Phonological and Semantic Variations in Tsonga Spoken in Zimbabwe and South Africa

Abstract Tsonga is a cross-border language spoken in South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Eswatini. This article focuses on variations of Tsonga spoken in Zimbabwe and South Africa. The aim of this article is to discuss the phonological and semantic differences between Tsonga spoken in South Africa and Zimbabwe using a comparative approach. Interviews were conducted among 20 Tsonga first language speakers from Zimbabwe and South Africa. Document analysis was also used. Labov's (1972) variation theory, which points out that there is variation in any given language, was employed. The article discusses differences in places of articulation of consonants found in certain lexical items, highlighting phonological processes such as labialisation versus palatalisation, velarisation versus labialisation, nasalisation versus non- nasalisation, and aspiration versus non-aspiration. Semantic variations are also discussed. It was found that there are phonological and semantic similarities and differences between Tsonga spoken in Zimbabwe and South Africa.