Theses and Dissertations

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Basotho and the mines
(University of Cape Town, 1995-09) Maloka, Edward Tshidiso;
This thesis examines how Lesotho came to depend on the export of its men to South African mines; what the experiences of these men were; and how all this impacted on Basotho society during the years between c.1890 and 1940. The thesis is divided into three parts. Part I focuses on the context and dynamics of labour migration and recruitment in Lesotho during the late 1880s to the late 1930s. This Part lays the basis for subsequent sections by showing which sections of Basotho opted for labour migrancy; and why it was men and not women who, initially at least, became migrants. In discussing the decline of the Basotho economy in the 1920s and 1930s, this section also shows how this was characterised not only by dependence on migrantsJ earnings, but also by the orientation to and concentration of Basotho labour on the Witwatersrand gold mines. Part II discusses various themes relating to life and conditions on the mines and in the compounds during the period up to c.1940. While specific note is taken of the African minersJ death and accident rate, most attention is devoted to the various ways which Basotho miners developed for dealing with the sickness, death and destitution befalling their compatriots in the compounds and on the mines. Conversion to Christianity was an important part of some miners experience, as church forums and the bible could be used for recreational purposes, while literacy classes imparted many with essential skills which could lead to promotion on the mine. But competition for promotion and favours, as well as conflicting survival strategies, often resulted in violent conflict among African miners. Although some scholars have mistakenly attributed such conflict to ethnic factors alone, this thesis argues for an approach which is simultaneously historically and materially grounded. Part III, by using the case of infectious and occupational diseases, and prostitution and commercial beer-brewing, traces ii and analyses the impact of the migrant labour system on Lesotho. The thesis shows how the spread to Lesotho of such diseases as syphilis and tuberculosis was directly linked to contact with South African towns and mining centres through wage labour. Beer canteens and brothels emerged and flourished in colonial Lesotho not only because of the decline of the countryJs economy and the breakdown of Basotho social structures, but also because these establishments serviced the migrant labour traffic itself. The significance of this study lies in two areas. Historiographically, this study seeks to contribute to migrant labour studies in Lesotho in particular and Southern Africa in general. Its approach stands between economism which attributes the causes of labour migrancy solely to economic factors, and those paradigms which privilege ideas and culture over material factors. There is a dialectical interplay between material factors and ideas, although the former ultimately determines the latter. Secondly, the significance of this study lies in the fact that many of the issues raised, especially those in Part III, continue to pose serious problems for Basotho people and their government to this day. Knowing something about the origins and history of these problems may contribute to finding lasting solutions. This study, therefore, is about Lesotho, Basotho, and the mines.
Reflection of history in Khaketla's dramas: A comparative analysis.
(University of the Witwatersrand, 1996) Phafoli, Lehlohonolo; Prof. Maake, Nhlanhla P.
"My texts refer to historical facts because I feel that they must have credibility. In this way they can arouse interest among the readers." (Khaketla, interview 25/04/1994) This study "Reflection of history in Khaketla's dramas .. A comparative analysis" elucidates the view that the playwright utilised the narrative imagination in order to reflect history. His works show imaginary resolution of real conflicts however he has significantly avoided certain areas of real experiences in pursuance of dramatic plot. In this work the two dramas Tholoana tsa Sethepu and Bulane are compared to historical episodes concerning Griffith's feud of succession 1926-1939 and the installation of Seeiso as paramount chief in 1939. Khaketla is believed to have been influenced by past historical experiences when writing the texts. The historical context is considered here as a situation around which the dramas were conceived. Boulton (1960) points out that the modern dramatist generally tries to take a plot from his own head or he may show his originality by taking a well-known historical episode and handle it so as to throw new light upon it. Boulton views history as a mine of good stories and that, with imagination a playwright can create a whole play of passion and conflict out of it. This view summarizes my approach to the analysis of Khaketla's plays which are considered as products of historical experiences.
Performance assessment of technical reports as a channel of information for development
(University of Natal, 2002-01) Moshoeshoe-Chadzingwa, M. M.; Prof. Stilwell, Christine; Prof. Kaniki, Andrew M.
