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Kuwakaribisha is a common greeting in Swahili. We present to you some interesting information about the language.
In case you are one of them who speak Swahili and wish to report inconsistencies, please reply to this topic.
Swahili, also known by its native name Kiswahili, is a Bantu language and the native language of the Swahili people.
The name Swahili comes from the Arabic word Sawahil and means "coastal dwellers".
Swahili is predominantly a mix of local Bantu languages and Arabic. Swahili also has English, Persian, Portuguese, German, and French influences due to trade contact.
(Image Courtesy: https://alchetron.com/)
Swahili is the lingua franca of the East African Union and is the official language of Tanzania, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is also widely spoken in Uganda and, in smaller numbers in Burundi, Rwanda, North Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique.
The earliest known documents of the Swahili language are letters written in Arabic script in 1711 in the region of Kilwa, present-day Tanzania. They are now preserved in the Historical Archives of Goa, India.
Swahili is the easiest African language for English speakers to learn, as it’s one of the few Sub-Saharan African languages without a lexical tone, similar to English. Besides, it is also easier to read as Swahili words are pronounced the same way they are written.
(Image Courtesy: https://brittlepaper.com/)
Swahili people have a very rich literary culture that they cherish, as shown by the dozens of myths and legends that exist in their language. For language learners, reading these folkloric texts could be an interesting and enriching way to learn Swahili.
Several international media outlets have various Swahili programs, such as BBC Swahili.
(Image Courtesy: Pinterest)
Fun fact: the iconic line from The Lion King "Hakuna Matata" is a Swahili expression meaning “no worries”. It is a combination of the words Hakuna (‘there is not’) and Matata (‘problem’ or ‘worries’).
Swahili culture is the product of the history of the coastal part of the African Great Lakes region.
(Image Courtesy: https://kalliemamba.com/)
The diverse history of the Swahili Coast has also resulted in multicultural influences on Swahili arts, including furniture and architecture. Swahili designs are primarily geometric.
The most typical musical genre of Swahili culture is Taarab (or Tarabu), sung in the Swahili language. Its melodies and orchestration have Arab and Indian influences, although Western instruments, such as guitars, are sometimes used.
(Image Courtesy: https://lamuislandproperty.com/)
Swahili architecture, a term used to designate a whole range of diverse building traditions practiced or once practiced along the eastern and southeastern coasts of Africa, is in many ways an extension of mainland African traditions, although structural elements, such as domes and barrel vaulting, clearly connect to Persian Gulf area and South Asian building traditions as well. Exotic ornament and design elements are also present in their architecture.
Hope you like it, if you know any other fascinating facts about Swahili, let us all know!
Source: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/
https://www.languagetrainers.ca/
https://theculturetrip.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/
Gouden Dai is a common greeting in Frisian (Saterfrisian). We present to you some interesting information about the language and the people who speak the language.
In case you are one of them who speak Plautdietsch and wish to report inconsistencies, please reply to this topic.
Saterland Frisian, also known as Sater Frisian or Saterlandic (Seeltersk), is the last living dialect of the East Frisian language. It is closely related to the other Frisian languages: North Frisian, spoken in Germany as well, and West Frisian, spoken in the Dutch province of Friesland.
Sater Frisian uses the Latin alphabet like other Frisian languages. It is rarely spoken as its native speakers are very old.
(Image Courtesy:https://www.deutsche-fehnroute.de/)
Saterland Frisian is spoken in the three villages of Ramsloh, Scharrel, and Strücklingen in the Community of the Saterland in the northwest corner of the Lower Saxon county of Cloppenburg in northern Germany. The language is taught to a limited extent in some kindergartens and primary schools; articles appear regularly in Cloppenburg newspapers, and there are some theatrical performances in the language.
Saterland Frisian is the only living remnant of Old East Frisian. It is an endangered language, with an estimated number of 2250 speakers, and is spoken in the municipality of the Saterland, which is located in the federal state of Lower Saxony in northwestern Germany.
The Saterland is known as the smallest “language island” in Europe according to the Guinness Book of Records. In 1996 it was reported that Sater Frisian was neither the language used for administration nor in church. Only two hours a week were offered for teaching in primary school. There were no audiovisual teaching materials available. However, this was already an improvement from 1988, when Sater Frisian was not present in schools at all, although people would have supported it.
Dr. Marron Fort is one of the researchers who is helping to maintain Sater Frisian significantly. He came to Germany in 1965 and fell in love with the language. He decided to stay in Germany and has since helped considerably in reviving Sater Frisian. Moreover, he has translated the New Testament into Sater Frisian and created the Sater Frisian Dictionary. This laid the foundation for more Sater Frisian literature. The work of Fort is also used as a reference for school materials.
Sater Frisian is covered by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages under Part II and Part III since 1999. It encourages the use of Sater Frisian in pre-school, primary school, secondary and higher education.
Hope you like it, if you know any other fascinating facts about Saterland Frisian, let us all know!
Source: https://dbpedia.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/
https://www.proquest.com/
https://wiki.mercator-research.eu/
Bone die is a common greeting in Sardinian. We present to you some interesting information about the Island of Sardinia.
In case you are from the Island of Sardinia and wish to report inconsistencies, please reply to this topic.
Sardinian or Sard is a Romance language spoken by the Sardinians on the Western Mediterranean island of Sardinia. Many Romance linguists consider it the language that, together with Italian, is closest to Latin among all its genealogical descendants. It’s a rich and beautiful language. Today, there are over 1,350,000 native or second-language speakers of Sardinian.
Here are some amazing facts about the Sardinian language and the Island of Sardinia:
The only standard form of Sardinian is the Sardo illustre, a literary language used mostly for folk verse. Italian is the island’s official language, and few literary works exist in Sardinian. The earliest written materials date from c. 1080.
In Sardinia, there are four main dialects of the Sardinian language. Logudorese, Campidanese, Gallurese, and Sassarese. Logudorese and Campidanese are the main two Sardinian dialects and have written standards.
