Klassifikasie van die Tsongadialekte van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika

Abstract

In chapter 1 a short exposition of the history of the Tsonga tribes is given. In chapter 2 the reflexes of the different Proto-Bantu sounds in the particular Tsonga dialects are given. Chapter 3 is a short exposition of the grammar of Nkuna, the dialect on which the standard language is based. Chapter 4 The grammar of all the other dialects is compared with that of Nkuna in chapter 4. Chapter 5 a classification of the Tsonga dialects is made. The writer shows that a linguistic classification of dialects based on geographical principles or on the history of the different tribes speaking the dialects is untenable, since no account is taken in such a classification of the present state of the various dialects. A classification of dialects according to isoglosses is also not scientifically correct, because of the subjective judgement of' the investigator in deciding which isoglosses must be regarded as primary and which as secondary. Chapter 6 The writer then makes a classification of the Tsonga dialects into dialect clusters according to principles which he regards to be purely objective and scientific in which all the similarities and differences of the dialects are taken into account without the writer's subjective judge- ment playing a role. Capter 7 According to these principles, the Tsonga dialects of' the Republic of South Africa are divided into the following dialect clusters: Nucleus dialect cluster consisting of the following dialects: Changana of Gija, Changana of Komatipoort, Nkuna, Changana of Bushbuckridge, Gwama, Hlave, N'walungu, N 'walungu of the Vakavaloyi, Changana Mnisi and Changana of Makhuva.

(b) Periferal dialect cluster consisting of Konde. (c) Intermediate A dialect cluster consisting of Xiluleke of Makuleke, Xiluleke of Mhinga, and Nhlanganu. (d) Intermediate B dialect cluster consisting of Xonga.