Ithute Setswana, a must-have handbook

Learn Setswana: Ithute Setswana is a well written Setswana book by Dr. KgoloLotshwao meant to simplify the Setswana language for anyone interested in learning and understanding Setswana.

It is particularly written for visitors and residents of Botswana who are struggling to master the Setswana language. While there are several languages in Botswana, Setswana is widely spoken across the country. “When someone visits Botswana, it is helpful to have a basic understanding of the language to easily interact with locals. She says there is a generation of young Batswana who have Setswana as their second language. This group, she says struggle with Setswana and this book can help such learners as it explains basic Setswana grammar in English.

Learn Setswana provides current usage of language in an easy-to-follow manner, making the book different from other contemporary books. The author emphasized that language is part of culture meaning that therefore it is dynamic. She has therefore addressed this by ensuring that the vocabulary in her book reflects the world today. “Looking at the era that we live in, some of the words are no longer used and so we do not have them in our book. For example, people should not expect words like mosokelatsebeng meaning ‘phone’.

“The book is comprehensive in coverage,” she said, reiterating that it provides some cultural explanations for common and basic language like greetings and covers even slang that one would hear young people using. This she said also makes the book a necessity as it is portable in the sense that a tourist can easily carry it around and put it in a handbag. Interestingly, the book can also be used in a school curriculum and especially schools that predominantly have children who have Setswana as a second language and English as their first language. The book does not use difficult language in explaining grammar concepts such as the noun class system, and Dr Loboko said this makes it user-friendly.

Currently, a lot of foreign Embassies in Gaborone are keen to have their copy of the book to get a grip of Setswana and other local languages. She added that a few Embassies have bought the book. Being a linguist by profession, she put a lot of thought in writing this book. The book is available at most leading bookstores and on Amazon as an e-book.