A guide to South Africa’s 12th language – GELEZA!!
Did you know that Black Label beer is also known as 10111? Or that the latest BMW 330i BMW is known as “half past three”?
Lebo Motshegoa, one of the visionary mfowethu’s behind Soweto Rocks, gives us another treasure all in the name of getting to understand each other better. In this case it’s an opportunity to really get into TOWNSHIP TALK and learn some street-taal. Get it from a book…
store near you!
For all those behind the times on Scamto, South Africa’s popular language of the streets, well here’s Township Talk Dictionary, a guide to South Africa’s 12th language, scamto. Geleza this dictionary and begin to frostun the language, the culture and the people of South Africa.
Soon you’ll become a chizboy probably driving a G-string and sipping on Jesus & his Brothers, that’s J&B. Learn more with this Dictionary, compiled by Lebo Motshegoa, who compiled the first ever township glossary, titled Scamto Dictionary that won the much-coveted Loerie Awards in 2003 & 2004.
The dictionary explores amongst other things, the history behind Township lingo.
For example, the language emanated in Sophiatown in the 50 & 60s& it was known as Tsotsi Taal and was developed to ensure privacy between the boys and their ‘matharas’… Then the legacy continued and in the late 70s to 80s when “Mapantsula” came into the picture. Mapantsula were notorious for their rough nature and behavior… This dictionary tells how they wore expensive clothing and had expensive taste. Their girlfriends were known as Mshozas…
The political uprisings of 1976 brought the realization for unity and common purpose in South Africa. The categorization of people based on their taste; company and patronage became a thing of the past… There was one common goal for all, and that was UNITY and the struggle for FREEDOM. Hence, another form of communication was born: Township lingo, fusing all South African languages into one.
So when you do get a copy of the Township Talk Dictionary, expect to see words like regte, pluck, stompie, cherry, dom kop, chizboy, four five and many others that are spoken words in South African townships.
The Township Talk Dictionary does not only include the A-Z of township lingo, it has included the street nicknames of di transie (cars), dice, street jargon for nyuku (money), words and phrases that give insight into urban black South Africans.
No wonder it’s tag line is, the language – the culture – the people.
This dictionary is truly hip to the tongue.
