Slang Shot

Thank you guys so much for all of your positive feedback about my last post; it is comments like those that make me feel that this blogging experience is worthwhile for everyone invloved.

And while I promised you guys a discussion of more serious issues in this post, I think I will have to pass for the time being. Work has been keeping me fairly busy, and I really would like to do the topic of social and racials inequalities in SA justice when I finally get around to it.

So, a quick lesson in South African slang will have to suffice for the time being:

Braai
A barbeque, or to barbeque. Interestingly, they do know the word barbeque, but it refers exclusively to the sauce.

Broer (Pronounced 'Brew')
Exquivalent to bro, mate, homies, etc.

Hey
Used for emphasis at the end of sentences. Example: "

Howzit (also "Hoesit")
One of the most typical, South African greetings I have encountered. Short
for "How is it?"

Lekker (also pronounced "Lekka")
An Afrikaans word meaning excellent, sweet, nice (a la Borat), etc. This word is used by all language groups to express approval.

Robot
A traffic light. I can't seem to get any good explanation for this one.

Takkies
Sneakers, trainers, running shoes.


As for pronunciation, South African English can be distinguished from American English through a few important distinctions. However, one sound more than any other separates the accent in South Africa from that of any other country.

The sound of the letter 'i', in America pronounced as a dipthong 'ah-EE', is prononuced 'ah' in South Africa. The word like become lahke and try become trah. I'm not sure if that will make sense to you guys, but I'll try to explain it another way; it sounds as though South African English speakers have taken the letter at and squashed it - flattening the sound almost entirely.

Oh yeah, and there are lots of native Zulu speakers in Durban. In fact, the social worker who usually works on the computer next to me speaks Zulu all day long to her clients/patients. There are lots of clicking sounds in the Zulu language, which makes it a real treat to listen to day in and day out.

I'm off to a wildlife preserve for the weekend, but I'll catch up with you guys when I get back - hopefully with some excellent picture. Peace.