3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item Molecular Genetic Variation in Mozambican and Zimbabwean populations(2001) Eddy, Carey-AnneGenetic data, used in conjunction with linguistic, archaeological and anthropological data, is extremely valuable in understanding the evolutionary and demographic history of subSaharan African populations. Present-day southern African populations are represented by Khoisan and Bantu-speaking groups. The Bantu languages have their origins in the Benue- Niger area between present-day Nigeria and Cameroon, and has spread to central and southern Africa over the past 2-3000 years. The spread of Bantu-speaking peoples, referred to as the “Bantu expansion”, ought to have contributed to the spectrum of genetic variation found in sub-Saharan African populations. In this study we propose to examine the genetic structure of two southeastern Bantu-speaking population groups: the Remba (a Lemba group) from Zimbabwe and a Mozambican group sampled near Inhambane. Although the Lemba from South Africa live among the Venda and the Remba among the Shona, their intriguing oral history and unique Semitic-like cultural practices have set them apart from their Bantu-speaking neighbours. They claim descent from Jews who came to Africa from “Sena”. A previous study using Y chromosome markers suggested both a Bantu and Semitic contribution to the Lemba gene pool. More recently, the presence of a particular Y chromosome type termed the “Cohen Modal Haplotype” (CMH) in the Lemba from South Africa, led others to conclude that the Lemba have a specifically Jewish ancestry. These studies, however, have not resolved conclusively the origins of the Lemba. The Mozambican gene pool might reflect contributions from other populations particularly. The Mozambican gene pool might reflect contributions from other populations particularly due to the crucial geographic position it occupied, linking landlocked countries to coastal IV ports, during the days of slavery and trade with the East. There have only been limited genetic studies in populations from Mozambique and even the archaeological record from present-day Mozambique is especially sparse. We used the non-recombining portion of the Y chromosome and mtDNA data to examine the contribution of males and females, respectively, to the gene pools of the Remba and the Mozambicans and to investigate the prehistory of these two population groups. The Remba from Zimbabwe and the Lemba from South Africa shared common Y chromosome haplotypes that were connected via single mutational steps, suggesting that they have a common recent ancestry. The CMH was found in only one Lemba individual from South Africa and was absent in the Remba. Furthermore, there were no one-step derivatives of the CMH in the Lemba or the Remba. It is possible that the CMH was introduced into the Lemba fairly recently due to gene flow from South African Jews. Although the Remba and Lemba do have a common Semitic contribution to their Y chromosme gene pool, it is premature to use the CMH as evidence of Jewish ancestry in the Lemba. There was no evidence from the mtDNA data to suggest any non-African contribution to the mtDNA gene pool of the Remba and Lemba or the Mozambicans. There is, however strong evidence suggesting that the Remba, Lemba, Mozambicans, Venda, southeastern Bantu speaking population groups from South Africa and several other sub-Saharan African populations share a recent common maternal ancestry that most likely has its roots in the Benue-Niger region prior to the Bantu expansion. Despite the role the Mozambicans may have played during the days of slavery and trading, their Y chromosome profile shows no reflection of any contribution from non-African populations.Item Linguistic analysis of early language acquisition: a case study of the Black Middle Class South African, ‘Born Free’ generation in Gauteng(2018) Bhowan, Theressa DeshikaThis dissertation seeks to assess the presence of language attrition that leads to a language shift in Black middle-class, South African communities, specifically in the Gauteng province. According to the 2011 Census, there is a steady decline in the use of indigenous African languages (Stats SA, 2011). This decrease of indigenous African languages, has gained the attention of many researchers (De Klerk, 1999; Msila, 2014; Kamwangamalu, 2003; Bylund, 2014). While majority of previous studies assess this language shift and language attrition by assessing the language use of adults, the languages that are used in different social contexts and the language use of individuals from different socio-economic statuses, the present study aims to look at language attrition and the language shift that is occurring at the early developmental stages of language acquisition. This study aims to assess whether children with bilingual parents (L1 Sesotho and L2 English) are growing up as bilingual speakers or as monolingual English speakers. This study also sought to assess the lexical development of these young children and what linguistic strategies the children employ during early language acquisition. In order to achieve the goals set out by this investigation, different methodology techniques were used to gather and analyse data. Parental input and educational input needed to be assessed in order to see what languages the children were exposed to, direct assessment of the children’s lexicon needed to be carried in order to assess their lexical development and the gesture production of the children also needed to be assessed. Demographic questionnaires were distributed to parents or caregivers in order for the researcher to gain insight into the language input that the children receive in the home environment. Observational data was collected at the school which is in the Bedfordview region of Gauteng, South Africa to assess the educational input that children receive. Children were also directly assessed in the two languages that their parents spoke (Sesotho and English) in order to assess their proficiency in each language The findings of this study show that there is a language shift that is currently taking place in this sample group, within the Gauteng province of Black middle-class, South African families. The children of bilingual parents in this specific sample group are developing as monolingual English speakers, with a passive knowledge of their parents L1. The results of this study also found that this is due to the fact that children are predominantly exposed to English in the educational context as well as the home environment. These particular children show a trend of monolingual development and are adhering to universal theories of monolingual language development. This study also found that children use gesture as a strategy that is employed during language development. The gesture production by the children also indicated a passive knowledge of Sesotho in that they responded gesturally to Sesotho questions, and when they did respond verbally, it was only in English. This study shows the development of the ‘born free’ population who are exposed to English and how young children in the South African context are currently growing up in the midst of a language shift.Item The development of discourse coherence devices of different language typologies: South African English and IsiZulu(2018) Coertze, NatashaThe current South African linguistic context is focusing on building formal knowledge of preciously understudied South African indigenous languages. This research adopts a multi-lingual stance by conducting a cross-linguistic study of the development of discourse coherece devices in the acquisition of isiZulu and South African English. Although successful communication is founded on pragmatic principles, such as discourse coherence, most research leans towards focusing on the early acquisition of formal linguistic structures, often at the expense of addressing pragmatic and discursive development. This research will use an oral narrative in order to observe the development of discourse coherence. This study will adopt a multi-modal stance as research has shown that language is a multi-modal system whereby gesture assists both communication and language production. Furthermore, research has also shown that typological constraints affect language processing. Thus, a typological approach will be adopted in order to observe typological constraints on the development of discourse coherence strategies. The research seeks to address three aims: what strategies are used by each language to communicate discourse coherence; how these strategies develop across age groups; and what are the typological effects on this development. The study seeks to address these aims by using archival data of previously elicited narratives. A cartoon stimulus was used to elicit narratives from the three age groups of English and isiZulu participants: 5-6 years, 9-10, and adults (control group). Discourse coherence strategies will be assessed on the following levels: narrative level, linguistic level, and gesture. The cross-linguistic comparison of these three age groups will provide insight into the relationship between structural language, pragmatics, and cognition.Item The comparative phonolgy of Nguni(1960) Lanham, L.W.