Peace and Heart Felt Idioms in Southern African Languages in A Daily Dose of Peace
A Daily Dose of Peace. Each week, I focus on Love, Joy, and Peace in the world languages. January’s fourth week focuses on Southern African’ language of Setwana or Tswana in Africa.
Talking for Peace in Tswana of South Africa
Linked kgotla is a place of positive
peace building community
proverbs deter people from doing bad
and keep chiefs mediating
Setwana proverb
“Molemo wa kgang ke go buiwa”
the good on the conflict is discussion
meant if one has wronged another one
they have to sit down with other people
mediators and talk about the issue till resolved
“Ntwa kgolo ke a molomo”
conflicts are best solved through discussion
“Ntwa kgolo ke ya molomo”
literally means greatest fight is by mouth
or the greatest fight is verbal
opens the platform of discussion
an emphasis on avoiding physical fight
“Mmualebe o a bo a bua la gagwe”
everyone has the right to express their opinions
and “Mafoko a kgotla a mantle otlhe”
all that is said at the “kgotla” is respected.
Proverbs addressed issues
community and family life
leadership and teamwork
behaviour, hospitality and nourishment
motivation, situations and human nature
in order to promote peace and harmony
among communities
no man is an island
people need each other
The Heart of Setswana
“Pelo” is heart in Setswana a language of Southern Africa
a hollow muscular organ
pumps the blood through circulatory system
by rhythmic contraction and dilation
“Pelo” is rarely used to convey the physical heart
“Wela pelo” literally means have your heart
fall down
meaning be at peace or settled
“Moratiwa wa pelo”
the loved one of the heart
sweet heart or beloved
“Tshwara pelo”
handle or hold the heart
means be in control of your emotions
Words like molomo (mouth), nko (nose),
monwana (finger), kgomo (cow) and
mpa (stomach) all display similar characteristics
“Bana ba mpa”
children of a stomach
,means relatives
“Bipa mpa ka mabele”
cover the stomach with breasts
means withhold bad information to
protect a relative or friend
“Gare ga mpa ya bosigo”
in the centre of the belly of the night
in the middle of the night
“Gare ga mpa ya lefatshe”
in the centre of the stomach of the world
in the middle of nowhere
“Gare ga mpa ya naga”
in the centre of the belly of the wilderness
in the middle of nowhere
“Mpa ya sebete”
the belly of the liver
flat on the stomach
“Mpa e tuka molelo”
a belly burning fire
filled stomach
“Go ja ka mpa tsoopedi”
to eat with two stomachs
to eat until the stomach is full
“Itoma molomo wa tlase”
bite the lower mouth
means be determined
“Itshwara molomo”
Hhld or touch a mouth
be shocked
“Balabala ka pelo”
speak too much by heart
talk aloud to yourself or absent minded
“Baya pelo”
put the heart
means relax
“Beta pelo”
suffocate the heart
persevere
“Betwa ke pelo”
be choked by the heart
be very angry
“Bofa pelo”
tie the heart
restrain yourself
“Bolawa ke pelo”
be killed by the heart
desiring something
“Bolwetse jwa pelo”
the disease of the heart
is a heart attack
“Bona pelo”
see the heart
see one’s intentions or their thoughts
“Bua ka pelo”
speak with the heart
to be troubled to the extent that you speak to yourself
Definitions from Corpus Design for Setswana lexicography by Thapelo Joseph Otlogetswe
Prayer Word Sketch
Thapelo Joseph Otlogetswe
did a word sketch for pray
revealing people usually pray
for rain, soul, God, peace,
peace miracles and forgiveness
The verb pray usually modified by
silently, together, fervently,
aloud and earnestly
At Peace Like a Sparrow in Setswana of South Africa
Words in a Secwana dictionary
“Thagama” to be at peace
“Thaga” a kind of small bird like a sparrow
“Thagamō” peace
Originally Published in Peace Poetry Dictionary, The Meaning of Peace and Calm in 5000 Languages on January 22, 2021.
