Community-Based Natural Resource Management Network (CBNRM Net): Resources, Dictionaries, English-Setswana dictionary

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English-Setswana dictionary

Introduction

This Group contains a two-way English-Setswana dictionary of key CBNRM and CBNRM-related terms. Setswana is used in Botswana. A Background on this Group is available, as are Descriptions of these languages. In most cases, where comments on a translation are necessary, they are listed in the first part of the dictionary.

Content

Notes: The contributor (see below) states: (1) for terms and words that do not have a Setswana equivalent: he "... [searched] for a derivative based on experience or context. This in itself presents problems because one has to conveniently re-arrange words, and sometimes the actual meaning can be lost," and (2) On the use of diacritical marks: "The formal (and modern) Setswana is almost devoid of diacritical marks. In the old Setswana writings diacritical marks were common."

English to Setswana

animal phologolo. Comments: Generally understood to mean wild (undomesticated) animals. Plural form: 'diphologolo'. Domestic animals are called 'seruiwa' (plural: 'diruiwa')
bird nonyane. Comments: Generally understood to mean wild birds. Plural: 'dinonyane'
common property ditsa-botlhe. Comments: Translated in a somewhat formal sense. 'Ditsa-' is possessive and refers to 'property', while 'botlhe' means 'all' (that is, 'all people'). Hence, 'dithoto tsa batho bothle' means 'property for all the people', where 'dithoto' means 'property', 'tsa' means 'for', 'batho' means 'people, and 'bothle' means 'all'
common property resource matlotlo a botlhe. Comments: 'Matlotlo' means 'resources' (singular: 'letlotlo'). In this case 'property' is taken along with 'common' to denote that the 'resource' (letlotlo) is for 'all'. Even though the term is 'common property resource' and not 'resources', it would be unusual to translate in the singular. Thus, 'matlotlo' (plural prefix: 'ma-', singular prefix: 'le-'). Word: 'matlotlo' means 'riches' as in 'natural riches'
common property resource management tsamaiso ya matlotlo a botlhe. Comments: The literal meaning is 'management of common property resource'. Words: 'management' means 'tsamaiso', 'of' means 'ya', and 'common property resource' means 'matlotlo a botlhe'
community morafe. Comments: Words: 'morafe' means 'people' or 'the populace'
community-based mo morafeng. Comments: Problematic translation, as the translated term is a fragment only
community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) tsamaiso ya matlotlo a tlholego mo morafeng. Comments: The literal meaning is 'management of natural resource in community'. Words: 'management' means 'tsamaiso', 'of' means 'ya', 'natural resource' means 'matlotlo a tlholego', 'in' means 'mo', and 'community' means 'morafe' (note: 'in community' becomes 'mo morafe-ng')
community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) practitioner modiri mo go tsa tsamaiso ya matlotlo a tlholego mo morafeng. Comments: The literal meaning is 'practitioner in management of natural resource in community'. Words: 'practitioner' means 'modiri'
community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) stakeholder motsaya karolo mo go tsa tsamaiso ya matlotlo a tlholego mo morafeng. Comments: The literal meaning is 'stakeholder in management of natural resource in community'
community development ditlhabololo tsa morafe. Comments: Words: 'ditlhabololo' means 'development', 'tsa' means 'of', and 'morafe' means 'community'. See 'development'.
development ditlhabololo. Comments: Unproblematic translation. See 'community development'
fish tlhapi. Comments: Unproblematic translation
flower sethunya. Comments: Unproblematic translation
insect setshedinyana. Comments: A word for 'insect' as such does not exist. Various orders and families of insects have names, for example, 'tshoswane' means 'ant', and 'khukhwane' means 'beetle'. The only possible way of translating 'insect' is based on size, as insects usually are small creatures. Thus, 'setshedinyana', where 'setshedi' means 'small' and the suffix '-nyana' denotes 'small'
management tsamaiso. Comments: Derived from 'tsamaya' which means 'walk' or 'go'. Thus, 'tsamaiso' means 'go tsamaisa', meaning 'to walk', as in 'walking/guiding someone' to reach a goal or destination
natural resource management tsamaiso ya matlotlo a tlholego. Comments: The literal meaning is 'management of resources of nature'
ownership ?
village motse. Comments: This word can also mean 'homestead' in a village

Setswana to English

ditlhabololo development
ditlhabololo tsa morafe community development
ditsa-botlhe common property
matlotlo a botlhe common property resource
modiri mo go tsa tsamaiso ya matlotlo a tlholego mo morafeng community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) practitioner
mo morafeng community-based
morafe community
motsaya karolo mo go tsa tsamaiso ya matlotlo a tlholego mo morafeng community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) stakeholder
motse village
nonyane bird
phologolo animal
sethunya flower
setshedinyana insect
tlhapi fish
tsamaiso management
tsamaiso ya matlotlo a botlhe common property resource management
tsamaiso ya matlotlo a tlholego natural resource management
tsamaiso ya matlotlo a tlholego mo morafeng community-based natural resource management
? ownership

Contributors and sources

Contributors

The following have contributed to this evolving dictionary:

Michael Vosa Flyman - Innovative Investments (Pty) Ltd., Gaborone, Botswana (CBNRM Net member)

Sources