And because we never give you a day off, today’s weekend homework is in the Xhosa of native tongues on International Language Day.
Anyone who has had the pleasure of visiting South Africa and done their prep will know about the unique throat-clicking Xhosa lingo.
Which is spoken as a first language by 8 million people and as a second language in South Africa.
Particularly in Nelson Mandela’s Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Northern Cape and Gauteng, and also in parts of Zimbabwe and Lesotho.
Which try as you may, or badger your guide Seseko, you will almost certainly never be able to master.
One of the many joys of visiting foreign shores is learning a few words in the local lingua.
Always a better idea than holding up two fingers and shouting slowly ‘Beero’ at a Spanish waiter like some we could mention.
Parla Italiano
Of course sometimes you can overreach.
Just as this cretino did on a family holiday to La Citta Eterna.
When I tried out some of the Italian I had learned in my conversational language class.
And greeted the concierge as we would come back at night with a cheery…
‘Bueno Notte e sogni d’oro’.
Which I only learned on my return from Il Bel Paese when my bewildered teacher Donata asked me how I’d got on means…
‘Good night and dreams of gold’.
Bangladeshi bangers
Now every day should be an International Language Day but seeing that it’s today a history lesson… see, we do work you.
ILD has been around since 1999 but had its origins in the Bangladesh freedom fight of 1952 when they were known as East Bengal.
And the now Bangladeshis were pushing for recognition of their Bengali language as an official central state language instead of a provincial language.
So, if you’re reading and I know you will be Ms Bangladesh Asmery from Barbados days, this one’s for you.
And Seseko… and here’s how to speak Xhosa. Good luck.
