Browsing by Author "Chaphole, Solomon Rampasane"

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    A study of some aspects of K.P.D. Maphalla's poetry
    (1988) Moleleki, Albert Mohlomi; Chaphole, Solomon Rampasane
    This study is an investigation into three aspects of K.P.D. Maphalla's poetry: influences at work in his poetry; the nature and significance of imagery employed; and the theme of protest as conveyed through poetic aestheticism. Influence constitutes one of the main poetic devices which give amplitude to the poet's compositions. His imagery is a window through which the reader catches a glimpse of the poet's mind. The reciprocal relationship between the theme of protest and poetic artistry is also discussed. Nowhere in Sesotho literary studies have the three aspects mentioned above been treated in the manner this study does. In this way the study breaks new ground. We describe, analyse and interpret extracts from Maphalla's poetry by borrowing tools freely from the various literary theories. We do not tie ourselves to a particular theory. Our approach can also be described as both extrinsic and intrinsic. The study makes a contribution in three respects. First, it illustrates how a knowledge and understanding of some material from both oral tradition and Western acculturation can make a significant contribution to a proper analysis and interpretation of Sesotho poetry. Secondly it demonstrates how imagery also reveals both the poet's attitude towards his subject matter and his world-view in general. Thirdly, the study indicates that protest can be voiced through the dignified genre of poetry. In short, the study shows that whilst Sesotho poetry is functional in its thrust, it also preens itself with poetic aestheticism. We hope that this study will add to the existing universal principles of literary criticism.
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    A study of the auxiliary in Sesotho
    (1988) Chaphole, Solomon Rampasane; Westphal, E O J
    The Auxiliary is a sadly neglected field of study in Southern African languages. The study investigates the syntactic and semantic behaviour of Auxiliaries in Sesotho. Having established that there is a category AUX in Sesotho, we then developed a descriptive framework in which auxiliaries in Sesotho participate. In this framework we posit as basic the three grammatical-semantic categories of verb phrases, namely, Tense, Aspect and Modality. The next major step was to develop formal tests which we used as defining characteristics for auxiliaries. We had to do this because the formal tests developed for English, for instance, do not work for Sesotho. The data used in this study represents samples of Sesotho as spoken by the native speakers. This work makes contributions in two areas. First, to language studies in Southern Africa and then to general linguistic theory. Since Tswana, Northern Sotho and Southern Sotho form one language group predict that the formal 'tests' we have suggested can be applied in the two Sotho languages as well. As far as Aspect, Tense and Modality are concerned, it is where this study makes a major contribution. Nowhere in Sesotho grammatical studies has either a tense or aspectual system of Sesotho been suggested or discussed. Modality has not even been referred to. In this regard the study is breaking new ground. We hope that a fresh debate will be initiated leading to vibrant discussions on comparative work. A number of studies on syntactic typology have been made. This study affords Sesotho its rightful place in the AUX debate.