as a whole, and hold the ruling power. Besides learning the musanda language, which is their first language1 they also use the Venda language with the majority of the Venda nation. The use of both languages gives them an opportunity to be diglossic. Diglossia, as ex pressed in this thesis, refers to the speaking of two languages by the members of the musanda community or anybody who may happen to know both languages. The chief, called vbamusanda, is the central figure in this discussion with special reference to the language used in and around his/her place of residence. There is uniformity in the musanda language used in all the chief's residences called mjsanda. The hierarchical structure within the musanda premises affords all groups composing the musanda community to learn the musanda language. The older the members in the musanda community are the more knowledge they have of the language. The musanda language is learnt informally by the musanda community who uses it on the upper level whereas both Venda and the musanda languages are used on the lower level, making it more diglossic than the upper level. For many years the musanda community was reluctant to share their language with the majority of the Venda community, who, in this thesis are referred to as commoners. This ended up in depriving the musanda language of becoming the standard language in Venda, The fact that education among the Venda is musanda-centred has helped the Venda community in gaining rnusanda vocabulary. The musanda language therefore is a language used for etiquette to show respect for the ruling community, The Venda nation honours their rulers by the use of the rnusanda language. Although some of the musanda terms have disappeared they nevertheless remain a resistance to borrowing words from other languages . The musanda language as a diglossia remains unique in all the misanda in Venda, en
dc.format.extent 1 online resource (vii, 148 leaves)
dc.language.iso en en
dc.subject South African indigenous content en
dc.subject African languages en
dc.subject.ddc 496.39765
dc.subject.lcsh Venda language -- Grammar en
dc.title The significance of the Musanda language in Venda: a diglossia en
dc.type Thesis en
dc.description.department African Languages en
dc.description.degree D. Litt. et Phil. (African Languages)


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