ZUL1507 Communicative Competence in isiZulu - Complete Course Notes

Introduction to Applied African Language: isiZulu (ZUL1507)

Official Languages and Classification

• Official Languages of South Africa: The South African constitution recognizes $11$ official languages. Nine of these are African languages belonging to the "Bantu languages" family spoken south of the Sahara.
• Language Groups:     * Nguni: Includes isiZulu, isiXhosa, isiNdebele, and Siswati.     * Sotho: Includes Sesotho sa Leboa (Sepedi), Sesotho, and Setswana.     * Xitsonga.     * Tshivenḓa.
• Mutual Intelligibility: Languages within the Nguni group are mutually intelligible; for example, an isiZulu speaker can understand isiXhosa.
• Geographic Distribution: IsiZulu is spoken predominantly in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng (especially Johannesburg), and parts of the Free State.
• Cultural Contact: The presence of Khoisan words and click sounds in isiZulu indicates early contact and shared culture between isiXhosa and Khoisan people.

The Grammatical Structure of isiZulu

• Noun Class System: The structure is based on noun classes. Every noun belongs to a specific class determined by its prefix (e.g., abantu belongs to the aba- class, also known as Class $2$).
• System of Concords: A concord links the noun to the verb or qualificative.     * Example: Abantu bayafunda (The people are reading). Here, abantu is linked to the verb -funda by the concord ba-.
• Agglutinating Language: Parts of a word (morphemes) are combined rather than written separately. A single word can represent a whole sentence.     * Example: Basazomtshela (They will still tell him/her), which consists of the morphemes: ba-sa-zo-m-tshel-a.

Speech Sounds of isiZulu

Vowels

• a: Similar to "a" in English bark (e.g., ubaba).
• e: Two pronunciations:     1. Like "e" in red when followed by high vowels i or u (e.g., -thengile).     2. Like "ei" in heir when followed by a (e.g., letha).
• i: Similar to "ee" in knee (e.g., mina).
• o: Two pronunciations:     1. Like "o" in sore when followed by a (e.g., bona).     2. Like "o" in low when followed by i or u (e.g., bonisa).
• u: Similar to "oo" in fool (e.g., ufudu).

Semi-vowels and Consonants

• w: Like "w" in wool.
• y: Like "y" in yet.
• f: Like "f" in fix.
• v: Like "v" in veterinarian.
• sh: Like "sh" in sharp.
• tsh: Ejective sound like "ch" in cheque.
• th: Aspirated sound like "t" in tea.
• t: Ejective sound, abrupt and sharp like Afrikaans "t" in tog.
• ph: Aspirated like "p" in pin.
• p: Ejective like "p" in speak.
• kh: Aspirated like "c" in cat.
• k:     1. Like "g" in get between vowels.     2. Ejective like Afrikaans "k" in kop.
• g: Like "g" in gun (delayed voicing).
• b: Implosive sound; air is drawn into the mouth after opening the lips (e.g., ubaba).
• bh: Like "b" in boy (delayed voicing).
• h: Voiceless like "h" in hand; occasionally like Afrikaans "g" in gaan.
• hh: Voiced version of the voiceless "h".
• hl: Lateral sound; air flows out the side of the tongue.
• dl: Voiced version of "hl".

Clicks

• c (Dental click): Tongue tip touches upper teeth, sides suck against the roof, then the tip is drawn away. Sounds like a sucking sound of a drinking calf.
• q (Palatal click): Tongue tip touches the palate. Sounds like a popping cork of a champagne bottle.
• x (Alveolateral click): Tongue tip touches the teeth ridge (alveolus). Air is drawn in at the side of the tongue. Sounds like a sound made when irritated.

Tone and Length

• Tone: Refers to the speed of vocal cord vibration (high vs. low). It can change meaning (e.g., uyaphi? with high tone u means "he/she is going," while low tone u means "you are going").
• Length: Always occurs on the second to last (penultimate) syllable of the word or the last word in a sentence.     * Example: Sawubona (length on "bo"). In Sawubona mfana wami, length is on "wa".

