South African Journal of African Languages

ISSN: 0257-2117 (Print) 2305-1159 (Online) Journal homepage: www.tandfonline.com/journals/rjal20

IsiXhosa sakudala kunye nendlela esichaphazela

ngayo abantu abasisebenzisayo kule mihla

Philasande Mfaba

To cite this article: Philasande Mfaba (2018) IsiXhosa sakudala kunye nendlela esichaphazela
ngayo abantu abasisebenzisayo kule mihla, South African Journal of African Languages, 38:3,
311-315, DOI: 10.1080/02572117.2018.1518040

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/02572117.2018.1518040

Published online: 29 Nov 2018.

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South African Journal of African Languages 2018, 38(3): 311–315 Copyright © NISC (Pty) Ltd
South African Journal
of African Languages
ISSN 0257-2117 EISSN 2305-1159
https://doi.org/10.1080/02572117.2018.1518040

IsiXhosa sakudala kunye nendlela esichaphazela ngayo abantu

abasisebenzisayo kule mihla

Philasande Mfaba

African Languages Studies, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa

Email: [email protected]

Ukubhalwa kwesiXhosa kuye kwajongana noguquguquko oluninzi apha eminyakeni ukususela mhla labhalwa
olu lwimi ngeemini zemishinari ukuza kuma namhlanje. Iingcaphephe eziliqela zababhali besiXhosa ezifana
nooMqhayi, ooJolobe, ooRubusana nabanye basebenze ngokuzimisela ukuqinisekisa ukuba olu lwimi luba lulwimi
olusesikweni lude lube lolu lwimi silwaziyo namhlanje. Xa ubani engathelekisa ubhalo-magama lwesiXhosa
sakudala nobhalo-magama lwesiXhosa sangoku angafunga ukuba ziilwimi ezimbini ezohlukeneyo. Ngoku lonke
uxanduva lokuphuhlisa indlela ezibhalwa ngazo iilwimi ezisesikweni eMzantsi Afrika lusezandleni zamaqela afana
nePan South African Language Board (PanSALB) ekufuneka eqinisekisile ukuba zonke iilwimi ezigunyazisiweyo
eMzantsi Afrika zibhalwe ngendlela eyiyo. Eli phepha liza kulanda iimbali yokubhalwa kwesiXhosa ukususela mhla
labhalwa olu lwimi. Eyona njongo yeli phepha kukunika iinkcukacha ngembali yokubhalwa kwesiXhosa ukuya kuma
kwindlela esibhalwa ngayo kule mihla, nendlela ulwimi eluthe laguquka ngayo apha eminyakeni. Ngaphezulu eli
phepha liza kunika imizekelo yezinto ezisabhalwe ngesiXhosa sakudala ze emva koko lichaze ukuba ezo zinto
zibachaphazela njani abantu abasebenzisa olu lwimi, ingakumbi abafundi besiXhosa ezikolweni. Ingxoxo yeli
phepha kukuba isiXhosa esisabhalwe ngohlobo lwakudala kufuneka silungisiwe kwenzelwa ukuba isiXhosa
sibhalwe ngendlela enye ngumntu wonke. Loo nto izakwenza ukuba abafundi bangazifumani sele befundiswa
izinto ezingafaniyo ezikolweni kunye nasemakhaya okanye eCaweni njengoko kunjalo kumaculo eCawe kunye
nakwizichazi-magama. Le mibhalo ingasetyenziswa ukufunda imbali kodwa ayinakusetyenziswa njengesixhobo
sokufunda emakhaya, kwizikolo okanye kwiiCawe.

Old orthography of isiXhosa and how it influences current users

IsiXhosa orthography went through some changes over the years since it was first written in 1823 by John Bennie.
Many scholars in this field, including but not limited to book writers, the likes of Mqhayi, Jolobe and Rubusana,
tried hard to standardise this language. Today it is the work of organisations such as the Pan South African
Language Board (PanSALB) to ensure that all South African languages are written and used in a standardised
way. If one compares the old isiXhosa orthography with the modern one, one would think they are two different
languages. The main aim of this paper is to give an overview of the development of isiXhosa orthography up to the
present day. This paper advocates that the old orthography be revised in texts used by the isiXhosa community.
This will avoid confusion where learners are taught a certain way of reading and writing in schools when they
are exposed to different orthographies at home or church, as the case may be with church hymns or dictionaries.
Although those texts can still be useful for historical purposes, they should not be used as the main source for the
isiXhosa public either at home, school or church.

