Do we really have semi-vowels, w [w] and y [j] in Tshivenḓa?
Nthambeleni Charles Ṋetshisaulu 
Issue: Vol.6 No.8 Article 15 pp. 1474 – 1479
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20256815 | Published online 11th July, 2025
© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Semi-vowels w [w] and y [j] are speech sounds that are difficult to accurately define in most African languages, with special reference to Tshivenḓa. The main purpose of this research study is to differentiate between semi-vowel sounds and gliding sounds in Tshivenḓa. The sounds that are supposed to semi-vowels in full are supposed to be called semi-vowels, semi-consonants. That on its own demonstrates that they can be used or function both as vowels and consonants in any given context but only in English. This is not the case in Tshivenḓa, where these speech sounds can be used both as vowels and as consonants. The researcher used Qualitative Research Methodology to gather and analyse non-numerical data to gain an understanding of individuals’ social reality, including understanding their attitudes, beliefs, and motivation. The researcher found that these two sounds are used as consonants since they are just like that in their nature. The nature of these two speech sounds leans on two places of articulation. hence these sounds look to be special, dual articulation sounds. This is also the character that makes them dominate other speech sounds when they are combined with them. In some cases, when they are articulated, they sound like speech sounds which precede the actual articulation of other speech sounds or word/s because of their palatability.
Keywords: Semi-vowels–semi-consonants, Gliding Sounds, Dual Sounds, Palatability
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Dr N. C Ṋetshisaulu is an authority in Tshivenḓa as a language, culture, and any other thing relevant to the language. He obtained his PhD from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa in 2012. He has been with the University of Venḓa since 1994. He attended his basic school at Shakadza Primary School. He attended his secondary at Malilele Secondary School were he passed matric in 1984. After matriculation and registered with the University of Venḓa in 1994. After he passed his Junior Degree and Honours Degree he registered with the University of Stellenbosch for Masters and thereafter registered his PhD at the University of Stellenbosch in 2009.
Nthambeleni Charles Ṋetshisaulu. “Do we really have semi-vowels, w [w] and y [j] in Tshivenḓa?,” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 6, no.8 (2025): 1474 – 1479. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20256815
© 2025 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
