Possibilities and Challenges of Harmonizing Xitsonga Cross-Border Varieties in the Southern African Region: A Case of Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe

Abstract

Xitsonga is a cross-border language spoken in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland. This language is known by different names in these four countries. In South Africa it is known as Xitsonga, in Mozambique it is known as Xichangana and in Zimbabwe and Swaziland it is known in official records as Shangani even though the Zimbabwean speakers commonly calls it Xichangana or Xihlengwe. The speakers of these varieties generally agree that what they speak are simply variant forms of Xitsonga language. This paper is going to discuss how this language came to be known by different names in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. Even though it seems that this is one language spoken in different countries, there are remarkable similarities and differences amongst these varieties. Words showing similarities in these three countries are going to be highlighted as examples to prove that Xitsonga is one language existing in these countries. The paper is also going to discuss words which show some differences as evidence of separation of these varieties over a long period of time. This also can be attributed to colonial influences, current political and social-economic factors. The main aim of this paper is to discuss the possibility of the harmonisation of Xitsonga varieties spoken in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa since the speakers of this language were merely separated by man-made boundaries. The paper shall also discuss the challenges in harmonising Xitsonga varieties across borders. This paper shall give recommendations which try to redress the misconceptions on the Xitsonga ethnonym.