The ‘placenta’ of the nation
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12898276 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Sibonile Edith Ellece (University of Botswana, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2012 |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 79-103 |
| Publication date | 2012-04-30 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Gender and Language (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1747-6321 • E-ISSN: 1747-633X |
| Publisher | Equinox Publishing (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1558/genl.v6i1.79 |
| OpenAlex | W1995947108 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 5 |
This paper explores the construction of motherhood in Tswana marriage ceremonies, especially in Patlo or marriage negotiations. The data used comprise a chant known as Rutu (from the repeated use of the lexical item) from a wedding in Kopong in southern Botswana, and interviews of participants in the weddings studied as part of a larger project on marriage discourses (Ellece 2007). The paper uses Critical Discourse Analysis as an overarching framework. At the micro-level, the paper combines content analysis of narratives of motherhood and lexical choices in the ‘Rutu’ chant. It also examines the re-contextualization of the discourses articulated in this ceremony by the interviewees. The main argument of the paper is that, in Botswana, motherhood is constructed as a compulsory and indispensable aspect of feminine identity, crucial for success in marriage
Aesthetics · Argument (complex analysis · Art · Ceremony · Contextualization · Identity (music · Linguistics · Literature · Narrative · Negotiation · Social science · Sociology · Gender Studies · History · Language, Discourse, Communication Strategies · Multilingual Education and Policy · Names, Identity, and Discrimination Research
| Citations per year | 0.33 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2020 - 2024 (5) |
| Highly cited | No |