Learning Unit 1: Greeting (Ukubingelela)

Vocabulary for Greetings

• yebo: yes; cha: no.
• ubaba: father; umama: mother; udade/usisi: sister; ubhuti/umfowethu: brother.
• uthisha: teacher; umnumzane: gentleman/sir; inkosikazi: married woman; intombi: young lady; insizwa: young man; umngane: friend.
• mina: I; wena: you (singular); thina: we; nina: you (plural).
• Sawubona: Hello (singular); Sanibonani: Hello (plural/polite).
• Unjani?: How are you? (singular); Ninjani?: How are you? (plural/polite).
• Ngikhona: I am well/present; Sikhona: We are well/present.
• Sala kahle: Stay well (singular); Salani kahle: Stay well (plural).
• Hamba kahle: Go well (singular); Hambani kahle: Go well (plural).
• Uxolo: Excuse me.

Cultural Etiquette

• Greeting is essential in Zulu tradition; it is ill-mannered not to greet friends or strangers when passing.
• The person who arrives first should initiate the greeting.
• Forms of Address (Vocatives): Nouns drop their initial vowels when used in direct address (e.g., umama becomes mama).
• Plurality and Respect: The plural form is often used to address one person to show high respect (polite form). It also implies concern for the person's whole family.

Dialogue and Interaction

• Greeting one person:     * Phindi: Sawubona Themba! Unjani?     * Themba: Yebo, sawubona Phindi! Ngikhona, wena unjani?
• Greeting a superior: Use the plural/polite form: Sanibonani mnumzane! (Good day, sir!).
• Enquiring about well-being: Alternatives include Uphila kanjani?, Kunjani kuwe?, Usaphila? (Are you still well?).

Self-Introduction (Ukuzazisa)

• Question: Ungubani? (Who are you?).
• Structures:     * Ngingu- (I am…)     * Ungu- (You are…)     * Singo- (We are…)     * Ningo- (You are - plural…)

Learning Unit 2: My Family (Umndeni Wami)

Identification Questions

• Ngubani lo?: Who is this? (used for persons).     * Structure: Add y- before nouns starting with i-; add ng- before nouns starting with a-, o-, or u-.     * Example: Yindodakazi yami (It is my daughter).
• Yini lokhu?: What is this? (used for animals and objects).     * Example: Yinja (It is a dog); Ngumuthi (It is a tree).

Noun Class Table

Learning Unit 3: What Are You Doing? (Wenzani?)

Vocabulary for Actions

• -vuka: wake up; -geza: wash; -dla: eat; -phuza: drink; -pheka: cook; -sebenza: work.
• -funda: learn/read; -fundisa: teach; -bhala: write; -cula: sing; -ya: go.
• -enza: do/make.
• ekuseni: in the morning; manje: now; namhlanje: today.

Present Tense Forms

• Subject Concords (SC):     * mina (I): ngi-     * thina (we): si-     * wena (you sg.): u-     * nina (you pl.): ni-
• Long Form vs. Short Form:     * Long Form: Includes -ya- and is used when the verb ends the sentence. Example: Ngiyasebenza (I work).     * Short Form: Used when the verb is followed by an object or adverb. Example: Ngidla manje (I eat now).

Question Words

• -ni? / ini?: What? (refers to objects). Often attached to the verb: Ufunani? (What do you want?).
• ubani?: Who? (refers to persons).

Learning Unit 4: Days of the Week (Izinsuku Zesonto)

Days of the Week

• Msombuluko: Monday.
• Lwesibili: Tuesday.
• Lwesithathu: Wednesday.
• Lwesine: Thursday.
• Lwesihlanu: Friday.
• Mgqibelo: Saturday.
• Sonto: Sunday.
• Note: To say "on" a specific day, use the prefix ngo- (e.g., ngoMsombuluko).

Subject Concords for Classes

• Class $1/1a$ ($u-$): u-
• Class $2/2a$ ($aba-/o-$): ba-
• Class $3$ ($umu-$): u-
• Class $4$ ($imi-$): i-
• Class $5$ ($i(li)-$): li-
• Class $6$ ($ama-$): a-
• Class $7$ ($isi-$): si-
• Class $8$ ($izi-$): zi-
• Class $9$ ($in-$): i-
• Class $10$ ($izin-$): zi-

Learning Unit 5: Negation and Weather

The Negative Present Tense

• Formula: a- + Subject Concord + Verb Stem ending in -i.     * Positive: Abafana baphuza (The boys drink).     * Negative: Abafana abaphuzi (The boys do not drink).
• Vowel Separation Rules:     * Use -y- between a- and i-: Indoda ayiphuzi (The man does not drink).     * Use -w- between a- and u-: Awudlali (You do not play).     * Class 1 (umu/u) Exception: Uses the prefix aka-. Example: Ufuna umuthi → Akafuni umuthi.

