Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T13:48:11.908Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Interjections in Tjwao

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 June 2020

Alexander Andrason ,
Anne-Maria Fehn  and
Admire Phiri
Alexander Andrason*
Affiliation:
Stellenbosch University
Anne-Maria Fehn*
Affiliation:
CIBIO-InBIO, Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources in Vairão
Admire Phiri*
Affiliation:
Stellenbosch University
*
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The present paper provides a systematic description of interjections in a moribund Eastern Kalahari Khoe language – Tjwao. After analysing original evidence within a prototype-driven approach, the authors conclude the following: (a) in Tjwao, the interjectional lexical class constitutes an internally diverse category confined between the canonical centre and a non-prototypical periphery; and (b) primary emotive interjections exhibit the highest degree of canonicity and extra-systematicity, while the canonicity and extra-systematicity of secondary phatic interjections is lowest.

Keywords

Khoe-KwadiTjwaoInterjectionsPrototypeRadial categories
Type
Article
Information
Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies , Volume 83 , Issue 2 , June 2020 , pp. 293 - 319
Copyright
Copyright © SOAS, University of London, 2020

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

The present paper has been developed within the research project “The other grammar of Eastern Kalahari Khoe – the documentation and analysis of interjections, onomatopoeias, and ideophones in Tjwao” (2019–2021) funded by the Khoisan Fund of the Department of African Languages at Stellenbosch University. Anne-Maria Fehn was funded through the contract CEECIND/02765/2017; her work on Tjwao was supported by FEDER funds through the Operational Programme for Competitiveness Factors (COMPETE) and by Portuguese National Funds through FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology) under PTDC/BIA-EVF/2907/2012, FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-028341, and PTDC/BIA-GEN/29273/2017. We would like to dedicate this article to the memory of the late Msindo Best Moyo, one of our most dedicated informants. His recent passing is an irreparable loss for the Tjwa community and language.

