Zenobia's story : how a victim of abuse uses isiXhosa to account for her actions

Date
2008-07-25
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS Publishing
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This article explores the theoretical work in articulating the motivations and conditions for account-giving in isiXhosa in relation to image restoration. The account-making process, according to Warren (1989), is like a life in motion in which individual characters are portrayed as moving through their experiences, dealing with some conflict or problem in their lives and at the same time searching for a solution. The narrator discovers at the age of twelve that the person she is referring to as her mother is not her real mother and that her real mother died while giving birth to her. The situation at home deteriorates after the death of her father. Her desperation is further fuelled when her stepmother marries a taxi-driver who sexually abuses her. The narrator then resorts to alcohol and drug abuse to cope with her growing sense of not belonging. The opportunity for changing her life and opening up endless avenues for progress and advancement comes when the narrator passes matric and, through her father’s will, pursues her studies at a tertiary institution. She graduates as a top student and now practices as a medical doctor. This quest to understand the major stresses in each individual’s mind is at the core of this article.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie artikel ondersoek die teoretiese standpunte oor die motivering en omstandighede van selfvertellings in ’n isiXhosaverhaal van selfherstel. Volgens Warren (1989) is hierdie vertelproses soos ’n lewe in beweging waarbinne individuele karakters geskets word asof hulle deur verskillende ervarings beweeg en met sommige van die konflikte of probleme in hulle lewens handel en terselfdertyd ’n oplossing soek. Die verteller ontdek op twaalfjarige ouderdom dat die persoon wat sy as haar ma ken, nie haar regte ma is nie en dat haar regte ma gesterf het by haar geboorte. Die situasie by die huis gaan agteruit nadat haar pa sterf. Haar toestand versleg verder toe haar stiefma met ’n taxibestuurder trou wat haar seksueel misbruik. Die verteller neem gevolglik haar toevlug tot alkohol- en dwelmmisbruik om haar groeiende gevoel van nie-behoort te hanteer. Sy kry kans om haar lewe te verander en nuwe moontlikhede vir vooruitgang en verbetering te ontdek as sy matriek slaag en deur haar pa se boedel haar studie aan ’n tersiêre instelling kan voortsit. Sy gradueer as ’n uitstaande student en praktiseer as mediese dokter. Die soeke na begrip vir die spanning in elke individu se gedagtes vorm die kern van hierdie artikel.
Description
Please cite as follows:
Dlali, M., & Mokapela, S. 2008. Zenobia's story: how a victim of abuse uses isiXhosa to account for her actions. Literator, 29(2):101-124, doi:10.4102/lit.v29i2.118.
The original publication is available at http://literator.org.za
Keywords
Victim of abuse, IsiXhosa, Xhosa -- Narratives, Personal
Citation
Dlali, M., & Mokapela, S. 2008. Zenobia's story: how a victim of abuse uses isiXhosa to account for her actions. Literator, 29(2):101-124, doi:10.4102/lit.v29i2.118.