Author: Dimakatso Mathe (SADiLaR Sesotho sa Leboa researcher)
English summary at the end and full English blog to follow on our Escalator blog end of August.

Lenaneo la go dira diphatišišo le akaretša go tsitsinkela sengwalo ka leihlo la ntšhotšhonono ka maikemišetšo a go utulla se monyakišiši a ratago go se nepiša. Le ge go le bjalo, go na le tšeo leihlo la nama le ka šitwago go di lemoga ge sengwalo seo e le se setelele. Go fa mohlala, modiro wa go bala gore leina la moanegwa yo a itšego le tšwelela gakae sengwalong sa padi, e ka ba se sengwe seo leihlo le ka šitwago go se phethagatša. Ka mahlatse, sedirišwa sa go swana le Voyant[1], se ka phethagatša modiro wo ka ponyo ya leihlo le go go fa dipoelo tša go kgodiša tšeo di nepagetšego. Voyant ke sedirišwa sa inthanete seo se tsebjago kudu morerong wa dithuto tša botho tša ditšitale (Digital Humanities). Moreromogolo wa sedirišwa se ke go nolofatša modiro wa go fetleka tshedimošo, ka maikemišetšo a go fihlelela goba go tiišetša kgopolo yeo e itšego ya phatišišo. Sona se thuša go bea pepeneneng diteng tša tshedimošo ya sengwalo tšeo di ka gogago šedi ya monyakišiši ntle le go badišiša sengwalo go tloga mathomong go fihlela mafelelong. Ntlha yona ye o fetšago go e bala, re tla boela go yona mafelelong a sengwalo se gore re e otlolle.

Seswantšho se se tšwelelago ka fase, se swailwe ka ditlhaka tša go tloga go A go fihlela go E, gomme tšona di laetša tše dingwe tša dikarolo tša Voyant tše di ka dirišwago go fetleka tshedimošo. Tšona ke cirrus (A), reader (B), trends (C), summary (D) le contexts (E). Therišano ya rena e tla ithekga ka tšona dikarolo tše di boletšwego gomme ra tsopola ka boripana mešomo goba mehola ya tšona. Diteng tše di lego ka seswantšhong se sa Voyant di tšerwe kanegelong yeo e phatlaladitšwego ke Nal’ibali inthaneteng [2]. Yona e tsentšhitšwe ka go sedirišwa sa Voyant ka mokgwa wa go ngwatha diteng tša sengwalo gomme tša pharwa ka go Voyant, ke gore “cut & paste”.

Seswantšho sa Voyant

Mohola wa karolo ya cirrus yeo e swailwego ka tlhaka ya A seswantšhong, ke go hlagiša goba gona go bonagatša mantšu ao a tšwelelago gantši go feta a mangwe sengwalong. Mantšu ao a tšweleditšwe ka mebala ya go fapana ebile re lemoga gore ke a magolo kudu ge a bapetšwa le mantšu a mangwe ao a hlagišitšwego. Ge o batametša ntlhanakhomphuthara (mouse pointer) kgauswi le mantšu ao a hwetšagalago ka go cirrus, o tla kgona go bona gore lentšu leo le tšwelela gakae swengwalong seo. Gona fao, re lemoga gore lentšu le “Temo” ke le lengwe la mantšu ao a tšwelelelago gantši sengwalong. Se ga se makatše ka ge moanegwathwadi wa kanegelo e le Temo, gomme ditiragalo tša kanegelo di dikuloga godimo ga gagwe. Seo ke sona se hlolago gore a fele a tšwelela kgafetša kanegelong ka ge e le moanegwathwadi.

Ge re gatela pele, karolo ya reader, yeo e swailwego ka tlhaka ya B seswantšhong sa rena, yona mohola wa yona ke go kgontšha monyakišiši (goba modiriši wa Voyant) go bala sengwalo go ya le ka mokgwa wo se tšwelelago ka gona. Ka mantšu a mangwe, diteng tša kanegelo di alwa go tloga mathomong go fihla mafelelong go ya le ka mokgwa wo di tšwelelago ka gona sengwalong. Go swana le karolong ya cirrus, ge o batametša ntlhanakhomphuthara godimo ga lentšu le lengwe le le lengwe, go tšwelela tshedimošo ya go laetša gore lentšu leo le tšwelela gakae sengwalong.

