Evaluative language includes any linguistic expressions (written or spoken) that may be perceived as conveying stances or attitudes (feelings and views) towards entities and people in the real world. It also utilises the material presented and the parties involved in the communicative exchange. The poetic text is that which utilizes numerous figures of style to provide emotions and feelings while respecting the criteria of the style of the author. Regarding Maphalla’s anthologies, several South African scholars have worked on his literary works from various literary approaches, but have not used appraisal theory in their analysis. The central aim of this study is to investigate, employing the appraisal framework, a theoretical tenant of systemic functional linguistics, the way language is used evaluatively in Sesotho in Maphalla’s poem, ‘Ditema’ (decoration patterns). This study maintains that there are more positive words used in this poem, indicating that the poet uses the judgement of social esteem, praising hard work and commitment and that there are also social sanctions in the poem, where the poet scorns laziness.

评价性语言包括任何可能被视为传达对现实世界中的实体和人的立场或态度（感受和观点）的语言表达（书面或口头）。它还利用所提供的材料和参与交流的各方。诗歌文本是在尊重作者风格标准的同时，利用众多风格人物来提供情感和感受的文本。关于马法拉的选集，一些南非学者从不同的文学角度研究了他的文学作品，但没有在他们的分析中使用评价理论。本研究的中心目标是采用评估框架（系统功能语言学的理论租户）调查 Maphalla 诗歌中塞索托语评价性使用语言的方式，'Ditema'（装饰图案）。本研究认为，这首诗中使用的正面词较多，表明诗人使用了社会尊重的判断，赞美努力和承诺，同时诗中也有社会制裁，诗人蔑视懒惰。