AFL2601
Assignment 2
Semester 2 2024
[Company address]
,AFL2601 Assignment 2 Semester 2 2024
QUESTION 1: SOCIO-HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN LANGUAGES
1.1 List the nine official indigenous South African Languages, and critically discuss why
these languages can be classified as a ‘language family’ on their own. (13)
1.2 Does Afrikaans form part of indigenous South African languages? Give reasons for
your answer. (2)
1.3 Demonstrate language zone in your province of residence, and how the standard
language has been chosen or selected. (5) /20
1.1 List the nine official indigenous South African Languages, and critically
discuss why these languages can be classified as a ‘language family’ on their
own.
Nine Official Indigenous South African Languages:
1. Zulu (isiZulu)
2. Xhosa (isiXhosa)
3. Sotho (Sesotho)
4. Tswana (Setswana)
5. Tsonga (Xitsonga)
6. Swati (siSwati)
7. Venda (Tshivenda)
, 8. Southern Ndebele (isiNdebele)
9. Northern Sotho (Sepedi)
Classification as a ‘Language Family’:
These languages can be classified as a 'language family' due to their shared linguistic
features, historical development, and cultural connections:
1. Bantu Language Family: All nine languages are part of the Bantu language
family, which is a large group within the Niger-Congo language family. They
share common grammatical structures, vocabulary, and phonetic characteristics.
2. Historical Development: The languages have evolved from a common
ancestral language and have influenced each other through migration, trade, and
intermarriage among various ethnic groups over centuries.
3. Linguistic Similarities: The Bantu languages share significant similarities in
terms of syntax, morphology, and lexicon. For example, the noun class system,
verb conjugations, and tonal aspects are features prevalent across these
languages.
4. Cultural and Social Connections: The speakers of these languages have
historically and culturally been connected, sharing similar traditions, customs,
and societal norms.
5. Mutual Intelligibility: Some of the languages, such as Zulu and Xhosa, have a
high degree of mutual intelligibility, meaning speakers of one language can
understand the other to some extent.
Assignment 2
Semester 2 2024
[Company address]
,AFL2601 Assignment 2 Semester 2 2024
QUESTION 1: SOCIO-HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN LANGUAGES
1.1 List the nine official indigenous South African Languages, and critically discuss why
these languages can be classified as a ‘language family’ on their own. (13)
1.2 Does Afrikaans form part of indigenous South African languages? Give reasons for
your answer. (2)
1.3 Demonstrate language zone in your province of residence, and how the standard
language has been chosen or selected. (5) /20
1.1 List the nine official indigenous South African Languages, and critically
discuss why these languages can be classified as a ‘language family’ on their
own.
Nine Official Indigenous South African Languages:
1. Zulu (isiZulu)
2. Xhosa (isiXhosa)
3. Sotho (Sesotho)
4. Tswana (Setswana)
5. Tsonga (Xitsonga)
6. Swati (siSwati)
7. Venda (Tshivenda)
, 8. Southern Ndebele (isiNdebele)
9. Northern Sotho (Sepedi)
Classification as a ‘Language Family’:
These languages can be classified as a 'language family' due to their shared linguistic
features, historical development, and cultural connections:
1. Bantu Language Family: All nine languages are part of the Bantu language
family, which is a large group within the Niger-Congo language family. They
share common grammatical structures, vocabulary, and phonetic characteristics.
2. Historical Development: The languages have evolved from a common
ancestral language and have influenced each other through migration, trade, and
intermarriage among various ethnic groups over centuries.
3. Linguistic Similarities: The Bantu languages share significant similarities in
terms of syntax, morphology, and lexicon. For example, the noun class system,
verb conjugations, and tonal aspects are features prevalent across these
languages.
4. Cultural and Social Connections: The speakers of these languages have
historically and culturally been connected, sharing similar traditions, customs,
and societal norms.
5. Mutual Intelligibility: Some of the languages, such as Zulu and Xhosa, have a
high degree of mutual intelligibility, meaning speakers of one language can
understand the other to some extent.