Intshayelelo zibhala ngayo isiNgesi, umzekelo babengasebenzisi

hahazo (Peires, 1979).
IsiXhosa lolunye ulwimi olwathi labhalwa ziimishinari Kwaba luxanduva lwababhali besiXhosa abafana
ekufikeni kwazo eAfrika. Kuqikelelwa ukuba iimishinari nooMqhayi, ooTiyo Soga nabanye ukuba balungise olo
ezabhala isiXhosa zafika ngonyaka ka-1823, umfundisi lwimi lube sisiXhosa esisiso. Ukususela ngoko amaqumrhu
uJohn Bennie waseScotland waba ngumntu wokuqala ohlukeneyo aye ebekwe minyaka le ukuba abhale esona
ukulibhala olu lwimi. Inqaku lakhe alibhalayo lalisithi Zonke siXhosa sisesikweni. Namhlanje ibhodi u-PanSALB nguye
Inkomo zezikaTixo. Wakhetha esi sihloko kuba esazi ojongene nokuphuhlisa indlela ezibhalwa ngayo iilwimi
ukuba amaXhosa azixabisile iinkomo zawo, kwaba kanti ezisesikweni eMzantsi Afrika, ingakumbi iilwimi zesiNtu
uyabaloba kanjalo ukuba babhale kwaye bafunde isiXhosa. (PanSALB, 1996). Eli phepha liza kujonga imbali yobhalo
Ababhali abangoovulindlela kwisiXhosa babebhala olu lwesiXhosa ukususela mhla sabhalwa esi siXhosa ukuza
lwimi ngeenjongo zokulufunda baza kukwazi ukushumayela kuma namhlanje. Ngaphezulu eli phepha liza kuzekelisa
ngalo, ngoko ke kwakungekho migaqo yayilandelwa xa ngendlela ekwakubhalwa ngayo kudala. Emva koko eli
lubhalwa olu lwimi. Iimishinari zazibhala ngale ndlela phepha liza kujonga izinto ezisabhalwe ngohlobo lwakudala

The South African Journal of African Languages is co-published by NISC (Pty) Ltd and Informa UK Limited (trading as Taylor & Francis Group)
312 Mfaba

