Chauke, M. T.Musehane, N. M.Khosa, Maxangu Amos2014-11-032014-11-032014-11-03Khosa, M.A. 2014. The role played by idioms, proverbs, proverbial phrases and idiomatic expressions in some selected Xitsonga poetry books. . . http://hdl.handle.net/11602/170http://hdl.handle.net/11602/170PhDM.E.R. Mathivha Centre for African Languages, Arts and CultureThe essence of idioms and proverbs in spoken and written language cannot be overemphasised. African idioms and proverbs reflect both the past and present, and are as relevant to contemporary society as they were to traditional society. They have both practical and philosophical relevance. Most of them are short and succinct, enabling hearers or readers to memorise and repeat them easily. They also demonstrate universal or cultural truth that is familiar to the hearers or readers. Proverbs and idioms on the other hand, are used to describe human nature and behaviour abounds in the language of the African continent. Sometimes they are used to caution people against certain forms of behaviour; at other times idioms and proverbs are used as an encouragement. African proverbs are used as a means of moral instruction at all levels of society and to educate the youth about the importance of respect and reverence for elders. They play a vital role in the education and instruction of members of society. It is this heritage coupled by oral poetry that first attracted western writers to study African languages and literature. Lysere as cited by Stewart (2005:6) states that the modern African writer is to his indigenous oral tradition as a snail is to its shell. Even in a foreign habitat, a snail never leaves its shell behind. The Kaonde (Zambia) proverb, "kwenda kwa kolokofwa ne nzubo yanji" which can be loosely translated as 'the journey of a snail and its house' expresses the sentiment that wherever a wise man travels, he takes his wisdom with him, like a snail that travels with its house, which is its shell. In the same way, contemporary African writers are aware of the heritage contained in the communal wisdom of their people. This communal wisdom is realised in the language use in their literary works which are full of imagery and rich, vibrant and profound in the use of figurative language which is bound in the use of proverbs, riddles and idioms. This is an indication that it is not a coincidence that we find the use of idioms and proverbs in African poetry as an important literary device. African poets, Xitsonga poets included, cannot divorce their writings from this inherited wisdom, which to them is like a tribal meeting place, which was the play-ground where skills in language use were learned, practiced and polished; where elders would proudly express themselves in figurative language which was a demonstration of their powerful command of language. Therefore it is in literature, precisely in poetry, where idioms and proverbs, which are valuable language heritage, can be found and are still recognised. It is against this background that the study of the role played by idioms and proverbs in Xitsonga poetry is conducted; to show their role in poetry where they are used to bring out the theme of thepoem, which is in turn bring out their vital role in society, both of which are irreplaceable. Thus, the primary aim of this study is to indicate to contemporary language and literature students and readers that the role played by idioms and proverbs in Xitsonga literature is of utmost importance. As a result, it should not be allowed to be overridden by any social, technological and curriculum changes, but be preserved and allowed to flourish and be continuously popular as they used to be in the past. NKOMISO Swivulavulelo na swivuriso, leswi vumbaka xiphemu xa nkoka xa ririmi ra Xitsonga na tin'wana tindzimi ta tikonkulu ra Afrika, swi tsariwile no hlengeletiwa etibukwini laha swi hlayisiweke kona. Leri i goza lerikulu eku hlayiseni ndzhaka leyi ya risima ya ririmi. Hambi swi ri tano a swi ringanangi tani hileswi swi nga swi kotiki ku titirhisa kumbe ku tihlaya. Swivuriso na switlhokovetselo i vutlhari lebyi kumekaka eka ririmi lebyi lavaka ku tshama byi ri karhi byi tirhisiwa ku endlela leswaku byi tikomba. Swivuriso na swivulavulelo i nhlengelo wa ntokoto wa rixaka, lowu wun'wana wa wona wu nga hlengeletiwa hi ndlela yo vava. Ntokoto lowu wo hlawuleka nova wu suka eka rixaka rin'wana ku yisa eka leri landzelaka, wu hundzisiwa wa ha ri wuntshwa naswona wu ri ntiyiso. I ndlela ya nkoka eku dyondzeni ka vutomi bya vanhu. Swi kombisa hilaha vanhu va nga na vuxiyaxiya hakona; vutomi kumbe mahanyelo ya swiharhi na swinyenyani, na fambelo ra ntumbuluko hi ku angarhela na swona a swi hundzi swi nga xiyaxiyiwangi. Swi paluxa hi xiviri leswi vanhu va swi rhandzaka, na leswi va swi vengaka. Swi kombisa leswi vanhu va vonisaka xiswona vutomi, naswona swi nyika swixoperi swa mahanyelo ya vanhu leswi vanhu va nga xiswona. Leswi swi endla leswaku swi va switirho swa nkoka leswi nga tirhisiwaka eka vutlhokovetseri. Hikokwalaho ke, ndlela ya kahle yo hlayisa swivuriso na swivulavulelo, i vutlhokovetseri. Ndzavisiso lowu wu kotile ku kombisa leswaku swivuriso na swivulavulelo swi tirhisiwa hi xitalo eka vutlhokovetseri ku humelerisa xikongomelonkulu xa mutlhokovetseri eka vutsari bya yena, leswi ku nga ku tsundzuxa, ku dyondzisa, ku tshinya kumbe ku ahlula xiphiqo xo karhi erixakeni leswi vanhu va faneleke ku hundziseriwa swona. Swivuriso na swivulavulelo i swikombiso swa vutlhari byo enta hi ririmi leri mutlhokovetseri a ri tirhisaka. Mutlhokovetseri u tirhisa swivuriso na switlhokovetselo ku nyanyula vayingiseri va yena loko a ri karhi a va byela hi swiyimo leswi va hlanganaka na swona eka vutomi bya vona bya siku na siku leswaku va hungateka va rivala hi tinxanixeko leti, ku nga leti va