Abstract
Researchers in linguistic and lexicographic fields such as Nkondo (1987: 70) and Kamwangamalu (1997: 89) assert that no language is lexically self-sufficient. According to Jafta (1987: 127), the reason for this is because no perfectly homogenous language group exist. There is no living language that can survive without supplementing its vocabulary through borrowing from another or other language(s). Thus Aitchison (2001: 249) is of the view that language gradually transforms itself and it cannot remain unaltered. On the other hand the so called 'purists' disapprove of such alterations because they view these transformations as a process of language corruption because they prefer coining which Mojela (2010: 702) termed indirect borrowing. This article proves and illustrates this notion as correct, especially in the case of African languages. The technical terms and vocabulary in social interaction is based on adjacent South African languages such as English and Afrikaans, which as official languages have inevitably cross-pollinated each other. Researchers also agree that one way of enriching language is through borrowing. The aim of this article is to show that borrowing does not only enrich a language, but it also causes language dilution especially in the case of languages that are less technologically advanced or do not yet function as official languages.
Highlights
IsiNdebele as a standard language was recognized in South Africa in the 1980s
In the foregoing discussion, it has been shown how loan items can pose a challenge to lexicographers, especially where they have not yet decided whether they should be prescriptive, descriptive or proscriptive
The article has illustrated that loan items differ from one language to another and that foreign items sometimes behave differently so much so that lexicographers can maintain or distort the language usage
Summary
IsiNdebele as a standard language was recognized in South Africa in the 1980s. 2001, their task being to compile monolingual explanatory dictionaries and other products to help with language development One of these was the isiNdebele National Lexicography Unit (known as iZiko lesiHlathululi-mezwi sesiNdebele). In 2006, this Unit published its first bilingual dictionary, the IsiNdebele–English/English– IsiNdebele IsiHlathululi-mezwi/Bilingual and Explanatory Dictionary ( known as the IsiNdebele–English IsiHlathululi-magama/Dictionary, and referred to as the IsiNdebele–English Dictionary). This is a scholar's dictionary containing 15 000 lemmas in total. The experience gained during the compilation of this dictionary proved the need to re-explore some of the latest lexicographic views, because (a) unlike other languages that had their specific areas of development (e.g. isiZulu in KwaZulu-Natal, Setswana in the North-West, etc.), isiNdebele is one of the languages that has been intermingling with or spoken within the boundaries of other languages, and (b) isiNdebele had not been recognized as an official, autonomous language until 1985
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