lichaze ukuba ezo zinto zingaba nobungozi obungakanani kun-ga bi ko numtu o zi ci ta yo. I pi we gu ye I mi fi
na kubafundi besikolo abafunda isiXhosa. si, ne mi ti yon-kezi ya pi la gay o; a pi we na man
zie zi wa së la yo. Yim vu me yom ni ni zo u ku ba zi
Imbali yegrama yesiXhosa konze tin a ban tu in ko mo, zi ya si kon za go ko. Za
pi wa in ko mo ku-Nowa, na ku ti ngu Tixo um ni ni
Iimishinari zafika kwilizwekazi iAfrika zizise ibhayibhile zo u ku ze si zi xë le, si pi le ga zo zi xë li we go ko.
zifuna ukuguqula abemi baseAfrika ukuba babe Zi xë li we in ko mo, go ku ba e vu me le ne na zo
ngamaqgobhoka, baqala babhala phantsi iilwimi um ni ni zo; go ko sin a so isi xa so e si ku lu e si pi
zaseAfrika kuba bebona umgeni odlalwa lulwimi phakathi la ga so. Zi ya ni ka I ma zi za ko we tu lo ma si e si
kwabo nabemi beseAfrika. Kwakungezonjongo zabo wa së la yo a da li we yo gu-Ti xo. Si nen gu bo, nem
ukuphuhlisa iilwimi zaseAfrika ngoko bona babefuna nje v aba, ne zin to e zin ni zig e zi kum ba zen ko mo
ukuqhuba nomsebenzi, yiyo loo nto ufumana iziphene ze tu. Zi da li we in to e zi nin zig a be lung u ga ma
ezininzi kwindlela ababebhala ngayo (Vilhanova, 2007). tam bo en ko mo nem pon do za zo. En zi we lo ma
Kunyaka ka-1823 umfundisi uJohn Bennie imishinari ba la on ke e zin a wo in ko mo gu-Tixo um ni ni zo.
yaseScotland yagaleleka kumhlaba waseTyhume iqhuba (Peires, 1979: 41)
wona lo msebenzi wevangeli. Ngenxa yengxaki yolwimi, Ngokuhamba kwexesha olu hlobo lokubhala luye
kwanyanzeleka ukuba iimishinari ziyithathele kuzo into luguquguquka phantsi kwamaqela athile. Ngonyaka ka1929
yokufunda ukuthetha kunye nokubhala isiXhosa. Ezi kwabekwa iqumrhu elalikhokhelwa nguNjingalwazi Clement
mishinari zazibhala isiXhosa ngale ndlela zazisiva ngayo M Doke owayesuka kwilizwe laseMelika, wasebenzisana
ze emva koko zifake neempawu zesiNgesi. (Peires, 1979; nezinye izifundiswa (Peires, 1979). Eli qumrhu lalibizwa
Vilhanova, 2007). Nantsi imizekelo yendlela esasibhalwa ngokuba yi-South African Orthography Committee leza
ngayo isiXhosa ngezo ntsuku zikaBennie kunye nezinye nohlobo olutsha lokubhalwa kwesiXhosa. Laqala ngokufaka
iimishinari: oonobumba ababini kwizibizo zehlelo 2a kunye nehlelo 10
• Babengasebenzisi hahazo: umz—umbalo (umbhalo), ukubonisa isininzi kwisinye. Xa ujonga lo mbhalo kaBennie
inteto (intetho), bala (bhala) njl njl. ungentla uyokuqwalasela ukuba xa ethetha ngeenkomo
• Indlela yokuqhawula amagama: Babesebenzisa le ezinizi ufaka u-I abemnye — Zonke Inkomo zezikaTixo
ndlela isetyenziswa kwisiNgesi ukuqhawula amagama. endaweni ka iinkomo. Amanye amaphepha ndaba akudala
Isimaphambili sasohlulwa kwisiqu sesibizo: u Zandile afana neMvo zabantsundu ayefaka unobumba omkhulu
(uZandile), u mntwana ka Phalo (Umntwana kaPhalo), kwisibizo ukubonisa isininzi, umzekelo — Inkomo (cows)
u mhlobo we sizwe, (umhlobo wesizwe), e Dutywa inkomo (cow). Olu hlobo lutsha lokubhala lona lweza
(eDutywa), ku Qumbu, (kuQumbu) (Wetu, 1878). nendlela entsha yokubhala isinizi ngokuthi kufakwe
