Patroonmatighede in die struktuur en algemene inhoud van Afrikaanse Jakkals-en-Wolf-trieksterverhale

Abstract

Research problem - This research revolves around the problem: Which characteristic/repetitive pattern formations can be identified in the structure and general content of selected Afrikaans Jakkals en Wolf (Jackal and Wolf) trickster stories. Research aims - Originating from the problem, the primary aim of this research is to identify the structural and content related patterning in the telling of Afrikaans Jackal and Wolf stories in general as well of those particular to the trickster tale/story. The secondary aim of the research is to identify the localisation relating to general content and structure within stories. Research methodology - The structural elements, structural patterns, variation patterns and content were investigated. In order to theorise these patterns, it was necessary to analyse the stories syntagmatically and paradigmatically. For the former, particularly Bremond's (1977) action logic was utilised to analyse the action in the stories. The actantial model of Greimas (1966) was used for the paradigmatic analysis of stories and methods of story telling. Existing structural models of the folk tale, oral story, trickster tales and Jakkals en Wolf were also used in the analysis. Examples from the corpus of stories were used to illustrate and substantiate findings. The corpus consists in short out of sound recordings recorded by a project team lead by Du Plessis (1987:8-14), recordings which was done by the researcher in the Murraysburg district in June 2010; Jakkals-en-Wolfstories, told by Dana Niehaus (Niehaus, 2011) as well as stories out of the volumes Die Kaskenades van Jakkals en Wolf (Rousseau, 2011), Die mooiste Afrikaanse sprokies (Grobbelaar en Verster, 2007) and Jakkals en Wolf (Grobbelaar en Verster, 2011). Findings - It was found that unique patterning formations could be identified by the analysis of the corpus Afrikaans oral Jakkals en Wolf trickster tales represent in this study, and that both Bremond's action logic and Greimas's actantial model add value to describing structure in stories. A consequence of this is that greater appreciation is created in the analyses of stories.