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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Naming the Pandemic: Semantic and Ethical Foundations of HIV/AIDS Shona Vocabulary
Authors:Mashiri, PedzisaiISNI
Mawomo, KennethISNI
Tom, PatrickISNI
Year:2002
Periodical:Zambezia (ISSN 0379-0622)
Volume:29
Issue:2
Pages:221-234
Language:English
Notes:biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:Zimbabwe
Southern Africa
Subjects:AIDS
sociolinguistics
Shona language
Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
language
vocabulary
HIV infections
AIDS (Disease)
Morphology
External link:https://d.lib.msu.edu/juz/766/OBJ/download
Abstract:This paper investigates the names that the Shona-speaking people in contemporary Zimbabwe create and use in casual communication on HIV/AIDS; the message transmitted through these names; and the ethical motivation for preferring these names to the English term HIV/AIDS. The findings are based on a survey carried out in Harare between April 2001 and May 2002, through observation and interviews. The names that Shona speakers give to HIV/AIDS are based on the source of the disease, its physical symptoms, and its impact. The paper refers to the Shona names as indirect verbal strategies that take the form of euphemisms, metaphors, colloquial expressions and slang. However, the motivation for preferring an indirect communication mode is best understood in the context of the notions of politeness that govern human interaction and speech on issues pertaining to sex, illness and death in Shona society. Bibliogr., notes, sum. [Journal abstract, edited]
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