• Indlela ababebhala ngayo iintsuku zeveki: ngom-Vulo, oonobumba ababini abalandelanayo — iinkomo (cows)
Ngo-Lwesibini, Ngo-Lwesithathu, Ngo-Lwesine, inkomo (cow), Oomama (mothers), umama (mother)
ngo-Lwesihlanu, Ngo-Mgqibelo, Nge-Cawa (ngoMvulo, (Peires, 1979).
ngoLwesibini, ngoLwesithathu, ngoLwesine, Eli qumrhu labuya lafaka iimpawu zezandi kunye
ngoLwesihlanu, ngoMgqibelo, ngecawa) (Wetu, 1878). nethoni. Kwaveliswa iimpawu ezifana no-ʃ omele isandi
• Indlela ababebhala ngayo iinyanga zonyaka: Januwali, u-‘sh’, umʃumayeli (preacher) kunye neempawu ezibonisa
Febuwali, Malitshe, Aprile, Mayi, June, Juli, Augasiti, ithoni yegama. Ezi mpawu zibonakalisa ukuba igama
Seputembile, Okutobile, Novembile, Disembile (Janwari, lifundwa ngeyiphi ithoni — è, é. Kwaphida kwafakelwa
Februwari, Matshi, Apreli, Meyi, Juni, Julayi, Agasti, amaqabane angonombini afana noo-nk, gc, njalo njalo
Seputebha, Oktobha, Novemba, Disemba) (Wetu, 1878). (Peires, 1979). Yaxhaxhwa kakhulu le ndlela yokubhala
• Ukusetyenziswa kweempawu zezandi: Ʃ intƩayelelo kuba iinkcubabuchopho eziliqela ezifana nooMqhayi,
(Intshayelelo) u-sh ʃ umbedeʃo (umbhedesho) (Wetu, ooSoga nezinye zazibona zibuyela emva kuba zazingakwazi
1878). kwaye zingazimiselanga kubhala ngolu hlobo lutsha.
• Iimpawu zethoni okanye isandi: ά à angάthathwa (he/she Ababhali abaninzi babetha ngengqindi etafileni bengavumi
can be taken), angàthathwa (he/she must not be taken), è ukusebenzisa olu hlobo lutsha lokubhala. Abapapashi
é ubulêlê? (were you sleeping?), ubulèlè? (did you kill?), baseLovedale Press bala nabo ukupapasha iincwadi
ubulélé? (did you say thank you?) ezingabhalwanga ngolu hlobo lutsha (Peires, 1979). Eyona
• Ukusetyenziswa kwezandi: Ndz, Indzalo (inzalo); nthl, ngxaki yaba zezi mpawu zikhankanywe apha ngentla
Inthlonipho (intlonipho). ezazingafumaneki kwizicwethezi. Kwakunyanzeleka ukuba
Kwezo ntsuku kwakungabonwa siphene ngale ndlela abapapashi bazibhale ngokwabo ezi mpawu zezandi. Loo
yokubhala esi isiXhosa. Into yokuqala eyabhalwayo nto yayichitha ixesha elininzi kakhulu kwaye itya epokothweni
kwisiXhosa yabhalwa nguJohn Bennie enonyaka omnye kodwa babengenayo enye indlela kuba abasemagunyeni
qha esifunda isiXhosa. Lo mbhalo uthi Zonke Inkomo babebanyanzela ukuba bapapashe iincwadi ezibhalwe ngolu
zezikaTixo (All cattle come from God) uqikelelwa hlobo qha (Peires, 1979).
ukuba wawuzama ukuloba umdla wabantu kuba ngalo Le ngxaki yasonjululwa ngonyaka ka-1952 apho zalahlwa
maxesha into ababeyixabise kakhulu abantu abaNtsundu zonke ezi mpawu zezandi. Olu hlobo lutsha lokubhala
yayizinkomo ezi (Peires, 1979). Kulo mbhalo qaphela lwasuka lwafana twatse nolo lokuqala. UJohn Bennie
indlela esibhalwe ngayo isiXhosa: wade wabhala incwadi esihloko sithi Notes on the new
All Cattle Come From God by J. Bennie Xhosa orthography apha wabhala khona yonke le nguqu
Inkomo zonke ze zi ka-Tixo: un gum ni ni zo ye na. eyeza neli qumrhu (Bennie, 1952; Peires, 1979). Maninzi
South African Journal of African Languages 2018, 38(3): 311–315 313

