Vol. 53 No. 1 (2005)
Research Article

A minibus taxi by any other name, would it run as sweet?

PDF
  • Bertie Neethling
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1179/nam.2005.53.1-2.3

Published 2005-06-01

Copyright (c) 2005 Maney

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Abstract

This paper deals with the names of minibus taxis, a common and popular form of public transport in South Africa, particularly in an inner-city context. The data were collected in the Western Cape in the Cape Peninsula (around Cape Town) as well as in some areas of the Eastern Cape.

The names were bestowed by either the taxi owner or members of his family, the driver of the taxi, or by the commuters themselves. Most names are displayed either above the windscreen, on the back of the taxi, or at the door. In a few cases taxis are generally known by a name, although it is not displayed.

The motivation for bestowing a name varies, but some form of identification, commemoration, or a feature of the taxi or its owner, are common categories. The paper discusses these name choices in the minibus taxi industry.

PDF

References

  1. Cape Argus (Cape Town English daily) 16 September 2003
  2. Die Burger (Cape Town Afrikaans daily) 24 August 2004
  3. Ekpo, Monday U. 1978. ‘Structure in Ibibio names’ Names 26(3)
  4. Fourie, L.J 2003. Rethinking the formalisation of the minibus taxi industry in South Africa. Masters of Engineering (Technology Management) dissertation: University of Pretoria
  5. Grieshaber, N.J. 1990. ‘A Rolls by any other name...would it sell as sweet?’ Nomina Africana 4(2)
  6. Koopman, Adrian. 2002. Zulu Names. University of Natal Press: Pietermaritzburg.
  7. Kropf, Albert & Godfrey, Robert. 1915. A Kafir-English Dictionary. Lovedale Mission Press
  8. Leys, O. 1974. ‘Sociolinguistic Aspects of Namegiving Patterns’ Onoma 18(3)
  9. Neethling, Bertie. 2005. Naming among the Xhosa of South Africa New York: Mellen Press
  10. Nicolaisen, W.F.H. 1978. ‘Are there connotative names ?’ Names 26(1)
  11. Ntuli, D.B. 1999. ‘Bus naming as a communication strategy – A Swaziland experience.’ In African Mosaic. Festschrift for J.A. Louw. R. Finlayson (ed.) UNISA Press Pretoria
  12. Sawubona September 2004. SAA In-Flight Magazine
  13. Shakespeare, William. 1967. Romeo and Juliet. Penguin Books
  14. Van Niekerk, Johan. 1995. ‘Outosemantiek: Bemarkingstrategie en Linguistiekteorie.’ Nomina Africana 9(1)
  15. Voss, Tony. 1992. ‘Alligator to Zulu Dawn: a Taxonomy of Durban Buses.’ Nomina Africana 6(1)