Part of
Gender and Language in Sub-Saharan Africa: Tradition, struggle and changeEdited by Lilian Lem Atanga, Sibonile Edith Ellece, Lia Litosseliti and Jane Sunderland
[IMPACT: Studies in Language, Culture and Society 33] 2013
► pp. 233–251
Edited by Lilian Lem Atanga, Sibonile Edith Ellece, Lia Litosseliti and Jane Sunderland
[IMPACT: Studies in Language, Culture and Society 33] 2013
► pp. 233–251
Chapter 11. Gendered linguistic choices among isiZulu-speaking women in contemporary South Africa
This paper addresses how young Zulu women choose two different isiZulu varieties, isiTsotsi and isiHlonipho, in order to construct ‘modern’ and ‘traditional’ femininities in South Africa. Based on semi-ethnographic data gathered over a period of six years (2004–2010), the paper explores how isiZulu-speaking females make use of the two linguistic varieties and what significance and implications these choices have in terms of gender dynamics. It is argued that speaking isiTsotsi signals linguistically that ‘traditional’ Zulu femininity is rejected while making use of an isiHlonipho lexicon endorses this very femininity. The research also highlights the context-dependent nature of linguistic gender constructions and contributes to the study of African femininities.
Cited by
Cited by 3 other publications
Leap, William L.
2020. Language, Sexuality, History. In The Oxford Handbook of Language and Sexuality, 
Leap, William L.
2020. Circulations, Accumulations, and Superdiversity. In Language Before Stonewall, ► pp. 301 ff.
Stell, Gerald
2020. Urban Youth Style or Emergent Urban Vernacular? The Rise of Namibia's Kasietaal. Language Matters 51:2 ► pp. 49 ff.
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