The study aims to assess performance of TRs as a channel of information for development in the Lesotho context. It concurrently evaluates how a specialized information unit of ISAS has performed in its obligation to devise adequate mechanisms for managing the report literature and meeting the development-related needs of users. In order to achieve that aim, the study contextualized development as a process, state, and condition and highlighted some development indicators for Lesotho. Agriculture and gender were selected as sectors of development. Global conferences, as one of the many development strategies that generate TRs heavily, were used as a benchmark. In the performance and impact assessment methodologies, case study techniques were applied with ISAS as a site and one unit of analysis. TRs on Lesotho were studied. Triangulation approaches were applied in sourcing data. The academics, information workers, government officials, NGOs and aid agencies based in Lesotho were surveyed. Research questions that guided the study centred on the productivity, distribution of TRs, their management by intermediaries, use, non-use and the effects thereon. Seven types of TRs feature in the development process, namely Academic, Project, Conference, Survey, Enquiry, Official and Special Committee Reports. TRs are produced at varying levels depending on needs and approaches to development by producers or commissioning bodies. Academic Reports are authored mostly by the academics. The Government, Aid agencies and NGOs produce widely through external consultants/experts, who utilize centres such as ISAS where commissioning bodies do not have information services. TRs productivity is high and diverse in Lesotho, but capacity to manage the output is seemingly low, and hence under-utilization results; ISAS’s out-dated mission, lack of, or limited resources and de jure national support in the form of acts and statutes affect the Institute’s TRs’ services. Production is gender biased, thus making for imbalance in reporting on development. Agriculture as a sector is heavily researched and reported about, with little or no commensurate benefits to the populace. Restricted materials are estimated at 30%, but most of the TRs are unaccounted for. Hoarding and poor records or information management leave a vacuum that leads to a duplication of previous studies and production. The study confirmed that TRs are required by all the surveyed groups. TRs are not of a transient nature even though they reach a peak of topicality and use at certain periods. Where the channel conveys factual data timeously, there are developmental benefits. Low or non-use is common where there are no specialized information services especially within the civil service. Such negative factors cause delays and infrequent currency, inadequate reporting and erroneous budgetary allocations, for example. Seemingly there is no clarity on what restricted, secret and limited materials mean. Major recommendations were made One concerned an integrated approach to managing the channel. This would involve preparing a Manual for the production of TRs which would clarify how to prepare them; for instance, the calibre of personnel/experts who should author reports, the conditions to be observed, the timeliness production, reliability of data used, and centres that would be acknowledged to then qualify for commensurate financial and other support. The other proposes that the envisaged National Research Council be given the powers to enforce the guidelines of the manual and related functions. The last recommends assigning to the documentalists for classified TRs, the role of managing classified items. Consideration should also be given to important issues raised in the study, being the role of ICTs, sectors of development to be attended to, training and networking in TRs. Further studies are also recommended mainly for the causes and effects of the closures of information services that managed TRs’ in southern Africa; longitudinal studies on the impact of non-use of technical reports in major sectors of development like Agriculture; comparative studies on the impact of specialized centres in the developed and developing countries. Further action is urged under the aegis of bodies like the Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern African Librarians (SCECSAL), Standing Conference of National and University Libraries (SCONUL) and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).
Analysis of character portrayal of female characters in selected Sesotho literacy texts by female authors
(National University of Lesotho, 2007) Martins, Thabo Paul; Prof. Mokitimi, M. I. P.; Mr. Phafoli, L. S.
The study makes a critical analysis of portrayal of female characters in selected Sesotho contemporary texts by women authors. The study’s main thrust is to show how contemporary Basotho women writers portray female characters. The study has five chapters. Chapter one is an introduction. It gives the problem that prompted the undertaking of this study, the purpose, research question and hypotheses, review of related literature, theoretical framework, and methodology, organisation of the thesis, study scope and significance. Chapter two makes a critical analysis of how girl characters are portrayed. Explanation of terms such as characterisation and character are also provided. The names of the selected girl characters are provided. A synopsis of each text is given before discussing the characters that are present in it. Chapter three focuses on analysis of character portrayal of women. The names of the selected characters and the titles of the novel and short story books in which they are found are given. The character traits that the women characters have are also provided and analysed accordingly. Chapter four makes a critique of how the selected Basotho women authors portray female characters. The chapter is divided such we deal with the female characters as portrayed by a single author. Chapter five gives the conclusion, research findings, remarks and recommendations.
A rhetorical analysis of african unification oratory
(National University of Lesotho, 2009) Mwangi, Catherine Waithera;
This study investigates how leaders aligned with the Monrovia and Casablanca blocs attempted, between the years 1957 and 1963, to secure adherence to their views on how to achieve African unity. It analyzes the published speeches that Kwame Nkrumah, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Julius Nyerere delivered at the Conference of African Heads of States and Governments held in Ethiopia in May 1963 and the published speech that Robert Sobukwe delivered at the Basutoland African Congress Conference held in Basutoland in December 1957. The study utilizes elements of selected classical and modern rhetorical theories to examine the speeches. It examines the context of these speeches, the appeals in each speech, the organization of each speech and the style of each speech. It also compares and contrasts the appeals, organization and style in these speeches. The study finds that these speeches rely on logical, pathetic and ethical proof for persuasiveness as well as on style and organization. The study also finds that these speeches are inspired by earlier Pan-Africanist literature as well as by English Literature.
