Encoding technology in tradition: Artifacts in proverbs as indicators of Historical Technological Development in Northern Sotho in South Africa

Encoding technology in tradition: Artifacts in proverbs as indicators of Historical Technological Development in Northern Sotho in South Africa

Seleka Maria Tembane

Issue: Vol. 7 No. 9 2026 Article 8 pp. 1133 – 1143
DOI : https://doi.org/10.38159/jelt.2026798 Published online 11th November 2026.

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ABSTRACT

This study examines material artifacts referenced in Northern Sotho proverbs as indicators of historical technological development. It seeks to demonstrate how proverbs preserve knowledge of past technologies and material culture, addressing the scarcity of written records on Northern Sotho artifacts and their technological significance. Grounded in theories of material culture and ethnolinguistics, the study adopts a qualitative, interpretive research design. Proverbs containing references to material artifacts such as domestic tools, household items, agricultural implements and hunting tools were purposively sampled from secondary sources, including journals, books, dissertations, articles, and relevant websites. The analysis draws on folklore studies, linguistic and cultural history to interpret the cultural and technological meanings embedded in the proverbs. The findings reveal that material artifacts embedded in Northern Sotho proverbs reflect distinct stages of technological advancement, modes of production, craftsmanship, and social organization. Beyond their metaphorical and moral functions, these artifacts serve as historical markers that offer insights into everyday life and technological practices of past Northern Sotho communities. The study highlights the richness of indigenous oral literature as a reliable source for reconstructing technological history where written documentation is limited. The study recommends further research on the influence of material artifacts in proverbs on language development, symbolism, and metaphor formation, as well as comparative studies across other African languages. The study contributes theoretically by positioning proverbs as semiotic artifacts that mediate language, technology, and culture. It reinforces the value of indigenous oral literature as an important resource for understanding historical technological knowledge in African societies.

Keywords: Artifacts in proverbs, Material culture, Historical technological development, Indigenous knowledge systems, Oral literature.

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AUTHOR(S)

Dr. Seleka Maria Tembane is a Senior Lecturer at the University of South Africa (UNISA), where she teaches Sesotho sa Leboa at undergraduate and Honours levels. She supervises Master’s and Doctoral students. In her efforts to promote and advance multilingualism, she has undertaken translation work for various institutions, translating documents from English into Sesotho sa Leboa. Among her notable translation projects is the English translation of O.K. Matsepe’s Sesotho sa Leboa novel Megokgo ya Bjoko, published as Tears of the Brain. Dr Tembane’s areas of specialisation include terminology development, sociolinguistics, and traditional literature. She has presented scholarly papers at national conferences and has published extensively in accredited academic journals. Her academic service includes acting as an external moderator and examiner/assessor for several higher education institutions, as well as serving as a reviewer for accredited journals. She is a member of the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), where she serves as Chairperson of the Sesotho sa Leboa National Language Body, and she is also affiliated with the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SaDiLAR) as a Sesotho sa Leboa terminology quality assurer. Dr Tembane has published three articles in accredited journals and two book chapters, and has presented papers at SAFOS, ALASA and LSSA conferences.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Tembane, Seleka Maria. “Encoding technology in tradition: Artifacts in proverbs as indicators of Historical Technological Development in Northern Sotho in South Africa.” Journal of Education and Learning Technology 7, no.9 (2026): 1133 – 1143. https://doi.org/10.38159/jelt.2026798