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Archiver > SOUTH-AFRICA > 2004-01 > 1073113553


From: "Steve Hayes" <>
Subject: RE: [ZA] Offical Languages
Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2004 09:05:53 +0200
References: <005801c3d1a0$817c85e0$896d65da@computer>
In-Reply-To: <MCBBIOBOIOEBGCGJBCEKIEECFBAA.braithwaite@telusplanet.net>


On 2 Jan 2004 at 21:21, C. Braithwaite wrote:

> Hi,
> Just to help you.
>
> The noun has a prefix and the prefix changes to whether it is singular or
> plural. The prefix also influences the verb.
>
> (isi) in this case would probably mean ("the" Zulu language - plural) as
> Zulu for one does not have a word for "the".

Not quite.

isi- is a singular prefix, and the plural is izi-

isilimi = language
izilimi = languages

isihlahla = a thicket
izihlahla = thickets

compare:

ihlahla = a bush
amahlahla = bushes

so a single bush is ihlahla
two or three are amahlahla
a lot of them in a thicket, or clump of bushes are isihlahla (singular)
more than one clump or thicket = izihlahla.

--
Steve Hayes
E-mail:
Web: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
Phone: 083-342-3563 or 012-333-6727

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