18 Jan 2022

A Senior Lecturer at the University of Botswana, Dr Naledi Kgolo-Lotshwao recently self-published a 52-page book titled Ithute Setswana, whose purpose is to help people learn Setswana. 

In an interview on Monday, Dr Kgolo-Lotshwao said her maiden book was a simplified practical guide to learn the basics of Setswana language, with easy to follow examples and exercises. 

She said the book title Ithute Setswana captured the essence of Setswana language and encouraged people to learn it. 

The book includes Setswana vocabulary, pronunciation of words, nouns and verbs and also teaches construction of short sentences one can use to engage in day-to-day conversation such as exchanging greetings, showing courtesy and how to ask for help. 

It also covers aspects of grammar such as questioning and connecting words, tenses and borrowed words, among others. 

Dr Kgolo-Lotshwao said the book was also meant to encourage the use of proper Setswana among the younger generation, observing that there was a minimal use of the language mainly due to the lifestyle that most families had adopted.

“Most families send their children to English medium schools and interaction at home is also mostly in English, therefore Setswana is hardly used,” she said.  

She said the simplified book was therefore ideal to engage them in Setswana.

The UB linguist said the book will also be of benefit to visitors as well as those who come to Botswana for employment and study opportunities, among others. She said her other target audience were advanced school learners, who can use the book for referencing purposes. 

Dr Kgolo-Lotshwao said she managed to complete the book within six weeks, and she thanked her family for their support. 

She said upon completion, she gave it to her other colleagues for proofreading and layout design. Ithute Setswana is available in some bookshops within Gaborone.  

Dr Kgolo-Lotshwao has vast experience in research, teaching, translation, editing and writing. 

She has also published journal articles, book chapters, monographs and technical reports on issues pertaining to linguistics. 

She co-authored two other non-academic publications: Mokwalo o lolameng wa Setswana, a Setswana standard orthography and the Spelling Bee handbook. ENDS