Analysis of the language techniques and thematic Aspects of the Basotho accordion music
(University of Free State, 2009-12) Phafoli, Lehlohonolo; Rofessor Moleleki, Mohlomi
by the functionalist perspective, the study analyzes the Basotho accordion music over the period 1980 – 2005. Of particular importance are the various themes addressed by the verbal text that comes up in the music. Specifically, the study analyzes the language used in the composition of the songs accompanying the Basotho accordion music; the rationale behind the use of such language. The study also looks at the status of the composers or artists of the music as well as the role of their music among Basotho; and last, it looks at the reception of the Basotho accordion music by Basotho. In order to address the above purposes of the study, the qualitative method was used to interpret the songs. The population of the study was all the Basotho artists, radio presenters of the music, shop owners selling the music, street vendors and the public that listens to the music and buys it. A stratified random sampling method was used to select with the subjects of the study. A total of 100 songs were analyzed while 81 subjects were interviewed for this study. The findings of the study on the issues investigated are that, Basotho accordion music promotes or helps in the aesthetics of the Sesotho language; that it is a reservoir of rich language. The recurring themes in the music range from social, political and economic issues. The music forges patriotism among Basotho by promoting customs, norms and values of the nation. In terms of status, the artists are either illiterate or semi-literate and the music is their main means of livelihood. On the whole, most Basotho are receptive to Basotho accordion music in many different ways. The study concludes that Basotho accordion music is part of the oral traditional music of Basotho since it retains some features of oral traditional music. Accordion music is very rich in a variety of linguistic techniques common in oral traditions of Basotho. The music also reflects the lifestyle of Basotho because of its historicity and coverage of concerns of the nation.
Gendered consc iousness as watershed of masculinity: Men's journeys with manhood in Lesotho
(University of South Africa, 2011-02) Phohlo, Tlali Abel; Dr. Kotze, D.J.; Prof. Phillips, A.P.
If we govern ourselves, whose son is to govern us? : youth independence adn the 1960s in Lesotho
(Saint Louis, Missouri, 2011-05) Flessner, John Aerni; Parsons, Timothy
Sources and Application of Professional Knowledge amongst Teacher Educators
(University of Pretoria, 2011-07) Lefoka, Pulane Julia; Prof. Slabbert, Johannes; Prof. Clarke, Anthony
In Lesotho, there are no formal opportunities for professional training of teacher educators. Consequently, the majority of teacher educators have not received a training that could equip them with professional knowledge base that is foundational to any profession. Therefore the question: what are the sources and application of professional knowledge among teacher educators appeared justifiable. Arguably, the teacher educators’ professional knowledge is intricately linked to education practice. Teacher educators have to address the discrepancy between education policy and practice through the training of student teachers who, in turn, have to contribute to the quality of the Lesotho education system. An interpretivist approach was followed in undertaking this study. Data was collected through: narratives, observations of teacher educators and analysis of the curriculum and assessment documents. The unit of analysis was eight teacher educators who are based at the National University of Lesotho’s Faculty of Education. Verification of the extent to which the topic was researchable was through undertaking a pilot study with six teacher educators who were based in the department of Educational Foundations in the same faculty. The analysis of the data revealed an immersion in the teacher educators’ professional landscape provides them ample opportunities to learn from an array of experiences. They accumulated experienced-based professional knowledge relevant to their world of work as they learn to teach, construct, apply and model it in the context that is uniquely teacher education. They have learned to teach teachers mainly from existing education practices which perpetuate what already exists. They face numerous challenges; their teaching is biased towards conventional teaching techniques of a transmissive nature and to a less extent interactive techniques; construction of professional knowledge remains a complex and challenging undertaking. Opportunities to construct own teaching research-based knowledge and supervision of student research are limited. In practice teacher educators have to rethink their pedagogy. Engaging in research adopting a “self-study” approach is unavoidable. Research will enhance their professional development and the quality of the student teachers. Key words: constructing knowledge, episteme, learning, metalearning and metacognition, modelling knowledge, phronesis, practical knowledge, propositional knowledge, professional knowledge, student teacher, teacher educator.