References

Ameka, Felix. 1992a. “Interjections: the universal yet neglected part of speech”, Journal of Pragmatics 18/2–3, 101–18.10.1016/0378-2166(92)90048-GCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ameka, Felix. 1992b. “The meaning of phatic and conative interjections”, Journal of Pragmatics 18/2–3, 245–71.10.1016/0378-2166(92)90054-FCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ameka, Felix. 2006. “Interjections”, in Brown, Keith (ed.), Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 743–46.10.1016/B0-08-044854-2/00396-5CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ameka, Felix and Wilkins, David. 2006. “Interjections”, in Östman, Jan-Ola and Verschueren, Jef (eds), Handbook of Pragmatics. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 1–19.Google Scholar
Andrason, Alexander and Matutu, Haile. 2019. “The syntax of interjections in isiXhosa – a corpus-driven study”, Stellenbosch Papers in Linguistics PLUS 58, 1–16.10.5842/58-0-833CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Andrason, Alexander and Phiri, Admire. 2018. “The hĩ and ha grams in Tjwao (Khoe) – the model of situated maps”, Studia Linguistica Universitatis Iagellonicae Cracoviensis 135, 269–90.10.4467/20834624SL.18.025.9319CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Andrason, Alexander and Dlali, Mawande. Forthcoming. “The (crucial yet neglected) category of interjections in Xhosa”, Language Typology and Universals 73.Google Scholar
Andrason, Alexander, Hornea, Irina and Joubert, Marcus. 2020. “The structure of interjections in Biblical Hebrew: phonetics, morphology, and syntax”, Journal of Hebrew Scriptures 20/1, 1–43.Google Scholar
Andrason, Alexander and Hutchison, D. Allen. 2020. “Interjections in Biblical Aramaic – a radial model”, Aramaic Studies 38/1, 1–45.10.1163/17455227-bja10003CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Borchmann, Simon. 2019. “Non-spontaneous and communicative emotive interjections”, Scandinavian Studies in Language 10/1, 7–40.10.7146/sss.v10i1.114668CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brenzinger, Matthias. 2013. “The twelve modern Khoisan languages”, in Witzlack-Makarevich, Alena and Ernszt, Martina (eds), Khoisan Languages and Linguistics: Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium. Riezlern. Cologne: Rüdiger Köppe, 1–33.Google Scholar
Brenzinger, Matthias and Fehn, Anne-Maria. 2013. “From body to knowledge: perception and cognition in Khwe-ǁAni and Ts'ixa”, in Aikhenvald, Alexandra Y. and Storch, Anne (eds), Perception and Cognition in Language and Culture. Leiden: Brill, 161–91.10.1163/9789004210127_008CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chebanne, Andy. 2009. “Expression of possession in Cirecire”, in Batibo, Herman M., Dikole, Rrenyane S., Lukusa, Stephen T.M. and Nhlekisana, Rosaleen O.B. (eds), Language, Literature and Society: Proceedings of the First International Conference of the Department of African Languages and Literature, University of Botswana, 26–28 June 2008. Gaborone: Associated Printers, 43–60.Google Scholar
Cole, Desmond T. 1955. An Introduction to Tswana Grammar. Cape Town: Longmans, Green.Google Scholar
Dingemanse, Mark. 2017. “On the margins of language: ideophones, interjections and dependencies in linguistic theory”, in Enfield, Nick J. (ed.), Dependencies in Language. Berlin: Language Science Press, 195–202.Google Scholar
Dornan, Samuel S. 1917. “The Tati bushmen (Masarwas) and their language”, Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 47/1, 37–112.Google Scholar
Drescher, Martina. 1997. “French interjections and their use in discourse: ah dis donc les vieux souvenirs”, in Niemeier, Susanne and Dirven, Rene (eds), The Language of Emotions. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 233–46.Google Scholar
Fehn, Anne-Maria. 2016. “A grammar of Ts'ixa (Kalahari Khoe)”, PhD dissertation, University of Cologne.Google Scholar
Fehn, Anne-Maria and Phiri, Admire. 2017. “Nominal marking in Northern Tshwa (Kalahari Khoe)”, Stellenbosch Papers in Linguistics 48, 105–22.Google Scholar
Fivaz, Derek. 1970. “Shona morphophonemics and morphosyntax”, PhD dissertation, University of Witwatersrand.Google Scholar
Fortune, George. 1955. An Analytical Grammar of Shona. London: Longmans, Green and Co.Google Scholar
Güldemann, Tom. 2014. “‘Khoisan’ linguistic classification today”, in Güldemann, Tom and Fehn, Anne-Maria (eds), Beyond ‘Khoisan’. Historical Relations in the Kalahari Basin. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 1–40.Google Scholar
Güldemann, Tom and Fehn, Anne-Maria. 2017. “The Kalahari basin area as a ‘Sprachbund’ before the Bantu expansion”, in Hickey, Raymond (ed.), The Cambridge Handbook of Areal Linguistics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 500–26.10.1017/9781107279872.019CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Güldemann, Tom and Vossen, Rainer. 2000. “Khoisan”, in Heine, Bernd and Nurse, Derek (eds), African Languages: An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 99–122.Google Scholar
Haacke, Wilfrid H.G. and Eiseb, Eliphas. 2002. A Khoekhoegowab Dictionary with an English–Khoekhoegowab Index. Windhoek: Gamsberg Macmillan.Google Scholar
Hagman, Roy S. 1977. Nama Hottentot Grammar. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.Google Scholar
Hopper, Paul and Traugott, Elisabeth C.. 2003. Grammaticalization. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.10.1017/CBO9781139165525CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Janda, Laura. 2015. “Cognitive linguistics in the year 2015”, Cognitive Semantics 1, 131–54.10.1163/23526416-00101005CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jensen, Eva Skafte, Hougaard, Tina Thode and Levisen, Carsten. 2019. “Interjections in Scandinavia and beyond: traditions and innovations”, Scandinavian Studies in Language 10/1, 1–6.10.7146/sss.v10i1.114667CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kilian-Hatz, Christa. 2001. “Universality and diversity: ideophones from Baka and Kxoe”, in Voeltz, Erhard and Kilian-Hatz, Christa (eds), Ideophones. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 155–63.10.1075/tsl.44.13kilCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kilian-Hatz, Christa. 2003. Khwe Dictionary with a Supplement on Khwe Place-Names of West Caprivi by Matthias Brenzinger. (Namibian African Studies, 7.) Cologne: Rüdiger Köppe.Google Scholar
