A Linguistic Landscape in Motion: the SeSotho/SeBirwa of Gwanda Promotion and Visibility, a Case of Green Horse (Pitsi Etala) Bus Company

Liketso Dube

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Chapter 12 A Linguistic Landscape in Motion: the SeSotho/SeBirwa of Gwanda Promotion and Visibility, a Case of Green Horse (Pitsi Etala) Bus Company

In: Subversion, Resistance and Contestations

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Liketso Dube

Liketso Dube
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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 241–261

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004744493_013

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Abstract

This chapter views the absence of streets, avenues and buildings with SeSotho/SeBirwa names as onomastic exclusion that can lead to the world thinking that the presence of SeSotho/SeBirwa in Zimbabwe is nothing but a claim; yet there is a sizeable population of proud BaSotho/BaBirwa in the southern part of the country. The prevailing language situation cannot be fully appreciated without giving the ‘national language policy’ background that bears the ‘footprint’ of the Doke Report of 1931 despite several policy documents, such as the Education Act of 1987 and its different revisions that were to follow. The report in question sidelined all the other languages except for English, Shona and Ndebele. Governments of the independent Zimbabwe have renamed streets and buildings in most urban centres, but Gwanda seems to have been an exception. One would expect SeSotho/SeBirwa to be visible within the Central Business District of Gwanda Town, but it is not the case. Interestingly, SeSotho/SeBirwa is visible on buses of a company that plies rural Gwanda South, especially the areas where SeSotho/SeBirwa is predominantly spoken. Of interest to this chapter is how the idea of SeSotho/SeBirwa labels on the buses came about and how helpful it is as a tool to promote and improve the visibility of SeSotho/SeBirwa in Gwanda. The analysis of the role of ergonyms as revolutionary vehicles for promoting minority languages is central to this chapter. The linguistic landscape concept anchors this chapter. The data was collected by visiting the Green Horse Bus Company garage and interviewing the company’s proprietor and the ticket inspector at the company.

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Subversion, Resistance and Contestations

The Politics of Names and Naming in Zimbabwe

Series: African Social Studies Series, Volume: 50

Cover Subversion, Resistance and Contestations

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004744493

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 26 Nov 2025

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Chapter 12 A Linguistic Landscape in Motion: the SeSotho/SeBirwa of Gwanda Promotion and Visibility, a Case of Green Horse (Pitsi Etala) Bus Company

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Subversion, Resistance and Contestations

The Politics of Names and Naming in Zimbabwe

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