rhwexiwaka tona hi vutomi. Swivuriso na swivulavulelo swi pfuneta mutlhokovetseri ku tiyisisa leswaku u hundzisela hungu ra yena eka vahlayi va yena handle ko tikeriwa. Swikhavisaririmi leswi swi pfuneta mutlhokovetseri ku hundzisa hungu ra yena hi ku olova hikuva swivuriso na swivulavulelo i swikhavisaririmi leswi tivekaka swinene eka ririmi naswona swi fumbarherile ntiyiso wa vutomi lowu nga tsekatsekiki. Swa olova swinene ku hundzisa dyondzo ya mahanyelo hi ku tirhisa xivuriso kumbe xivulavulelo ku tlula hi ndlela yihi kumbe yihi. Leswi hi swona swi endlaka leswaku vatlhokovetseri va ririmi ra Xitsonga va tala ku tirhisa swivuriso na swivulavulelo tani hi xitirhisiwa xa nkoka swinene eka switlhokovetselo swa vona, leswi endlaka leswaku swi va switirho leswi fanelaka ku gongiwa. Ndzavisiso lowu wu andlarile hi ku tsongola ndlela leyi vatlhokovetseri va tirhisaka hakona swivuriso na swivulavulelo eka matsalwa ya vona. Mhaka ya leswaku swivuriso na swivulavulelo i switirhisiwa swa nkoka ku humelerisa hungu ra mutsari hi ndlela ya risima no xonga loko swi tirhisiwa eka vutlhokovetseri, swi tihumelerisa hi ku olova eka switlhokovetselo leswi tshahiweke eka ndzavisiso lowu. Hikokwalaho ke i swa nkoka swinene leswaku ndzavisiso wo tani hi lowu wu endliwa laha swidyondzi swa matsalwa swi lemukisiwaka leswaku va fanele ku hoxa xandla ku sivela ku mbombomela ka swivuriso na swivulavulelo eka ririmi ra Xitsonga. Ku na xilaveko xa laha vaphati na vatlhokovetseri va nga kotaka ku lemukisiwa hi ntirho wa risima lowu va wu endlaka erixakeni wa ku hlayisa ndzhaka ya mfuwo wa rixaka wa ririmi ra hina ra Xitsonga. SUMMARY Idioms and proverbs, which form part of Xitsonga and other African languages, have been assembled and written into books where they are permanently stored. This is a great achievement as far as the preservation of these valuable language commodities is concerned. However this is not sufficient, as they may not use or read themselves. Idioms and proverbs are language wisdom which needs to be used regularly for their purpose to be realised. Idioms and proverbs are a collection of the experiences of a people, some of which have been learned the hard way. Those experiences in this special manner, and from generation to generation, are passed on, ever fresh and ever true. They are a useful means of studying a people. They show how observant people are; so the habits of birds and animals, and the behaviour of nature in general, do not go unobserved. They reveal what it is that the people adore, and what they despise. They reveal what the people's outlook on life is, and provide the student of human nature an idea of the character of a people. This makes them a perfect tool to be used in poetry. So the best way of conserving idioms and proverbs is through poetry. This study has shown that proverbs and idioms are often used in poetry to show the poet's intention for wri ing his/her poem, which is to advise, educate, warn or pass judgement about a social problem which people need to take note of. Idioms are symbols of the poet's extra knowledge about the language he or she uses. The poet uses idioms and proverbs to appease his/her listeners about daily situations they encounter; so that they may forget about these harsh realities of life. Idioms and proverbs assist the poet in making sure that the message they are conveying to their readership is understood with little difficulty. These expressions assist the poet to convey his/her message with ease because idioms and proverbs are well-known expressions and contain universal truth. It is easy to give a lesson of life through an idiom or a proverb than any other means. This is why Xitsonga poets use idioms and proverbs as an important instrument in most of their poems, making it a perfect tool to conserve them. The study provided a brief overview of how poets use idioms and proverbs in their writings. The fact that idioms and proverbs are important literary devices which can pass messages with much aesthetic and beauty when used in poetry could be deduced from the examples given in the study. It is therefore necessary for a study of this nature to be conducted where students of literature are made aware that they need to prevent the demise of idioms and proverbs in Xitsonga language. There was a need for a platform where poets will be made aware that they are playing a vital role in preserving our most precious language heritage.otherUniversity of VendaIdiomsUCTDProverbsProverbial phrasesIdiomatic expressions809.88963978Tsonga poetryTsonga poetry -- History and criticismSouth African poetrySouth African literatureThesisKhosa MA. The role played by idioms, proverbs, proverbial phrases and idiomatic expressions in some selected Xitsonga poetry books. []. , 2014 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11602/170Khosa, M. A. (2014). <i>The role played by idioms, proverbs, proverbial phrases and idiomatic expressions in some selected Xitsonga poetry books</i>. (). . Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11602/170Khosa, Maxangu Amos. <i>"The role played by idioms, proverbs, proverbial phrases and idiomatic expressions in some selected Xitsonga poetry books."</i> ., , 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11602/170TY - Thesis AU - Khosa, Maxangu Amos DA - 2014-11-03 DB - ResearchSpace DP - Univen KW - Idioms KW - Proverbs KW - Proverbial phrases KW - Idiomatic expressions LK - https://univendspace.univen.ac.za PY - 2014 T1 - The role played by idioms, proverbs, proverbial phrases and idiomatic expressions in some selected Xitsonga poetry books TI - The role played by idioms, proverbs, proverbial phrases and idiomatic expressions in some selected Xitsonga poetry books UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11602/170 ER -