ke amaqumrhu onyulwayo kwiminyaka eyohlukeneyo ngentla qwalasela nanku umzekelo: Anonymous ISALATlSO
ukuba azamane nokuphucula indlela esibhalwa ngayo SAMACULO
isiXhosa esi. Kungoku i-Pan South African Language Board Inkonzo ze-Qela laba-Zili, nezijonga ubunyulu.
(PanSALB) yiyo ejongene nendlela ezibhalwa ngayo iilwimi 179. Hai inyweba yabo.
zaseMzantsi Afrika (Alexander, 1997). Eli qela lasekwa 205. Ma-Kristu, kálipani
ngomyalelo womgaqo siseko (Act 106 of 1995 [PanSALB, 211. Mikosi ka-Kristu.
1996]) ukuba liphuhlise kwaye lakhe amathuba okukhulisa 250. Pakamani, ma-KriStu:
ukusetyenziswa kweelwimi ezisesikweni kunye nolwimi 304. Yilwa wena kwelidabi.
lwesiqhakankcu, nolwabantu abathetha ngezandla. Liphinde 308. Zicaka ze-Nkosl:
liphuhlise zonke iilwimi kwaye liqinisekise ukuba zonke iilwimi Intlanganiso zokufunda I-Baibile.
ezisetyenziswa luluntu lwaseMzantsi Afrika ziyahlonitshwa, 227. Ndiyilanda kanye, NkoSi.
ukuquka nezi: German, Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Portuguese, 239. Nkosi, i-Zwi lako.
Tamil, Telegu, Urdu rabic, Hebrew, Sanskrit, kunye nezinye 243. Nkosi, sihlangene.
iilwimi ezisetyenziswa kwindawo zenkolo (PanSALB, 1996; 255. Sine-lizwi lika-Tixo.
Alexander, 1997). Njengoko sele kuchaziwe ngasentla, 264. Tixo, ngobubele bako.
umsebenzi weli qela kukulungisa iilwimi ezisetyenziswa 298. Yesu, sivelele.
eMzantsi Afrika, nangona kunjalo ziliqela izinto ezisaveliswe Awokutandazela elakowetu.
ngohlobo lokubhala lakudala zibe ezo zinto zisetyenziswa 200. Lizalis’ idinga letu.
luluntu. Ingxaki kukuba abantu abasebenzisa ezi zinto 210. Mgwebi mkul’ use-Troneni
zibhalwe ngesiXhosa sakudala bangazifumana sele 249. Owakulula; nelay’ ukufa.
bebhideka malunga nokuba sesiphi esona siXhosa kufuneka 255. Sine-Lizwi lika-Tixo.
sibhaliwe, ingakumbi abantwana besikolo. 264. Tixo, ngobubele bako.
Ushicilelo lokugqibela elakhutshwa nguPanSALB lelika- Awokunqula.
2005, kolu shicilelo kucuciswe indlela emasibhalwe ngayo 267. Tixo, ungu-mmangaliso.
isiXhosa kule mihla. Eli xwebhu liyikhankanya yonke 268. Tixo, ungu-Sunakade.
imigaqo yokubhala ulwimi ukususela kumahlelo ezibizo, 281. Vuman’ amandla ka-Yesu.
isinye nesininzi sezibizo, ukudityaniswa kwezivakalisi, 282. Wabengezela umbono.
imigaqo yopelo njalo njalo. Eli xhwebhu liyachaza ukuba 288. Yenzan’ indumiso ku-Yehova.
wonke amagama ayedla ngokungasebenzisi hahazo 306. Yitwesen’ imvana
kufuneka elusebenzisile, iimpawu zokubhala ezifana no 311. Zukisan’i-NkoSi.
ʃ kunye nezo zikhankanywe ngentla akusavumelekanga Lithathwe kwincwadi Iculo lase-Tshetshi: London
ukuba zisetyenziswe zininzi ke nezinye iintlobo zokubhala Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge
eziyekisiwe ukusetyenziswa (PanSALB, 2005). Kuyacaciswa (Anonymous, 1949: 29).
kweli xhwebhu ukuba inye indlela yokubhala isiXhosa yile Kumqolo wokuqala kulo mzekelo uyakuqwalasela
