Water as a metaphorical marker in Setswana and Afrikaans poetry

Abstract

The finding of this article is that water in poetry serves specifically as a marker of metaphorical information in the sense that it accentuates, continues and establishes relationships between elements of metaphorical constructions. To Raditladi and the Batswana in general, rain is compared to cattle, which provide and sustain life for the people. To Marais and the Afrikaner tradition in general, the wedding day is the beginning of a new life; the rain brings new life to the land. This article examines two poems in Setswana and Afrikaans. The aim is to analyse water images in the poems and make comparisons. This research study is informed by the multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary (MIT) research approach cutting across subjects, themes, concepts, ideologies, races and languages. This is a textual study with textual analysis as the methodology. It also employs critical discourse analysis and intertextuality as theoretical frameworks to analyse and interpret the data gathered.