Tswana

Tswana (Setswana)

Tswana is a Bantu language spoken by about 4.4 million people in Bostwana,
where it is the national and majority language, Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The majority of speakers, about 3.6 million, live in South Africa, where the
language is officially recognised. Tswana is closely related to Southern and
Northern Sotho, and is also known as Beetjuans, Chuana, Coana, Cuana and Sechuana.

There some difference between the Tswana orthographies used in Botswana and South
Africa.

Tswana pronunciation

Tswana pronunciation

Information on Tswana pronunciation compiled by Wolfram Seigel

Sample texts in Tswana

Botswana’s National Anthem

Fatshe leno la rona,
Ke mpho ya Modimo,
Ke boswa jwa borraetsho;
A le nne ka kagiso.

Tsogang, tsogang! banna, tsogang!
Emang, basadi, emang, tlhagafalang!
Re kopaneleng go direla
Lefatshe la rona.

Ina lentle la tumo
La tšhaba ya Botswana,
Ka kutlwano le kagisano,
E bopagantswe mmogo.

Tsogang, tsogang! banna, tsogang!
Emang, basadi, emang, tlhagafalang!
Re kopaneleng go direla
Lefatshe la rona.

Source: http://setswana.blogspot.com

Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Batho botlhe ba tsetswe ba gololosegile le go lekalekana ka seriti le
ditshwanelo. Ba abetswe go akanya le maikutlo, mme ba tshwanetse go direlana
ka mowa wa bokaulengwe.

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with
reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Useful phrases in Tswana

Links

Information about the Tswana language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tswana_language
http://www.panafril10n.org/wikidoc/pmwiki.php/PanAfrLoc/Tswana
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/language/about/setswana.html

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