igunyaziswa nguPanSALB, engenye indlela yokubhalwa ukuba isininzi sesibizo sibhalwe ngesikhamiso esinye
ingaba sisiyelelane okanye indlela yakudala yokubhala pha ku ‘Inkonzi endaweni ka, ‘Iinkonzo’. Indlela
isiXhosa ayizukwamkeleka (PanSALB, 2005). elisetyenziswe ngalo iqhakamsela kule ncwadi ibonisa
ukuba ibhalwe ngendlela yakudala. Kwindlela yangoku
Imizekelo yezinto ezisabhalwe ngesiXhosa sakudala yokubhala isiXhosa iqhakamshela lifakwa xa ubhala
Nangona kukho indlela efanelekileyo yokubhala isiXhosa inani ulidibanisa namagama umzekelo unyaka ka-1992,
nje, abanye abantu basasibhala ngenye indlela isiXhosa. ndineminyaka eli-17; xa wahlula izikhamiso ezingafaniyo
Unobangela wokuba kube kanti nangoku ayikafani indlela ezilandelanayo, umzekelo, U-Andiswa ufikile. Apha kule
esibhalwa ngayo isiXhosa kungokuba kukho iziyelelani ncwadi iqhakamshela lisetyenziswe ukwahlula isiqu
zesiXhosa ezifana nesiHlubi, isiBhaca, isiMpondo sesibizo (Nkosi) kwisimaphambili saso (ze)= ze-nkosi;
nezinye. Ngokomgaqo nkqubo wezemfundo olona lwimi i-zwi, Sine-lizwi njalo njalo (PanSALB, 2005). Kwindlela
luvumelekileyo esikolweni sisiXhosa hayi ezi ezinye yokubhala isiXhosa sangoku la magama ayadityaniswa abe
iziyelelani (PanSALB, 2005). Unobangela wesibini kukuba ligama elinye: zeNkosi; izwi; sinelizwi (Iculo lase-Tshetshi,
izinto eziliqela ezibalulekileyo zisabhalwe ngesiXhosa Anonymous, 1949).
sakudala esingavumelekanga ezikolweni nakwindlela Uhahazo yenye into ethe ayasetyenziswa kule ncwadi. Loo
yokubhala isiXhosa jikelele. nto yenza ukuba olu hlobo lokubhala lufane nolo lwakudala.
Ngoku eli phepha liza kuvelisa izinto ezisabhalwe Nantsi imizekelo yamagama angenalo uhahazo: kálipa
ngesiXhosa sakudala kunye nendlela ezingachaphazela (Khalipha); pakamani (Phakamani); ndiyitanda (ndiyithanda);
ngayo abantu abasebenzisa olu lwimi xa bebhala ingakumbi lako (lakho); Tixo (Thixo). Amanye amagama kule ncwadi
abafundi besikolo. Kuza kuzekeliswa ngeencwadi asaqhawulwe ngohlobo lwakudala lokuqhawula amagama.
zeCawe: incwadi yamaculo aseWisile kunye nencwadi Isalathiso (esibonisa ukuba into iphi) sidityaniswe nento
yamaculo aseTshetshi. Eli phepha liza kubonisa ukuba ezi leyo yolathwayo, umzekelo kumgca wama-304, ‘Yilwa wena
ncwadi ziyichaphazela njani indlela yokufunda yabafundi kwelidabi’ u kweli uyahlulwa ku-dabi esi sivakalisi sifundeke
abasebenzisa ezi ncwadi ecaweni mihla le. ngolu hlobo: ‘Yilwa wena kweli dabi’ (PanSALB, 2005).
Apha ngezantsi liculo elithathwe kwincwadi yamaculo Ubuninzi beencwadi zisaqulathe eza mpawu zokubhalwa
aseTshetshi. Phantse yonke le ncwadi isabhalwe ngesiXhosa ezalahlwayo. Ezo mpawu zixhaphakile nakwincwadi
sakudala. Le ncwadi ivelisa zonke ezi zinto zikhankanywe yaseWisile yamaculo. Ezona mpawu zezandi zixhaphake
314 Mfaba