Church and State Relations in Lesotho: A Theological Reflection on Catholic and Reformed contributions 1833-2007
(University of the Western Cape, 2013-11) Leanya, Rethabile Benedict; Prof. Lombard, C.
The relationship between church and state in the history of the Kingdom of Lesotho is an important yet neglected study. This thesis explores how this relationship has played itself out with particular interest in contributions made by Catholic and Reformed traditions. These particular approaches to Church and State relations are of particular interest because of the closeness of both churches to the state in Lesotho during different eras and how they influenced the politics and shaped the history of Lesotho as a country. Sesotho culture and tradition versus western tradition and Christianity also comes under the microscope as investigation into the effects of Christianity and Culture. To accomplish the aims of the thesis, viz. a survey of the history of church and state from the time of King Moshoeshoe until the newest situation of an emerging democracy under the monarchy, with conclusions about the road into the future, a literature survey of Lesotho’s history from 1833-2007 has been used. The thesis also places the history of the church in Lesotho within the “mainstream history” of Lesotho as a country. A comparison of traditional approaches to church and state relationships from leading Catholic and Reformed theologians and an assessment of how they played out in the history of Lesotho if they were applied at all. Furthermore, the thesis suggests a new way in which the Church and State can work together in the future so that mistakes of the past do not hinder either party from actively staying relevant and unhindered by the other in carrying out its duties.
Exocentric compound words and their usage in Southern African Newspapers
(National University of Lesotho, 2014-07) Kolobe, Agnes Maboleba;
This research contributes to an understanding of exocentricity phenomenon by using a constituent-entity approach to illuminate relations that hold between compound constituents and compound entities. Despite the growing literature in compounding research, there has been relatively little discussion of exocentric compounding in media context. Past research has focussed almost on endocentric compound words in literary works and/or morphological databases. This study addresses this gap by examining usage of exocentric compound words in Southern African newspapers. More specifically, it provides insights into various relations between compound constituents and entities of exocentric compound words in which such constituents appear. By considering exocentric constituents and media context, the study speaks to calls to account for insufficient framework for analysis of exocentric compound words. Such calls emerge from the views that exocentric compound words are considered out-centred and idiomatic and could be analysed by employing metaphor, metonymy analytical tools. This study argues that interpretation of exocentric compound words depend on the features of individual compound constituents, a situation that ascertains direct relationship between an exocentric compound word and the entity that it is used to refer to. Data for this study were collected from four quality English newspapers published in Lesotho and South Africa and circulated in Lesotho after 1993, a year that brought with it freedom of expression and freedom of media (Matjama (1997). The primary contribution of this study to the literature on exocentric compounding is a WordNet Similarity framework. This framework offers an exhaustive picture of constituent-entity relations. It displays how and why other senses of compound entities are chosen over others to form the compound words. 15 The study contributes to the literature by identifying 43 constituent-entity relations, various structures of exocentric compound neologisms and their different patterns. It also demonstrates contribution of context in analysing absolute categorical exocentric compound words. Importantly, the findings presented in this thesis demonstrate productiveness of constituent-context analysis approach in exocentric compounding.
Exocentric compound words and their usage in Southern African Newspapers
(National University of Lesotho, 2014-07) Kolobe, Maboleba; Ekanjume-Ilongo, Beatrice
This research contributes to an understanding of exocentricity phenomenon by using a constituent-entity approach to illuminate relations that hold between compound constituents and compound entities. Despite the growing literature in compounding research, there has been relatively little discussion of exocentric compounding in media context. Past research has focussed almost on endocentric compound words in literary works and/or morphological databases. This study addresses this gap by examining usage of exocentric compound words in Southern African newspapers. More specifically, it provides insights into various relations between compound constituents and entities of exocentric compound words in which such constituents appear. By considering exocentric constituents and media context, the study speaks to calls to account for insufficient framework for analysis of exocentric compound words. Such calls emerge from the views that exocentric compound words are considered out-centred and idiomatic and could be analysed by employing metaphor, metonymy analytical tools. This study argues that interpretation of exocentric compound words depend on the features of individual compound constituents, a situation that ascertains direct relationship between an exocentric compound word and the entity that it is used to refer to. Data for this study were collected from four quality English newspapers published in Lesotho and South Africa and circulated in Lesotho after 1993, a year that brought with it freedom of expression and freedom of media (Matjama (1997). The primary contribution of this study to the literature on exocentric compounding is a WordNet Similarity framework. This framework offers an exhaustive picture of constituent-entity relations. It displays how and why other senses of compound entities are chosen over others to form the compound words. 15 The study contributes to the literature by identifying 43 constituent-entity relations, various structures of exocentric compound neologisms and their different patterns. It also demonstrates contribution of context in analysing absolute categorical exocentric compound words. Importantly, the findings presented in this thesis demonstrate productiveness of constituent-context analysis approach in exocentric compounding.
