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Ndebele-English Dictionary Overview

The document provides information about the Ndebele language, including: - Ndebele is a Bantu language spoken in Zimbabwe and Botswana by the Northern Ndebele people. - It is closely related to and descended from the Zulu language, sharing over 85% of its lexicon. - The language has distinguishing features from Zulu such as differences in grammar, lexicon, and intonation. However, distinguishing it as a separate language versus a Zulu dialect is difficult. - The document outlines aspects of Ndebele phonology, grammar, and vocabulary to describe the key characteristics of the language.

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50% found this document useful (6 votes)
8K views3 pages

Ndebele-English Dictionary Overview

The document provides information about the Ndebele language, including: - Ndebele is a Bantu language spoken in Zimbabwe and Botswana by the Northern Ndebele people. - It is closely related to and descended from the Zulu language, sharing over 85% of its lexicon. - The language has distinguishing features from Zulu such as differences in grammar, lexicon, and intonation. However, distinguishing it as a separate language versus a Zulu dialect is difficult. - The document outlines aspects of Ndebele phonology, grammar, and vocabulary to describe the key characteristics of the language.

Uploaded by

Takudzwa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Ndebele Dictionary Information
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What is ndebele. Ndebele names and meanings. Ndebele to english dictionary. How to learn ndebele pdf. Ndebele words and meanings pdf.

An example search has returned 8 entries [Link] uses cookies to personalize content, tailor ads and improve the user experience. By using our site, you agree to our collection of information through the use of cookies. To learn more, view our Privacy Policy. [Link] uses cookies to personalize content, tailor ads and improve the user
experience. By using our site, you agree to our collection of information through the use of cookies. To learn more, view our Privacy Policy. Bantu language of Zimbabwe and Botswana This article is about the Ndebele language spoken in Zimbabwe. For the Ndebele language spoken in South Africa, see Southern Ndebele language. Northern
NdebeleMthwakazi NdebeleisiNdebeleRegionLimpopo, Matabeleland South in Zimbabwe; North-East District in BotswanaNative speakers4.7 million [1] (2023)[2]Language familyNiger–Congo? Atlantic–CongoVolta-CongoBenue–CongoBantoidSouthern BantoidBantuSouthern BantuNguniZundaNorthern NdebeleWriting systemLatin scriptOfficial
statusOfficial language in ZimbabweLanguage codesISO 639-1nd – North NdebeleISO 639-2nde – North NdebeleISO 639-3nde – North NdebeleGlottolognort2795Guthrie codeS.44[3]Linguasphere99-AUT-fk [Link] 99-AUT-fkato 99-AUT-fkdThis article contains IPA phonetic symbols. Without proper rendering support, you may see question
marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Unicode characters. For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA. The Ndebele LanguagePersoniNdebelePeopleamaNdebele (prev. Matabele)LanguageisiNdebele isiNdebele dictionary, 1910 Northern Ndebele (English: /ɛndəˈbiːliː/), also called Ndebele, isiNdebele saseNyakatho, Zimbabwean
Ndebele[2][4] or North Ndebele,[5][6] associated with the term Matabele, is a Bantu language spoken by the Northern Ndebele people which belongs to the Nguni group of languages.

As a start and to give some context, Ndebele is a term used to refer to a collection of many different African cultures in Zimbabwe. It perhaps by default became a 'language' (for lack of better word) spoken predominantly by the descendants of Mzilikazi.[7] As a language, it is by no means similar to the Ndebele language spoken in kwaNdebele in
South Africa although, like many Nguni dialects, some words will be shared. Many of the natives that were colonized by the Matabele were assimilated into Mzilikazi's kingdom to create a version of isiZulu. The Matebele people of Zimbabwe descend from followers of the Zulu leader Mzilikazi (one of Zulu King Shaka's generals), who left the Zulu
Kingdom in the early 19th century, during the Mfecane, arriving in present-day Zimbabwe in 1839. Although there are some differences in grammar, lexicon and intonation between Zulu and Northern Ndebele, the two languages share more than 85% of their lexicon.[8] To prominent Nguni linguists like Anthony Trevor Cope and Cyril Nyembezi,
Northern Ndebele is a dialect of Zulu. To others like Langa Khumalo, it is a language.

