A comparison of three Northern Sotho dialects for possible inclusion into the standardized writing language form

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the relatedness of the three related Northern Sotho dialects, that is, Sepedi, Setlokwa and Khelobedu. The rationale of this study is that since Sepedi is the standardized dialect to the exclusion of other dialects it has created attitudes amongst excluded speakers of Northern Sotho dialects and social instability within the speech community. The dialects of the Northern Sotho are assumed to have originated from one language and later diverged as result of different societal exposures such as status based on the socio-historical or political forces of a language that are in its favour. Thus, nouns, locatives and verb cognates, from the three dialects will be analysed. Analysis will involve comparing for morphological and phonological similarities and differences. As a result, this study will shed light on the relatedness of these dialects. Finally, the results will serve as recommendations for possible inclusion of the other two dialects in the standard variety