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Final Portfolio

Name and Surname : Thato Peter Seemela

Student Number : 49786849

Group Number : AFL1501-23-S1-246T

Name of Department : Department of African Languages

Course Code : AFL1501

Course Name : Language through an African Lens

Assessment Number :6

Name of Instructor : Dr Nene

Name of TA : Thembi Dianah Selepe

Due Date :15th June 2023

Date Submitted:15th June 2023

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction……………………………………………………………….3
2. First Portfolio Activity………………………………………...………….3
3. Second Portfolio Activity………………………………………………...3-6
4. Third Portfolio Activity……………………………………………………6-8
5. Forth Portfolio Activity…………………………………………………...8
6. Final Reflection…………………………………………………………...8-10
7. Conclusion………………………………………………………………...10
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1. Introduction
This module comprises of six assessments and is titled "Language through an
African lens." Assessment six is a final portfolio that must be submitted as a
supplement to the Exam as this module does not have a formal examination. This
portfolio will focus on the activities that were done during the semester referring to
learning units and the impact this module had in understanding my cultural identity
and linguistic differences.

The final portfolio comprises of the following:

• The first activity consist of individual information

• The second activity consist of the assessment 1 discussion forum and my
reflection and the impact it had on my feelings.
• The third activity will focus on the family tree which will entail my paternal
and maternal families.
• The forth activity will touch on fictional comments and lastly, the final
reflections.

2. First Portfolio Activity

My name is Thato Peter Seemela, I grew up in Hammanskraal in a rural village

called Mathibestad and I speak Northern Sotho, Setswana, Zulu and English but
Setswana is the most dominant language in my community and it is the language
that we speak at home.

My ecolect differs from the community idiolect because at home we refer to a car
as "sefatanaga" and the people in my community refer to a car as "koloi"; therefore,
you can say that my ecolect is different in such words, even though we are
discussing the same thing. Bread is another example of a household idiolect that
differs from the community idiolect. At home, we call clothes "diaparo," whereas in
our community, clothes are referred to as "dikobo," but the connotation in English
is the same.

3. Second Portfolio Activity

3.1 Reflect on your initial thoughts about the misunderstanding. After

developing a more profound sympathy for linguistic and cultural differences
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during the completion of this module, can you think of more appropriate
ways to respond to the situation now?

Upon pondering on my initial thoughts, I realised that my thoughts were influenced

by my cultural and linguistic background, which may have played a role in my
interpretation and understanding of the entire situation.

A more proactive and appropriate way of dealing with the situation is to first
understand other peoples cultural and linguistic background, take your time to
understand their perspective and ensure that I seek clarity before reaching any
conclusion. It is also important to include that element of respect in your interaction
with others so that they may see that you value their culture and language and give
them a platform to communicate openly and where you do not understand their
perspective, have an opportunity to rephrase their statements until you clearly
understand the message, they are relaying to you.

3.2 Self-reflection submitted for Assessment 1 and how this module

impacted my feelings and thoughts about who I am regarding language and
culture negatively or positively, and why?

This module has influenced my understanding of language and culture in a positive

manner. This module has enabled me a better understanding of the role language
and culture play in defining a person's identity, as well as the necessity of
identifying and valuing the diversity that exists within them.

My understanding of languages has changed as a result of this module, and I have

grown prouder to be an African. I now believe that conversing with people from
different cultural and linguistic backgrounds other than our own broadens our
understanding of various cultures and enables us to be flexible and open-minded
to new groups of people.

This module has impacted my feelings and thoughts positively as I now want to
learn different languages and cultures and has completely removed the past
mentality, I had in regards to other people’s different languages and cultures. It has
taught me to embrace other people’s languages and not be judgemental and that
when converses with other people they must be mindset of the other persons
culture and language.
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3.3 Select any two comments that, after reading, made you experience a
paradigm shift in terms of your beliefs regarding a particular South African
language or culture other than your own.

NWABISA MATEBESE - Thursday, 4 May 2023, 10:19 PM

Nguni languages are similar and at times have different meanings in words.
Speaking with Tswana person and I am umXhosa. The Tswana would say "ke
lapile", meaning I'm tired. The Xhosa would say "ndilambile" , meaning I am hungry.
As a Xhosa person I brought food for my friend to eat only to find out I
misunderstood my friend. Language indeed can cause misunderstanding, as
mentioned above, different languages that sound the same and have different
meanings. Also, the words that are the same that differ in meaning.

The comment made by Nwabisa, is indeed very true, the Nguni languages are
similar but there is confusion with words which are almost similar but the meanings
are different. I mean this gets to show us how much we must appreciate each
others language and embrace them and learn from each other. Our languages are
interrelated and this is confirmed by words which are pronounced the same and
have different meanings based on the language spoken.

