Literacy resources
2024-2025
N|uu language lessons
Coordination of classes in Upington and the Kalahari.
This project is led by African Tongue and funded by Palms for Life Fund.
The Purukutsi Foundation is based in Upington and is teaching N|uu three times per week by Dr Katrina Esau and her granddaughter Claudia Snyman. There are currently 60 children that a provided for with a healthy meal as we as safe transport to and from lessons.
In the Kalahari, Sussie Bok is providing N|uu lessons twice a week at both the Eland School and Kopan ECD.
African Tongue assists with the codesign and creation of Early Literacy Materials for both Purukutsi Foundation, Eland School and Kopan ECD.
2024-2025
Early literacy resources in N|uu
Designed for first language Afrikaans speakers learning N|uu as a second or additional language
These resources were developed in collaboration with N|uu speakers from Upington and the Kalahari in South Africa.
For free printable versions please download from the files below.
Example: Lesson 1
2020-2022
Digital Dictionary Resources for N|uu
N|uu, Nama, Afrikaans, English
A dictionary available for free in three formats
A comprehensive dictionary was collated by African Tongue in collaboration with N|uu speakers as well as local and international linguists to produce:
1) a hardcopy
2) web-portal
3) mobile app - Saasi Epsi
The above resources are available for free thanks to funding by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC), South Africa.
Instructional videos on how to use each version of the resource is provided below as presentation by Dr Kerry Jones and Prof Menno van Zaanen.
SADiLaR and African Tongue partnered on this project to develop and preserve N|uu and Nama (Khoekhoegowab) especially as these are both endangered languages. A unique variety of Afrikaans known as "Onse Afrikaans" was also formally documented for the first time. The variety of English used was South African English.
To download Saasi Epsi for free, please visit Google Play Store at the following link:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.sadilar.mdaf&hl=en&gl=US
Please visit the web-portal for the dictionary at at the following link:
2021
Bilingual Plant Posters
These posters were developed collaboratively with mother tongue speakers of Ju|'hoansi, an endangered Ju language spoken in Namibia and Botswana.
The purpose of these posters is to share indigenous knowledge about food plants as used by the Ju|'hoansi in the Tsumkwe area of the Nyae Naye conservancy in Namibia.
These posters are bilingual Ju|'hoansi and English in order to facilitate mother tongue education and incorporate the national language of Namibia, English. There are two versions of each poster:
1) the pdf with embedded sound clips, intended to be used online
2) the pdf with QR codes for the sound clips - intended as a print version.
All audio recordings were done by a mother tongue speaker and translator, Fridrik |Kunta.
Artwork and layout, Nicola Poulos.
Consulting linguist and project coordinator Dr Kerry Jones.
Funding for this project was jointly provided by the Kalahari Peoples Fund and the National Research Fund (South Africa).
This content was inspired by the Maguire San Ethnobotanical Collection housed at Stellenbosch University and is the life's work of Brian Maguire and his wife Judy Maguire.
2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Guidance for minority language speakers in Southern Africa
African Tongue joined hands with contributors to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outreach program. This program is specifically for speakers of minority languages in Southern Africa. We assisted with the development of materials in the mother tongue in order to inform and protect vulnerable communities.
This project was supported by the Kalahari Peoples Fund and other generous patrons to produce posters, pamphlets, and short audio guides in the following languages: Ju|'hoansi, Khoekhoegowab, Khwe, Otjiherero, Himba, Naro and !Xun.
All content is avaiable for free online at the following link:
2016
Bilingual educational posters
!Xun and Afrikaans & Khwe and Afrikaans
These posters were developed in collaboration with !Xun and Khwe speakers of Platfontein South Africa. Both languages are endangered and are spoken in South Africa, Namibia, Angola and Zambia.
In the South African context, bilingual posters were developed as Afrikaans is the language of instruction in the local school, !Xunkhwesa. All illustrations were done by community members.
For free printable versions please email African Tongue
2014 & 2015
Taal Tent
Kalahari Desert Festival
Featuring three languages: !Xun, Khwe and N|uu.
African Tongue ran language workshops and activities in the mother tongue for young and old to learn more about literacy and language heritage in South Africa.
Ouma Katriena Geelmeid Esau participated in the Taal Tent (Language Tent) and helped the younger generations with their pronunciation of N|uu. Hantie Guys and Ghumba Katchorro assisted with teaching !Xun and Khwe.
Our theme for 2014 was "animals" and 2015 "Who am I?"
