The morpho-sociolinguistic aspect of the morpheme / -ng∼-eng / in Sesotho
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21491090 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Litsepiso MATLOSA (0000-0001-9941-0920, National University of Lesotho, corresponding author), ‘Masehloho ‘Matjotjo (National University of Lesotho), Thuso Selebeli (National University of Lesotho) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 44 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 194-202 |
| Publication date | 2024-06-28 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | South African Journal of African Languages (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0257-2117 • E-ISSN: 2305-1159 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/02572117.2024.2385270 |
| OpenAlex | W4401727034 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 12 |
This is a morpho-sociolinguistic article that adopts a qualitative approach to investigate the attachment of the morpheme /-ng∼-eng/ to Sesotho parts of speech and to determine the validity of the justifications provided for this type of suffixation. The study employs the integrated frameworks of item-and-process and variationist sociolinguistics. It is a known fact that human language is inherently a culturally evolving system. That is, it is not monolithic, but instead, is dynamic or variable. Among the social dynamics stimulating language variability is age. In our everyday experience, we witness a generational gap between youngsters and adults in terms of communication. Adults tend to be conservative, while the youth are innovative in their language use. Through their peer groups, the youth are able to establish new linguistic norms which may diffuse into the wider community. In Sesotho, one such linguistic norm is the current suffixation of /-ng∼-eng/ to some parts of speech to which traditionally it was not suffixed. The article further discusses the semantic implications of the attachment of this suffix and the reaction of the elderly towards it
Biology · Botany · Linguistics · Morpheme · Morpho · Gender Studies in Language · History · Linguistic Variation and Morphology · Linguistics, Language Diversity, and Identity · Philosophy
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |