The significance of the Musanda language in Venda: a diglossia
Khuba, Asnath Elelwani
The musanda language is spoken by the members of the royalty in Venda, who
form part of the Venda nation as a whole, and hold the ruling power. Besides
learning the musanda language, which is their first language1 they also use the
Venda language with the majority of the Venda nation. The use of both
languages gives them an opportunity to be diglossic.
Diglossia, as ex pressed in this thesis, refers to the speaking of two languages
by the members of the musanda community or anybody who may happen to
know both languages. The chief, called vbamusanda, is the central figure in
this discussion with special reference to the language used in and around
his/her place of residence.
There is uniformity in the musanda language used in all the chief's residences
called mjsanda. The hierarchical structure within the musanda premises
affords all groups composing the musanda community to learn the musanda
language. The older the members in the musanda community are the more
knowledge they have of the language.
The musanda language is learnt informally by the musanda community who
uses it on the upper level whereas both Venda and the musanda languages are
used on the lower level, making it more diglossic than the upper level.
For many years the musanda community was reluctant to share their language
with the majority of the Venda community, who, in this thesis are referred to
as commoners. This ended up in depriving the musanda language of becoming
the standard language in Venda, The fact that education among the Venda is
musanda-centred has helped the Venda community in gaining rnusanda
vocabulary. The musanda language therefore is a language used for etiquette to show
respect for the ruling community, The Venda nation honours their rulers by the
use of the rnusanda language. Although some of the musanda terms have
disappeared they nevertheless remain a resistance to borrowing words from
other languages . The musanda language as a diglossia remains unique in all
the misanda in Venda,
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