kakhulu zezi: Ʃ esithetha into enye nesi-ʃ, umzekelo Eliphethayo

igama u-intshayelelo libhalwe ngolu hlobo—intƩayelelo,
kushicilelwe—kuƩicilelwe (Umbedeʃo Namaculo Amawesile, Ngeliphethayo, kuyacaca ukuba zisekhona izinto
2013) iqabane elingu-b, libhalwe langu-ƃ ‘Izulu lizele kwa ezisabhalwe ngesiXhosa sakudala kwaye ziyasetyenziswa
nomhlaƃa: ƃuƃukhulu ƃoƃungcwalisa ƃakho’, (ibid.: 16) ze luluntu mihla le. Ubukho bezi zinto zibhalwe ngesiXhosa
u-r abhalwe abe ngu-Γ, umzekelo, BakΓokΓa (ibid.: 44), sakudala kungeza nemingeni emininzi ingakumbi kubafundi
iΓemente; ngetaΓu (ibid.: 17). abafunda isiXhosa ezikolweni. Abafundi bangazifumana
sele bengaqiniseki ngeyona ndlela iyiyo yokubhala
Iingxaka eziza nezinto ezisabhalwe ngohlobo lwakudala isiXhosa kuba xa besemakhaya okanye eCaweni bafunda
Ingxaki ngolu hlobo lokubhalwa isuka kwizifundo esi siXhosa sakudala siveliswa kula maculo ukanti
zesayikholoji ezicacisa ubudlelwane phakathi kokufunda xa besezikolweni bafunda isiXhosa esisesikweni, esi
nokubhala. Abaphandi bezi zifundo bathi ukufunda sigunyaziswe nguPanSALB. Ingantle into yokuba ezi
kukuchaphazela ngakumbi ukubhala. Loo nto ichaza ukuba zinto zisabhalwe ngesiXhosa sakudala zipheliswe, la
into esiyibhalayo ichatshazelwa ngoko sikufundileyo. maculo kufuneka aphindwa abhalwe ngesiXhosa sangoko.
UBazerman uyibeka ngolu hlobo, ‘Umfundi uqala Lo ngumsebenzi okufuneka uququzelwe ngabaphathi
ngokufunda imigaqo yokufunda emva koko afunde izinto beenkonzo ezisebenzisa la maculo ngokuthi basebenzisane
ezisele zibhaliwe, uyazifundisisa ze emva koko abhale noPanSALB.
ngale ndlela azifunde ngayo ezo zinto’ (1980: 659).
Uqhuba athi abafundi kwiyunivesithi banikwa umthabalala Summary
weencwadi okufuneka bezifundile bazo kukwazi ukubona
indlela yokubhala ngokufanekileyo (Bazerman, 1980). Almost all African languages were first written by English
Loo nto ichaza ukuba xa abafundi bedibana nemibhalo mother-tongue speakers, most of whom were missionaries
efana nale ichazwe ngentla bangazifumana sele befunde from Scotland. Even though they paved the way for
ukubhala isiXhosa ekungesiso. orthographies of African languages, the way in which
Ngokuka-Aulls (1985) ukufunda yinto eyenzeka naphi they wrote those languages was similar to how they wrote
na, kwaye into efundwe kwindawo ethile iyayichaphazela English. Mother-tongue speakers of African languages
imfundo yomfundi ekhona okanye engekho utitshala. consequently had to modify these orthographies, including
Uqhuba adwelise izinto ezenzeka ngaphandle kwesikolo that of isiXhosa. This article looks at the process of
ezikhuthaza indlela umntwana afunda ngayo ukubhala: modification of isiXhosa orthography and ways in which the
1. Xa umntwana efumana amathuba okufunda into ixesha old isiXhosa orthography affects learners at school.
elide okanye ayive ifundwa loo nto ifundwayo. The first missionaries to arrive in Alice (in the Eastern
2. Ngokuthi kubekho omnye umntu omdala onolwazi lwento Cape) were from Scotland. Their intention was to preach
efundwayo omane exelela umntwana indlela eyiyo the gospel to the amaXhosa, but language became a barrier
yokufunda. and hence an orthography first had to be created to translate
3. Xa umntwana efumana amathuba okufunda aliqela. scripture into isiXhosa. John Bennie became the first person
4. Xa kukho umntu omkhuthazayo ngokufunda engamgxeki ever to write isiXhosa in the Eastern Cape. The first piece
xa ethe waphazama. he wrote was titled Zonke Inkomo zezikaTixo (All cattle
Onke la mathuba abafundi baye bawafumane ecaweni xa come from God). Informed by their English background,
befunda la macula, kwezinye iicawe kuba yinto yemihla the missionaries would, for example, not indicate aspiration
ngemihla ukanti abanye baya kube Kanye ngeveki. La (represented by an h in the current orthography of isiXhosa),
maculo afundwa ngokuphindwa-phindwa into eyenza ukuba so they would write teta instead of thetha. Their sentence
loo ndlela abhalwe ngayo ihlale engqondweni yomfundi. form also simulated the English structure of breaking up
words, for example ndiyakuthanda (I love you) would be
Isisombululo written as ndi yaku thanda. The subject, verb and the object
Imibhalo yakudala kufuneka iguquliwe yabhalwa would be separated just like they are in English. Even days
ngokomgaqo omtsha wokubhala isiXhosa ogunyaziswe of the week, weeks of the month and months of the year
yiPanSALB njengoko sele sibonile apha ngasentla. Loo nto were written differently from how they are written now.
iyotsho incede abantu ingakumbi abafundi abasebenzisa Old isiXhosa texts had all sorts of symbols for tones that
la maculo ezicaweni mihla le ukuba baqhelane nokubhala aimed to direct the reader to how the word is pronounced.
isiXhosa esisiso. Kungenjalo abantu abasafunda ezi Most of those sounds were to direct the tone of your voice
zinto zibhalwe ngesiXhosa sakudala bangazibhaqa when you read the words aloud because in isiXhosa words
besebungozini bokungakwazi ukubhala kakuhle isiXhosa can be written the same but have different meaning, the
ngokuhamba kwexesha. Abafundi besikolo bona meaning always determined by pronunciation. For example,
bangazifumana sele bengaqhubi kakuhle esikoweni apho the word ubulele has three different tones resulting in three
kusetyenziswa isiXhosa esahlukileyo kuneso basifumana different meanings: ubulêlê? (were you sleeping), ubulèlè?
kwizinto ezifana nala maculo akhankanywe apha ngasentla. (did you kill?), ubulélé? (did you say thank you?). There were
Kuluxanduva lwabaphathi abafana nabefundisi kwiiCawe many other symbols which were included in the old isiXhosa
ukuzamana nokulungisa izinto ezifana nala maculo nezinye text such as Ʃ or ʃ for the sound ‘sh’ and many others.
izinto ezisabhalwe ngesiXhosa sakudala, bangayilungisa le Over the years this orthography underwent a series of
ngxaki ngokuthi basebenzisane noPanSALB. reforms under different language boards, starting with
the South African Orthography Committee of 1929 up to
South African Journal of African Languages 2018, 38(3): 311–315 315