Confluences of Lithoko, Religious and Traditional Beliefs and Western Poetry in Modern Sesotho Poetry (Msp): An Intertextual Perspective
(University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, 2016) Maimane, K. C.; Mathonsi, N. N.; Zulu, N. S.
From an intertextual perspective, this study analyses the lithoko, religious beliefs and practices and western poetry confluences in modern Sesotho poetry. In this analysis, modern Sesotho poetry texts covering a period of seventy-nine years (79) from 1931 to 2010 have been selected. Of the utmost importance in the analysis are the intertextual manifestations in modern Sesotho poetry. These include the lithoko oralformulaic style in modern Sesotho poetry which focuses on form, structure and content. The study also looks into echoes of texts indicative of religious beliefs and practices (both local and foreign) in modern Sesotho poetry, the host-parasite relationship between Western poetry and modern Sesotho poetry, the emerging trends and the evaluation of modern Sesotho poetry in relation to its poeticness or literariness. In order to address the above intentions of the study, the qualitative library approach was employed to critically examine the identified intertextual features from the population of twelve (12) modern Sesotho poetry texts selected through both the cluster and purposive sampling techniques. The following are the findings of the study on the issues investigated: modern Sesotho poetry is an intertext as texts from lithoko Christian, traditional beliefs and practices as well as western poetry are present in it at varying levels of form structure, content and traditional images in virtually recognizable forms as Barthes (1981: 39) asserts that the literary position of any text is an intertext in which other texts are present in varying levels and more or less recognizable forms. Both proto, transitional and open forms attributed to lithoko and western poetry are present in modern Sesotho poetry. Modern Sesotho poetry has also been found to have diverse emergent trends not only in terms of structural forms but also in content and linguistic devices in the form of traditional imagery. As an intertext, modern Sesotho poetry has emerged to be poetic considering aspects of poetic function and poetic language as elements of poetry in the evaluation of its poeticness. The study concludes that modern Sesotho poetry is an intertext which is a text of convergence where the presence of the four predecessors is manifested at varying levels and in more or less recognizable forms.
A comparative analysis of breathing rates of stutterers and non-stutterers
(National University of Lesotho, 2019) Letsie, Maky; Ekanjume-Ilongo, Beatrice; Thuube, Raphael
This set out to establish whether or not there is any relationship between breathing rates and stuttering so as to propose a way forward eliminating stuttering. The observation that there is no stuttering during singing motivated the current study to assess the breathing rates of stutterers and non-stutterers both during singing and speaking. The findings of this study reveal that the two groups (stutterers and non-stutterers) use different breathing rates when singing and speaking. Therefore, the current study suggests that it is possible to reduce or eliminate stuttering through regulated breathing rates depending on the severity of the problem and the breathing pattern. The aim of the current study was to identify and assess the breathing rates of stutterers and non-stutterers to see if there is a difference so as to recommend the breathing range for stutterers. Based on the findings and observation of this study, breathing ranges are proposed for stutterers as an attempt to reduce and/or eliminate stuttering. It is the hope of the researcher that further studies will be done in this area to create more awareness in relation to the phenomenon of stuttering, as well as to provide long lasting solutions to eradicate stuttering
Diversity, inclusivity, social responsibilty aspects, and outcomes for a mobile digital library and information service model for a developing country
(International Journal of Information, Diversity and Inclusion, 2020) Moshoeshoe-Chadzingwa, Matseliso Mamahlape;
The provision of library services through rigid compartmentalisation of academic, public, school, and special libraries operating in one country can be cost-effective if a country has strong socio- economic, cultural, educational, and political structures. This arrangement is apparently a fallacy for countries that lack such structures, as is the case with Lesotho. This study examined the outcomes and the impact of the UNESCO-funded project titled Distance and Rural Learner- Teacher Support through a Mobile Digital Library (DRULETSMODIL) in Lesotho. The National University of Lesotho (NUL) Library proposed DRULETSMODIL whose objective was to reach out to NUL’s de jure distant teachers and learners. Additionally, the project expanded its scope to include library services to rural and poor communities. This paper outlines how use of the descriptive method, called the corporate social responsibility (CSR) principle, utilised the case study approach to interrogate DRULETSMODIL’s performance. The findings reveal that the project embodied various levels of diversity, inclusivity, and (mainly) social responsibility aspects of providing information for free, to the marginalized communities. From DRULETSMODIL’s three phases covering all the ten districts of Lesotho, positive outcomes were recorded. Through Information, Communication, and Technology apparatuses, DRULETSMODIL’s offerings, and the support of Participatory Initiative for Social Accountability (PISA), diverse information was easily and cost-effectively accessible. The project attracted various partners; beneficiaries included academic library users, secondary schools, and male and female youth and adults in the villages. The study recommends advocacy on CSR for all types of businesses and consideration of this model for developing countries
The Communicative strategies, the significance, the content and the role of the performance of mangae a makoloane a basotho (basotho boy initiates’ music)
(University of the Witwatersrand, 2020) Martins, Thabo Paul; Dr. Zungu, E. B.