Sardinian was recognized as one of the official minority languages of Italy, complete with its grammar and lexicon, in 1999 – although it took decades of petitions from the Sardinian-speaking community (and the other 11 linguistic minorities of Italy) for the law to be approved.
(Image Courtesy: Pinterest)
Generations of painters have given a robust flavor to Sardinian art. That influence is visible in a nearly mythological fashion, in portraits of shepherds, farmers, women, and the varied landscape. Artists such as Filippo Figari, Francisco Çusa, Eugèniu Tavolara, and Felici Melis Marini have all contributed masterfully.
(Image Courtesy: https://artemest.com/)
The Sardinians demonstrate innovation and style in their application of natural materials. Throughout the generations, cultural themes have been cultivated on pottery, wood carvings, and jewelry. Sardinian crafts hold a charm of the island heritage with its native elements such as wool, hemp, wicker, coral, asphodel, cork, and silver.
(Image Courtesy: https://assael.com/)
Red coral has been used for thousands of years to make fine jewelry, such as necklaces and earrings. It’s found in great quantities in Sardinia, in the underwater caves of Alghero, also known as the Coral Riviera. Thus Sardinia produces fine red coral jewelry.
Sardinia is the first blue zone of the world where people live for more than 100 years.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.long-travel.co.uk/)
Perhaps the secret of such long life is their tranquil way of life and a healthy diet. There is no consistent culinary culture but the cuisine is heavily focused on fresh seasonal ingredients which include aromatic bread, tempting roasted meats, fabulously fresh seafood, numerous styles of Pecorino cheese, garden-fresh fruits & veggies straight from the grower, and full-bodied wines from provincial vineyards.
Hope you like it, if you know any other fascinating facts about the Island of Sardinia, let us all know!
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/
https://answerstoall.com/
https://www.britannica.com/
https://strictlysardinia.com/
https://www.trips2italy.com/
https://www.kevmrc.com/
Mabuhay is a common greeting in Tagalog. We present to you some interesting information about the language.
In case you are one of them who speak Tagalog and wish to report inconsistencies, please reply to this topic.
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by the ethnic Tagalog people, who make up a quarter of the population of the Philippines, and as a second language by the majority.
(Image Courtesy: https://unsplash.com/)
Filipino, a standardized form of Tagalog, is the national language of the Philippines and an official language of the country along with English. though only around a quarter of the people in the Philippines speak Filipino.
It is believed that the majority of the features of the Tagalog language were developed based on Sanskrit, and it used to be written using a script called the Baybayin writing system.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.abebooks.com/)
Based on theory, it is believed that Tagalog's first written record dates back to 900 AD, while the first book known to be written in Tagalog – the Doctrina Christiana – came to light by the end of the 16th century (1593).
Until 1987, Tagalog was based on a writing system consisting of 20 Latin letters, the so-called ABAKADA alphabet.
Tagalog has been greatly influenced by several other languages including Spanish, Chinese, English, and Arabic.
Despite being only spoken in the Philippines, Tagalog is one of the most widely scattered languages globally since there are many overseas Filipino workers across the globe.
There are some languages closely related to Tagalog, including Bikol, Visayan, and Ilocano. They are official languages around Taiwan, Hawaii, Maori, and Malay.
The number of dialects of Tagalog is unknown. But visibly there are four common dialects: The Bulacan dialect is popular in the Northern parts of the country, while Manila is heard in Central Philippines and Batangas in the Southern part of the country. Marinduque is the fourth dialect, which is the dialect that differs the most from the others. This is a dialect that is only really spoken in the Marinduque region.
Hope you like it, if you know any other fascinating facts about Tagalog, let us all know!
Source: https://www.pinhok.com/
https://www.globalizationpartners.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/
Mono is a common greeting in Himba. We present to you some interesting information about Gabon.
In case you are from Gabon and wish to report inconsistencies, please reply to this topic.
Himba, also known as Simba, is a moribund Bantu language of Gabon. Though the official language of Gabon is French.
Let us share 6 interesting facts about Gabon:
Gabon was settled prehistorically by Pygmies during the late Stone Age and then by Bantu-speaking migrants during the Iron Age.
The name Gabon comes from the Portuguese word “gabao” meaning “cloak”. Early explorers thought the estuary of the Komo River by the capital of Libreville was the shape of a cloak.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.zambezi.com/)
Loango National Park in Gabon is known as “Africa’s Last Eden” and is considered one of the world’s best wildlife-watching destinations with animals such as elephants, gorillas, crocodiles, and sitatunga antelopes found on its savannahs, lagoons, and beaches.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.bbc.com/)
In a 2004 National Geographic article, Gabon was described as “the land of the surfing hippos” when a photographer captured hippos playing in the ocean just off the beach in Loango National Park.
(Image Courtesy: Pinterest)
Gabon’s Mayumba National Park is a marine park that sees 550 leatherback turtles. That makes Gabon home to the world’s largest species of sea turtle. The Park is also a mating ground for humpback whales and large pods of dolphins, including the rare humpback dolphin.
(Image Courtesy: https://stujarvis.com/)
Gabon’s Kongou Falls is one of the strongest-flowing waterfalls in the world which is located on the Ivindo River.
Hope you like it, if you know any other fascinating facts about Gabon, let us all know!
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/
https://oxfordre.com/
https://www.factsinstitute.com/
Namaste is a common greeting in Malayalam. We present to you some interesting information about Kerala.
In case you are from Kerala and wish to report inconsistencies, please reply to this topic.
Malayalam is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India.
Here are some amazing facts about the Malayalam language and Kerala:
Malayalam is also spoken in the neighboring states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Given the prominence of Malayalam speakers abroad, there are certain universities in the USA and Canada that teach Malayalam as a foreign language. Malayalam is a language with speakers around the globe.
Malayalam, like Tamil, is classified as a classical language in India. The oldest written evidence of the Malayalam language is thought to be an inscription known as the ‘Vazhappalli’ from 830 A.D.
