South African English

This afternoon, as I write this, the rest of the group - those who haven't already dropped out - are attending their IsiXhosa lesson. I was planning to start Afrikaans this afternoon, but there was a mix-up and they cancelled the lesson. I am giving up on IsiXhosa - it is just too hard and I am not using it anyway!

So here is some information on how English is spoken in SA. We all know that the Aussies have their special lingo - so do the South Africans!

Howzit? How are you?

Izzit? Really?

My bru - My brother

Just now - Sometime soon

Now now - Very soon

Yebo -Yes

Bakkie - Pick-up truck

Biltong - Dried meat/Jerky (very popular food - you can find it anywhere)

Tsotsi -Thief

Dorp - Small town

Doff - Stupid

Cherry - Girlfriend

Braai - Barbecue (also very popular!)

Takkies - Sneakers

China - friend

So much for useless information! But here is something really important: The South African National Anthem Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika is sung in four languages (Xhosa, Sotho, Afrikaans, and English) and when I heard it sung by that rainbow group of mostly young spectators at the University of Cape Town rugby game I attended, it was thrilling! The anthem was composed in 1897, adopted by the ANC and, of course, banned during apartheid.