The study investigated the contemporary performance of mangae in order to find the communication strategies, the significance, the content and the role they perform. By rendition and style, the performance of mangae is considered as total theatre. Despite only a pure vocal performance of mangae, a consolidation of styles is blended to form a contemporary oral style of mangae. The union of styles during the performance of mangae reproduces a new trend of performance-within-performance during rendition. Traditional and modern theatrical actions are fused in, either concurrently or sporadically within the performance of the songs. The performance of mangae demonstrates a serious flexibility and turn-around by incorporating the resources from two different art spaces. In the process, it successfully strikes a balance between the two cultures; it does not totally shed off all the traditional artistic qualities while at the same time it does not fully and exclusively rely on modern-day resources. The balance that the performance of mangae strikes between the traditional and modern-day culture marks it as the popular culture of the Basotho. Thus, the contemporary performance of mangae uses popular discourse to place it within modern day popular culture of Basotho. It draws from the bank of traditional language as well as from the modern-day library and blend them to mark a contemporary art of the performance of mangae. This strength of the performance of mangae to fuse the two cultures together is important for the conservation, conformity and continuity of the culture. The topics that form the contemporary performance of mangae include industrialisation, modern politics, unemployment and social life of the contemporary Basotho. Obsolete as well as modern day terminology and expressions are used among other things to delineate the new self-identities, self-righteousness, masculine virility and heroic identities of the initiates. The performance of mangae invariably uses language, popular discourse and themes accessible both to youth and the old populace of the Basotho. It also relates to modern-day popular music, dances styles, christian liturgy and biblical stories, themes alluding to cognisance of the impact of modern-day and social media technologies to cite a few. The modern-day performance of mangae is the renowned cultural heritage of the Basotho upon which a combination of styles is presented during its presentation. Despite the complex of styles found among the Setšekha, Senotši/Sesotho and Sekaota style, the contemporary performance of mangae reproduces subjects and themes relating the social, economic, political, climatic and psychodynamic aspects of human life. It also alludes to some indigenous knowledge base of the Basotho, for example, the rain making and stopping capabilities. Thus, the performance of mangae serves as a repository of the worldview and thought of the society within which it is rendered.
Juxtaposition of speech acts and Basotho names in Lesotho
(NISC, 2020) Ekanjume-IIongo, Beatrice; Adesanmi, Taofik; Kolobe, Maboleba;
This study addresses the juxtaposition of speech acts and Basotho names. Speech act theory (SAT) is interested in digging beneath discourse to establish the meaning and function of what is said. It therefore attempts to explain how speakers use language to accomplish intended actions, and how hearers infer the intended meaning from what is said. Succinctly put, SAT is an approach to a systematic classification of the reasons for our linguistic acts during communication. Austin and Searle, among others, believe that “speaking a language is engaging in a rule-governed form of behaviour” that consequently leads to accomplishing specific social acts, functions or intentions associated with different speech acts. This situation is equally true in personal names or the act of naming children as a ceremony in which parents engage in different linguistic acts. It is no longer odd to say that “names are embedded with meaning and coded with identity…” in many parts of the world and particularly in Africa. In this work, selected Basotho first names were subjected to speech act analysis since they manifest in sentence forms when their meanings or implications are delved into. The interpretive analysis of these names yielded connectivity between Basotho names and representatives, directives, expressives, commissives and declarative speech acts. The study concluded that Basotho first names enact the speech acts in addition to the meanings or narratives they bear.
