“I know one tappet like that” – Exploring a South African stereotype

~ Richard Bowker

The word “tappet” – used to refer to a person or their behaviour or culture – doesn’t have quite the same cachet as that which has been ascribed to “zef” in the last decade and a half. While similar to “zef,” unlike that term, “tappet” is not (yet?) one which people use to construct a self-identity. Initially a designation for petrolkoppe, the targets of the derision involved in the use of the term also include social class, ethnic or language background, and levels of intelligence or social sophistication.

More going on than you think – “dala” in South African English

~ Richard Bowker

The isiXhosa verb "dala" is regularly used in South African English these days, having arrived by a somewhat circuitous route. It as a generally agreed upon meaning; yet, looking more closely, one notices that there is a lot more happening under the hood.

English with African roots: “balance me”—explain to me, help me understand

~ Richard Bowker

The phrase "balance me" shows a wholly different kind of use in Africa than it does in the rest of the world, according to the 15-billion word News on the Web (NOW) corpus. Why should this be the case? How is it different? And what does "balance me" even mean in English in South Africa? In this post, I provide answers to these questions based on contemporary data, and then draw conclusions you may consider surprising.

All-time most-viewed articles at GQOM: 11–15

~ Richard Bowker

A round-up of the most popular articles on GQOM over the last five years. Here's 11-15. Find out more about khumsha, papgeld, papsak, paraat, plak, taalbul, tekere, tjank, toeka, zap sign, and zol.

Throwing a zap: how to talk about showing someone the middle finger in South Africa—the zap sign

~ Richard Bowker ~ 1 Comment

You know what I mean: the zap sign — a gesture that sends an unequivocal message of "F*** you." Elsewhere referred to as "giving the middle finger" or "flipping the bird." A historical lexicographic treatment of the phrase in South African English

The mysterious case of toeka | The Persistence of Heritage

~ Richard Bowker ~ 2 Comments

Phrases like “van toeka af” have been used in South Africa for a long time to refer to the distant past. How “toeka” came to enter Afrikaans in the first place remains something of a mystery as its origins may be local or it may have been imported during the early colonial era. From the twentieth century, it can be found in English in South Africa, perhaps having taken a detour through Tsotsitaal or Is’camtho.

tjank | The Persistence of Heritage: Words from Afrikaans in SA English

~ Richard Bowker ~ 11 Comments

What do you think of when you hear the word "tjank"? A jackal howling at the full moon in the Karoo veld? A rugby player bawling on the touchline after losing a tournament final? A child wailing for an ice-cream cone dropped on the ground? It's all here, all that and more.

Trending at GQOM: mjolo and a host of other words you can get to know

~ Richard Bowker

Julius Malema's flippant comment in January about suspending mjolo during lockdown has got a whole lot of people, from Cape Town all the way up to Kinshasa and beyond, wanting to find out what mjolo means. Check out GQOM for this and other recent words entering South African English.

Trending at GQOM: fong kong and umrabulo in South African English

~ Richard Bowker

The South African English terms “fong kong” and “umrabulo” are really popular right now. Having encountered them in the public domain, people seeking to understand their meanings often end up at GQOM. The articles from GQOM’s archives provide in-depth analyses of the items—and some cautions about their use.

Talking Back 2.0—Some recent mixed-language items in Black South African English

~ Richard Bowker ~ 6 Comments

An investigation of new and recent mixed-language words and phrases in Black South African English, featuring descriptions of chillas, gqwirhy, kasi, loxion, makoya, Mzansian, skaftin, sterring, and umgowo, among others.

All-time most-viewed articles at GQOM: 1–5

~ Richard Bowker

A round-up of the most popular articles on GQOM over the last five years. Here's 1-5. Discover amapiano, eish, fong kong, gqwirhiness, kota, msunery, Mzansi, ngudu, quart, skaftin, smallanyana, sterring, umgowo, and Zamalek, among dozens more.

All-time most-viewed articles at GQOM: 6–10

~ Richard Bowker

Ranks 6 to 10 of the most popular articles on GQOM over the last five years. Manga manga, umrabulo, and kop and gat - plus a host of English-language words and phrases from Black SA English, and a few loaned adverbs thrown in to spice up things.

“So paraat he stands at attention all night.” — Persistence/Heritage 2.3

~ Richard Bowker ~ 2 Comments

Afrikaans military slang from the bad old days of the 80s. The communists were on our doorstep, after all. A historical lexicographic treatment of the word in English in South Africa

“He murders all his brain cells with the papsak.” — Persistence/Heritage 2.2

~ Richard Bowker ~ 2 Comments

Notorious in several quarters for the havoc it plays with mind and health, the South African papsak is peak infamy. A historical lexicographic treatment of the word in English in South Africa

“Papgeld. Bolova please pay maintenance.” — Persistence/Heritage 2.1

~ Richard Bowker ~ 2 Comments

The world over, baby daddies may suddenly get all shy when it's time to go beyond just talking about papgeld. A historical lexicographic treatment of the word in English in South Africa