BGCSE Setswana 0562 key terms

The active skill of paying careful attention to spoken Setswana so as to grasp the speaker's main point, supporting details, tone, and attitude, rather than merely hearing sound.

The feeling or attitude a speaker conveys through voice, pace, stress, and word choice, such as anger, sympathy, or amusement, which a listener must identify correctly.

A short spoken or written summary that states only the central message of a passage, leaving out examples and minor details, often tested after a listening exercise.

A spoken exchange between two or more people in which turns are taken, questions asked, and replies given; candidates may be asked to complete or interpret such a dialogue.

A general statement covering the whole of a text or speech, giving its overall sense without reproducing every detail; useful when answering questions about the main idea.

The central idea or theme that a piece of writing develops throughout, distinct from its subject matter; identifying it is a common requirement in comprehension questions.

The lesson, warning, or moral that a story, poem, or play conveys to the reader, often stated indirectly through events and characters rather than in a single sentence.

A single point, reason, or piece of information within a passage; comprehension questions often ask candidates to list or explain the main points of a text.

The words or details in a text that support an answer or interpretation, which a candidate should quote or point to when explaining a conclusion about a passage.

A word or phrase that points back or forward to something already mentioned or about to be mentioned, helping a reader follow the flow of a passage.

A word that expresses an action or state, such as go bona (to see) or go robala (to sleep); in Setswana the verb carries prefixes for subject, object, tense, and negation.

A naming word for a person, place, thing, or idea; Setswana nouns fall into classes marked by prefixes such as mo-, ba-, le-, ma-, and se-, which also control agreement.

The matching of grammatical forms within a sentence, such as a subject prefix agreeing with its noun class or an adjective agreeing with the noun it describes.

A short, fixed saying that expresses accepted wisdom or advice, often metaphorical; candidates must recognise their meaning and use them appropriately in writing.

A proverb-like saying, usually longer than a maele, drawn from observation of life and used to teach a lesson or settle an argument in traditional speech.

A figurative expression whose meaning cannot be worked out from the literal words alone, such as an idiom; recognising these is essential for accurate comprehension and natural composition.

The repetition of a word, phrase, or sound for emphasis or rhythm, a device found in both everyday speech and Setswana poetry and often asked about in literature questions.

A repeated element in a text, such as a refrain or recurring image, which builds rhythm or stresses a theme; candidates may be asked to explain its effect.

The style and structure of a poem, including its line arrangement, rhythm, imagery, and use of figurative language, which shape how its meaning is delivered.

A character in a story, poem, or play whose actions and words drive the plot; questions often ask candidates to describe a character and judge their behaviour.

A play written for performance, built from dialogue, stage directions, and scenes; candidates study plot, character, conflict, and staging when answering drama questions.

The struggle or clash between opposing forces, characters, or ideas that gives a story or play its tension and moves the plot towards a resolution.

A piece of extended writing composed by the candidate, such as a narrative, letter, or argument, judged on content, organisation, grammar, and appropriate register.

The plan or outline of a composition, setting out introduction, main points in order, and conclusion, which helps a writer keep the piece coherent and on topic.

Formal writing such as a letter to an official, a report, or an application, which follows set conventions of greeting, structure, and polite, respectful language.

Informal writing such as a friendly letter or personal note, using relaxed but correct language and a structure suited to someone the writer knows well.

Respectful or polite language used when addressing elders, strangers, or people of standing, including careful word choice and avoidance of blunt or rude forms.

The accepted conventions of polite speech in Setswana culture, such as greeting before speaking, using honorifics, and softening requests, which candidates should apply in dialogue tasks.

A traditional ruler or chief who leads a community, settles disputes, and presides over customary gatherings; the term also appears in proverbs and respectful address.

The traditional meeting place and court where a community gathers under its leaders to discuss matters, hear disputes, and make decisions by public discussion.

A group of people sharing a common ancestry, language, and territory, organised under traditional leadership; the concept underpins much cultural content in Setswana texts.

The traditional initiation period in which young people were taught the customs, responsibilities, and skills of adulthood, a theme often reflected in Setswana literature.

The customs, beliefs, and practices handed down within a community, including marriage rites, greetings, and storytelling, which shape the cultural setting of literary works.

Traditional poetry composed for praise, mourning, or celebration, often performed aloud with rhythm and repetition, and studied for its imagery and social purpose.

The singular and plural forms of nouns, whose prefixes change according to noun class, for example motho becoming batho, a pattern tested in grammar exercises.

Negation, the grammatical marking that turns a statement into a negative one, in Setswana usually shown by a negative prefix and a changed verb ending.

The correct use of punctuation marks such as the full stop, comma, question mark, and quotation marks, which candidates must apply accurately in written answers.

The act of rendering meaning from one language into another, or of changing a sentence from one form to another, such as from direct to reported speech.

The sequence of events in a story or play, arranged from beginning through complication to resolution, which candidates must be able to recount accurately.