Xhosa (isiXhosa)
Xhosa is one of the official languages of South Africa and is a
member of the Bantu/Nguni family of languages. It is spoken by
about 7.9 million people mainly in Eastern Cape Province, Orange
Free State, Ciskei and Transkei in South Africa, and also spoken
in Botswana and Lesotho. Xhosa is closely related to
Zulu, Swati and Ndebele and more or less
mutually intelligible with them.
Xhosa’s click consonants were most likely borrowed from the Khoisan
languages as a result of long and extensive interaction between the
Xhosa and Khoisan peoples.
A system for writing Xhosa using the Latin alphabet was devised by
Christian missionaries during the early 19th century. The first printed
work in Xhosa was a grammar book that was published in 1834.
Xhosa pronunciation
Sample text in Xhosa
Bonke abantu bazalwa bekhululekile belingana ngesidima nangokweemfanelo.
Bonke abantu banesiphiwo sesazela nesizathu sokwenza isenzo ongathanda ukuba
senziwe kumzalwane wakho.
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.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
Xhosa language learning materials
Links
Information about the Xhosa language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xhosa_language
http://www.lmp.ucla.edu/Profile.aspx?LangID=21&menu=004
Online Xhosa lessons
http://www.youtube.com/user/XhosaKhaya
http://ubuntubridge.posterous.com/
Online Xhosa dictionaries
http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/Xhosa-english/
http://www.xhosadictionary.com