Weather Expressions (Izulu/Ilanga)

• Izulu linjani?: How is the weather?
• Liyana: It is raining.
• Liyashisa: It is hot; Liyabanda: It is cold.
• Lihle: It is fine; Libi: It is bad.
• Lipholile: It is cool; Libalele: It is sunny.
• Liyaduma: It is thundering; Liwisa amatshe: It is hailing.

Learning Unit 6: Restaurant and Locatives

Formatting Questions

1. Tone change: Shorten the last word and change intonation.
2. Add na?: Added to the end (e.g., Uyafunda na?).
3. Add yini?: Added to the end (e.g., Uyafunda yini?).

Instrumental Prefix (nga-)

• Expresses "with," "by means of," "on," or "in."
• Vowel Merging:     * a + i > e: nga + ithekisi = ngethekisi (by taxi).     * a + u > o: nga + uLwesibili = ngoLwesibili (on Tuesday).     * a + a > a: nga + amandla = ngamandla (with strength).

Locatives (Place Names)

• Prefix e-: Added to the front (e.g., isitolo → esitolo).
• Prefix e- and Suffix -ini: Used for most nouns (e.g., isikole → esikoleni).
• Prefix ku-: Used for people (e.g., kuSarah - with/to Sarah).
• Prefix kwa-: Used for a place of residence or business (e.g., kwadokotela - at the doctor's place).

Learning Unit 7: The Bank and Possession

Infinitives (uku-)

• Used to express "to [verb]" (e.g., ukudla, ukuhamba).
• Usage: Often follows verbs like thanda (like) or funa (want). Example: Ngithanda ukukhuluma (I like to speak).

Possession (-na-)

• Positive: Subject Concord + -na- + Noun (with vowel merging).     * Example: Nginemoto (I have a car; na + imoto).
• Negative: a- + Subject Concord + -na- + Noun (no vowel merging, initial vowel of noun is dropped).     * Example: Anginamoto (I don't have a car).
• There is/are: Kukhona or Kuna-. Negative is Akukho or Akuna-.

Learning Unit 8: Past Tense (Recent and Remote)

Recent Past/Perfect Tense

• Refers to recently completed actions.
• Long Form (-ile): Used at the end of the sentence. Example: Ngisebenzile (I have worked).
• Short Form (-e): Used when followed by other words. Example: Izolo ngifune umsebenzi.

Remote Past Tense

• Refers to actions completed some time ago.
• Formula: Subject Concord + a (e.g., ngi + a = nga-, ba + a = ba-, u + a = wa-).     * Example: Ngonyaka odlule ngafuna umsebenzi (Last year I looked for a job).

Stative Verbs

• Indicate a state in the present, though formatted like the perfect tense.     * -lele: asleep; -khathele: tired; -lambile: hungry; -hlezi: seated; -gcwele: full.

Learning Unit 9: Negative Past and Object Concords

Negative of Past Tenses

• Both Recent and Remote past negatives use the suffix -anga.
• Formula: a- + Subject Concord + Verb Stem + -anga.     * Positive: Ngiye ekhaya (I went home).     * Negative: Angiyanga ekhaya (I didn't go home).

Object Concords (OC)

• Links the object noun to the verb to avoid repetition. It directly precedes the verb stem.
• Specific Object Concords:     * Cl 1/1a: -m(u)- (if person) or -wu- (if object).     * Cl 2: -ba-; Cl 5: -li-; Cl 7: -si-; Cl 9: -yi-.     * Personal: mina = -ngi-; wena = -ku-; thina = -si-; nina = -ni-.

Learning Unit 10: Future Tense

Positive Future Tense

• Uses -zo- (imminent) or -yo- (distant/certain) after the SC.     * Example: Ngizobhukuda (I shall swim).
• Vowel/Monosyllabic Verbs: Use -zoku- or -yoku-.     * Example: Izulu lizokuna (It is going to rain).

Negative Future Tense

• Replace -zo- with -zu- (or -zuku- for monosyllabic stems).     * Positive: Abantwana bazoya.     * Negative: Abantwana abazukuya.