FACULTY OF ARTS
DEPARTMENT OF AFRICAN LANGUAGES AND
CULTURE
NAMES:
ANNE, TANI. NKOSINOMUSA DUBE R09794Z
JOSPHINE TOKONYE R09869X
PROGRAMME:
AFRICAN LANGUAGES AND CULTURE
LEVEL:
4.1
LECTURER:
MRS S MOYO
MODULE:
HAFL 401: DIALECTOLOGY
QUESTION: LEXICAL DIVERGENCE COMPARING
NDEBELE, ZULU, XHOSA AND SWATI.
Lexical divergence is language change or language difference at word level. Nguni people have
different words to mean the same thing in this essay the researchers are going to look at the
examples and causes of lexical divergence in Ndebele, Zulu , Xhosa and Swati. In order to
clearly highlight the lexical divergence of these four languages there is need to briefly visit their
historical background.
The history of the Ndebele people and their language dates back to 1820s when the people who
are to day known as the Ndebele broke away from the mighty Zulu king Tshaka, in present day
province of Kwazulu Natal in South Africa. The Khumalos are the ones who broke away from
tshaka with Mzilikazi. Along the way Mzilikazi raided the Sotho, Kalanga, rozvi and the vendas.
Zulu and Ndebele are mutually intelligible and they share over 85% of their lexicon. Ndebele is a
dialect of zulu. For instance Pelling (1971:3) notes that, “Ndebele even further from Standard
zulu….” One possibility although not popular, is that Ndebele is not a dialect of Zulu both are
sister language with a common ancestor which is proto Nguni. Swati language originated from
the Bantu languages and they got their independence in 1968. The name is derived from King
Muswati the first and Ngwani is their alternative name. xhosa is also a dialect of Nguni which
derived its name from their leader uXhosa. The name came from the fact they were violent.
There are several causes of lexical divergence among the above mentioned languages. One of the
causes is political instability. People migrate to a place where they feel there is political stability.
For example the movement of the Khumalos from Zululand to modern Zimbabwe for political
stability resulted in the loss of their original Zulu language to Ndebele. Contact between people
speaking different languages can have a variety of out comes in some cases only a few words
borrowed in others whole new languages are formed. The results of such a contact between the
groups, the types of social, economic and political relationship between tem must save, and the
degree of similarities between the languages they speak. Gumperz (1982) defines borrowing as
introduction of singlewords or short, frozen, idiomatic phrases from one language into another.
For example the Zulu word( isikholo) was borrowed from the english word( school), ( iayini)
was borrowed from the English word( Iron).it is important to note that Zulu has borrowed from
Afrikaans and other local languages like Sotho Tswana and Xhosa, while Ndebele has borrowed
from English and other local languages like shona and karanga. Therefore borrowing is a cause
of lexical divergence.
Code switching is another cause of lexical divergence. The use of code switching by bilingual
speakers, whether for purposes of confidentiality in group identification or for any other reason
is often accompanied by change and innovation in the structures of the languages involved. This
may involve, as D’souza(1987) points out, the creation of new styles, registers, the introduction
of new grammatical features, the introduction of sounds and stylistic devices. Mirriam Webster
dictionary defines semantics as the study of meanings or as of or relating to meaning of
language quite a number words in the Ndebele language have moved from their original Zulu
meaning. Forces triggering semantic change are said to be linguistic, psychological sociocultural or cultural.
Another cause of lexical divergence is broadening and narrowing of semantic words. For
example the word ( isilwane ) in Zulu refers to any animal which is broadening while in Ndebele
(isilwane ) refers to a lion which is narrowing. In Zulu lion is referred to (ibhubezi) and in
Ndebele an animal is called( inyamazana.). it is clear that broadening and narrowing causes
lexical divergence.
Pejoration is an act or process in historical linguistics whereby semantic change in a word as to a
lower, less approved or less respectable meaning for example (bhebha) in Ndebele means
burning of fire while the same word in Zulu means copulate. The word zeka in Zulu means honor
and in Ndebele means copulate.It is without doubt that pejoration causes lexical divergence.
Economic instability also promotes lexical divergence. Economic instability causes people to
migrate from their country of residence to neighbouring countries for economic stability. People
run away from their countries dye to different economic reasons for example food shortages in
the country, money shortages and even transport problems. For example in Zimbabwe from year
(2007) people went to neighboring countries Zambia, Botswana and South Africa in search of
economi0c stability.
Societal structure in the community is another causer of lexical divergence. In a society there are
people of different classes and the way each class expresses its self is unique. For example in the
Ndebele society there were three classes namely the Abezansi, Abenhla and Amahole. The
Abenhla was the most superior class which constitutes the Khumalos, followed by the Abenhla
which constituted the Sotho people and Tswanas and lastly the Amahole which was the class of
the Karanga and Rozvi people who where raided by Mzilikazi during their migration period.
These classes of people spoke different languages and interacted differently.
Technological advancement /globalisation. Communication is taking place among different races
and as a result the language and culture of people shifts to embrace these changes. For example
the use of cellphone, internets and other social networks enable people to communicate with
different races. As a result lexical divergence occurs. The geographical location also causes
lexical divergence. The settlement place makes people isolate themselves from the rest of the
group. They adopt and adapt the lifestyle and language of the original people.
Examples of divergence at phonological and morphological level
English
I like your new sticks
Zulu
Ngi-ya-zi-thanda izi-ntonga z-akho ezin-tsha
Xhosa
Ndi-ya-zi-thanda ii-ntonga z-akho ezin-tsha
Ndebele
Ngi- ya-zi-thanda i-ntonga z-akho ezin-tsha
Swati
Ndi-ya-ti-tshandza ti-ntfonga t-akho letin-sha
English
I understand only a little English
Zulu
Ngi- qonda ka-ncane nje isi-Ngisi
Xhosa
Ndi-qonda ka-ncinci nje isi-Ngisi
Ndebele
Ngi-zwisisa ka-ncici nje isiNgisi
Swati
Ngi- siva ka-ncane nje siNgisi
Examples of lexical divergence in Ndebele, Zulu, xhosa and swati
English: potatoes
Swati:litabhanes
Ndebele: amagwili
Zulu: amazambane
English: peanuts
Ndebele: amazambane
Zulu:amandongomani
English: blanket
Ndebele: ingubo
Zulu:isigqoko
English: clothes
Ndebele:izigqoko
Isigqoko in Zulu refers to a
hat
English: medicine
Ndebele: umuti/ in zulu refers to
Zulu: amayeza
a tree
English:lion
Ndebele: isilwane/in Zulu refers
Zulu: ibhubezi
to all animals
English: crime
Ndebele:umlandu/icala
Xhosa:icala/refers to a piece
English: head
Xhosa :inhloko/ in Ndebele it
Ndebele: ikhanda
refers to a cow’s head.
English: drinking
Xhosa:ukusela
Ndebele : ukunatha/ukusela
refers to ukudinga
English: expanding
Ndebele:ukuqhela/ukwengezelela Xhosa: ukujwayela
English: grinding
Ndebele: ukuchola
Xhosa: ukuthola/ukudobha.
English: culture
Ndebele: isiko
Swati:inhlonipo/Ndebele
refers to respect.
English:clay
Ndebele:udhaka
Swati: lubumba
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