'n Taalkundige en leksikografiese perspektief op troeteltaal in Afrikaans

Date
2012-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The focus in this paper is on terms of endearment, and initially linking it with love, affection and care, which prominently feature in the oldest ancient languages. Users of dictionaries are motivated by finding and understanding the unbelievable variety of words in languages. In many faiths/religions people give credence to a perception that love and understanding of one another's needs and aspirations form the true basis of successful interpersonal relationships but as yet no consensus has been reached. The data was empirically collected through personal conversations with local people, including children, the young generation, parents and grandparents, staff of banks, supermarkets and bookshops. A distinction is made between terms generally used for kids, adults, men and women according to context in usage and the meanings thereof as reported by respondents, varying from seriously meant (dearest), to affectionate (darling, beloved) to mere superficial friendship (pal, love). As the focus was on Afrikaans which is the home language of the most residents in the Western Cape, according to information received from Statistics South Africa, and the knowledge as well as present usage of the word 'troetel' as a term of endearment, the English equivalents and additional similar terms are not of importance here. The impression is, however, that a special nuance of emotion is attached to the usage of the mentioned examples. Dictionaries should include terms of endearment known in the colloquial language at the time of their compilation and must be reliable sources of information regarding vocabulary, ways to address people and the varying degrees of communication in the wide distinguishable variety of contexts.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Woordeboekverklarings vir die woord troetel sluit onder meer in met liefde behandel, liefkoos, streel en versorg. Hierdie besonder positiewe konnotasie het gelei na ʼn soekroete in die oudste antieke tale as vertrekpunt om die ontstaan, bekendheid en gebruik van hierdie woordjie in Afrikaans te probeer vasstel. Omdat liefde in verskeie gelowe as basis vir suksesvolle menseverhoudinge deur die eeue aanbeveel, uitgeleef of geopponeer is, en tog nog geen algemeen aanvaarde konsensus, ten spyte van al die slim argumente en beredenerings deur briljante geleerdes bereik is nie, kan troeteltaal wat meestal met ʼn ondertoon van ʼn nuanse van liefde gepaard gaan, gebruikstaal positief beïnvloed. Deur middel van onoffisiële proefvraelysies aan die publiek plaaslik en op die platteland en deur persoonlike empiriese navorsing in gemeenskappe is die verlangde inligting by oud en jonk versamel, bank-, supermark- en boekwinkelpersoneel se menings is ingewin. Daar is onderskei tussen troetel- of troetelverwante name vir babas tot jongmense en seniors, mans en dames, met betekenisse volgens konteks soos deur respondente verstrek. Alhoewel troetel as sulks nie by die jonger geslag juis algemeen, soos vroeër, bekend is nie, veral in dorpsgemeenskappe, kom dit nog redelik wyd in die Wes-Kaap, streek- en gesinsgebonde voor. Daar word probeer om leksikograwe te beïnvloed om meer aandag aan troetelwoordjies soos bokkie, dingetjie, kleintjie en pikkie in woordeboek te gee en die gebruik daarvan en krag daarin opgesluit by gebruikers te laat ervaar en weer in gebruik te laat herlewe, veral by ouers en jongmense. ʼn Doel van woordeboeke vir die algemene taalgebruiker is in hoofsaak om ʼn data-aanbod daar te stel wat verteenwoordigend is van die gewone omgangstaal in die tydsgewrig van samestelling, maar om verder ook as interessante inligtingsbronne van data in gebruikstaal te dien.
Description
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
Keywords
Ancient languages, Terms of endearment, Waarde van naamgewing, Lexicographic perspectives, Dissertations -- Afrikaans and Dutch, Theses -- Afrikaans and Dutch, Dissertations -- Afrikaans language, Theses -- Afrikaans language
Citation