Archiving of Indigenous Languages with Specific Reference to IsiXhosa

Abstract

It cannot be nullified that the advancement of isiXhosa will not be actualised without the employment of information science as a discipline and practice for the very reason that archiving is a significant component that can lead to visible solutions to the conundrum that has recurrently engulfed this language. Divorcing information science from isiXhosa, or vice versa, is a decaying and deliberate endeavour that delays the transformation of isiXhosa as an indigenous South African language. This conceptual article pivots on personal experiences through a qualitative research inquiry to underline some of the principal challenges that impede the archiving of indigenous South African languages with specific reference to isiXhosa. The objective is to sensitise regarding the preservation and protection of the linguistic and cultural heritage of the amaXhosa community for future generations and to guarantee its recognition and revitalisation. The study’s literature review, among other components, indicates that challenges concerning the archiving of indigenous South African languages, including isiXhosa, are advanced by languages whose stature is least known or unknown entirely. Ultimately, the principal argument underscores that language archiving through information science is an area of contention. The principal recommendation is that the advancement of the isiXhosa language requires a multi-collaborative effort in a bid to advance its intellectualisation. The closing remarks indicate the necessity to continue the discourse beyond the aims and objectives of this conceptual article.

An Ecocriticism of One Selected IsiXhosa Folktale as Part of Oral Literature

“…In a nutshell, folktales contain archetypal characters and situations that could provide psychological and sociological insights (Diko, 2023c). They can credibly be utilized as primary sources of data to illuminate human behavior, fears, aspirations, and the way societies conceptualize and transmit knowledge.…”

“…These oral narratives serve as a means of preserving and passing down indigenous knowledge of herbal medicine, which is frequently a central component of healthcare in many indigenous communities in Africa and elsewhere in the global village. On the one hand, flowers hold spiritual significance in amaXhosa indigenous communities (Zhang et al, 2023;Diko, 2023c). They may be associated with specific deities or ancestral spirits, and their use in healing rituals may be perceived as a way to invoke divine assistance and blessings (Mabuka et al, 2023).…”