SOUTH-AFRICA-L Archives

Archiver > SOUTH-AFRICA > 2004-01 > 1073114292


From: Patricia Frykberg <>
Subject: Re: [ZA] Offical Languages
Date: Sat, 03 Jan 2004 20:18:12 +1300
References: <3FF67F66.17951.8F3985E@localhost>


Thanks Steve.
Language is fascinating.
Pat
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Hayes" <>
To: <>
Sent: Saturday, 3 January 2004 07:37 PM
Subject: Re: [ZA] Offical Languages


> On 3 Jan 2004 at 15:21, Patricia Frykberg wrote:
>
> > That's interesting too.
> > the 'isi' before the name does it mean language or...?
> > So that if I was to refer to all these people would I use the name
isZulu etc
> > or just Zulu or is there another prefix?
>
> The prefix isi- in Zulu and Xhosa means the language. The people are
amaZulu
> and amaXhosa.
>
> In English the prefixes are usually dropped, and so one would write "the
Zulu
> language" or just "Zulu" if the contaxt makes it clear that it is the
> language one is talking about.
>
> For example, in English one would say "Do you speak Zulu?" rather than "Do
> you speak the Zulu language?" or "Do you speak isiZulu?" But of course in
> Zulu you would say "Ukhuluma isiZulu na?"
>
> In official lists of languages, of course, the prefixes are used, because
> each language is listed in its own language, and not in terms of another
> language. So English is "English", not "Engels" or "isiNgisi", and Zulu is
> "isiZulu" and not "Zulu" or Zoeloe". Afrikaans is not listed as
"isiBhunu",
> though that is what it is called in Zulu.
>
>
>
> --
> Steve Hayes
> E-mail:
> Web: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
> Phone: 083-342-3563 or 012-333-6727
>
>
> ==== SOUTH-AFRICA Mailing List ====
> *****************************************************************
> If you need a translation from Afrikaans into English please visit my
> website at http://home.global.co.za/~mercon/words.html for a list of
volunteers who
> are prepared to do translations for you.
>

This thread: