Oral literature and the evolving Jim-goes-to-town motif: Some early Northern Sotho compared to selected post-apartheid novels written in English
Literator
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Oral literature and the evolving Jim-goes-to-town motif: Some early Northern Sotho compared to selected post-apartheid novels written in English Mondelinge literatuur en die ontwikkeling van die Jafta-gaan-stad-toe-motief: ‘n Paar vroeë Noord-Sotho romans vergelyk met post-apartheidromans in Engels | |
| Creator | Rafapa, Lesibana | |
| Description | The continuation of the discourses of apartheid era African language literature characterised by the makgoweng motif in post-apartheid English literature written by black people has not been studied adequately. In this study I explored ways in which characters of Northern Sotho linguistic and cultural groups represented the same consciousness in both categories of novels across time. I used the qualitative method and analysed some Northern Sotho primary texts, written before democracy in South Africa, as well as selected post-apartheid English novels written by black people. I focused on the mokgoweng motif to examine the nature of continuity in theme and outlook. I found that the novels considered pointed to a sustainable consciousness, transcending linguistic boundaries and time. The social function of such characterisation representing the formerly oppressed black people, is a revelation of their quest towards selfdefinition in a modern world. The portrayed characters significantly point to resilience among black people to appropriate modernity by making sense of the world in a manner sustaining their distinctive outlook. In this way, the Northern Sotho-speaking cultural groups display a consistent consciousness enabling them to manage properly their adaptation to an evolving modern or globalising environment across time. The implication was that a comparison of South African English literature written by black people with indigenous language literature enriched the study of black South African English literature. Die voortsetting van diskoerse in literatuur in die Afrikatale uit die apartheidstyd gekenmerk deur die mokgoweng-motief in Engelse literatuur deur swart skrywers in die post-apartheidsjare, is nog nie behoorlik bestudeer nie. In hierdie artikel ondersoek ek die wyse waarop karakters uit die Noord-Sotho-taal- en kultuurgroep oor tyd heen dieselfde bewussyn openbaar in albei kategorieë romans. Ek gebruik die kwalitatiewe metode en ontleed sowel primêre tekste in Noord-Sotho geskryf voor die koms van demokrasie as geselekteerde Engelse romans deur swart mense uit die post-apartheidera. Ek fokus op die mokgoweng-motief om die aard van die kontinuïteit in tema en beskouing te ondersoek. Ek het bevind dat die betrokke tekste ʼn volhoubare identiteit openbaar wat bo taalgrense en tyd uitstyg. Die sosiale funksie van sulke soort karakterisering, verteenwoordigend van die voorheen onderdrukte swart mense, openbaar hul soeke na selfdefinisie in die moderne wêreld. Die uitgebeelde karakters dui die vermoë van swart mense aan om die moderne era op ‘n manier vir hulle toe te eien wat tog hulle kenmerkende lewensuitkyk bewaar. Die kultuurgroepe wat Noord-Sotho praat, vertoon derhalwe ‘n bewussyn wat konsekwent bly, maar hulle in staat stel om wel met verloop van tyd behoorlik aan te pas by ‘n steeds ontwikkelende moderne en globaliserende omgewing. Die implikasie is dat ‘n vergelyking van literatuur in swart Suid-Afrikaanse Engels met dié wat in inheemse tale geskryf is, die studie van swart Suid-Afrikaanse literatuur in Engels verryk. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2016-09-16 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/lit.v37i1.1251 | |
| Source | Literator; Vol 37, No 1 (2016); 6 pages Literator; Vol 37, No 1 (2016); 6 pages 2219-8237 0258-2279 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://literator.org.za/index.php/literator/article/view/1251/2058
https://literator.org.za/index.php/literator/article/view/1251/2059
https://literator.org.za/index.php/literator/article/view/1251/2060
https://literator.org.za/index.php/literator/article/view/1251/2050
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