English-Xhosa Dictionary PDF
Preview English-Xhosa Dictionary
This English-Xhosa Dictionary answers a long-felt need for a comprehensive English-Xhosa dictionary. It has been compiled with a twofold aim in mind: to meet the needs of the Xhosa speaker who wants to understand and use English words and expressions in the correct manner, and also to meet the needs of the English speaker who is trying to master Xhosa. Some important features ■ very practical and easy to use, con- taining 15 000 main entries and many more thousands of derivations ■ vocabulary of everyday English and other words likely to be met in litera- ture ■ many technical English terms and idiomatic expressions, compounds, derivatives and phrasal verbs clearly conveyed in Xhosa ■ many examples to demonstrate uses and meanings ■ when necessary, words are indicated as literary, colloquial, slang, formal, legal, archaic, etc. ■ the class system of Xhosa nouns is clearly indicated. 0See back flap for details about the author) LIBRARY Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Kahle/Austin Foundation https://archive.org/details/englishxhosadictOOfisc ENGLISH-XHOSA DICTIONARY *s ENGLISH-XHOSA DICTIONARY A. FISCHER Elisabeth Weiss Ernest Mdala Sonwabo Tshabe 1985 OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS CAPE TOWN Oxjord University Press OXFORD NEW YORK TORONTO MELBOURNE AUCKLAND NAIROBI DAR ES SALAAM CAPE TOWN PETALING JAYA SINGAPORE HONG KONG TOKYO DELHI BOMBAY CALCUTTA MADRAS KARACHI AND ASSOCIATES IN BEIRUT BERLIN IBADAN NICOSIA ISBN 0 19 570290 5 This bilingual dictionary, based on the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English 3/e, is published by arrangement with Oxford University Press, Oxford, England. Copyright © 1985 Oxford University Press OXFORD is a Trademark of Oxford University Press All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Oxford University Press, Southern Africa Printed and bound by Citadel Press, Lansdowne, Cape Published by Oxford University Press, Harrington House, Barrack Street, Cape Town 8001, South Africa Preface The idea for this English-Xhosa Dictionary was conceived during many years of study- ing and teaching Xhosa, and being confronted with the lack of an appropriate English- Xhosa Dictionary. When the foundation for the dictionary was laid in 1975 it was plan- ned as a small handbook, aimed at the English-speaking student learning Xhosa. When discussing the project with teachers at local schools it became clear to me that there was a long-felt* need amongst Xhosa-speaking students as well. We then started to expand on the entries, trying to meet the needs of the English-speak- ing student wishing to master Xhosa and to cover the needs of the Xhosa-speaking student confronted with essays and literature in the English curriculum. In the end the project proved to be a mammoth task. During the years we received a lot of encouragement from the local community of teachers and students who willingly gave their advice. Difficulties were frequently encountered when there was no equivalent in Xhosa for an English entry, and in translating abstract concepts. In many instances explanations and descriptions had to be given. Words which have been borrowed from English and Afrikaans and which are in common use, were in- cluded. For the sake of the Xhosa-speaking student studying English literature, some more literary English words and expressions were retained. We hope that this dictionary will help to make Xhosa accessible to anyone who wishes to learn and use the language, and encourage the Xhosa-speaking population to use the English language well. If this English-Xhosa Dictionary can be a step forward to better communication between the two language groups it has fulfilled its aim. Qoqodala, 10-6-1985 Acknowledgements The English-Xhosa Dictionary is based on the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary of Current English and the Concise Oxford Dictionary. All the existing Xhosa Dictionaries were consulted, particularly the Kafir English Dictionary by Kropf /Godfrey, the New Concise Xhosa-English Dictionary by J. McLaren and Xhosa Terminology and Orthography No. 3 by the Department of Bantu Education. Without the advice and financial support of the former Rector of the Lumko Mis- siological Institute, the Reverend- Father H. Slattery, this project might never have pro- gressed. Grateful acknowledgement is made to Miss Nozazela Nebulani and Miss Noziphiwo Keva who have been most helpful, especially during the early stages of compiling this dictionary. Special reference must be made to the assistance rendered by Miss Phumla Tywabi who, with admirable diligence, helped both in the translations and in reading the proofs. Most of all, however, I am deeply indebted to Dr Elisabeth Weiss for her help. Her inspiration and encouragement have been a source of strength throughout the project. She has carried the major part of the work load untiringly. Not only did she help to com- pile the entries, but she also did all the typing. Without her co-operation, this dictionary might never have seen the light of day. To the editors at Oxford University Press, Cape Town, and to the many others who have lent a helping hand, I offer my most sincere thanks.
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