PanSALB, which was formed by the obligation of the South Iincwadi ezisetyenzisiweyo
African Constitution (Act 106 of 1995) (PanSALB, 1996). In
those reforms, many symbols and signs of tones were either Alexander N. 1997. Language policy and planning in the New South
replaced or removed and other new ways of writing were Africa. African Sociological Review/Revue Africaine De Sociologie
introduced. Important figures such as Professor Clement 1(1): 82–92.
Doke, together with Lovedale Publishers, enforced those Anonymous. 1949. Iculo lase-Tshetshi. London: London Society for
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changes, despite the opposition they faced from various
Anonymous. 2013. Umbedefo Namaculo Amawesile – Xhosa
book writers (Peires, 1979). Edition. Cape Town: Methodist Publishing House.
Along the way, some symbols were removed by one Aulls MW. 1985. Understanding the relationship between reading
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next committee. Eventually a standardised way of writing Bazerman C. 1980. A relationship between reading and writing: The
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is a language board that guides the use of isiXhosa and Bennie J. 1952. Notes on the new Xhosa Orthography. South Africa:
the other official languages in South Africa. Even though Lovedale Press.
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files/Legislations%20Files/a59-95.pdf
orthography. This article makes use of two of those texts
Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB). 2005. Spelling and
as examples, namely: Umbedefo Namaculo Amawesile Orthography Rules 2005. Pretoria: South African Language Board.
(2013) and Iculo-laseTshetshi (1949). The paper aims to Peires J. 1979. Literature for the Bantu revisited. History in Africa 6:
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it argues that texts such as the ones mentioned above have Vilhanova VP. 2007. Christian missions in Africa and their role in
an impact on learners who use those texts regularly while the transformation of African societies. Asian and African Studies
having to learn standard isiXhosa at school. 16(2): 249–260.
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10 August 1878: 10.