Distinguishing between a language and a dialect for language varieties that are very similar is difficult, with the decision often being based not on linguistic but on political criteria.[9][10][11] Northern Ndebele and Southern Ndebele (or Transvaal Ndebele), which is spoken in South Africa, are separate but related languages with some degree of
mutual intelligibility, although the former is more closely related to Zulu. Southern Ndebele, while maintaining its Nguni roots, has been influenced by the Sotho languages.[12] Phonology Consonants Northern Ndebele consonants Bilabial Labio-dental Dental/alveolar Post-alveolar/Palatal Velar Glottal central lateral Nasal plain m ⟨m⟩ n ⟨n⟩ ɲ ⟨ny⟩ ŋ
⟨ngh⟩ depressed mʱ ⟨m⟩ nʱ ⟨n⟩ ɲʱ ⟨ny⟩ ŋʱ ⟨ngh⟩ Plosive ejective pʼ ⟨p⟩ tʼ ⟨t⟩ kʼ ⟨k⟩ voiced b ⟨bh⟩ d ⟨d⟩ ɡ ⟨ɡ⟩ aspirated pʰ ⟨ph⟩ tʰ ⟨th⟩ kʰ ⟨kh⟩ prenasalized ᵐp ⟨mp⟩ ⁿt ⟨nt⟩ ᵑk ⟨nk⟩ prenasalized (vd.) ᵐb ⟨mb⟩ ⁿd ⟨nd⟩ ᵑɡ ⟨ng⟩ Affricate ejective tsʼ ⟨ts⟩ tʃʼ ⟨tj⟩ kxʼ ⟨kl⟩ aspirated tsʰ ⟨tsh⟩ tʃʰ ⟨tjh⟩ voiced dʒ ⟨j⟩ prenasalized ejective ⁿtsʼ ⟨nts⟩ ᶮtʃʼ ⟨ntjh⟩ ᵑkxʼ ⟨nkl⟩ prenasalized
voiced ᶮdʒ ⟨nj⟩ Fricative plain f ⟨f⟩ s ⟨s⟩ ɬ ⟨hl⟩ ʃ ⟨sh⟩ h ⟨h⟩ voiced (depr.) βʱ ⟨b⟩ vʱ ⟨v⟩ zʱ ⟨z⟩ ʒʱ ⟨zh⟩ (ɣʱ ⟨k⟩) (ɦ ⟨h⟩) voiced (non-depr.) β ⟨b⟩ ɮ ⟨dl⟩ (ɣ ⟨k⟩) prenasalized ᶬf ⟨mf⟩ ⁿs ⟨ns⟩ ⁿɬ ⟨nhl⟩ prenasalized (vd.) ᶬv ⟨mv⟩ ⁿz ⟨nz⟩ ⁿɮ ⟨ndl⟩ Sonorant plain w ⟨w⟩ r ⟨r⟩ l ⟨l⟩ j ⟨y⟩ depressed wʱ ⟨w⟩ lʱ ⟨l⟩ jʱ ⟨y⟩ Many consonant sounds may result in depressed (or breathy)
allophones. Alveolar consonants, t, d, and n, may have dentalized allophones of [t̪ʼ, d̪ , n̪ ]. Consonants k and h can result in allophones of [ɣ, ɣʱ] and [ɦ]. Ndebele /t͡ʃ/ generally correspond to Zulu /ʃ/.[11] Click consonants Northern Ndebele clicks Denti-alveolar Post-alveolar central lateral Click tenuis kǀ ⟨c⟩ k! ⟨q⟩ kǁ ⟨x⟩ aspirated kǀʰ ⟨ch⟩ k!ʰ ⟨qh⟩ kǁʰ ⟨xh⟩
depressed ɡǀʱ ⟨gc⟩ ɡ!ʱ ⟨gq⟩ ɡǁʱ ⟨gx⟩ nasalized ŋǀ ⟨nc⟩ ŋ! ⟨nq⟩ ŋǁ ⟨nx⟩ nasalized (depr.) ŋǀʱ ⟨ngc⟩ ŋ!ʱ ⟨ngq⟩ ŋǁʱ ⟨ngx⟩ In Northern Ndebele, there are fifteen click consonants. The five clicks spelled with a c [ǀ] are made by placing the tip of the tongue against the front upper teeth and gums, the centre of the tongue is depressed and the tip of the tongue is
drawn backwards. The resulting sound is similar to the sound used in English to express annoyance.[13] Some examples are cina (end), cela (ask).[14] The five clicks spelled with a q [!] are made by raising the back of the tongue to touch the soft palate and touching the gums with the sides and tip of the tongue. The centre of the tongue is depressed
and the tip drawn quickly away from the gum.
The resulting sound is like the "pop" heard when quickly removing the cork from a bottle.[13] Some examples are qalisa (start), qeda (finish).[14] The five clicks spelled with a x [ǁ] are made by placing the tongue so that the back of the tongue touches the soft palate and the sides and tip of the tongue touch the gums. One side of the tongue is quickly
withdrawn from the gums.[13] Some examples are xoxa (discuss), ixoxo (frog).[14] Vowels There are five vowel phonemes, written with the letters a, e, i, o, u. a is pronounced [a], approximately like a in father; e.g. abantwana (children) e is pronounced [ɛ] or [e], sometimes like e in bed; e.g. emoyeni (in the air) i is pronounced [i], like ee in see; e.g.
siza (help) o is pronounced [ɔ] or [o], sometimes approximately like o in bone; e.g. okhokho (ancestors) u is pronounced [u], like oo in soon; e.g. umuntu (person) Examples Months in Northern and Southern Ndebele English Northern Ndebele (Zimbabwe) Southern Ndebele (South Africa) Zulu (South Africa) January uZibandlela uTjhirhweni
uMasingane February uNhlolanja uMhlolanja uNhlolanja March uMbimbitho uNtaka uNdasa April uMabasa uSihlabantangana UMbasa May uNkwenkwezi uMrhayili UNhlaba June uNhlangula uMgwengweni UNhlangulana July uNtulikazi uVelabahlinze uNtulikazi August uNcwabakazi uRhoboyi UNcwaba September uMpandula uKhukhulamungu
uMandulo October uMfumfu uSewula uMfumfu November uLwezi uSinyikhaba uLwezi December uMpalakazi uNobayeni uZibandlela Grammar Ndebele grammar is similar to that of Zulu, with some distinct differences. Northern Ndebele is a Nguni language and is to some extent also mutually intelligible with Swati and Xhosa,possesses several click
sounds typical of Southern African languages the predominant language in the Eastern Cape. Nouns The Northern Ndebele noun consists of two essential parts, the prefix and the stem. Using the prefixes, nouns can be grouped into noun classes, which are numbered consecutively, to ease comparison with other Bantu languages. The following table
gives an overview of Northern Ndebele noun classes, arranged according to singular-plural pairs. Class Singular Plural 1/2 um(u)-1 aba-, abe- 1a/2a u- o- 3/4 um(u)-1 imi- 5/6 i-, ili- ama- 7/8 is(i)- iz(i)- 9/10 iN- iziN- 11/10 u-, ulu- 14 ubu-, ub-, utsh- 15 uku- 17 uku- 1 umu- replaces um- before monosyllabic stems, e. g. umuntu (person). Verbs Verbs are
marked with the following prefixes in agreement with the noun class of the subject and the object: Person/Class Subject marker Object marker 1st sing.
ngi- -ngi- 2nd sing. u- -wu- 1st plur. si- -si- 2nd plur.
li- -li- 1 u- -m(u)- 2 ba- -ba- 3 u- -m(u)- 4 i- -yi- 5 li- -li- 6 a- -wa- 7 si- -si- 8 zi- -zi- 9 i- -yi- 10 zi- -zi- 11 lu- -lu- 14 bu- -bu- 15 ku- -ku- 17 ku- -ku- reflexive -zi- While subject-verb agreement is obligatory, object marking is not, and only appears when the object is given in the discourse.[15] The object marker attaches closer to the verb root when it occurs
(with the following notations: A - augment vowel; 1 - class 1 nominal prefix, etc; 1s - class 1 subject agreement, etc; FUT - future; 1o - class 1 object marker, etc): ex:U-ThabaniA-1Thabaniu-za-yi-pheka1s-FUT-9o-cooki-nyamaA-9meatU-Thabani u-za-yi-pheka i-nyamaA-1Thabani 1s-FUT-9o-cook A-9meat"Thabani will cook the meat."[15] There is evidence
from Zulu that object markers are an evolution of pronominal clitics to be agreement markers,[16] which might also be the case for Northern Ndebele, given the linguistic similarity between the languages. See also Africa portalLanguages portal Matabele Zulu language Southern Ndebele language Provinces of Zimbabwe Matabeleland North
Matabeleland South Bulawayo References ^ ~:text=As%20a%20percentage%20of%20the,Ndebele%20as%20their%20mother%20tongue. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help) ^ a b Ndebele at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) ^ Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online ^ Mpofu, I. N. (2011). Sithini
isiNdebele? (1st ed.). Harare, Zimbabwe: Radiant Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-7974-4280-1. OCLC 755905987. ^ "Documentation for ISO 639 identifier: nde".
ISO 639-2 Registration Authority - Library of Congress. Archived from the original on 2017-12-22. Retrieved 2017-07-04. Name: North Ndebele ^ "Documentation for ISO 639 identifier: nde". ISO 639-3 Registration Authority - SIL International.
Archived from the original on 2017-11-01.