Karolo ya trends, ye e laeditšwego ka tlhaka ya C, ke kerafo ye e laetšago bontši bja mantšu go ya le ka moo a tšwelelago dikarolong tša sengwalo. Mebala ya methalokerafo e nyalelana le ya mantšu ao a tšwelelago ka go cirrus. Le ge a mangwe a mantšu ao a tšwelelago go feta a mangwe a ka tšweletšwa ka mebala ya go swana, bjale ka ge re bona mantšu[3] a “a” le “ba” a tšweletšwa ka talalerata seswantšhong, ge o batametša ntlhanakhomphuthara godimo ga mothalokerafo, o tla hwetša tshedimošo ka botlalo mabapi le lentšu le mothalokerafo o le emetšego. Go feta fao, go na le mapokisana ka godimo ga methalokerafo ao a bontšhago gore mebala ya methalokerafo e emetše mantšu afe.

Karolo ya D, yeo e lego summary, yona ke kakaretšo ya tshedimošo ya sengwalo ka ge e itlhaloša. E laetša palomoka ya dingwalwa tše di fetlekwago (ke se setee mo lebakeng le), palomoka ya mantšu ao a hwetšwago sengwalong (1 092), nako yeo tshedimošo e tsentšhitšwego ka go sedirišwa sa Voyant (e hlamilwe gona bjale), gammogo le palomoka ya mantšu ao a hlamago mafoko (bontši bja mafoko a sengwalo se a bopša ke mantšu a 13). Ka go le lengwe, contexts ye e swailwego ka tlhaka ya E le yona e laetša lentšu le le tšwelelago ka bontši. Ga go felele fao, se se ikgethilego ka yona ke gore e laetša sekafoko se se tšwelelago ka go la nngele le sa ka go la go ja ga lentšu leo. Ka go realo, e laetša tšhomišo ya lentšu leo ka go utulla dikafoko tše di panago mmogo le lona lentšu leo.

Go na le dikarolo tše dingwe tša Voyant tšeo re sego ra bolela ka tšona sengwalong se, ebile o hlohleletšwa go ikgwathela tšona maitekelong a gago a go ithuta le go šomiša Voyant. Ke tše dintše tše Voyant e ka di dirago, eupša go na le tšeo e ka se go direlego tšona. Se se re bušetša ntlheng ye e kgwathilwego matsenong mabapi le bokgoni bja Voyant bja go utullela monyakišiši tshedimošo ya go tanya šedi ntle le go badišiša sengwalo go tloga mathomong go fihla mafelelong. Voyant e kgona go bala palo ya mantšu sengwallong eupša seo e ka se kego ya se dira ke go go utullela moko goba morero wa sengwalo. Se se laetša gabotse gore go tloga go le bohlokwa gore o ipalele sengwalo le go kwešiša diteng tša sona gore o kgone go hlatholla tswalano magareng ga mantšu ao a tšwelelago kudu sengwalong bjale ka ge go tšweleditšwe seswantšhong. Ka mantšu a mangwe, Voyant e ka se go direle phatišišo eupša go molaleng gore e tla go nolofaletša morero wa go dira phatišišo. Ge o na le kgahlego ya go ithuta kutšwana ka ga Voyant, o se ke wa diega go ikgokaganya le SADiLaR gore o dire kgopelo ya go fiwa tlhahlo ntle le tefo. Gore o hwetše tshedimošo ka botlalo mabapi le go dira kgopelo ya tlhahlo ya Voyant go tšwa go SADiLaR, kgotla mo.

[1] Gore o fihlelele sedirišwa sa Voyant, kgotla mo https://voyant-tools.org/

[2] O ka fihlelela sengwalo se go bolelwago ka sona go https://nalibali.org/story-library/multilingual-stories/temo-le-mahodu-dimela

[3] Lemoga gore mo sengwalong se, lereo le mantšu/lentšu le šomišwa ntle le go šetša gore ke karolo efe ya sehlophantšu goba mohuta ofe wa sekantšu. 

English summary

This blog provides a general overview of Voyant tools, as an open source tool for digital textual analysis. The Sesotho sa Leboa text based on a basic narrative is extracted from Nal’ibali and used for illustration in the discussion of basic functions of five Voyant features, namely cirrus, reader, trends, summary, and contexts. In closing, it is emphasised that Voyant tools are no substitute for extensive (comprehensive) reading and in-depth analysis of the text but rather useful tools to assist researchers or users to arrive at a particular interpretation of the text. Further details regarding the procedure of requesting for a free workshop are provided through a link (click here) for interested parties to reach out to SADiLaR.

(How is working from home treating you?)

Blog by: Andiswa Bukula (SADiLaR isiXhosa researcher)

This blog looks at the dynamics of working from home, the little habits that we have gained over time from working from home for over a year.

Author: Rooweither Mabuya (SADiLaR isiZulu researcher)

Lala ngokuphumula Hlanga lomhlabathi. Bayede! Wena WeNdlovu!