Fun Fact: Malayalam is perhaps the only language that is a palindrome when written in English. This means that the word is read the same when spelled forwards and backward.
(Image Courtesy: https://danceask.net/)
Kerala is known for its wonderful art forms like Kathakali which has been recognized by UNESCO on its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. It is a sublime dance-drama that depicts episodes from Indian epics. Another classical art form is Mohiniattam which evokes the highest form of femininity through its graceful movements.
(Image Courtesy: https://blog.southindiajewels.com/)
Keralite brides are famous for being decked in gold. The yellow metal is cherished by Malayalis not just for ornamentation purposes, but as a mark of honor during marriages and as a financial investment.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.keralatourism.org/)
One of the oldest surviving martial art forms in the world, the current form of Kalaripayattu (Kerala’s martial art form) dates back to the sixth century. Vedic sage Agastya is considered as the founding father of the combat form, which includes a combination of steps and postures, known as Chuvattu and Vadivu. The main aim is the coordination of body and mind.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.incredible-southindia.com/)
Kerala is referred to as “God’s own Country” for pristine tropical beauty. It is a perfect place for a leisure vacation. So, if you visit Kerala make your trip enduring by visiting some amazing places like Fort Kochi, Marari Beach, Periyar National Park, Munnar, Varkala Beach, Wayanad, Kannur, Kovalam, Poovar Island, Trivandrum, Jatayupara Earth's Center, Sargaalaya Crafts Village, The River Nila, Alleppey, Kochi, Kumarakom, Kozhikode, Bekal, Thrissur, Kollam, Nelliyampathy.
(Image Courtesy: http://www.keralahoneymoons.com/)
Besides its exquisite natural landscapes, Kerala is famous for its lip-smacking cuisine that includes Puttu and Kadala Curry, Appam with Stew, Idiyappam, Nadan Kozhi Varuthathu (Spicy Chicken Fry), Kerala Prawn Curry, Naadan Beef Fry, Malabar Parota, Kerala Style Fish Molee, Banana Fritters, Palada Payasam, Sadhya, Erissery, Thalassery Biryani, Naadan Kozhi Curry, Erachi Varutharacha Curry, Ada Pradhaman, Chatti Pathiri, Coconut Toddy, Kappa and Meen Curry, Mussel Stir Fry, Thattu Dosa with Chutney, Banana Halwa.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.india-tours.com/)
In Kerala, festivals are celebrated with intense passion and gusto. Some popular festivals here are the Kerala Boat Festival, Theyyam Festival, Onam, Temple Festivals, Vishu, Attukal Pongala, Christmas, Maha Shivarathri, Makaravilakku, Thiruvathira, The Arattu of Lord Padmanabhan, Ambalapuzha Arattu.
Hope you like it, if you know any other fascinating facts about Malayalam and Kerala, let us all know!
Source: https://artsandculture.google.com/
https://en.wikibooks.org/
https://cudoo.com/
http://www.ghastlyawards.com/
https://www.milestoneloc.com/
https://theculturetrip.com/
Na nga def is a common greeting in Wolof. We present to you some interesting information about the language and the people who speak the language.
In case you are one of them who speak Wolof and wish to report inconsistencies, please reply to this topic.
Wolof belongs to the Senegambian branch of the Niger-Congo language family. But unlike most other languages of this family, Wolof is not a tonal language.
Wolof is a language of Senegal, the Gambia, and Mauritania, and the native language of the Wolof people.
Wolof can be written using two different scripts: Arabic-based or Latin-based. The Arabic-based script, Wolofal, is the language’s first-script, predating the introduction of the Latin system of writing. However, as the official script of Senegal, the Latin script is widely used in formal contexts.
Wolof is Senegal's dominant language, although French is the country's official language.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.ducksters.com/)
In Wolof and Senegalese society, there are professional storytellers, known as Griots. They are historians, poets, musicians, and entertainers.
(Image Courtesy: https://zoede.com/)
The Wolof are known for their woodcarvings. Wolof are also fine tailors. Wolof men prefer silver bracelets and rings, while women wear gold necklaces, chains, and rings. Some Wolof people are traditional weavers.
(Image Courtesy: https://theculturetrip.com/)
Some classic Wolof dishes are Thiéboudienne, Mafé, Dibi, Yassa poulet, Thiof, Fataya, Bissap.
(Image Courtesy: http://hayo.co/)
If you visit Senegal to get familiar with Wolof culture, you can visit some other hotspots as well like Dakar, Goree Island, Pink Lake, St. Louis, Ziguinchor, Popenguine, Saloum Delta National Park, Senegal River, Casamance, Touba, Lompoul Desert, Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, Joal-Fadiouth, Kafountine, Tambacounda, Kaolack, Kedougou.
Hope you like it, if you know any other fascinating facts about Wolof, let us all know!
Source: https://wlc.howard.edu/
https://www.altalang.com/
https://www.everyculture.com/
Lumela is a common greeting in Sesotho. We present to you some interesting information about Lesotho.
In case you are from Lesotho and wish to report inconsistencies, please reply to this topic.
Sesotho is a Southern Bantu language of the Sotho-Tswana group, spoken primarily by the Basotho in Lesotho, where it is the national and official language; South Africa, where it is one of the 11 official languages; and in Zimbabwe where it is one of 16 official languages.
Lets unravel some amazing facts about the Sesotho language, Sotho people and Lesotho:
Sesotho is also known as Suto, Souto, Sisutho, and Suthu. The dialects originate from Suto, Pedi, and Tswana, but these are all considered to be separate languages.
Sesotho is also spoken in Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia.
According to scholars, the original written form of Sesotho was based on the dialect from Tlokwa and is today based mainly on the dialects from the Kwena and Fokeng.
The Sotho people, who speak Sesotho, are divided into three major branches, the southern Sotho (Basuto and Sotho), the western Sotho (Tswana), and the northern Sotho (Pedi).
The origins of the early Sotho remain unknown. However, it is believed that the Ironworkers, who were most likely Sotho-speakers, had lived in the town of Phalaborwa since the eighth century and in the Melville Koppies of the Johannesburg region since the 11th century.