Retrieved 2017-07-04. Name: North Ndebele ^ Sibanda, Julius (2002). Isikithi (2nd ed.). Harare Zimbabwe: College Press. p. 7. ISBN 1779001371. ^ Langa Khumalo, “Language Contact and Lexical Change: A Lexicographical Terminographical Interface in Zimbabwean Ndebele,” Lexikos 14, no. 108 (2004). ^ Anthony Cope, “A Consolidated
Classification of the Bantu Languages,” African Studies 30, nos. 3–4 1971): 213–36. ^ Nyembezi, C.L.S., 1957. Learn Zulu, Cape Town: Shuter & SHooter ^ a b D.K. Rycroft “Ndebele and Zulu: Some Phonetic and Tonal Comparisons,” Zambezia, no. 2 (1980): 109–28. ^ Skhosana, Philemon Buti (2009). "3".
The Linguistic Relationship between Southern and Northern Ndebele (PDF).
Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-11-17. ^ a b c Shenk, J.R. A New Ndebele Grammar ^ a b c NorthernNdebele at [Link] ^ a b "The timing of agreement and A-movement in Ndebele - lingbuzz/005254". [Link]. Retrieved 2020-12-04. ^ Zeller, Jochen (June 2012). "Object marking in isiZulu". Southern African Linguistics and
Applied Language Studies. 30 (2): 219–235. doi:10.2989/16073614.2012.737600. ISSN 1607-3614.

