Socially constructed meanings of Impucuko in a comparative historical analysis

dc.contributor.advisorDe Wet, Jacques
dc.contributor.authorSigenu, Zimingonaphakade
dc.date.accessioned2022-06-29T09:29:37Z
dc.date.available2022-06-29T09:29:37Z
dc.date.issued2022
dc.date.updated2022-06-29T09:27:07Z
dc.description.abstractSociological analysis of African societies has tended to rely on Western concepts and theories while neglecting indigenous conceptualisations and explanations of social phenomena. Guided by social constructionism and hermeneutics, this thesis seeks to respond to this by investigating the socially constructed meanings of impucuko (dictionary translation: civilisation) and associated terms by isiXhosa-speaking professionals at the turn of the 20th century and then again at the turn of the 21st century, exploring the changes and continuities in the meanings over the 100-year period. Documentary sources from the isiXhosa literary archive, a sample of contemporary isiXhosa newspapers and in-depth interviews are utilised as part of the qualitative research approach to explore the social construction of meaning. The different meanings of impucuko that emerge from the inquiry include an understanding of the concept as: • enlightening knowledge • inkqubela phambili (progress) • detachment from inkcubeko (cultural heritage) • reimagined as a system of development that uplifts. This thesis demonstrates the practice of endogeneity by taking a single isiXhosa term, impucuko (and associated words), and demonstrating how endogeneity works organically in the process of the social construction of meanings in the vernacular by African sociolinguistic groupings. It highlights the relationship between socio-cultural context and meaning construction. The study challenges the hegemony assumed by western conceptual tools and the English language in academic knowledge production. Furthermore, the thesis shows an innovative method of developing critical conceptual tools that centre African perspectives.
dc.identifier.apacitationSigenu, Z. (2022). <i>Socially constructed meanings of Impucuko in a comparative historical analysis</i>. (). ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Sociology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/36561en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationSigenu, Zimingonaphakade. <i>"Socially constructed meanings of Impucuko in a comparative historical analysis."</i> ., ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Sociology, 2022. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/36561en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationSigenu, Z. 2022. Socially constructed meanings of Impucuko in a comparative historical analysis. . ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Sociology. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/36561en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Master Thesis AU - Sigenu, Zimingonaphakade AB - Sociological analysis of African societies has tended to rely on Western concepts and theories while neglecting indigenous conceptualisations and explanations of social phenomena. Guided by social constructionism and hermeneutics, this thesis seeks to respond to this by investigating the socially constructed meanings of impucuko (dictionary translation: civilisation) and associated terms by isiXhosa-speaking professionals at the turn of the 20th century and then again at the turn of the 21st century, exploring the changes and continuities in the meanings over the 100-year period. Documentary sources from the isiXhosa literary archive, a sample of contemporary isiXhosa newspapers and in-depth interviews are utilised as part of the qualitative research approach to explore the social construction of meaning. The different meanings of impucuko that emerge from the inquiry include an understanding of the concept as: • enlightening knowledge • inkqubela phambili (progress) • detachment from inkcubeko (cultural heritage) • reimagined as a system of development that uplifts. This thesis demonstrates the practice of endogeneity by taking a single isiXhosa term, impucuko (and associated words), and demonstrating how endogeneity works organically in the process of the social construction of meanings in the vernacular by African sociolinguistic groupings. It highlights the relationship between socio-cultural context and meaning construction. The study challenges the hegemony assumed by western conceptual tools and the English language in academic knowledge production. Furthermore, the thesis shows an innovative method of developing critical conceptual tools that centre African perspectives. DA - 2022 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - sociology LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2022 T1 - Socially constructed meanings of Impucuko in a comparative historical analysis TI - Socially constructed meanings of Impucuko in a comparative historical analysis UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/36561 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/36561
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationSigenu Z. Socially constructed meanings of Impucuko in a comparative historical analysis. []. ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Sociology, 2022 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/36561en_ZA
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Sociology
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanities
dc.subjectsociology
dc.titleSocially constructed meanings of Impucuko in a comparative historical analysis
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMPhil
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