Based on oral history, the founding lineage of the Sotho people was skilled in the art of smelting.
(Image Courtesy: Pinterest)
The majority of Sotho people living in Lesotho subsist on rearing horses, goats, and sheep. They also hunt and cultivate crops like grains and tobacco. Additionally, they are great artisans, knowing leatherwork, metalwork, and ivory and wood carving.
Lesotho is the world’s southernmost landlocked nation and has no direct access to beaches/ seas but, it has many mountain streams with the potential to generate hydroelectric power. The country is nearly self-sufficient in electricity production. It also sells water and electricity to neighboring South Africa.
Another Biggest Treasure of Lesotho is Diamonds. It has large diamond reservoirs and diamond export also earns great revenue for the nation.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.worldatlas.com/)
Lesotho is highly popular among paleontologists and archeologists since one of the largest dinosaur footprints in the world has been discovered here.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.tasteatlas.com/)
The main staple in Lesotho, as in much of southern Africa, is a stiff heavy maize porridge known as mealiepap, papa, or phuthu. It is usually accompanied by meat, bean, or vegetable-based stew. Some other remarkable foods of Lesotho are Butha-buthe, Afrikaanse stoofschotel, Nyekoe, Lekhotloane, Makoenva, Basotho Burger, Borotho.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.visitlesotho.travel/)
To explore the beauty of Lesotho, travelers prefer to visit these places - Tsehlanyane National Park, Maseru, Semonkong, Katse Dam, Bokong, Liphofung, Leribe, Thaba Bosiu, Ha Kome, Mohale, Mafeteng, Teyateyaneng, Morija, Sehlabathebe National Park.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.uitvconnect.com/)
Holidays in Lesotho are centered around its rich heritage and culture. So to experience the warmth of Lesotho’s culture, travelers can participate in the following festivals - Family Day, Easter, Morija Arts and Cultural Festival, Lesotho Jazz Festival.
Hope you like it, if you know any other fascinating facts about Sesotho, Sotho and Lesotho, let us all know!
Source: https://en.google-info.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/
https://kidskonnect.com/
https://www.visitlesotho.travel/
https://www.tasteatlas.com/
Malo e lelei is a common greeting in Tongan. We present to you some interesting information about Tonga.
In case you are from Tonga and wish to report inconsistencies, please reply to this topic.
Tongan is an Austronesian language of the Polynesian branch spoken in Tonga. It has around 187,000 speakers and is one of the national languages of Tonga.
Let us share some amazing facts about the Tongan language and Tonga:
The Tongan language is locally known as Fakatongan! Its closest relative languages are Samoan, Tahitian, Hawaiian, Niuean, and Maori.
Tongan was first written by missionaries in the early 19th Century, which has a number of different spelling systems. The current spelling system for the Tongan language was officially proclaimed by the Privy Council of Tonga in 1943.
The Tongan language has different numerical systems for different items. For instance, counting coconuts has different words for numbers than counting fish.
Like many other countries, Sunday is a day of rest in Tonga. But the local custom is so strict that it is illegal to do business transactions, to play sports/exercise, and to do most chores on Sunday, it even includes doing swimming or going running outside, doing kayaking, and even doing laundry. No one can buy food or avail of public travel services. But some essential services like hospitals and bakeries, particular tourism businesses such as resorts, including their restaurants and activities are exceptions to this rule.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.oregonmetro.gov/)
Tongans wear a moderate dress with cultural clothing wrapped around their waists, such as pandanus mats (Ta’ovala), or women may also wear girdles (Kiekie).
(Image Courtesy: https://www.scubadiving.com/)
Travelers should visit Tonga between June and October, as each year Humpback Whales travel 3,000 Miles to breed, give birth and raise their young in Tonga.
(Image Courtesy: https://world-tour.in/)
Some other exotic tourist spots in Tonga are Royal Palace in Nuku’alofa, Talamahu Market, Ha’amonga ‘a Maui, Maka Faakinanga, Mapu ‘a Vaea Blowholes, Swallows Cave.
(Image Courtesy: https://tongapocketguide.com/)
Your trip to Tonga will be more memorable with Tongan cuisine which is a fine combination of land and seafood, freshly harvested, cooked, and consumed with diverse ingredients. Here are some delicious Tongan dishes that you should try Ota’ika, Umu-cooked Fish, Lu Sipi, Lu Pulu, Faikakai Topai, Pele Sipi, Kapisi Pulu, Kale Moa, Lo’i Feke, Panikeke, ’Ufi Lolo’I, ’Otai, Pai Siamu, Pumpkin Soup, Puteni.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.south-pacific-sailing.com/)
Apart from the common festivals like New Year’s Day, Christmas, Easter, you should experience the exclusive Tongan festivals like Heilala Festival, Vava’u Blue Water Festival, Faka-Sepitema.
Hope you like it, if you know any other fascinating facts about Tonga, let us all know!
Source: https://tongapocketguide.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/
Hoj is a common greeting in Stellingwarfs. We present to you some interesting information about the language.
In case you are one of them who speak Stellingwarfs and wish to report inconsistencies, please reply to this topic.
Stellingwarfs is a variety of Dutch Low Saxon spoken in Ooststellingwerf and Weststellingwerf in the Dutch province of Friesland, and also in Steenwijkerland in the Dutch province of Overijssel.
Stellingwarfs is largely mutually intelligible with Dutch.
Stellingwarfs first appeared in writing in the Frisian Almanac in 1840.
A few writers published literature in the language during the 19th century, and some Stellingwarfs prose, poetry, and plays were written during the 20th century.
(Image Courtesy: stellingia.nl)
In the 1970s a Stellingwarfs magazine, De Ovend, and classes for adults were set up, and a Stellingwarfs-Dutch dictionary was published in 2004.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.imf.org/)
Stellingwarfs was officially recognized by the Netherlands government in 1996 as part of Low Saxonian.