S2CID 145587448. Further reading Bowern, Claire; Lotridge, Victoria, eds. (2002).
Ndebele. Munich: LINCOM EUROPA. ISBN 3-89586-465-X. Sibanda, Galen (2004). Verbal Phonology and Morphology of Ndebele (Ph.D.). University of California, Berkeley. Hadebe, Samukele (2002). The Standardisation of the Ndebele Language Through Dictionary-making.
University of Zimbabwe - University of Oslo. Skhosana, P.B. (2010). The Linguistic Relationship between Southern and Northern Ndebele. University of Pretoria: DLitt Thesis. External links Northern Ndebele language test of Wikipedia at Wikimedia Incubator Northern Ndebele for Beginners Speak Ndebele The History of the Ndebele People
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The mutual intelligibility between Northern Ndebele and other Nguni languages, such as Zulu and Xhosa, facilitates cross-cultural communication and understanding, fostering a sense of shared linguistic heritage. This interaction can strengthen cultural identity, promoting unity among Nguni-speaking populations by preserving common linguistic elements. However, it may also blur distinct cultural lines and identity nuances, posing challenges to individual cultural preservation. Such linguistic dynamics reflect broader sociopolitical implications where language policies and education can emphasize or de-emphasize mutual intelligibility as a way to navigate cultural identity within diverse societies .

