ISIXHOSA
This course provides an in-depth and comparative study of the IsiXhosa Linguistics and Literature. This includes tradition and culture of the speaker-hearers of the language. Its curriculum includes aspects relevant to other departments such as History, Music, Philosophy, Communication, Theology etc.
XHS 111F IsiXhosa Linguistics (Foundation
Purpose: To introduce the learners to modern linguistics and to provide them with skills in language structure and usage, including aspects of language development.
Contents (1)The phonetic and phonological description of the sounds of language and of isiXhosa in particular: how they
are produced and how they influence one another in speech contexts;
(2) The morphological description of isiXhosa.
XHS122F isiXhosa Literature (Foundation)
Purpose: This module will equip students with introductory knowledge, skills and values to be writers and critics, in the field of isiXhosa literature. They will be equipped to:
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Say and write what one means.
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Hear what is said and what is hidden.
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Defend one’s point of view, to argue, to persuade, to negotiate, to create, to reflect and to invent.
Contents: Introductory study of literary theories (such as: Marxist theory, formalist-structuralism, sociology, feminist, Senghorian and African Aesthetics etc); principles of critical analysis of literature (such as: stylistic criticism, rhetoric analysis discourse analysis and critical linguistics) and analysis of selected isiXhosa novels and plays.
XHS112F isiXhosa Linguistics (Foundation)
Purpose: To raise the learner’s awareness of the philosophical and other ways in which isiXhosa expresses meaning.
Contents: The syntactic and semantic description of isiXhosa.
XHS123F IsiXhosa Literature (Foundation)
Purpose: Students will be equipped to:
- Explore relationships, personal, structural and political.
- Speak, read and write with confidence.
- To make one’s voice heard.
- Read, print and resist it where necessary.
- Understand the relationship between language and power.
Contents: Introductory study of literary theories (such as: Marxist theory, formalist-structuralism, sociology, feminist, Senghorian and African Aesthetics etc); principles of critical analysis of literature (such as: stylistic criticism, rhetoric analysis discourse analysis and critical linguistics) and analysis of selected isiXhosa poetry, short stories and essays.
XHS111/111E IsiXhosa Linguistics
Purpose: To introduce the learners to modern linguistics and to provide them with skills in language structure and usage, including aspects of language development. To raise the learner’s awareness of the philosophical and other ways in which isiXhosa expresses meaning.
Contents: (1)The phonetic and phonological description of the sounds of language and of isiXhosa in particular: how they are produced and how they influence one another in speech contexts;
(2) The morphological, syntactic and semantic description of isiXhosa.
XHS122/122E isiXhosa Literature
Purpose: This module will equip students with introductory knowledge, skills and values to be writers and critics, in the field of isiXhosa literature. They will be equipped to:
- Say and write what one means.
- Hear what is said and what is hidden.
- Defend one’s point of view, to argue, to persuade, to negotiate, to create, to reflect, to invent.
- Explore relationships, personal, structural and political.
- Speak, read and write with confidence.
- To make one’s voice heard.
- Read print and resist it where necessary.
- Understand the relationship between language and power.
Contents: Introductory study of literary theories (such as: Marxist theory, formalist-structuralism, sociology, feminist, Senghorian and African Aesthetics etc); principles of critical analysis of literature (such as: stylistic criticism, rhetoric analysis discourse analysis and critical linguistics) and analysis of selected isiXhosa literary texts.
XNM111/111E IsiXhosa non-Mother-tongue
Purpose: To assist the learner to acquire a basic knowledge of conversational Xhosa.
Contents: Study of basic grammar; participation in dialogue situations; reading of elementary texts.
XNM122/122E IsiXhosa non-Mother-tongue
Purpose: To develop the learner’s fluency in conversational Xhosa.
Contents: Study of basic grammar; participation in dialogue situations; reading of elementary texts.
XHS211/211E Xhosa Linguistics
Purpose: To expose learners to an advanced study of the language structure, usage and development, and introduce them to a comparison of isiXhosa with one of the languages of the isiNguni Group, namely, isiZulu. The aim of the latter is to introduce them to the idea of multi-lingualism in line with current language policy in the new South Africa.
Contents: A comparison of isiXhosa and isiZulu with regards to their sound, morpho-syntactic and semantic structure, mainly in the context of discourse.
XHS212/212E Oral Literature and the origin of modern isiXhosa literature
Purpose: The module is aimed at assisting the learner in African Languages to acquire an introductory knowledge of the historical origins of Xhosa literature. The module is also aimed at providing the learner with a basic insight into traditional African literature, in particular traditional prose and traditional poetry.
Contents: History of Xhosa literature: The role of the missionary pioneers; the contributions of early Xhosa writers; political development and the growth of Xhosa literature; the contribution of contemporary Xhosa authors. Traditional literature: The social role and significance of traditional literature; traditional literary forms: poetry (Izibongo); narratives (Tales, Legends, Myths)
XHS223/223E isiXhosa Literature
Purpose: This module will equip students with knowledge, skills and values to be writers and critics, in the field of isiXhosa literature. They will be equipped to: • Say and write what one means. • Hear what is said and what is hidden. • Defend one’s point of view, to argue, to persuade, to negotiate, to create, to reflect to invent. • Explore relationships, personal, structural and political. • Speak, read and write with confidence. • To make one’s voice heard. • Read print and resist it where necessary. • Understand the relationship between language and power.
Contents: Study of literary theories (such as: Marxist theory, formalist-structuralism, sociology, feminist, Senghorian and African Aesthetics); principles of critical analysis of literature (such as: stylistic criticism, rhetoric analysis discourse analysis and critical linguistics) and analysis of selected isiXhosa literary texts.
XHS224/224E Introduction to Historiography of African Linguistics
Purpose: To introduce learners to Historical Linguistics in general and to the history of African Linguistics in particular, and to the concept of language classification.
Contents: Definition of Historical-Comparative Linguistics; contributions of various philologists to the historical and comparative study of African languages, and introduction to language classification mainly with regards to African languages.
XHS311/311E Historiography of African Linguistics etc.
Purpose: To teach language reconstruction and change; to introduce learners to language in society and to multi-lingualism through comparative study.
Contents: Further study in Historical and Comparative Linguistics and the classification of ‘Bantu’ languages, and introduction to socio-linguistics.
XHS312/312E IsiXhosa poetry and drama
Purpose: The module is aimed at assisting the learner to acquire an advanced knowledge of Xhosa poetry and drama. This includes the study of literary theory and the application of the relevant literary principles in the analysis of Xhosa poetry and drama texts.
Contents: Study of various forms of literary theory and the analysis of selected Xhosa poetry anthologies and drama texts.
XHS323/323E Nguni Linguistics (Advanced)
Purpose: To equip learners with skills in terminology, lexicography and other language development skills, and with a broad knowledge of modern language theories.
Contents: Pragmatics and semantics of isiXhosa language; comparative grammar of isiNguni, and theories of modern linguistics.
XHS324/324E IsiXhosa Prose
Purpose: The module is aimed at assisting the learner to acquire an advanced knowledge of Xhosa prose. This includes the study of literary theory and the application of the relevant literary principles in the analysis of Xhosa prose texts.
Contents: Analysis of various forms of literary theory; study of selected Xhosa novels; study of selected short story and essay texts. UFH Department of African Languages Undergraduate Courses