Hope you like it, if you know any other fascinating facts about Stellingwarfs, let us all know!
Source: https://omniglot.com/
Sannu is a common greeting in Hausa. We present to you some interesting information about the language and the people who speak the language.
In case you are one of them who speak Hausa and wish to report inconsistencies, please reply to this topic.
Hausa is a Chadic language spoken by the Hausa people, mainly within the northern half of Nigeria and the southern half of Niger, and with significant minorities in Chad, Benin, and Cameroon.
Here we will share some interesting facts about the Hausa language and Hausa people:
The Hausa language is one of the approximately 521 languages spoken in Nigeria. It is the mother tongue of the Hausa tribe which is one of the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria.
Hausa is arguably one of the most advanced languages in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. The language was commonly written with a variant of the Arabic script known as Ajami but is now written with the Latin alphabet known as Boko. There is also a Hausa braille system.
Apart from Nigeria and Niger, Hausa is used as a trade language in areas across West Africa including Benin, Ghana, Togo, and Ivory Coast. Hausa is also spoken in countries within Central Africa such as the** Central African Republic, Cameroon, and Gabon**, as well as northwestern Sudan.
The Hausa language has several dialects like Dauranchi, Kananci, Bausanchi, Gudduranci, Kutebanci, Hadejanci, Sakkwatanci, Katsinanci, Arewanci, Kurhwayanci, Arewa, Arawci, Zazzaganci, and Katsina. However, among all of them, Dauranchi and Kananci are regarded as the standard dialect.
Hausa is the only indigenous Nigerian language with foreign station broadcasts. Some international stations that offer broadcasts in the Hausa language include British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Radio France Internationale, China Radio International, Voice of Russia, Voice of America, Arewa 24 Deutsche Welle, and IRIB.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.britannica.com/)
Hauawa or Hausa people trace their origin to Daura city and the town predates all the major Hausa towns in tradition and culture.
(Image Courtesy: Pinterest)
Horses play a significant role in Hausa culture, specifically with the monarchs, as the Hausa aristocracy had historically developed an equestrian-based culture, and till today, horses are regarded as a status symbol of the traditional nobility.
(Image Courtesy: Pinterest)
Hausa men are recognized by their elaborate flowing gowns known as ‘Babban Gida’, matched with a cap called ‘Huluna’. The women wear a wrap-around robe called ‘Abaya’ with a matching blouse, head tie, and shawl—they usually have henna designs on their hands and feet.
Hope you like it, if you know any other fascinating facts about Hausa, let us all know!
I nhlikanhi is a common greeting in Venda. We present to you some interesting information about the language and the people who speak the language.
In case you are one of them who speak Venda and wish to report inconsistencies, please reply to this topic.
Venda or Tshivenda is a Bantu language and an official language of South Africa. It is mainly spoken by the Venda people in the northern part of South Africa's Limpopo province, as well as by some Lemba people in Zimbabwe. The Venda language is related to Kalanga, which is spoken in Zimbabwe and Botswana.
Here we will share some amazing facts about the Venda language and Venda people:
The Venda language uses the Latin alphabet.
(Image Courtesy: Facebook)
The Venda people tribe has been called a “composite people” because they have historically consisted of a multiplicity of culturally different groups.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.tripadvisor.com/)
Since the Venda people get settled in Limpopo province, they have become culturally uniform.
The Venda people are proud of their traditions and re-introduce their standards and morals to every new generation to ensure that they do not become diluted.
According to Venda customs, a Khoro takes place every Sunday. This is a Venda Tribal Council. Here chiefs and senior citizens get together and discuss the matter concerning the community.
Traditionally the Venda chiefs are custodians of the land for their people, while local headmen permit household groups to occupy and work tracts of land. Lineages of kinsmen, with membership based on patrilineal descent, are used to reckon inheritance and succession.
Agriculture dominates the Venda economy. The principal crops are corn (maize), peanuts (groundnuts), beans, peas, sorghum, and vegetables.
(Image Courtesy: http://ostudiopost.co.za/)
Music is one of the most important components of Venda culture. Venda people have music for every major life event – worship, sadness, joy, work, and grieving. Drumbeats accompany most of their music, and exceptions are made for songs, which are usually murmured.
(Image Courtesy: Pinterest)
Traditional cooking is another major part of their culture. The traditional meal is Tshidzimba, which is a mixture of groundnuts, beans, and mielie (or corn) grains.
Hope you like it, if you know any other fascinating facts about Venda, let us all know!
Source: https://dbpedia.org/
https://thereaderwiki.com/
https://www.britannica.com/
https://www.sa-venues.com/
https://books.google.co.in/
Asalamu?aleykum! is a common greeting in Tsez. We present to you some interesting information about Tsez.
In case you speak Tsez and wish to report inconsistencies, please reply to this topic.
Tsez is a Northeast Caucasian language spoken in the southwest of the Russian Federation and in nearby parts of Georgia.
Here are the 6 interesting facts about the Tsez language:
Tsez is an oral language that is spoken by about 14000 people.
Tsez is sometimes written with a version of the Cyrillic alphabet based on Avar and is mainly used to write folk tales. It can also be written with the Latin alphabet.
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In the Russian Federation, Tsez is spoken in several villages in the Tsuntinsky district of the Republic of Dagestan. In Georgia, it is spoken in Ibtsokhi village in the Kvareli district of the Kakheti region.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.britannica.com/)
Tsez is studied in some primary schools in Dagestan. However, most schools teach in Avar for the first five years and in Russian after that.
Tsez is also known as Cez, Didoi, Tsezy, or Tsuntin, and in Georgia, it is familiar as Dido.
Tsez not only has the easy sounds, but it has all sorts of sounds that are relatively rare in the world’s languages, which are harder to produce and harder to mimic for adults.
Hope you like it, if you know any other fascinating facts about Tsez, let us all know!
Source: https://omniglot.com/
Gude is a common greeting in Tok Pisin. We present to you some interesting information about Papua New Guinea.
