NSSCO Khoekhoegowab First Language 6098 key terms

A consonant made by trapping air in the mouth with the tongue and releasing it in a sharp sucking pop. Khoekhoegowab has four basic click letters: ǀ, ǁ, ǂ and ǃ.

The click made by pressing the tongue tip just behind the upper front teeth and pulling it away. It is written with the single vertical bar ǀ.

The click made with the tongue tip on the ridge behind the upper teeth, released sharply downwards. It is written with the letter ǃ, which looks like an exclamation mark.

The click made at the side of the mouth: the tongue closes the centre while air is released sideways past the molars. It is written with the double vertical bar ǁ.

The click made with the front of the tongue against the hard palate and released downwards. It is written with the letter ǂ, a double bar crossed in the middle.

The release heard together with a click, such as plain, aspirated, nasal or glottalised, written with different following letters. Changing the accompaniment changes the word, so it must be heard and written correctly.

The relative pitch, high or low, carried by a syllable. In Khoekhoegowab tone can separate words that otherwise look the same, so it matters for both reading aloud and spelling.

An accent, usually acute or grave, written over a vowel to show its high or low tone in the standard orthography. Marks must be copied exactly, because leaving one out can change the word.

The difference between a short and a long vowel. Khoekhoegowab usually writes a long vowel with two vowel letters, and length alone can distinguish one word from another.

The division of nouns into masculine and feminine classes, which decides endings, pronouns and agreement markers. A wrong gender choice makes the whole sentence incorrect.

The noun ending that shows both gender and number, for example -b for masculine singular and -s for feminine singular. Plural and dual take other endings, and agreement in the sentence depends on them.

A short element in the sentence that shows a participant's person, gender and number and links to the verb form. Choosing the wrong marker is a common error in written Khoekhoegowab.

The agreed spelling system for printed Khoekhoegowab, covering click letters, vowel length, tone marks and word division. Exam answers are marked against it, so consistency matters more than personal preference.

The rule deciding which parts of a phrase are written together and which are separated by spaces. Wrong division counts as a spelling error even when all the letters are correct.

A fixed expression whose meaning cannot be worked out from its separate words, such as a saying about patience or hunger. Idioms must be learned whole and used in the right situation.

The level of language chosen for a situation, from formal and polite to relaxed and familiar. Using the wrong register, such as slang in a formal speech, damages the impression made.

The rise and fall of pitch across a phrase or sentence, signalling questions, lists, emphasis or emotion. It works alongside the language's own tone on individual syllables.

The way speakers in a conversation or discussion take the floor, hold it and hand it over, using pauses, gestures and polite formulas for interrupting or inviting someone to speak.

Listening to a spoken text for its overall meaning instead of every word, so that the main point and purpose can be reported after one or two hearings.

A structured discussion in which two sides argue for and against a motion, taking turns, answering opponents' points and observing time limits and rules of order.

Reading a text quickly to grasp its topic, structure and main idea before looking at detailed questions. The eyes move fast over the whole passage rather than stopping on each word.

Moving the eyes quickly over a text to find one specific item, such as a date, name or figure, without reading the surrounding sentences in full.

Working out an unstated meaning by combining clues in the text with what the reader already knows. Good answers point to the words that support the conclusion.

A word, phrase or example in the surrounding text that helps a reader guess the meaning of an unfamiliar word without a dictionary.

A short restatement of a text's main points in the reader's own words, keeping the original order and balance while leaving out examples, repetition and minor detail.

A piece of writing that tells a story, with setting, characters, a complication and a resolution, usually moving in time order and often using a personal voice.

A piece of writing that states a clear position on a debatable issue, supports it with reasons and evidence, and answers the strongest opposing argument.

A letter laid out with sender and recipient addresses, date, salutation, body, closing and signature, written politely and impersonally to an official, editor or organisation.

The links that hold a piece of writing together: pronouns pointing back, repeated key words, and connectors such as however, therefore or in addition.

Checking a finished draft for mistakes in spelling, click letters, tone marks, punctuation, agreement and word division before the work is handed in.

A traditional story passed on by word of mouth, often about animals and a trickster, carrying a lesson and using set openings, closings or repeated phrases.

A short, fixed traditional saying that gives advice or comments on life in figurative language and is quoted to support a point in speech or writing.

A traditional puzzle with a set question and answer, used in oral games to test cleverness and to teach imagery, comparison and vocabulary.

A poem that honours a person, animal or place by listing names, qualities and deeds, often performed aloud with strong rhythm and imagery.

The stories, songs, proverbs, riddles and histories handed down by word of mouth rather than in writing, and a main source of Khoekhoegowab written literature.

The voice that tells a story. A first-person narrator is a character inside the events; a third-person narrator reports from outside and may know more or less than the characters.

The central idea a literary text explores, such as greed, courage or loyalty to family, shown through the whole story rather than stated in a single sentence.