Traumatic experiences suffered by Mathebe residents during the 1970 state of emergency in Lesotho
(National University of Lesotho, 2020-06) Ralebitso, Maneo Eulalia;
This study documents the traumatic experiences of civilians who were victimised for being supporters of the opposition Basotholand Congress Party (BCP) during the 1970 state of emergency in Lesotho. These traumatic experiences are missing in the published literature which has focused on how the leaders of the opposition parties, the political elites as well as the King suffered. In this study the focus is on the traumatic human suffering visited on these civilians whose crime was to belong to the BCP. Through the use of personal testimonies, the missing voice of these civilians in the history of the state of emergency is documented. Mathebe village (Mafeteng district) is used as a case study because it is where extreme acts of political violence against BCP supporters were perpetrated by the Police Mobile Unit (PMU) and the Basotho National Party (BNP) Youth League. These extreme acts of political violence negatively affected these supporters physically, materially and psychologically. Physically, they were assaulted, arrested and tortured while in detention. Materially, they lost their property through arson while psychologically, they experienced extreme emotions of fear and anxiety and were mentally tortured. The consequences of all these traumatic experiences were many and varied. They include separation/division of families, homelessness, loss of time, job loss leading to loss of income and famine, incurrence of costs such as legal expenses and costs related to the rebuilding of burned houses, political intolerance, and hospitalisation to mention but a few. This study concludes by observing that the authoritarian rule that began in Lesotho with the declaration of the 1970 state of emergency more negatively affected the supporters of the BCP whose only ‘crime’ was not only membership of the party but also the fact that through their vote, they propelled it to victory in the 1970 January general elections. It also draws attention to the need for more localised studies, using oral history, personal testimonies and memory studies in other areas of the country so that, in the future, we will have a full picture of the negative effects of 1970 state of emergency which may help in healing the entire Basotho nation
Overgeneralisation of derivational rules by EFL secondary students
(National University of Lesotho, 2020-07) Morakabi, Maseriti Lineo Hyacinth; Kolobe, Maboleba
This study investigated overgeneralisation of derivational rules by EFL secondary learners at ‟Mabathoana High School. The study used a triangulation of three instruments to collect data: online focus groups, online interviews, and documents (compositions) with a qualitative research design. Premised on Aronoff‟s (1976) word formation theory and EA procedures, the study examined and analysed a corpus of one hundred learners (30 grade 9, 30 form E, 40 form E students) and nine (9) English teachers. The findings revealed that students mostly overgeneralised the derivational prefixes un-, in-, and dis- which are reversative and negative prefixes. The suffixes that were mostly overgeneralised were -ness, -tion, -ment, -ful, -able -ify and -ise which are nominal, adjectival, and verbal forming suffixes. The study further discovered that the causes of these overgeneralisations are that EFL teachers and learners do not know derivational rules and restrictions of these rules. Another cause is that students lack a reading culture and therefore are not familiar with the English vocabulary, hence the overgeneralisations of the rules. The corpus also evidenced that these overgeneralisations have a detrimental effect on the students‟ language proficiency as such errors are regarded as very serious.
A Discipline, symbiotic dialectic: The case of Literature in English and English Language pedagogical implications for higher education
(National University of Lesotho, 2020-09) Ramolula, Kabelo; Prof. V. Shava; Dr. L. Matsoso
Premised on the scholarship that some academic disciplines are more linguistically related than others are, the study sought a research-appraised understanding and knowledge of the nature of the relationship between the Literature in English and English language as, supposedly, close disciplines. It explored the relationship between the Literature in English and English Language in relation to acquisition of proficiency in English and content knowledge by higher education students. Implications of the relationship between the teaching and learning of Literature in English and English Language in higher education in terms of acquisition of proficiency in English and content knowledge were also examined. The study further sought the implications of the findings for course review in the Departments of English Language and Linguistics and Languages and Social Education in the Faculties of Humanities and Education. The assumption was that such knowledge would, as the literature amplifies, have a pedagogical contribution, not only to the teaching and learning of the two disciplines as the subjects at basic education level but, more importantly, in higher education which has the obligation to, among others, produce the relevantly qualified teachers for the teaching of these disciplines as contributing certain subjects in the implementation of the obtaining integrated curriculum. The study interrogates the Literature in English and English Language for how symbiotically related they are, with a focus on the pedagogical and course review implications of such symbiosis for not only acquisition of proficiency in English as a medium of access to knowledge, but also of interrogating the concepts that make the content of the two disciplines acquire and generate knowledge. The researcher‘s stance was that there would be multiple interpretations of the nature of the relationship between the two disciplines. The inquiry adopted the interpretivist/constructivist paradigm and the qualitative approach. The paradigm is premised on a multiplicity of realities which are socially constructed. A case study was the type of qualitative approach wherein the Department of Languages and Social Education (LASED) in the Faculty of Education and the Language and Linguistics Department (DELL) in