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All Journal Language Literacy: Journal of Linguistics, Literature, and Language Teaching JOLLT Journal of Languages and Language Teaching
Respect Mlambo
North-West University
Humanities Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Social Sciences

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VOWEL MINIMAL PAIRS IN XITSONGA: PHONOLOGICAL CONTRASTS AND LEXICAL CATEGORISATION WITHIN A STRUCTURALIST Respect Mlambo; Muzi Matfunjwa
Language Literacy: Journal of Linguistics, Literature, and Language Teaching Vol 10, No 1: June 2026 (In Progress)
Publisher : Universitas Islam Sumatera Utara (UISU)

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.30743/ll.v10i1.12609

Abstract

Research on Xitsonga has not sufficiently examined the role of vowel minimal pairs in distinguishing lexical and grammatical categories, particularly between nouns and verbs. This study investigates how vowel contrasts function phonemically to encode meaning and categorisation in Xitsonga. A data of 25 vowel minimal pairs was collected from dictionaries and scholarly sources, and analysed using morphophonological and thematic approaches within a Structuralist Phonological Theory framework. The findings reveal that vowel contrasts play a systematic role in lexical differentiation, occurring across initial, medial, and final positions, as well as cross-category contrasts between nouns and verbs. Initial vowel contrasts differentiate verbs, medial contrasts exist in both nouns and verbs, and final vowel contrasts occur in nouns. Cross-category contrasts further underscore the role of vowels in marking lexical category distinctions, revealing systematic positional regularities within the language’s phonological system. These patterns demonstrate that vowel quality functions as a structural marker of meaning and lexical categorisation in Xitsonga. This study contributes to Xitsonga phonology by providing a systematic account of vowel minimal pairs and their grammatical significance. It also offers empirical support for structuralist principles by showing how phonemic opposition operates in Xitsonga, with implications for phonological theory, language documentation, and pedagogy.
Figurative Language in the Book of Isaiah: A Study of the Isindebele Bible (Ibhayibheli Elicwengileko) Nomsa Skosana; Respect Mlambo
JOLLT Journal of Languages and Language Teaching Vol. 14 No. 3 (2026): July
Publisher : Universitas Pendidikan Mandalika

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.33394/jollt.v14i3.18655

Abstract

The translation of biblical texts into South African indigenous languages was historically undertaken by missionaries who rendered scriptures from Greek and Hebrew into English and subsequently into local languages to facilitate evangelisation. Within this trajectory, isiNdebele remained marginalised and was among the last South African languages to receive a complete Bible translation, making the 2012 publication of IBhayibheli Elicwengileko both linguistically and historically significant. This context underscores the importance of examining how figurative language central to biblical meaning and interpretation is conveyed in an underrepresented African language beyond the missionary translation era. This study aims to identify, categorise, and analyse figurative expressions in relation to their contextual meaning. Employing a descriptive qualitative methodology, the study integrates Perrine’s Theory of Figurative Language with Pragmatic Theory to interpret meanings beyond literal sense, while purposive sampling isolates verses containing salient figurative usage. The analysis identified 50 similes, 38 metaphors, 34 instances of personification, 29 cases of hyperbole, 28 examples of irony, and 24 euphemisms. Findings indicate that these expressions largely preserve their connotative force in isiNdebele, demonstrating the translation’s effectiveness in maintaining figurative nuance. The study contributes to translation studies by illuminating strategies for conveying figurative meaning in underrepresented African languages, while also highlighting implications for biblical interpretation, language preservation, and the pedagogical use of indigenous-language scriptures. It also supports ongoing efforts in African language documentation, corpus development, and culturally grounded translation scholarship.
Co-Authors Muzi Matfunjwa Nomsa Skosana