An
Exclusive African Safari Tour through South Africa by Go2Africa.com| An
Exclusive African Safari Tour through South Africa by Go2Africa.com |
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| languages & cultures of south africa ... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Language | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| There are 11 official languages in South Africa: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Sotho (Sotho is only devided into Southern & Northern Sotho, when it comes to schools), Swazi, Tsongo, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu and Pedi. The English-speaking visitor will have no problem while travelling through the country. Below are a few words and phrases that have been translated into three of the country’s official languages – they should be helpful in most regions: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| English |
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Afrikaans |
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Zulu |
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Xhosa |
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| Good
morning Good afternoon Good evening Goodbye Thank you Yes My name is ... What is your name? Where is the nearest telephone? Show me the way to ... |
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Goeie môre Goeie middag Goeie naand Totsiens Dankie Ja My naam is ... Wat is jou naam? Waar is die naaste telefoon? Waar is ... |
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Sawubona Sawubona Sawubona Hamba kahle Ngiyabonga Yebo Igama lam ngu ... Igama lakho ngubani? Iphi itelefoni eseduzane? Ngikhombise umgwaqo oya ... |
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Molo Molo Molo Hamba kakuhle Enkosi Ewe Igama lam ngu ... Ungubani Igama lakho? Iphi imfonomfono ekufutshane? Ungandikhombisa indlela ekufutshane ... |
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| Culture | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The people
of South African are made up of many diverse cultures and hence it is known
as the Rainbow Nation. It has been a difficult task to unite the people
under laws that represent the traditions and beliefs of all groups. The
struggle to live together peacefully still continues, but South Africans
are generally optimistic about living in harmony with each other, as well
as the land that is so undeniably beautiful. Many cultures are represented within South Africa. 75% of the population is made up of black cultures such as the Xhosa, Zulu, Ndebele, Venda, Sotho and Tswana. Large groups of South Africans are of mixed-race and there are also many of Asian descent. White people make up a sizable minority and are of mostly British or Afrikaans (Cape Dutch) origin. African culture emphasises the philosophy of “ubuntu”. Ubuntu philosophy holds that all people should be treated with respect and dignity, because a person becomes a person through other people. The good of the community is held to be greater than the good of the individual because in the long-term, the one ensures the other. This is also a deeply religious philosophy, which emphasises solidarity and interpersonal relations. The ancestors are the people who have gone before while the living are who they are through the ancestors. Death is the ultimate homecoming, the completion of the circle. South Africans practise a variety of different religions. The major religions are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and African Traditional Religions. The new South African culture is one that emphasises the values of democracy, tolerance and understanding, but of course there are still aspects of the old South Africa that need to be overcome. Consequently, the modern South Africa is a vibrant mix of cultures and traditions, with influences from all over the world – Europe, Asia and Africa have all contributed to South African traditions, while the ubiquitous American pop culture has found favour especially amongst the youth. |
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