A historical perspective and linguistic analysis of onomastic elements with special reference to the Shangase clan.
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Date
2006
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Abstract
The overall questions that were provided in the higher degrees proposal have been fairly
answered throughout this doctoral dissertation. The following questions have been asked and
answered throughout the thesis:
What has been identified a's changes from traditional naming practices to Western naming
practices?
What morphophological comparisons can be made in naming practices?
What influenced the cultural and historical background and language of the Shangase clan?
Every social group of people has certain norms of behaviour. How does this culturally and
structurally affect the system of naming within the Shangase Clan?
Since there are different language names, how are these names related, or can any: system
of their relationship be found within the Shangase Clan?
From which parts of speech are different names (which are nouns) normally derived and
what prefixal and suffixal elements are applied?
What poetic techniques can be used to analyse the personal praises or praise names of
Kings, Royal Family Members and the ordinary people?
It has therefore, been realized that the personal names and place names are well known to
have played a more substantial role in the identification of different people and places of
different clans. Surnames and address names have promoted the identification and
classification of different clans.
The researcher has used both the qualitative and quantitative research methodologies as tools
for data collection. Research methods have entailed verbal descriptive
practices, which include oral inquiries, questionnaires, interviews and observational
information.
The purpose of this research has been to locate the study within the context of the topic and
the historical background of the Shangase people which eventually deals with personal
names, place-names and personal praises. The literature has been reviewed according to the
recommendations of the researcher's supervisor Prof S.E. Ngubane. Five scholars were
chosen and the focus was on history, genealogy, linguistic, onomastics of personal names,
place-names and how these names are derived and changed from time to time with naming
practices changing from generation to generation. This has enabled every member of the
Shangase clan to identify himself easily with the founder, Shangase (Mkheshane), son of
Vumizitha, of Mthebe of Mnguni 1.
The researcher's main objective has been to focus on the history and genealogy of the
Shangase clan from the time of Vumizitha (d.c.l688) to the present time (AD 2006), how
personal names and place names are given when one looks at the circumstances of naming
and history surrounding the names and the linguistic analysis of the onomactic elements. The
personal names, place names and praise names are analysed and synthesized within the
parameters of word formation, and as words they are isolated or syntactically used to assign
a particular meaning in Zulu.
Lastly, the researcher is mostly interested in this study because, as a member of the Shangase
Community, he has a thorough knowledge of where the Shangase clan is located. The
researcher's method of interviews using interview questionnaires assisted him to accomplish
the main objectives. Through these interviews and observations, the researcher highly
recommends that those who might be able to read this thesis, and feel interested and create
new challenges in the field of onomastics, which the researcher hopes this thesis has done,
should further undertake a study of personal praises within the Shangase clan.
Description
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2006.
Keywords
Names, Zulu., Names, Personal--Zulu., Zulu language--Etymology--Names., Zulu (African people)--Social life and customs., Theses--IsiZulu