Emerging Traditions: Toward a Postcolonial Stylistics of Black South African Fiction in English

by Vicki Briault Manus

Overview

The book, an academic monograph, is a comprehensive study of the socio-linguistics of black South African literature in English from its beginnings, grounded in historical and political change as befits a postcolonial approach, with the inherent struggles between language and power. Its innovation is that it traces stylistic devices used by successive generations of black writers back to such sources as African orature, indigenous cultures and languages, and indigenization and creolization of South African languages.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739148075
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	05/19/2011
Pages:	348
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Vicki Briault Manus is associate professor at the University of Stendhal Grenoble 3, France.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Chapter I: A Period of Optimism (1795-1910): Literacy as the Path to Equality
Chapter 3 Chapter II: Disillusionment Sets In (1910-1948): Black Englishmen and Urban Natives: First Signs of Indigenization
Chapter 4 Chapter III: Under Control (1948-1960): Tsotsis, Tough-talking Journalists from the Urban Ghetto and the Post-Creole Continuum
Chapter 5 Chapter IV: Dislocation (1960-1976): Colored or Creole? Writing 'Between Two Fires' in the Sixties
Chapter 6 Chapter V: Deadlock (1976-1990): The Old is Dying and the New Cannot be Born
Chapter 7 Chapter VI: Breakthrough (1990 and after): Multiple Identities and "Emerging Traditions"
Chapter 8 Conclusion

Editorial Reviews

Manus's linguistically attentive study is a valuable reminder to literary critics not only to return to the language of the text, but also to take seriously the practice of translation—including, crucially, same-language translation—in a culture of daunting and challenging heterogeneity.

Research in African Literatures

Briault’s comprehensive study of the socio-linguistics of black South African writing, firmly grounded in historical and political change, is nothing short of groundbreaking. Innovative and well-written, it traces stylistic devices through insightful discussions of African orature, indigenization, and creolization of European languages. Illuminating, and a pleasure to read.

Zoë Wicomb

Briault’s comprehensive study of the socio-linguistics of black South African writing, firmly grounded in historical and political change, is nothing short of groundbreaking. Innovative and well-written, it traces stylistic devices through insightful discussions of African orature, indigenization, and creolization of European languages. Illuminating, and a pleasure to read.

Zoë Wicomb

Manus's linguistically attentive study is a valuable reminder to literary critics not only to return to the language of the text, but also to take seriously the practice of translation—including, crucially, same-language translation—in a culture of daunting and challenging heterogeneity.

Research In African Literatures