Sep/Dec 2021
THL3704
THEORY AND PRACTICE OF SOUTH
AFRICAN LITERARY
STUDIES
100 Marks
4 Hours
ANSWER TWO QUESTIONS. NOTE CHOICES IN THE QUESTIONS
Question 1 (50)
Do you agree with the definition of South African literary studies as “consisting of all literatures
in the languages spoken within the borders of South Africa as historically established and
confirmed in the Constitution of 1996?
In your answer please also refer to the following points:
(i) Two factors that make it difficult to define the object of South African literary studies.
(ii) Why are early bilingual definitions of what constitute the object of South African literary studies
seen as essentially colonial definitions?
Question 1: Do you agree with the definition of South African literary studies as "consisting of all
literatures in the languages spoken within the borders of South Africa as historically established and
confirmed in the Constitution of 1996?
Answer:
Defining South African literary studies based on "all literatures in the languages spoken within the
borders of South Africa as historically established and confirmed in the Constitution of 1996" is a
contentious issue. Whether one agrees with this definition depends on various factors, including
historical, political, and academic perspectives. Here's an analysis of the points you've asked to
consider:
(i) Two factors that make it difficult to define the object of South African literary studies:
Linguistic Diversity: South Africa is known for its linguistic diversity, with 11 official languages. These
languages have their rich literary traditions, making it challenging to encapsulate all of them in a single
definition. The diversity of languages reflects the country's complex cultural and historical makeup.
, CONFIDENTIAL
Page 2 of 4
Historical and Political Context: South Africa has a tumultuous history marked by colonialism, apartheid,
and ongoing social and political transformations. Different historical periods have seen the
marginalization and suppression of certain languages and their literatures. Therefore, defining South
African literary studies must consider the historical injustices and power dynamics that affected these
literatures.
(ii) Why are early bilingual definitions of what constitute the object of South African literary studies seen
as essentially colonial definitions?
Early bilingual definitions of South African literary studies, which focused primarily on the literature
produced in English and Afrikaans, are seen as colonial definitions for several reasons:
Colonial Legacy: English and Afrikaans were the languages of colonial powers in South Africa. They
were privileged over indigenous languages, which were often marginalized or suppressed during
colonial rule. Bilingual definitions perpetuated this colonial legacy, reinforcing the dominance of these
languages.
Exclusion: These bilingual definitions often excluded the literary contributions of non-European and non-
white South Africans. Many talented writers producing literature in indigenous languages were
overlooked or undervalued, which contributed to the erasure of their voices and cultures.
Cultural Imperialism: Focusing solely on English and Afrikaans literature perpetuated a form of cultural
imperialism, as it upheld the literary and cultural norms of the colonizers while sidelining indigenous
literary traditions. This colonial perspective limited the scope of South African literary studies to
Eurocentric norms.
In conclusion, the definition of South African literary studies is a complex issue, and whether one agrees
with the given definition depends on their perspective. The linguistic diversity and historical context of
South Africa make it challenging to establish a single encompassing definition. Early bilingual definitions,
which favored English and Afrikaans, are seen as colonial because they reflected the historical injustices
and power imbalances of South Africa's colonial past. Modern definitions aim to be more inclusive and
representative of the country's diverse literary traditions.
OR
THL3704
THEORY AND PRACTICE OF SOUTH
AFRICAN LITERARY
STUDIES
100 Marks
4 Hours
ANSWER TWO QUESTIONS. NOTE CHOICES IN THE QUESTIONS
Question 1 (50)
Do you agree with the definition of South African literary studies as “consisting of all literatures
in the languages spoken within the borders of South Africa as historically established and
confirmed in the Constitution of 1996?
In your answer please also refer to the following points:
(i) Two factors that make it difficult to define the object of South African literary studies.
(ii) Why are early bilingual definitions of what constitute the object of South African literary studies
seen as essentially colonial definitions?
Question 1: Do you agree with the definition of South African literary studies as "consisting of all
literatures in the languages spoken within the borders of South Africa as historically established and
confirmed in the Constitution of 1996?
Answer:
Defining South African literary studies based on "all literatures in the languages spoken within the
borders of South Africa as historically established and confirmed in the Constitution of 1996" is a
contentious issue. Whether one agrees with this definition depends on various factors, including
historical, political, and academic perspectives. Here's an analysis of the points you've asked to
consider:
(i) Two factors that make it difficult to define the object of South African literary studies:
Linguistic Diversity: South Africa is known for its linguistic diversity, with 11 official languages. These
languages have their rich literary traditions, making it challenging to encapsulate all of them in a single
definition. The diversity of languages reflects the country's complex cultural and historical makeup.
, CONFIDENTIAL
Page 2 of 4
Historical and Political Context: South Africa has a tumultuous history marked by colonialism, apartheid,
and ongoing social and political transformations. Different historical periods have seen the
marginalization and suppression of certain languages and their literatures. Therefore, defining South
African literary studies must consider the historical injustices and power dynamics that affected these
literatures.
(ii) Why are early bilingual definitions of what constitute the object of South African literary studies seen
as essentially colonial definitions?
Early bilingual definitions of South African literary studies, which focused primarily on the literature
produced in English and Afrikaans, are seen as colonial definitions for several reasons:
Colonial Legacy: English and Afrikaans were the languages of colonial powers in South Africa. They
were privileged over indigenous languages, which were often marginalized or suppressed during
colonial rule. Bilingual definitions perpetuated this colonial legacy, reinforcing the dominance of these
languages.
Exclusion: These bilingual definitions often excluded the literary contributions of non-European and non-
white South Africans. Many talented writers producing literature in indigenous languages were
overlooked or undervalued, which contributed to the erasure of their voices and cultures.
Cultural Imperialism: Focusing solely on English and Afrikaans literature perpetuated a form of cultural
imperialism, as it upheld the literary and cultural norms of the colonizers while sidelining indigenous
literary traditions. This colonial perspective limited the scope of South African literary studies to
Eurocentric norms.
In conclusion, the definition of South African literary studies is a complex issue, and whether one agrees
with the given definition depends on their perspective. The linguistic diversity and historical context of
South Africa make it challenging to establish a single encompassing definition. Early bilingual definitions,
which favored English and Afrikaans, are seen as colonial because they reflected the historical injustices
and power imbalances of South Africa's colonial past. Modern definitions aim to be more inclusive and
representative of the country's diverse literary traditions.
OR
