Loan Words versus Indigenous Words in Northern Sotho - A Lexicographic Perspective *

Abstract

Abstract:The aim of this article is to investigate, from a lexicographic perspective, the preferences of Northern Sotho mother-tongue speakers for loan words versus so-called 'traditional' or 'original' counterparts in the language. Results obtained from a survey conducted among 100 randomly selected mother-tongue speakers from different age and gender groups, backgrounds, places of residence, etc. will be analysed. It is shown that although the overwhelming preference of the respondents lies with the use of (more) indigenous words in comparison to loan words, lexicographers should be alerted to possible, even rapid, changes in this preference pattern. The results from the survey are compared throughout with frequency counts derived from a corpus as well as with current dictionary treatment. Keywords: LEXICOGRAPHY, DICTIONARY, LEMMATISATION, NORTHERN SOTHO (SEPEDI), LOAN WORD, SOTHOISED WORD, INDIGENOUS WORD, QUESTIONNAIRE, CORPUS, DESCRIPTIVENESS, PROSCRIPTIVENESS, PRESCRIPTIVENESS, PREFERENCE PATTERN Senaganwa: Maadingwa ge a bapetšwa le Mantšu a Setlogo go Sesotho saLeboa -Kgopolo ya Bangwalapukuntšu. Maikemišetšo a taodišwana ye ke go nyakišiša, go ya ka kgopolo ya bangwalapukuntšu, ka fao baboledi ba Sesotho sa Leboa ba dirago kgetho ya mantšu magareng ga maadingwa le mantšu a setlogo polelong ye. Dipoelo tše di hweditšwego go tšwa go bakgathatema ba e lego baboledi ba Sesotho sa Leboa, banna le basadi, ba lekgolo (100) ba mengwaga ya go fapana, maemo a a fapanego a thuto, ba ba dulago mafelong ao a fapafapanego, bj.bj. di tla fetlekwa. Go ipontšha gore le ge dipoelo tša nyakišišo ye di laetša gore bontši bja bakgathatema bo kgetha go šomiša mantšu a setlogo go ena le maadingwa, bangwadi ba *

The Lemmatization of Loan Words in the isiNdebele–English isiHlathululi-imagama/Dictionary and Their Successful Incorporation into the Language

“…Challenges to the treatment of borrowed words when compiling African language dictionaries have been dealt with in Nong, De Schryver and Prinsloo (2002) for Sepedi and Drame (2001) for isiXhosa and they are all in agreement that the challenges faced with borrowed words lies in language attitude which vary from one language to the other. Ncube (2005) researched the attitude of target users regarding the acceptance and non-acceptance of borrowed words in Zimbabwean Ndebele.…”

A Lexicographic Approach to Language Policy and Recommendations for Future Dictionaries

“…Nong, De Schryver and Prinsloo (2002) already discussed various issues with regard to the problem of loan words versus indigenous forms. There are frequent discussions regarding the preference given to loan words at the cost of already existing ones and the application of spelling rules and the occasional failure of dictionaries to adhere to these rules.…”

Language development or language corruption? The Case of Loan-words in "Isichazamazwi SesiNdebele" *

“…The problematic area of loan-words in Ndebele received attention from Moyo (1999). Nong et al (2002) also investigate the problem of loan-words versus indigenous words in Northern Sotho. These researchers concur that the problem with loan-words lies in language attitude which varies from generation to generation.…”