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We are heading down the home stretch on the April A to Z Blog Challenge this week. Only three letters left, Plonkers.
Today's letter is X, which is always a difficult one.
My Southafricanism for today is :
Xhosa is on of the official languages of South Africa. Like most Bantu languages, Xhosa is a tonal language,
that is, the same sequence of consonants and vowels can have different
meanings when said with a rising or falling or high or low intonation.
One of the most distinctive features of the language is the prominence
of click consonants; the word "Xhosa" begins with a click.
Former President Nelson Mandela was a Xhosa speaker.
This unique language is best described in song by the talented Miriam Makeba performing The Click Song or Qongqothwane.
Enjoy it - its catchy.
3 comments:
I bet someone learning the language would say things wrong all the time.
I still can't get the clicks right... Incredible language
I remember first hearing Miriam back in the early sixties and I became a fan. Pata pata was never off BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service)and it persuaded me to buy her album. The 'Click' song was on that album too. Wish I'd never given it away.
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