,# 2008 University of South Africa
All rights reserved
Printed and published by
The University of South Africa
Muckleneuk, Pretoria
AFL1503/1/2009±2012
98315781
A4_Icon Styl
, (iii) AFL1503/1/2009±2012
Contents
Page
INTRODUCTION iv
STUDY UNIT 1 AFRICAN LANGUAGES IN CONTEXT
LESSON 1 AFRICAN LANGUAGES Ð THE LANGUAGE FAMILY 3
LESSON 2 STATISTICS AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF
THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES OF SOUTH AFRICA 7
LESSON 3 DIALECTS AND THE STANDARD LANGUAGE 16
LESSON 4 WRITING SYSTEMS IN AFRICAN LANGUAGES 18
STUDY UNIT 2 SOUNDS, WORDS AND SENTENCES OF AFRICAN
LANGUAGES
LESSON 1 SPEECH SOUNDS IN AFRICAN LANGUAGES 23
LESSON 2 PARTS OF SPEECH 27
LESSON 3 WORDS IN SENTENCES 31
LESSON 4 WORD ORDER IN AFRICAN LANGUAGES 35
CONCLUSION 37
REFERENCES 38
, (iv)
INTRODUCTION
We would like to extend a warm word of welcome to you in this module on
language and communication skills acquisition in an African language. You
will be introduced to one of seven African languages Ð it is up to you to
choose the language that is most appropriate to your needs, or your
everyday environment. It is our aim to facilitate the process of developing
your speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.
Learning a new language provides a unique opportunity to stimulate
intercultural communication. By learning to communicate in an African
language and to be culturally sensitive to language nuances, you can
participate in creating a communication climate that facilitates develop-
ment, in marketing the country to the world; influences global news and
allows us to tell our own stories of Africa.
In addition to this, you will be exposed to vocabulary and expressions
within the context of communication in a variety of social and/or work
contact situations. In the process you will also become culturally sensitive
to language nuances on an elementary level. This is especially important for
your day-to-day interaction with mother-tongue speakers of African
languages.
This module introduces an overview of sound systems and grammars of
African languages. These languages share some linguistic characteristics and
linguistic behaviour; a corroboration for the argument that they belong to the
same language family. Speech sounds of Nguni languages are similar to one
another to a great extent, likewise some speech sounds belonging to Sotho
languages are shared amongst this group of languages. In addition, there are
Tsonga and Vendva that tend to have more distinct sound systems. The same
applies to the grammars of the different languages and language groups.
Remember that this study guide is an introduction, setting the scene so to
say, for the CD-ROM which will guide you through the language specific
study material. In other words, if you have chosen to acquire communica-
tion skills and learn about isiZulu, you should select isiZulu on the CD-ROM
and there you will find all the applications for your selected language.
Note that the lessons provided in this printed guide will not be used
directly for the final examination. This information is very important
for you to be able to understand what is provided in the CD-ROM
which contains the other materials for your study. Keep this
information close by for reference while you are using the CD-ROM
because it contains details for the language you will study. However,
this information will also be useful for your continuous assessment
assignment that counts for 10% of your final mark.
All rights reserved
Printed and published by
The University of South Africa
Muckleneuk, Pretoria
AFL1503/1/2009±2012
98315781
A4_Icon Styl
, (iii) AFL1503/1/2009±2012
Contents
Page
INTRODUCTION iv
STUDY UNIT 1 AFRICAN LANGUAGES IN CONTEXT
LESSON 1 AFRICAN LANGUAGES Ð THE LANGUAGE FAMILY 3
LESSON 2 STATISTICS AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF
THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES OF SOUTH AFRICA 7
LESSON 3 DIALECTS AND THE STANDARD LANGUAGE 16
LESSON 4 WRITING SYSTEMS IN AFRICAN LANGUAGES 18
STUDY UNIT 2 SOUNDS, WORDS AND SENTENCES OF AFRICAN
LANGUAGES
LESSON 1 SPEECH SOUNDS IN AFRICAN LANGUAGES 23
LESSON 2 PARTS OF SPEECH 27
LESSON 3 WORDS IN SENTENCES 31
LESSON 4 WORD ORDER IN AFRICAN LANGUAGES 35
CONCLUSION 37
REFERENCES 38
, (iv)
INTRODUCTION
We would like to extend a warm word of welcome to you in this module on
language and communication skills acquisition in an African language. You
will be introduced to one of seven African languages Ð it is up to you to
choose the language that is most appropriate to your needs, or your
everyday environment. It is our aim to facilitate the process of developing
your speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.
Learning a new language provides a unique opportunity to stimulate
intercultural communication. By learning to communicate in an African
language and to be culturally sensitive to language nuances, you can
participate in creating a communication climate that facilitates develop-
ment, in marketing the country to the world; influences global news and
allows us to tell our own stories of Africa.
In addition to this, you will be exposed to vocabulary and expressions
within the context of communication in a variety of social and/or work
contact situations. In the process you will also become culturally sensitive
to language nuances on an elementary level. This is especially important for
your day-to-day interaction with mother-tongue speakers of African
languages.
This module introduces an overview of sound systems and grammars of
African languages. These languages share some linguistic characteristics and
linguistic behaviour; a corroboration for the argument that they belong to the
same language family. Speech sounds of Nguni languages are similar to one
another to a great extent, likewise some speech sounds belonging to Sotho
languages are shared amongst this group of languages. In addition, there are
Tsonga and Vendva that tend to have more distinct sound systems. The same
applies to the grammars of the different languages and language groups.
Remember that this study guide is an introduction, setting the scene so to
say, for the CD-ROM which will guide you through the language specific
study material. In other words, if you have chosen to acquire communica-
tion skills and learn about isiZulu, you should select isiZulu on the CD-ROM
and there you will find all the applications for your selected language.
Note that the lessons provided in this printed guide will not be used
directly for the final examination. This information is very important
for you to be able to understand what is provided in the CD-ROM
which contains the other materials for your study. Keep this
information close by for reference while you are using the CD-ROM
because it contains details for the language you will study. However,
this information will also be useful for your continuous assessment
assignment that counts for 10% of your final mark.
