A sociolinguistic analysis of gratitude expressions in Tshivenḓa

Abstract

This article presents a sociolinguistic analysis of gratitude expressions in Tshivenḓa, focusing on two gift-giving scenarios: a birthday gift exchange between friends; and a gift given to a sibling on the completion of their studies. Drawing on Brown and Levinson’s politeness theory, this research investigates how Tshivenḓa speakers manage positive and negative face in these culturally significant interactions. Through a qualitative approach, data were collected from 20 Tshivenḓa speakers via semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. The findings reveal that gratitude expressions in Tshivenḓa are heavily influenced by cultural norms, social expectations and the nature of the giver-receiver relationship. Themes such as politeness strategies, the negotiation of face and the interplay of gender and age emerge as key factors shaping these expressions. The article contributes to cross-cultural communication research by enhancing the understanding of how gratitude is conveyed within the Tshivenḓa-speaking community and by exploring the broader implications for politeness theory in verbal behaviour related to gift-giving.