CLANS
CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 3
3.1 INTRODUCTION
3.2.1 RESEARCH METHODS
There are two research methods that will be used in the collection of data: the quantitative (analytical) and the qualitative (descriptive) methods. Research entails verbal descriptive practices which include oral inquiries, questionnaires, interviews and observational information.
htlp:trochim.human.comell.edu.lkb/sampprob.htmdiscusses Multi-Stage Sampling,
research to address our sampling needs in the most efficient and effective manner possible. By combining differe~t sampling methods one is able to achieve a rich variety of probabilistic sampling methods that can be used in a wide range of social research contests.
Denzin (1994:2) discussed the qualitative research as a multimethod in focus, involving an interpretative, and naturalistic approach to its subject matter. Denzin (1994) further states that qualitative research means that qualitative researchers study things in their natural settings, attempting to make sense of, or interpret phenomena in terms of the meanings people bring to them. Therefore, qualitative research involves the studied use and collection of a variety of empirical materials, case study, personal experiences, introspective, life story, interview, observational, historical, interactional and visual texts that describe routine and problematic moments in individual's lives. Therefore, again, qualitative research is a field of inquiry in its own right as it crosscuts disciplines, fields and subject matter (Denzin 1994: 1-2),
Though qualitative research as a process, goes by a variety of different labels, including theory, method and analysis, ontology, epistemology and methodology, as processes of data collection shall be considered. Finally, the data collected using the qualitative methods has been considered, weighed and critically discussed to . come up with strong and valid conclusions based on propositions, which are later considered true episteme. (See Ngubane 2000:81 and Denzin 1994:11).
3.2.2 QUALITATIVE DATA COLLECTION
Generally speaking, qualitative data, in the form of words rather than numbers, have always been the staple of certain Social Sciences, notably Anthropology, History, and Political Science. More and more researchers in fields with a traditional quantitative emphasis (psychology, sociology, linguistics, etc.) have shifted to a more qualitative paradigm. Qualitative data are attractive. They are a source of well grounded, rich descriptions and explanations of processes occurring in local contexts. With qualitative data one can preserve chronological flow, assess local
findings and know new theoretical integrations; they help researchers go beyond initial preconception and frameworks. The findings of qualitative studies have a quality of undeniability, (Miles 1984: 15). Mile (1984: 15) further states that collecting data is a labor-intensive operation, traditionally lasting for months if not years.
The qualitative data collection has been conducted using random sampling in the Thafamasi (KwaShangase) area where the people of the Shangase tribe are mostly found. Appendix 1.1 - 1.2.l4 - Interview copies list of amakhosi, princes and their families at eNsingweni area. The data collected has been transferred from generation to generation and from father to son. This is how the authors personal experience has been accrued. Appendix 1.2.l3 concerns Vethe's family - Nsongeni area names have been collected. Appendix 1.2.15 -1.12.16 - Ikhohlo family - names have been collected at Nhlabakanye area. Other areas are: Appendix 1.2.3 Maqadi family - eMgibeni area, Appendix 1.2.7 Sohlozi family - eNsingweni area and Appendix 1.2.9 Mthubi's family - eMashobeni area.
The data was collected from paterfamilias and materfalias from the main house of uMnumzane (the region iNduna) who is a traditional leader in his area since interview questions were traditional in order to suite their style. The data was collected from sixteen areas. Twenty families in each area were visited, choosing twenty respondents, men and women. Data was further collected from youth just to test their insight and also for purposes of variation of ideas. Fifteen to twenty samples of youth members were interviewed, especially, for youth personal names and names of educational centers, namely, Thafamasi, Mbuyeni, Zimpondeni, and Nsingweni, (Appendix 2.7). It is also interesting for the author to note that some of the adult and youth samples are illiterate and cannot be useful when they are interviewed, they can not easily understand the question, therefore, no correct answers were received.
Throughout the list of appendix of personal names, it has been realized that the youth, both boys and girls have a duplication of names, should the stem not be the same, definitely, the extensions e.g. -il-, -iw-, -W-, is attached and also in most cases their names are compound nouns (see Appindix 1.1 - 1.2.16). it could also be
noted that data is not universally popular. This means that data represent bits of descrete infonnation extracted from their contexts. The word data conjures up images of some kind of knowledge factory where raw materials are processed to manufacture products. For instance, the interpretive researchers may formulate their research questions as a result of new material they have collected or change their sampling strategy in response to new findings.
