Tag: iSonto

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Linguistics / ubuLimi

Hidden isiZulu – ukuSonta

When one language comes into contact with another, the collision or contact results in certain changes – new words are adopted from either side of the binary, usually to represent concepts that didn’t occur before the contact. In the case of isiZulu, the verb ukusonta is one of them. Ukusonta means ‘attend a Christian religious […]

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izinkumbulo / memories Linguistics / ubuLimi

izinSuku zeSonto – Days of the Week

Dambuza (my step-son) is learning the days of the week in isiZulu. So, in the heat of a late Friday evening, unable to sleep, we’re sitting on the floor of his room. And I have my left hand up, the palm towards me. “So, siyaqala ngesandla sobunxele. We start with the left hand. Specifically, we […]