Comparing vowel hiatus resolution in ciNsenga and chiShona: An Optimality Theory analysis

This article seeks to contribute to typology by presenting a formal comparative analysis of repair strategies used to resolve vowel hiatus in ciNsenga and chiShona. In these two languages, hiatus resolution is sensitive to phonology and morphosyntax such that hiatus resolution strategies apply differently depending on the phonological and morphosyntactic context. Across the prefix + noun stem boundary and within the Inflectional Stem, V1 undergoes “resyllabification” (Myers 1987:222) in the form of glide formation, secondary articulation and elision. An interlinguistic difference occurs when V2 is MacroStem-initial: in ciNsenga, hiatus resolution is blocked but in chiShona spreading is triggered. We follow Mudzingwa (2010) in proposing that resyllabification in chiShona is blocked at the Prosodic Stem edge by an alignment constraint (ALIGNL-PSTEM) that requires the left edge of a Prosodic Stem to align with the left edge of an onset-full syllable. We argue that resyllabification and glide epenthesis in ciNsenga are blocked when V2 is MacroStem-initial because ALIGN (ROOTVERB, L,σ,L) outranks ONSET and ALIGNL-PSTEM. Crucially, this article demonstrates that whilst vowel hiatus resolution is categorical in chiShona, it is domain-specific in ciNsenga.Keywords: CiNsenga, ChiShona, hiatus resolution, Optimality Theory, resyllabificatio

The Effects of Shona Language Change on Monolingual Lexicography: The Need for a Revised Alphabet

In this article, the phenomenon of Shona language change, its effects on lexicography and the need for a revised alphabet are discussed. Because of the defective Shona alphabet, lexicographers at the African Languages Research Institute (ALRI) encountered problems in handling some words that were potential headwords in dictionaries they were compiling under the ALLEX project. The current Shona alphabet is unable to realize quite a number of sounds and morphemes in lexical items in everyday use by the native Shona speakers, because they are alien loanwords. The article was prompted by the challenges encountered during the compilation of Duramazwi reMimhanzi (Shona Musical Terms Dictionary). It shows how language change accounts for the problem of headword selection and how modifying the current alphabet can enhance monolingual Shona lexicographical work vis-à-vis the development of the Shona language. It therefore stresses the need for a revised alphabet so as to solve orthographical problems during dictionary compilation. Keywords: Language Change, Allex, Lexicon, Segment, Suprasegment, Alphabet, Lexicography, Assimilation, Borrowing, Adoption, Articulation, Sound

Zvierwa as African IKS: Epistemological and Ethical Implications of Selected Shona Taboos

The tradition of zvierwa (taboos) has been commonplace in many African societies since time immemorial. Taboos saved as codes of conduct/commandments and indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) and beliefs that helped in preserving the natural environment, peace, order and the integrity of African societal structures. However, in many African societies like Zimbabwe, taboos are now marginalized and fast phasing out. Zimbabwe’s socio-economic challenges and the tide of modernization that has swept across the country are partly blamed for the daunting and phasing out of some highly esteemed taboos in the country. This article, therefore, explores African indigenous knowledge systems, particularly taboos and examines how these helped the Shona people of Zimbabwe in preserving natural resources and the environment; in saving as indigenous curriculum with ethical codes of conduct and epistemological systems for present and subsequent generations. In this attempt, the article shows how taboos helped in preserving the natural resources, fostering peace, good character and moral uprightness among the Shona people. Finally, the article explores the implications and impact of marginalizing taboos by the new generation on crime rate, moral decadence, ecosystem and environmental degradation. In light of this observation, the article contends that taboos need to be re-instituted as an ‘ethno-science’ that promotes human values while at the same time moving at pace with modernity. Only then would we be able to talk of Africa’s sustainable development.Keywords: African indigenous knowledge systems, taboos, epistemology, impact, Shona culture

Language policy, translation and language development in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe does not have a national language policy document on which the country's language practices are based. The language policy is usually inferred from the language practices that characterise various spheres of life. This article attempts to show how the language policy, which primarily influences text production in the country, has nurtured translation practice. The dominating role of English sees many texts, particularly technical texts, being translated from this language into chiShona and isiNdebele, which are national languages. Translation also occurs from the national languages into English, but this involves mainly literary texts with historical and cultural significance. English literature produced by Zimbabwean writers also displays this kind of translation. Translation between indigenous languages is minimal, as is the involvement of minority languages in translation. It is apparent that scholarly research in this area is not really visible. Subsequently, the potential of translation to facilitate communication and development across linguistic barriers is not fully explored. In that context, there are many issues for translation in Zimbabwe, including in-depth investigations on the issues that are highlighted in this article like the nature of languages involved, the directionality of translation, and the types of texts translated. © 2011 Copyright NISC (Pty) Ltd

Class 1 deverbal and non-deverbal nouns in Shona: A comparative analysis

The main aim of this article is to present a comparative analysis of some synchronic morphological properties of Shona class 1 non-deverbal and deverbal nouns. On the surface, these nouns, like most other Bantu nouns, look superficially similar; they comprise a noun class prefix and a noun stem. However, this belies a huge diversity amongst these nouns. We demonstrate that class 1 non-deverbal and deverbal nouns display the following differences: first, the stems of non-deverbal nouns are monomorphemic whereas those of deverbal nouns are minimally bimorphemic and are derived from verb roots. Secondly, the boundaries between the class prefix and the nominal stem behave differently. To this end, we use vowel hiatus resolution as a diagnostic tool to demonstrate the differences. Third, in forming diminutives of non-deverbal nouns, there is substitution of prefixes whereas for the deverbal nouns there is stacking of prefixes. We demonstrate that deverbal and non-deverbal nouns behave differently with respect to their phonology and derivational properties. We conclude that nouns in class 1 are not uniform and a theory of noun classes needs to be rich enough to account for the diversity. This research contributes towards the description and analysis of Shona nominal morphology in particular, and Bantu Linguistics in general.Keywords: deverbal, non-deverbal, noun, substitution, stacking, morpholog