KATLEGO LETLHOGONOLO MANONE - Thursday, 4 May 2023, 3:26 PM

Language or the lack of knowledge of a language result in a direct

misunderstanding of a culture because to understand a culture one must be able
to communicate through that culture's language. In that instance I realized that
multi-lingual people bask in the advantage of understanding others better, have it
easier when conveying a message is involved and that there is power in closing
the gap of communication through language and learning different cultures.

I fully agree with Katlego’s comment, it is an advantage for every person to learn
and understand multiple language especially in a country where we have 11 official
languages. This reminds me of the time when I moved to Mpumalanga in 2010 at
that time the only languages, I knew fluently was Setswana and Northern Sotho.
Almost 90 percent of the colleagues I had were speaking Zulu, Ndebele and Xhosa
and they were prepared to learn my language as they could understand each other.
I started learning their language bit by bit and after a few months I did not look and
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thanks myself for not only being comfortable with my mother tongue but broaden
my understanding of other languages.

In a nutshell, it is important for all of us to learn and understand each other’s

languages and to ask each questions where we don’t understand.

4. Third Portfolio Activity

Family tree diagram

Paternal Family Tree Maternal Family Tree

Great GrandParents Great GrandParents

Steve Evelyn Petrus Anna Mogale

Seemela Seemela Mogale

GrandParents GrandParents

Joseph Sannah Lesetja Chancha

Seemela Seemela Mogale Mogale

My Dad My Mom

Frans Seliki Selina

Seemela Mogale-
Seemela

Lerato Seemela
Thato Seemela
(My sister)

Summary of both families

Paternal Family (Seemela Clan)
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I was only able to gather information from my father as his parents and
grandparents have passed on. The information shared is what he knows and his
parents had 4 children, 1 has passed on and three are still alive. We all speak
Northern Sotho and have about 12 grandchildren.

Maternal Family (Mogale Clan)

It was exciting to gather information on the Mogale Clan. My grandfather is still alive
and he is the only grandparent I am left with. He shared interesting stories about his
family origins dating back to the 1700s however I was only told to share from the
great grandparents. My grandfather and grandmother had about 11 children, 6
passed on including my grandmother and only 5 are still alive. They have a total of
26 grandchildren and we all speak Northern Sotho and a bit of Setswana.

Reflection on the process of creating the family tree and how it affected your
perception of your cultural identity.

Culture is a key emblem of a person's life and identifies the functional component of
their individual personality. My culture serves as a metaphor for my experiences by
expressing them through cultural language and generational values.

It was an enlightening experience to create a family tree. As I dove deeply into my

family history, I realized how complex and multifaceted the task of accumulating
information about my ancestors was. I had to contact distant relatives, search through
old documents and records, and piece together stories that had been handed down
from generation to generation.

I developed a better grasp of my cultural identity as a result of this process of

developing my family tree. I learned about my family's practices, traditions, and beliefs
that had been passed down for decades. I also learnt about the hardships, successes,
and transitions that transformed the lives of my ancestors.

Knowing who you are, especially in relation to your origins, culture, and traditions, may
open your eyes like nothing else. As a result of knowing so much about my ancestors
and becoming more familiar with our family history, I am now more aware of how
beautiful and unique I am to other people. I want to embrace my culture and traditions
and pass this knowledge down to my children. My sense of worth and belonging have
improved as a result of this learning curve. Since the information was imparted by the
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elders of both my families, I now understand what I am talking about when I discuss
the Mogale Clan and the Seemela Clan. The family is a great exercise for people to
understand their origins.

5. Forth Portfolio Activity

Comment 1
Hello, Nontsi. I had a traditional wedding because of cultural beliefs and the influence
they have on my marriage. When an African sees a life mate, the first thing to do is
pay a bride price (Lobola), and there are customs that must be followed during the
lobola negotiation in order for the family of your spouse to acknowledge that you know
who you are marrying. A traditional wedding is even less expensive in the Pedi culture
than a white wedding, and we frequently start with a traditional wedding before a white
wedding.

Comment 2
Hello, Phila. I go to church to praise and worship God however it does not mean that
because I go to church every Sunday, I have neglected my culture and ancestors.
Culture, traditions, and having a connection with God are all important. I think it is very
important to be in touch with religion and tradition, especially when you are young. So,
I think that appreciating our traditions helps you get closer to God because you can
see how deep our Christian practices go.

