Antropomorfisme by diere in die afrikaanse volkslied: 'n Analise van "Apie se bruilof"

Abstract

OPSOMMING: Die skaarste aan tradisionele Afrikaanse volksballades maak dit uit 'n volkskundige, kultuurhistoriese en akademiese oogpunt van belang dat dié wat wel opgeteken is, deeglik ondersoek en geanaliseer word. Die lied "Apie se bruilof", of, soos oorspronklik deur Melt Brink geskep, "Die bruilof van Miss Aap", bied baie stof vir analise, omdat dit die interessante tegniek van antropomorfisme gebruik. Dit is 'n tegniek wat uiters skaars is in Afrikaanse ballades, hoewel volop in kinderryme en -liedjies, sowel as in volksverhale. Die menslike rolle wat in die ballade aan diere toegeken word, is in hierdie ondersoek ontleed deur onder meer te probeer vasstel of daar spesifieke redes vir die spesifieke rolle is. Die ander twee elemente in die lied wat ondersoek word, is die samestelling van die refrein, wat spesifiek na die dansparty verwys, en die addisionele element van "nuttige resepte" wat in die ballade ingebring word deur middel van die spyskaart van die bruilofsfees. Die abstrakte "bestanddele' van die resepte is van diere-herkoms, wat dit laat inskakel by die gebruik van antropomorfisme, en die aanbied van ander diere en insekte op die spyskaart. ABSTRACT: From a folkloristic, cultural historical and academic perspective it is important to analyse the existing traditional Afrikaans folk ballads, because of the scarcity thereof. The song "Apie se bruilof" (The monkey's wedding), or, as titled originally by the author Melt Brink, "Die bruilof van Miss Aap" (The wedding of Miss Monkey), lends itself to thorough analysis, because of the technique of anthropomorphism that is applied - a technique very rare in Afrikaans ballads, though abundant in children's songs and rhymes, as well as in folk tales. In this ballad the human roles allocated to animals will be analysed by trying to establish, amongst other things, whether there are specific reasons for specific roles. The two other elements in the ballad that are investigated are the chorus, referring to the dance at the wedding, and the additional element of "useful recipes", brought into the ballad by the menu of the wedding dinner. The abstract "ingredients" of the recipes are of animal origin, which connects them to the use of anthropomorphism and the appearance of other animals and insects on the menu.