Abstract
M.A. (African Languages)
Africa encompasses such a variety of languages and language types that even
today linguistic science is somewhat at a loss to describe the mutual
relationships between all these languages. This study is concerned with the
Sotho group of Bantu languages. The existing classifications of the Sotho group
are examined with regard to the classification criteria employed and how
consistently and correctly these have been applied.
A critical consideration of these classifications brings to light a considerable
number of problems which show the classifications to be inadequate. The
conclusion is drawn that the various criteria need to be reconsidered and that
the requirements for a well-founded, ideal classification of Sotho should be
clearly spelled out. Three basic approaches to the problem are dealt with,
namely: a purely synchronic linguistic. classification, a genealogical
classification based on diachronic principles, and a sociolinguistic
classification. In each case the applicability to Sotho of the method
concerned, given the present state of knowledge, is evaluated.
As regards a synchronic linguistic classification, it is shown that clarity is
needed. concerning crucial terms such as "language" and "dialect"; that a
hierarchy of criteria has to be determined; that mutual influences and the
influences of non-related languages should be allowed for; and that different
degrees of relatedness should be accounted for. Given that these problems are
addressed satisfactorily and given that sufficient data is available, a wellfounded
synchronic classification would be possible.
In the case of a genealogical classification, the use of reconstructions of
proto forms of the Bantu languages, such as those of Meinhof and Guthrie, and of
reconstructions of Proto-Sotho, such as that of Dickens, is considered...