Comment 3
Hello, Peter. It is my personal decision to do ballet instead of rugby and I believe that
in order for us to be content with ourselves we need to make our own choices without
fear of society or other people judging you. Ballet for me is an excellent sport which
makes me happy and I do not see anything wrong with it. Ballet is a physical activity
driven sport and I enjoy the stretches and fitness levels it gives me. Everyone should
have the freedom to participate in any sport they choose, so long as they do not feel
discriminated against based on their gender. It is essential to observe that a man's
masculinity is not based on his ability or desire to play rugby. It involves more than
that; it involves empathy, respect, and personal development.

Final Reflection
1. Respecting linguistic and cultural diversity
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This module has taught me the value of appreciating and recognizing linguistic and
cultural diversity, not only in terms of the diversity of languages but also in terms of
comprehending the cultural context in which people use language. I was unaware of
the significance of interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds, but now
I believe I have a much better understanding. I have learned to appreciate and
embrace the cultures and linguistic diversity of others while maintaining my own
appreciation.

I now understand how critical it is to appreciate the historical and cultural roots of
language and its meaning. This means that I need to be aware of the language and
cultural context of the people I am speaking with so that I do not misunderstand or
misinterpret their statements. Knowing the variety of phrases, pronunciations, terms,
and slang that exist in the world's languages and cultures will help me communicate
and comprehend individuals from all walks of life. AFL1501 is a thought-provoking
module since it challenges students intellectually while also altering their view and
perspective in terms of culture and languages.

In a nutshell, showing linguistic and cultural respect means appreciating the unique
contributions of the many languages and cultures that make up our society and
realizing that people's uniqueness play an important role in shaping their sense of self.
We may enrich our lives and create a more accepting society by learning from and
appreciating one another's unique perspectives and viewpoints.

2. Appreciation of your linguistic and cultural background

The AFL1501 module has forced me to reflect more deeply on who I am and precisely
what components of my linguistic identity are significant. This is an assessment of the
degree to which my family and cultural experiences influenced my identity and
personal growth. I now realise that my linguistic and cultural history has shaped who I
am and had a big impact on my beliefs, attitudes, and behaviour. Since it promotes
diversity, tolerance, and respect for each other, it is important to recognize and value
the contributions that many linguistic and cultural groups have made to society and
communities in general. Appreciating one's own language and culture helps keep
traditions, knowledge, and ways of life alive that might otherwise be lost to time. So, I
value my language and culture because they give me a sense of joy and give me the
chance to learn from others and make communities stronger.
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In order to improve my interpersonal relationships in everyday circumstances, I have

learned how to show knowledge of and sensitivity to linguistic and cultural diversity.
Additionally, this module has given me the necessary abilities, competencies,
attitudes, and values to engage respectfully with people from other cultural
backgrounds while respecting my own linguistic and cultural heritage in relation to
those of others.

3. Conclusion

This portfolio has helped me realize that language is more than just a means of
communication; it is also a way for people to demonstrate and display their culture and
identity. Learning other people’s languages is also vital in that when you go to other
areas where the other language is more prevalent that your language, you need to
acclimatise yourself with the language and converse open-mindedly without worrying
about whether people understand you or not. In this instance one breaks a barrier of
misunderstanding and knows that the people that he talks to are able to understand
him clearly and this tells you how important it is to have a broader understanding of
the different languages.

This module has changed my perspective in terms of the different cultures and
languages and the key takeaways for me is to learn more languages particularly
Xitsonga as it is also part of my maternal family. I now know the importance of
embracing each other cultures, traditions, and languages and how they also assist in
cementing relationships particularly in our communicates, the societies that we live in
as well as all the places that we go to.
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References:

1. Nwabisa Matebese.2023. AFL1501 Assessment 1.

2. Katleho Letlhogonolo Manone. 2023. AFL1501 Assessment 1.
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PLAGIARISM DECLARATION

1. I know that plagiarism means taking and using the ideas, writings, works or inventions
of another as if they were one’s own. I know that plagiarism not only includes verbatim
copying, but also the extensive use of another person’s ideas without proper
acknowledgement (which includes the proper use of quotation marks). I know that
plagiarism covers the use of material found in textual sources and from the Internet.

2. I acknowledge and understand that plagiarism is wrong.

3. I understand that my research proposal must be accurately referenced.

4. This research proposal is my own work. I acknowledge that copying someone else’s
research, or part of it, is wrong, and that submitting identical work to others constitutes a
form of plagiarism.

5. I have not allowed, nor will I in the future allow anyone to copy my work with the
intention of passing it off as their own work.

6. I confirm that I have read and understood UNISA’s Policy for Copyright and Plagiarism
- https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Apply-for-admission/Master%27s-&-
doctoral-degrees/Policies,-procedures-&-forms

Name: Thato Peter Seemela Student No:49786849

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