His Majesty King Zwelithini was the longest serving monarch of the Zulu kingdom, with close to half a century on the throne. On December 3, 2021, His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu would have celebrated 50 years since his coronation in 1971, as Isilo of the Zulu people of South Africa. The name Zwelithini literally means, (What does the world have to say?”). His majesty was born on July 14, 1948, the eldest son of Paramount Chief Cyprian Bhekuzulu and his second wife, Thomozile Jezangani kaNdwandwe. He was educated at the Bhekuzulu College of Chiefs and then privately tutored. He lived at his father's official residence at Khethomthandayo and received formal instruction in traditional Zulu customs. He was installed as the eighth monarch of the Zulu kingdom at a traditional ceremony at Nongoma on 3 December 1971.

Image by: JMK - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=96651000

The king was a strong steward and custodian of Zulu traditions and customs. King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu played a crucial role in cultural programs and initiatives aimed at promoting social cohesion among the diverse groups in the KwaZulu-Natal province. The late monarch can be described as a repository of culture. He not only defended and advanced the interests of the Zulu people but advanced their culture, customs, the traditions and a deep sense of identity.

His majesty king was a leader who encouraged health education, especially as a strong ally of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in the fight against HIV/AIDS and in South Africa’s response to COVID-19.

King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu’s wise leadership will be remembered forever. He will be sorely missed.

Uwile umuthi omkhulu.

PHUMULA NDLONDLO ENOPHAPHE EKHANDA

Lala ngokuphumula Hlanga Lomhlabathi. Bayede! Wena WeNdlovu!

ISilo Samabandla Inkosi uZwelithini nguye obuse isikhathi eside kunawo wonke amakhosi ombuso wakwaZulu, ucishe wahlanganisa iminyaka engamashumi amahlanu esesihlalweni sobukhosi. Ngomhla ka-3 kuDisemba ka-2021, iSilo Samabandla inkosi uGoodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu ubezohlanganisa iminyaka engamashumi amahlanu esesihlalweni kusukela abekwa ngonyaka ka-1971 njengenkosi yamaZulu eNingizimu Afrika. Igama elithi Zwelithini lisho ukuthi, (izwe lithini?”). ISilo Samabandla sazalwa ngomhla ziyi-14 Julayi 1948, siyizibulo leNkosi Enkulu u-Cyprian Bhekuzulu kunkosikazi wakhe wesibili, uThomozile Jezangani kaNdwandwe. Wafunda Ekholiji iBhekuzulu (Bhekuzulu College of Chiefs) emva kwalokho wafundiswa ngasese ekhaya. Wayehlala esigodlweni sikayise esisemthethweni kwaKhethomthandayo wafundiswa ngamasiko nezinkambo zakwaZulu. Wagcotshwa njengenkosi yesishiyagalombili yombuso wesizwe samaZulu emcimbini wosiko owawubanjelwe kwaNongoma ngomhla ka-3 kuDisemba ka-1971.

Umfanekiso ngu: JMK - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=96651000

ISilo Samabandla bekuyigosa ebibhekelele kakhulu amasiko nezinkambo zesizwe samaZulu nokugcinwa kwawo. Inkosi uZwelithini kaBhekuzulu ubedlala indima enkulu nebalulekile mayelana nezinhlelo zamasiko nokuqalisa izinhlelo okuhloswe ngazo ukuthuthukisa ubumbano emiphakathini ehlukahlukene esifundazweni saKwaZulu-Natali. Le nkosi esikhotheme ingachazwa njengenqolobane yamasiko nemikhuba yakwaZulu. ISilo Samabandla asigcinanga ngokuvikela kanye nokuthuthukisa izintshisekelo zesizwe samaZulu kuphela kodwa sathuthukisa ngisho namasiko aso lesi sizwe, nemikhuba yaso kanye nesintu saso ngenhloso yokuthi sizazi njengesizwe samaZulu.

ISilo Samabandla Inkosi bekungumholi obegqugquzela imfundiso yezempilo, futhi ubebambe iqhaza elikhulu nelibalulekile ohlelweni lukaMongameli olubizwa nge-President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (okuyi-PEPFAR) nasekulweni negciwane i-HIV/AIDS kanye nasendleleni iNingizimu Afrika ebhekana ne-COVID-19 ngayo.

Uwile Umuthi Omkhulu.

Benito Trollip & Deon du Plessis

Leestyd: 4 minute | 4 minute read

English follows Afrikaans. This is SADiLaR’s first blog post available in its entirety in two languages – multilingualism!