How Many Languages Are Spoken in South Africa?

How Many Language Are Spoken in South Africa?

South Africa’s cultural diversity is beautifully reflected in its linguistic landscape, boasting a remarkable 11 official languages. Beyond the well-known Afrikaans and English, learn more in this post about Zulu, Xhosa, Tswana, and Sesotho, as well as some non-official languages that may be in danger of becoming extinct. Meet South Africa’s 11 official languages South … Read more

How Different Languages Say ‘Hello’!

Greetings are so important that every language on Earth has a different way to say hello. Have you ever wondered what hello actually means and why we greet people with it? What are some more colourful ways to say hello in other languages around the world? Are there languages where greetings don’t exist? Brian Loo … Read more

A Class Act: uTalk at the Southern Primary Languages Show

The Association for Language Learning held their Southern Primary Languages Show this past Saturday in Wokingham, run by language professional Sue Cave, and we sent our uTalk Senior Education Consultant, Susannah, along to take part. She was there to try and promote our Junior Language Challenge and also have a fun day talking all things … Read more

Black Panther: Shining a Spotlight on Xhosa

If you went to see Black Panther at the cinema last year, then you were far from the only  one—Marvel’s second-highest-grossing film of the year raked in over one billion dollars, putting the spotlight not only on its talented actors but also its setting, the fictional Wakanda, and Xhosa, the very real language that is … Read more

Yes, the Whole World Really Does Drink ‘Coffee’—Except Ethiopians and Armenians!

Happy Cappuccino Day! In today’s post, uTalk’s guest blogger Brian investigates the many different ways of saying ‘coffee’—and where the word used around the world actually originates! Forget about tea. Linguistically speaking, coffee is the one beverage whose name sounds the same in almost every language in the world today.  Just landed in South Africa … Read more

Way, Haul Away… Sea shanties and language learning

Last weekend, I spent a very merry, slightly tipsy few days at the International Sea Shanty Festival in Falmouth. International What, now? Allow me to explain. Every year, Falmouth town hosts a three-day festival of nautical songs and chants, to which people flock not only from all over Cornwall, but from foreign parts too – … Read more