Department of African Language Studies

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    A critical study of the use of loan words in Sesotho translations: a case study of Mangaung region
    (University of the Western Cape, 2024) Molatou, Ishmael Thabang; Mokapela, Sebolelo
    It has been observed that most of Sesotho translations comprise of loan words since there are not enough Sesotho equivalents when it comes to translating some from English into Sesotho. This issue is seen on how Sesotho speakers who make use of the Sesotho translations use these loan words in their vocabularies as well as in their everyday communication. It is this realization that prompted the research on how loan words impact the Sesotho translations in various socio-cultural settings in Mangaung, a region in the Free State Province. The study is therefore aimed at investigating how loan words impact Sesotho translations in various socio-cultural settings and to determine the effect these loan words have on the development of what is deemed pure Sesotho as well as on the Sesotho speaking community. Consequently, the study posed three research questions: (1) What influence does loan words have on the Sesotho speakers (the inter-generational speakers of Sesotho aged between 18 years to above 65 years) within the region of Mangaung? (2) How loan words in Sesotho translations affect the socio-cultural settings of Mangaung? (3) What are the advantages and disadvantages of using these loan words within the Basotho linguistic community? The study employed a qualitative method research approach to gain an understanding of the language practitioners’ choices as well as perceptions of the language users on the use of loan words. The sample of this study is fourteen (14) Sesotho translators from various language practice fields, thirty (30) Sesotho students with a focus group of ten (10) students who are studying Language Practice and Media Studies at one higher education institution in the Free State Province and nine (9) general Sesotho speakers. Ethnographic tools such as interviews and questionnaires were used to gain an understanding on the choice to use borrowed words.