Ted Thornton
Humanities II
South Africa Travel Study Program, Spring, 2009
Lorrie Byrom (World History) and Ted Thornton (World Religions)

Word List

Nadine Gordimer. July's People. New York: Penguin, 1981

Kraal (26) - Afrikaner word for enclosure for cattle or other livestock.

Euphorbia (26) -  type of plant common in SA.

Fah-Fee (31, 100) - South African gambling game imported by Chinese immigrants that involves translation of dreams into numerical representations. 

Herrenvolk (33) - "master race"

Mealie-meal (39) - South African corn meal.

Selous Scouts (40) - a special forces regiment of the Rhodesian Army which operated from 1973 until the introduction of majority rule in 1980. The regiment was named after British explorer Frederick Courteney Selous (1851-1917), and its motto was pamwe chete, which translated from Shona means "all together," "together only," or "forward together."

Pap (41) -  soft food for infants or invalids, as bread soaked in water or milk.

Fanagalo (45, 127) - a pidgin (simplified) language mixing Zulu, English, and Afrikaans.

Caught out (45) - suddenly and unexpectedly surprised or discovered.

Bakkie (5, 46) - generic name for any SA light delivery vehicle. 

Chrysalis (48) - Life stage of insects undergoing metamorphosis; pupal stage follows the larval stage and precedes adulthood.

Oedematous (78) - From edema;  flesh swollen with fluids.

Raconteur (79) - Narrator of interesting stories.

Mhani (81, 133) - "Mother."

Diuturnal (83) -  Lasting a long time.

Whingering (83) -  (ME) Complaining.

Xhosa (83) - Speakers of Bantu living in southeast SA.

Vleis (92) - Plural of vlei: a wetland or lake.

Donga (92) - ditch.

Braais (94) - plural of braai (rhymes with "cry"); SA barbecues.

Ihlekanhi (Uhlekani)(95) -  "What are you laughing at?"

Kibble (98, 105) - An iron bucket used in wells or mines for hoisting water, ore, or refuse to the surface.

Stippled (99) - engraved.

Haversack (102) - Bag worn over one shoulder.

En suite (103) - Set of two rooms.

Plaints (104) - Lamentations, protests.

Hubyeni (109) - Unknown

Kgotla (109) - a public meeting or council.

Induna (112) - Zulu title: "Advisor," "Great leader."

Wattle (113) - building material used for making walls: a woven lattice of wooden strips daubed with a sticky material usually made of some combination of wet soil, clay, sand, animal dung, and straw.

Doek (114) - Colorful piece of cloth African women wear as head gear.

Umlungu (117) - White man.

Baas (117) - SA term for "boss."

Nkosi (117) - SA term of respectful address to a superior.

Morema (117) -  Unknown

Hosi (117) -  SA "Chief."

Ama (119) - "people," as in "AmaZulu":  the Zulu people.

Ba (119) - "people" as in "Basotho":  the Sotho people.

Vir die huis.  Daardie dingus (130) -"For the house. That fool."

Veld (134) - wide open rural spaces in SA.

I promessi Sposi (138) -  Italian: "the betrothed."

Gumba-gumba (140) - type of record player.

Mi ta twa ku nandziha ngopfu, swi famba a moyeni. Ncino wa maguva lawa, hey - i…hey - i(141) - Untranslatable: (what is Gordimer's point or purpose here?)

Dropsical (131) - edema (swollen with fluids).

"come duze" (154) - "come dance."

Chuddering (157) -  chirping type sound. 

 

 

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email:   tthornton@nmhschool.org           lbyrom@nmhschool.org

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