Sociolinguistic insights into Tshivenḓa epitaphs: Structure, euphemism, and cultural reflection

Abstract

This study analyses the linguistic features of Tshivenḓa epitaphs, focusing on their morpho-syntactic structures, use of euphemisms, and sociolinguistic dimensions, including gender, age, and social status. While much research has explored language use in various cultural texts, a significant gap remains in scholarly attention towards how Tshivenḓa epitaphs uniquely reflect community values and the interplay of language and social identity in memorialisation practices. Addressing this gap, this study examines how gender morphemes, honorific titles like Vho, and euphemistic expressions function in epitaphs to convey respect, mourning, and cultural beliefs about death. Using a comprehensive linguistic and sociolinguistic analysis, the study reveals that Tshivenḓa epitaphs are not only informative records, but also culturally rich texts that navigate grief and social identity through language. The findings contribute to both Tshivenḓa language documentation and broader comparative research on memorialisation linguistics, highlighting the need for further cross-cultural studies of epitaph practices.