3.2.3 INTERVIEWING
Conducting an interview is a more natural form of interacting with people, than making them fill out a questionnaire, do a test or perform some experimental task.
Interview provides an opportunity to know people quite close and to understand how they think and feel. Interviewing may have its own repercussions, that respondents answer questions they do not understand, therefore gave wrong information. Asking questions and getting answers is a much harder task than it may seem at first. The spoken or written word has always a residue of ambiguity, no matter how carefully we phrase the questions. Yet, interviewing is one of the most powerful ways we use to try to understand our fellow human beings (See Benney & Hughes 1956: 142). The most common type of interviewing is individual, face-to-face verbal interchange. This is the type of interviewing that has mostly been used in this work.
3.2.3.1 Structured Interviewing
Structured interviewing refers to a situation in which an interviewer asks each respondent questions with a limited set of response categories, (Densin 1994-363).
There is generally little room for variation in response except where an infrequent open-ended question may be used. The interviewer controls the pace of an interview by treating the questionnaire as if it were a theatrical script to be followed in a standardized and straightforward manner, (Denzin 1994:363). Car1smith (1976: 176) further states that the questionnaire is not appropriate when the investigation is specifically interested in the subject s' verbal responses and knows in advance exactly what questions he or she wants the subject to answer. He further
instructions and the questions are intelligible. In this thesis interviews formulated questionnaire answered by interviewees.
3.2.3.2 Random sampling
The size of samples depends on the number of areas, which in our case is 16 areas, from which twenty homesteads were chosen and from each homestead twenty samples of dependents were interviewed. Both adult and youth, literate and illeterate samples of dependents were interviewed. Adult and youth, literate and illeterate, and known and unknown informants were chosen. Out of twenty informants 10 were boys and the other 10 were girls. The length of interviews was between ten and twenty minutes each. The map of the area and the videocassette was found from the Traditional Affairs Office at Ndwedwe Magistrate's Court. The area of
"Thafamasi is situated in a rural area where there is no hospital, as a result, the
demographical recording of births was not easy with exception of few births at the Motala "Community Clinic.
The interview was conducted by the researcher himself to avoid the use of research assistants because of the complexity of such interviews. It was easy for the researcher to conduct interviews because the research was conducted in one area, and the researcher was a member of the community, it was easy to understand the language and culture of the respondents to avoid asking questions cross-culturally.
All the areas are highly populated, but the largest of them all is eNsingweni with a population of about 20000 - 30000 people who are the family members of Mshiyane's sons, Mnguni (iNkosi), Yiyi, Lusapho, Mthubi, Sohlozi, Maqadi and Vethe. From these interviews, a corpus of names from all regions was compiled with the help of a very brilliant and dedicated informant "Mr Khayelihle Lawrence Shangase". A corpus of praise names of "amakhosi" and some princess and their history and genealogy was included. (Appendix 1.1 and Appendix 3.1 and Chapter 2 &4)
3.2.3.3 Sample of the interview questionnaire
SECTION A
Questions concerning Personal Particular
1. What is your name and surname?
...
2. Who named you, and are you happy that you are called by this name?
3. Where do you stay?
4. Were you born and brought up here?
5. If yes, what are your parents' names?
6. If no, where have you been staying?
7. What is the name of iN kosi of this area?
8. What is the name of an iNduna?
9. What is the name of your regiment?
10. What is your highest Qualification?
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11. If schooling what are you studying for?
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12. Ifworking, what kind ofajob are you doing?
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13. Ifpensioned, what kind of job have you been doing?
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SECTIONB
1. What has been identified as changes from traditional names practices to Western naming practices from an ethnographical and ethnological perspective?
2. What morphophonological comparisons can be made in naming practices?
3. What influenced the cultural and historical background and language of the Shangase clan?
4. Every social group of people has certain norms of behaviour. How does this culturally and structurally affect the system of naming within the Shangase clan?
5. Since there are different language names, how are these names related, or can any system oftheir relationship be found within the Shangase clan?
6. From which parts of speech are different names (which are nouns) normally derived and what prefixal and suffixal elements are applied?
7. What poetic techniques can be used to analyse the personal praises of Royal Family Members and the ordinary people?
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CHAPTER 4
4.0. THE ANTHROPONYMIC SYSTEMS AND THEIR LINGUISTIC