In case you are from Papua New Guinea and/ or speak Tok Pisin and wish to report inconsistencies, please reply to this topic.
Tok Pisin is a creole language spoken throughout Papua New Guinea.
Here are some awe-inspiring facts about the Tok Pisin language and Papua New Guinea:
When laborers from the Pacific islands, who spoke different languages, worked side-by-side on sugar plantations in Queensland, Australia, they did not have a common language. As a result, they developed an English-based pidgin that also borrowed words from Portuguese and German, as well as from various Austronesian languages. When the plantation workers returned to their homelands, they brought the new pidgin with them. It became known as Tok Pisin in New Guinea, Bislama in Vanuatu, and Pijin in the Solomon Islands.
Apart from that, the Tok Pisin language has many aliases such as Pisin, Pidgin, Neomelanesian, New Guinea Pidgin English, and Melanesian English.
Papua New Guinea is a culturally and linguistically diverse country. Around 851 languages have been spoken among more than 1000 cultural groups and they all have their own weaponry, costumes, music, architecture, and dance.
The constitution of Papua New Guinea (PNG) recognizes Tok Pisin as a national language, along with Hiri Motu and English.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.pagahill.com/)
The Mt. Hagen Cultural show is one of the country’s leading visitor attractions. Visitors will see 75 or more tribes come together and showcase dancing rituals and cultural traditions.
(Image Courtesy: https://malumnalu.blogspot.com/)
Some other unique festivals of PNG are Mask Festival, Kenu and Kundu Canoe Festival, Jiwaka Cultural Show, Sepik Crocodile Festival, Enga Show, Hagen Show, Goroka Show, Frangipani Festival, Bougainville Chocolate Festival.
(Image Courtesy: https://trip101.com/)
The traditional cuisine of PNG is strongly focused on root crops like taro, sago, kaukau, and yams. Some other traditional dishes are Talautu, Bugandi Egg Drop Soup, Kol pis no rais, Kaima bona gatoi, Saksak, Breadnut, Mumu, Breadfruit and other local fruits.
(Image Courtesy: http://www.gudmundurfridrikssonblog.com/)
PNG offered some dramatic and assorted landscapes to the viewers such as Lusancay Islands, Mt Wilhelm, Panasia Island, The Eastern Fields, Sivoli River, Kubor Range, Mt Michael, Tavurur.
Hope you like it, if you know any other fascinating facts about Tok Pisin and Papua New Guinea, let us all know!
Source: https://www.gerlingo.com/
https://www.mustgo.com/
https://www.backdropfactory.de/
https://www.rensolc.com/
https://vickyflipfloptravels.com/
Ngurrju mayinpa is a common greeting in Warlpiri. We present to you some interesting information about the Warlpiri language, the Warlpiri people, and the Northern Territory.
In case you are one of them who speak Warlpiri and/ or are from the Northern Territory and wish to report inconsistencies, please reply to this topic.
The Warlpiri language is spoken by about 3,000 of the Warlpiri people in Australia's Northern Territory. It is one of the Ngarrkic languages of the large Pama–Nyungan family and is one of the largest Aboriginal languages in Australia in terms of the number of speakers.
Here are some interesting facts about the Warlpiri language and Australia's Northern Territory,
Warlpiri has no official status in Australia. The language is an endangered one.
In some Warlpiri communities, children and young adults use Light Warlpiri, a variety of speech that combines elements of Warlpiri, Australian Aboriginal Kriol (an English-based creole), and Australian English.
Warlpiri has several dialects identified by their geographical locale within the Warlpiri-speaking area, such as Yuendumu, Willowra, Hanson, and Lajanamu.
The main Warlpiri speaking communities are Yuendumu (Yurntumu), Lajamanu, Nyirrpi, and Willowra (Wirliyajarrayi), with speakers also, in Tennant Creek, Katherine, Alekarenge, Ti Tree, and Alice Springs.
(Image Courtesy: https://japingkaaboriginalart.com/)
Warlpiri people are known in wider Australia as being remarkable football players, as well as for their production of pretty vibrant and fabulous acrylic paintings. The significant thing about these drawings is that a number of these men, and some women, took to the opportunity of drawing with great gusto and great creativity. The drawings become, if you like, a very precious time capsule for us to look back on what was going on in that place at that time, and to just get some glimpses of what people were seeing with their own eyes, what they were thinking about and what they cared about. The drawings were nominated and accepted onto the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.
The top five spoken languages (other than English) in the Northern Territory are Kriol, Djambarrpuyngu, Greek, Tagalog, and Warlpiri.
(Image Courtesy: https://waltzingaustralia.wordpress.com/)
The Northern Territory’s Finke River is the oldest river system in the world, with parts possibly dating as far back as 340 million years.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.topfivebuzz.com/)
Uluru (Ayers Rock) has been around for millions of years and stands about 348 meters high. Interestingly, it is thought that the bulk of the rock is underground, extending down 2.5 kilometers.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.enchantingtravels.com/)
The Northern Territory always stands apart from rest of the Australia with its sheer beauty and sacred aboriginal sites. Here are some impressive tourist spots that a traveler can visit Kakadu National Park, Darwin Harbour, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Kings Canyon, Mindil Beach Markets, Litchfield National Park, Katherine Gorge.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.australiantraveller.com/)
In Northern Territory, from indigenous bush foods to freshly caught seafood, the best meals are often served at pubs, markets, and bakeries. Some must-have dishes are Barramundi, Quandong, Kakadu Plum, Mud Crab, Crocodile meat, Laksa, Devonshire Tea, Meat Pie.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.vacationstravel.com/)
Here are some happening festivals of Northern Territory that travelers can take part in, Darwin International Film Festival, Garma Festival, Darwin Festival, Freedom Day Festival, Red CentreNATS, Darwin Lions Beer Can Regatta.
Hope you like it, if you know any other fascinating facts about the Walpiri language and Northern Territory, let us all know!