Kilian-Hatz, Christa. 2008. A Grammar of Modern Khwe (Central Khoisan). (Research in Khoisan Studies, 23.) Cologne: Rüdiger Köppe.Google Scholar
Köhler, Oswin. 1989. Die Welt der Kxoé-Buschleute im südlichen Afrika: Eine Sebstdarstellung in ihrer eigenen Sprache. Vol. I: Die Kxoé-Buschleute und ihre ethnische Umgebung. Berlin: Dietrich Reimer.Google Scholar
Köhler, Oswin. 1991. Die Welt der Kxoé-Buschleute im südlichen Afrika. Eine Selbstdarstellung in ihrer eigenen Sprache. Mit Übersetzung, Anmerkungen und Kommentaren von Oswin Köhler. Vol. II: Grundlagen des Lebens. Wasser, Sammeln und Jagd. Bodenbau und Tierhaltung. Berlin: Dietrich Reimer.Google Scholar
Köhler, Oswin. 1997. Die Welt der Kxoé-Buschleute im südlichen Afrika. Eine Selbstdarstellung in ihrer eigenen Sprache. Mit Übersetzung, Anmerkungen und Kommentaren von Oswin Köhler. Vol. III: Materielle Ausrüstung: Werden und Wandel. Wohnplatz und Buschlager. Berlin: Dietrich Reimer.Google Scholar
Köhler, Oswin. 2018. The World of the Khwe Bushmen in Southern Africa – Die Welt der Kxoé-Buschleute im südlichen Afrika. A Self-Portrait in Their Own Language – Eine Selbstdarstellung in ihrer eigenen Sprache. Volume IV.I. Berlin: Dietrich Reimer.Google Scholar
Louw, C.S. 1915. A Manual of the Chikaranga Language. Bulawayo: Philpott & Collins.Google Scholar
Marconnès, Francisque. 1931. A Grammar of Central Karanga. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press.Google Scholar
Meinard, Maruszka. 2015. “Distinguishing onomatopoeias from interjections”, Journal of Pragmatics 76, 150–68.10.1016/j.pragma.2014.11.011Google Scholar
Nakagawa, Hirosi. 2011. “A first report on G|ui ideophones”, in Hieda, Osamu, König, Christa and Nakagawa, Hirosi (eds), Geographical Typology and Linguistic Areas, with Special Reference to Africa. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 279–86.10.1075/tufs.2.21nakCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nakagawa, Hirosi. 2012. “The importance of TASTE verbs in some Khoe languages”, Linguistics 50/3, 395–420.10.1515/ling-2012-0014CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Norrick, Neal. 2009. “Interjections as pragmatic markers”, Journal of Pragmatics 41/5, 866–89.10.1016/j.pragma.2008.08.005CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nordgren, Lars. 2015. Greek Interjections. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.10.1515/9783110339444CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nübling, Damaris. 2001. “Von oh mein Jesus! zu oje! – Der Interjektionalisierungspfad von der sekundären zur primären Interjektion”, Deutsche Sprache 29/1, 20–45.Google Scholar
Nübling, Damaris. 2004. “Die prototypische Interjektion: Ein Definitionsvorschlag”, Zeitschrift für Semiotik 26/1–2, 11–46.Google Scholar
O'Connell, Daniel and Kowal, Sabine. 2008. Communicating with One Another: Toward a Psychology of Spontaneous Spoken Discourse. New York: Springer.10.1007/978-0-387-77632-3CrossRefGoogle Scholar
O'Connell, Daniel, Kowal, Sabine and Ageneau, Carie. 2005. “Interjections in interviews”, Journal of Psycholinguistic Research 34, 153–71.10.1007/s10936-005-3636-3CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Phiri, Admire. 2015. “Tshwao phoneme inventory: a descriptive account”, MA dissertation, University of Zimbabwe.Google Scholar
Schladt, Mathias. 2000. “A multi-purpose orthography for Kxoe: development and challenges”, in Batibo, Herman M. and Tsonope, Joseph (eds), The State of Khoesan Languages in Botswana. Gaborone: Tasalls, 125–39.Google Scholar
Stange, Ulrike. 2016. Emotive Interjections in British English. A Corpus-Based Study on Variation in Acquisition, Function and Usage. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.10.1075/scl.75CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stange, Ulrike and Nübling, Damaris. 2014. “Interjections”, in Müller, Cornelia, Fricke, Ellen, Cienki, Alan and McNeill, David (eds), Body – Language – Communication. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter, 1982–89.Google Scholar
Visser, Hessel. 2001. Naro Dictionary: Naro–English, English–Naro. D'Kar, Botswana: Naro Language Project / SIL International.Google Scholar
Vossen, Rainer. 1997. Die Khoe-Sprachen: Ein Beitrag zur Erforschung der Sprachgeschichte Afrikas. Cologne: Rüdiger Köppe.Google Scholar
Vossen, Rainer. 1998. “Historical classification of Khoe (Central Khoisan) languages of Southern Africa”, African Studies 57, 93–106.10.1080/00020189808707887CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wenztel, Petrus J. 1961. “Die fonologie en morfologie van westelike Shona”, PhD dissertation, Stellenbosch University.Google Scholar
Westphal, Ernst O.J. 1971. “The click languages of southern and eastern Africa”, in Sebeok, Thomas A. (ed.), Linguistics in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Hague: Mouton, 367–420.Google Scholar
Widlok, Thomas. 2016. “Small words – big issues: the anthropological relevance of Khoesan interjections (Natural history of communication among the central Kalahari San)”, African Study Monographs. Supplementary Issue, 52, 135–45.Google Scholar
Wierzbicka, Anna. 1991 [2003]. Cross-Cultural Pragmatics: The Semantics of Human Interaction. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.Google Scholar
Wierzbicka, Anna. 1992. “The semantics of interjections”, Journal of Pragmatics 18/2–3, 159–92.10.1016/0378-2166(92)90050-LCrossRefGoogle Scholar