Northern Ndebele and Zulu share a significant portion of their phonetic structures, with over 85% lexicon similarity, which facilitates mutual intelligibility. However, differences in click consonants and intonational features create variations. For example, Northern Ndebele uses /t͡ʃ/ where Zulu might use /ʃ/, affecting pronunciation and understanding. Despite these differences, the phonetic similarity, particularly in tonal and click consonant systems, allows basic communication between speakers, though nuanced understanding might require linguistic adjustment .

Click consonants in Northern Ndebele reflect a linguistic feature common in some Southern African languages, like Zulu and Xhosa, within the Nguni group. These clicks, represented as [ǀ], [!], and [ǁ], have undergone adaptations unique to Northern Ndebele, such as nasalized forms like ŋǀ (⟨nc⟩). Historically, clicks among Nguni languages likely resulted from deep-seated language contact and evolution, shared among variants through Bantu expansions and interactions with Khoisan languages, where clicks are predominantly found. The adaptation and variation in use illustrate cultural and historical linguistic crossover within the region .

Northern Ndebele and Zulu share similarities in their verbal morphology, especially in the use of prefixes for subject and object agreement. In Northern Ndebele, object markers attach to verbs closer to the root and are used contextually, similar to Zulu, where they evolved from pronominal clitics into agreement markers. For instance, in "U-Thabani u-za-yi-pheka i-nyama" (Thabani will cook the meat), the object marker -yi- agrees with the class 9 noun "inyama". This morphological structure is consistent across these Nguni languages due to their shared linguistic heritage .

Northern and Southern Ndebele are related languages, both belonging to the Nguni group, yet they have significant differences. Northern Ndebele is more closely related to Zulu, sharing over 85% of its lexicon, while Southern Ndebele shows influence from Sotho languages. These differences result in some degree of mutual intelligibility. While speakers can understand each other to an extent, communication complexities arise due to distinct phonological and grammatical variations, e.g., Northern Ndebele's closer relation to Zulu affects its sound system and vocabulary .

Northern Ndebele is characterized by a unique set of click consonants and phonetic variations that distinguish it from other Nguni languages. It incorporates aspirated and nasalized clicks, such as kǀʰ (⟨ch⟩) and ŋǀ (⟨nc⟩), and has phonetic allophones that include dentalized and depressed sounds. Additionally, alveolar consonants like t, d, and n have dentalized allophones, and sounds like k and h can evolve to [ɣ, ɣʱ] and [ɦ] respectively. Such features contribute to its distinct phonetic identity .

Noun classes in Northern Ndebele serve as a foundational grammatical feature that categorizes nouns based on their prefixation, impacting agreement and meaning. Each class, such as 1/2 um(u)-/aba- or 3/4 um(u)-/imi-, aligns nouns with particular grammatical rules governing verb agreement and pluralization. This system allows for nuanced classification and grammatical harmony in sentences, which affects not only syntactic structure but also semantic interpretation, as different classes can convey shades of meaning or focus .

The classification of Northern Ndebele as a language or a dialect is often influenced by political factors rather than purely linguistic criteria. Linguists like Anthony Cope and Cyril Nyembezi might classify it as a dialect of Zulu given their lexicon overlap, but others such as Langa Khumalo argue for its status as a distinct language. Socio-political factors, such as identity, cultural autonomy, and the role of language in nation-building, often dictate such classifications, reflecting the broader tendency to use language status as a tool for political representation and cultural expression .

In Northern Ndebele, the five vowel phonemes are pronounced with distinct sounds. They are a [a], e [ɛ] or [e], i [i], o [ɔ] or [o], and u [u]. The vowel 'a' is similar to the 'a' in 'father'; 'e' can sound like the 'e' in 'bed'; 'i' resembles 'ee' in 'see'; 'o' can approximate the 'o' in 'bone'; and 'u' is akin to 'oo' in 'soon'. These pronunciations offer phonetic parallels and contrasts to English vowel sounds, showcasing Northern Ndebele's unique phonological characteristics while demonstrating some overlap in sound production .

Northern Ndebele uses a system of noun classes, each associated with specific prefixes, to indicate the singular and plural forms of nouns. For example, the prefix um(u)- is used for singular nouns of class 1, while aba- or abe- is used for their plural counterparts in class 2. Similarly, class 3 nouns use um(u)- for singular and imi- for plural, highlighting a structured system of concord through prefixes that align with Bantu language traditions .

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