Semantic extensions of ziyakhala used on social media platforms in South Africa

Abstract

This study analyses the semantic extension ziyakhala (also written as ayikhale or azikhale), which is popularly used on social media platforms. Ziyakhala literally means ‘let it cry’, the root word is ‘khala’ which means to cry and the prefix ‘zi’ means ‘they’, ‘zi’ is also used as the plural form of pronouns and things. in English. For instance, it may be used in a statement that says ziyakhala izingane, which is loosely translated as ‘the babies are crying’. Ziyakhala was popularly used in June 2021 during the unrest related to the former president of South Africa, Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, and has been popularly used since. This study analysed the use of ziyakhala on social media platforms. Purposive sampling was used to collect data from Facebook and Twitter (X) to determine the various contexts in which ziyakhala was used. The data were analysed using content analysis. The study found that ziyakhala was used to describe several things associated with people’s feelings about situations they were going through, for instance, excitement over an achievement indicating something about to happen, an action to be taken or danger or trouble brewing. Ziyakhala has spread throughout the country in multiple language groups, to people of various age groups and from all walks of life.