Source: https://www.ats-group.net/
https://www.mustgo.com/
https://wangka.com.au/
https://adi.deakin.edu.au/news/drawing-the-warlpiri-history
https://www.tripsavvy.com/
Ola is a common greeting in Tetum. We present to you some interesting information about East Timor.
In case you are from East Timor and wish to report inconsistencies, please reply to this topic.
Tetum or Tetun is an Austronesian language spoken on the island of Timor. It is spoken in Belu Regency in Indonesian West Timor, and across the border in East Timor.
Here are some interesting facts about the Tetum language and East Timor,
The official languages of East Timor are Tetum and Portuguese.
There are three dialects of Tetum: Tetun-Terik, Tetun-Belu, and Nana'ek. A creolized variety of Tetum, known as Tetun-Dili or Tetun-Prasa, is spoken in Dili and elsewhere in East Timor as a lingua franca.
The official name of East Timor is the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.
East Timor is one of the newest countries in the world as it gained independence from Indonesia in 2002.
If we talk about the cultural aspects, then we should mention that there is a strong tradition of poetry in East Timor.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.hellotravel.com/)
The festivals of this country play a vital role to showcase the warmth and beauty of its culture. Some of the grand festivals are the Festival for Peace, Ramelau Cultural Festival, Timor-Leste Coffee Festival, Dili International Film Festival.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.196flavors.com/)
The cuisine of East Timor is strongly influenced by Portuguese cuisine and a bit of Asian flare too. Some of the popular dishes here are Batar Da’an, a vegetarian dish; Ikan Pepes, a spice-coated whole fish wrapped banana leaves; Caril, a mild chicken curry; Tapai, sticky, fermented, steamed rice which is slightly sweet and alcoholic in taste; Pastel De Nata, a snack-cum-dessert; Bibinka, grilled layered coconut cake; Bolado with Ai-Manas, Hard-Boiled Eggs with Chili Paste, Rujak (Fruit Salad with Cream and Nuts), Feijoada, Ikan Sabuko, Tukir and Mangosteen, a sweet, soft, juicy, and delicate fruit.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.vice.com/)
East Timor is one of the best tropical adventurous destinations, that is yet to be tarnished by travelers. Some of the stunning tourist spots are Cristo Rei, The Archives and Museum of East Timorese Resistance, Tais Market, Jaco Island, Akrema Beach, Mount Ramelau, Tasitolu, Lake Ira Lalaro, Mt. Matebian, Marobo Hot Springs, Nino Konis National Park.
Hope you like it, if you know any other fascinating facts about East Timor, let us all know!
Source: https://dbpedia.org/
https://www.sidmartinbio.org/
https://www.10-facts-about.com/
Selam is a common greeting in Tigrinya. We present to you some interesting information about Eritrea.
In case you are from Eritrea and wish to report inconsistencies, please reply to this topic.
Tigrinya is a Semitic language spoken in Eritrea by the Tigrinya people, and in northern Ethiopia in the Tigray region by the Tigrayan people. It is also spoken by the global diaspora of these regions.
Let us share some amazing facts about the Tigrinya language and Eritrea,
The earliest written example of Tigrinya is a text of local laws found in Logosarda district, Southern Region, Eritrea. It is from the 13th century.
Tigrinya is written in the** Ge'ez script**, originally developed for the now-extinct Ge'ez language. It is written and read from left to right as the English language.
Eritrea is a multilingual state, and its constitution confirms that all languages are equal in the country. Though this country has no official language, along with English, Tigrinya is the De facto language of Eritrea. Tigrinya is widely spoken in the central and southern parts of the country. Other Eritrean national languages include Tig, Nara, Saho, Kunama, Bilen, Beja, Afar, and Arabic.
(Image Courtesy: https://en.wikipedia.org/)
Eritrea, after Egypt, has the second-highest archaeological historical discoveries in Africa. The number of archaeological sites in the country, which was 45,000 previously, has now increased to 80,000.
(Image Courtesy: http://eritrean-ethiopiancuisine.com/)
Eritrean cuisine carries Arabic, Italian, Ethiopian and British influences. Grains and vegetables feature in most foods, while spices like cardamom, nigella, and berbere are used liberally. A popular Eritrean dish is Kulwha, which is made with lamb, vegetables, and spices, and could be considered a stir-fry of sorts. Other traditional Eritrean dishes are Fata, which is often described as the Eritrean version of Panzanella; Hamli, a traditional African dish originating from Eritrea consisting of sautéed collard greens; Shahan Ful,* typically served for breakfast*; Zigini, a spicy stew prepared with berbere spices and beef or lamb cubes, and Injera, a flatbread cooked on a griddle or a stone. Although Zigni is considered the national dish of Eritrea, it is also popular in Ethiopia, where it is known as Kai Wat.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.mycookingjourney.com/)
For dessert, Eritreans prefer to eat fruits as the country is blessed with exotic fruits. But sometimes they also have sweet Hembesha which can be served warm or cold.
(Image Courtesy: https://visadir.com/)
Eritrea is an unheard name to many people so, you may consider that it is an offbeat land for tourism, but it has a lot of great tourist spots such as The Opera House, Camel Market, Bowling Alley, House of Mammub Mohammed Nahari, Fiat Tagliero Building, Adulis Archaeological Site, Dahlak Islands, Hotel Savoiya, Emba Derho, Medebar Market, Metera, Dankalia, Imperial Palace in Massawa, Qohaito, Archaeological Site in Adi Keih, etc.
Hope you like it, if you know any other fascinating facts about the Tigrinya language and Eritrea, let us all know!
Source: https://wikimili.com/
https://newnlp.princeton.edu/
https://kids.kiddle.co/
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/
https://www.worldatlas.com/
https://www.onhisowntrip.com/
https://www.sbs.com.au/
Hi is a common greeting in English. We present to you some interesting information about England.
In case you are from England and wish to report inconsistencies, please reply to this topic.
English is a West Germanic language of the Indo-European language family, originally spoken by the inhabitants of early medieval England.