the Faculty of Humanities both at the National University of Lesotho (NUL) became the case. Qualitative research data gathering strategies were adopted for the generation of research question-related data. Such strategies included the use of open-ended but relevantly guided conversational face-to-face interviews with the lecturers and students, purposively sampled from the case departments. Documentary sources were also purposively selected to include course descriptions and outlines of vii core and optional courses offered in English Language and Literature in English in DELL as well as in English Language Education and Literature in English Education in LASED. At least three major revelations resulted from the analysis and interpretation of the data. Firstly, the study points to the inherent relationship between Literature in English and English Language as academic disciplines. Areas of symbiosis are the rules of grammar, linguistic and communicative competences, requisite skills and reading literary texts. Secondly, the relationship, given the deserving pedagogical attention within and across the disciplines, can reasonably be associated with the acquisition of proficiency in academic English and improved knowledge of discipline-based content. Thirdly and logically, the study points to two major implications of the relationship. One implication is that pedagogically, the two can be taught in juxtaposition upon informed identification of relevant proficiencies in English and subject-based content needs within and across departments. The second implication of the relationship is a joint course-review need which would lead to an introduction of an integrated English Language Literature in English course for a compulsory offer to DELL and LASED students double-majoring in the two disciplines as specialisations and teaching subjects. Also revealed as an implication is the need for an intra and inter departmental collaboration in course planning, teaching of and research on/for English language proficiency and content knowledge needs of students. The fourth implication is the need for pedagogical professionalisation of the lecturers in both departments‘ strategies for integrating teaching and learning of the two disciplines. Implementation of the implications of the findings would be in step with not only trends in scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) in higher education but also in scholarship of pedagogy for enhancing teaching and learning at this level. Actualisation of professionalisation of the teaching of the two disciplines would have an added value to accreditation of the course offerings in the two departments in the situation such as that of higher education in Lesotho where a teaching qualification is one of the accreditation standards from the Lesotho‘s Council on Higher education (CHE). The study therefore, makes reasonable conclusions that (a) the two disciplines are inherently interwoven by nature and, as and when opportunities are identifiable, should be taught and studied with this in mind to enhance acquisition of proficiency in English and content knowledge in both disciplines, (b) the relationship between the two disciplines is not only symbiotic but it is also pedagogical and can therefore strategically be purposively juxtaposed for proficiency in English for the teaching and learning of the two disciplines and (c) the symbiotic relationship between the two disciplines invokes the course review through which a collaborative approach to the planning and viii teaching of the two symbiotic disciplines could improve acquisition of proficiency in English and content knowledge. Based on the conclusions articulated, the study recommends that the two disciplines could be taught in juxtaposition, especially paying attention on these cross cutting skills and competences. The understanding is that such an arranged plan of work could augment acquisition of proficiency in English and content knowledge. In terms of inter and intra departmental working relationship, the study recommends that for acquisition of proficiency in English and content knowledge, the departments of English Language and Linguistics as well as Languages and Social Education could work collaboratively within (intra) and among/ between (inter) departments by way of consultations, sharing of the teaching methods, expertise as well as substance for the two disciplines through joint research and teaching. This could be done where the two disciplines cross-pollinate in terms of content and related skills The research study has also made a significant contribution to the theories surrounding the area of study. For instance, it has expanded Language in/for/with content theory with its principle that language cannot be acquired/learned outside content. The study has gone beyond to add that acquisition of language and content are simultaneous and inseparable. Literature in English is the context for English Language whilst English language is the medium of expression of literary ideas thus making the two interdependent of each other. Furthermore, the study has made a positive contribution to the Language and context theory which is premised on the maxims of meaning through relation, that is, through environment/ situation. It looks at the meaning of a text by examining it holistically that is, its structure in totality not individual words of a sentence in isolation. This study has gone beyond to demonstrate that words or phrases outside context are meaningless. Appropriate and accurate meaning of a text is doubtful outside context; the literature provides that context. The study has also enhanced the schema theory which is based on the principles that schemata are mental structures that have stored information from life experience and such knowledge is resurrected when one meets new information. The schemata influence acquisition of new information. The present study has gone beyond the principles and has added that acquisition of new information/knowledge is dependent on the old knowledge/ schemata. The two are interdependent and inseparable. ix The study contributes a research-appraised model for adoption and or adaptation in the implementation of the research supported symbiotic relationship between the Literature in English and English Language

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