COLONIALITY OF POWER AND RESISTANCE IN SOME INTERRACIAL TOPONOMASTIC TRANSPHONOLOGIES IN ZIMBABWE

Abstract

This paper engages the theory of coloniality of power in analysing the implications of trans-phonological toponymic distortions in the context of colonial Zimbabwe. The paper argues that toponyms are part of people’s cultural identity as they form part of a collective cultural memorabilia. Their distortion, therefore, compromises their critical symbolic function. This paper uses a qualitative approach for collection and analysis of the data. A total of 33 transphonologies were collected through interviews, observations, and document reviews. Of these, 15 that deviate significantly from their linguistic etymons are analysed through etymological analysis and historical toponym reconstruction. The paper uses a functional linguistics approach to address issues related to power in toponomastic transphonologies. The analysis establishes that there are coloniality of power matrixes in English transphonologisation of indigenous toponyms aimed at acculturation and de-historicisation. The paper also establishes that the Zimbabwean colonials also used transphonologisation on imposed English toponyms as anti-colonial resistance. The lack of effort by both coloniser and colonials to get the pronunciation of the toponyms correct is either colonial arrogance or decolonial disobedience. The transphonologies achieve onomastic erasure through meaning alterations that are either done through meaningless renditions or a change in meaning towards a different lexeme.