The English language is an amalgamation of German, Dutch, French, Danish, Latin Greek, and Celtic languages. This is a result of all these cultures playing a significant part in English history, primarily due to the influence of the British Empire, as well as American global influence.
Around 1 billion people speak English worldwide which is 1/7th of the world’s population. This means most of us are familiar with the language. So, without any further ado let’s explore some incredible facts about the original land of the language i.e., England.
Lexulous is indeed an engaging word puzzle. But did you know that the first puzzle was invented by English cartographer D. Spilsbury in 1760?
There are over 300 languages spoken in London, more than in any other city in the world.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.lovefood.com/)
Across the world, people know that Tea is the most popular drink among the English. But you may don’t know that approximately 165 million cups of tea are drunk in England every day which is more than any other nation on the planet.
The tea culture in England had faced a decline that attributed to the emergence of a coffee culture between 1974 and 2014, though Tea is still more popular than Coffee.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.bbc.co.uk/)
To experience what British culture can offer, you have to try classic English cuisine. Sometimes the food can challenge your eyes, your palate, and even your ears with its name, but the taste is surely delightful. Here are some of the English food that you can have Yorkshire Pudding, Fish and Chips, English Pancakes, Shepherd’s Pie, Black Pudding, Full English Breakfast, Toad in the Hole, Steak and Kidney Pie, Scotch Egg, Lancashire Hot Pot, Sunday Roast, Knickerbocker Glory, Trifle, Syllabub, Banoffee Pie, Eton Mess, Cranachan, Treacle Tart.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.history.com/)
You have endless possibilities to have an unforgettable travel experience in England. Here are some of the amusing places that you should visit Stonehenge, Tower of London, The Roman Baths and Georgian City of Bath, The British Museum, York Minster and Historic Yorkshire, Chester Zoo, Lake District National Park, Canterbury Cathedral, Eden Project, The Cotswolds, The National Gallery, Warwick Castle, Tate Modern, Royal Museums Greenwich.
(Image Courtesy: https://lucidcreates.co.uk/)
Jorvik Viking Festival, Guy Fawkes Day, Sidmouth Folk Festival, Boomtown, Glastonbury Festival, Lost Village, Camp Wildfire, Shambhala, Neverworld, and Diwali In Leicester - these glorious festivals in England truly reflect the culture and the ethos of this region.
Hope you like it, if you know any other fascinating facts about England, let us all know!
Source: https://brbgonesomewhereepic.com/
https://docplayer.net/
https://edition.cnn.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/
Vanakkam is a common greeting in Tamil. We present to you some interesting information about Tamil Nadu.
In case you are from Tamil Nadu and/ or speak Tamil and wish to report inconsistencies, please reply to this topic.
Tamil is a Dravidian language natively spoken by the Tamil people of South Asia.
Let us share some incredible facts about the Tamil language and Tamil Nadu:
Tamil is an official language of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the sovereign nations of Sri Lanka and Singapore, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. Apart from this, it is also recognized as a minority language in South Africa, Malaysia, and Mauritius.
The Tamil language is thought to have been born before 500 BC, as Tamil-Brahmin inscriptions from 500 BC have been found on Adichanallur, an archaeological site in Tamil Nadu. It's not the oldest language in the world, but it is the oldest living language that's still being used today.
Tamil is one of the oldest languages but it also means things like 'beauty', 'sweet', and 'natural'.
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Tamil arts include Bharatanatyam dance, south Indian classical music, which is very complex and has its origins in the Middle Ages. The Karagam is the most common folk dance in Tamil Nadu.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.weddingwire.in/)
Kolam, Tamil ground painting, is made from chalk, lime, crushed stone, and colored rice flour. It is drawn every morning by elderly members of the household who believe that it will keep evil out of the house and bring prosperity. It is a century-old custom. The largest Kolam in the world was produced in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
(Image Courtesy: https://homegrown.co.in/)
If you visit Tamilnadu you should start your day with Filter Kaapi (filter coffee) and Murukku, a crispy savory snack. You can have them even after having a meal. Here are some of the Tamilian cuisine that you should include in your meal, Adai Dosai (Lentils Dosa), Thengai Sadam (Coconut Rice), Uppu Kozhakattai (Salty Flour Dumpling), Paruppu Poli (Sweet Flour Pancake), Senai Masiyal (Elephant Yam Stew), Manga Pachadi (Raw Mango Stew), Sambar, a lentil-based stew; Puliyodarai, a combination of tamarind and rice; Rasam, a tangy, peppery broth. Though most of the Tamil people eat vegetarian food, here you can try some non-vegetarian dishes too, like Pollachi Nandu Fry, Crab fry with a spice mix; Pallipalayam Chicken Fry (Village-style Fried Chicken), Mutton Kola Urundai, Chicken Chettinad. To put a sweet endnote to this kind of royal meal, have Paruppu Payasam, a traditional sweet dish.
(Image Courtesy: https://traveltriangle.com/)
Tamil Nadu is home to majestic places that you should visit. You should check out these places French Colony in Pondicherry, Ancient Hills in Mudumalai, Dhanushkodi, a beautiful abandoned Town; Gorgeous Waterfalls in Hogenakkal, stunning Beaches in Tuticorin, Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of India; Historical Temples in Trichy, Nagapattinam, a renowned pilgrimage site; Vellore, the Fort City; Courtallam, Spa Town of Tamil Nadu; Madurai, Mahabalipuram, Rameshwaram, Velankanni, Kanchipuram, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Ooty, Kodaikanal.
(Image Courtesy: https://www.india-tours.com/)
Tamil Nadu is also known for its vivid festivals which everyone should take part in if possible. Some of the vibrant festivals are Pongal, Tamil New Year’s Day a.k.a. Puthandu, Natyanjali Dance Festival, Thaipusam, Mahamaham Festival, Thiruvaiyaru Festival, Karthigai Deepam.
Hope you like it, if you know any other fascinating facts about Tamil and Tamil Nadu, let us all know!
Source: https://indianyug.com/
https://www.scoopwhoop.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/