Ninety-one-year-old Katrina Esau is the last known speaker of N|uu. Years of colonialism and apartheid had almost wiped out this indigenous South African language. As a young girl, Katrina was told to be ashamed of her native tongue and instead speak Afrikaans. But as an adult, Esau set out to preserve N|uu by founding a school in her hometown Upington and creating a N|uu dictionary.
Protecting an Endangered Language
Despite having two living sisters, Esau has no one to speak her language with, aside from the family members and children she had taught a few phrases. “I miss speaking to someone,” she said. “It doesn’t feel good. You talk, you walk, you know … you miss someone who can just sit with you and speak N|uu with you.”
CONTINUE READING ON THE NEXT PAGE Advertisement:
I Wrote My Son Daily from a Nursing Home with No Reply until a Stranger Came to Take Me Home — Story of the Day
Use Salt in the Toilet: Grandma’s Foolproof Tip!
Growing Lychee in Pots: A Comprehensive Guide
Discover the Magic: 17 Surprising Uses for Baby Oil
The Power of Mugwort Leaves: A Natural Remedy for Over 10 Diseases
Healthy Gluten-Free Slimming Dessert: Oatmeal, Cocoa, and Banana Delight
Shrimp grilled cheese with buttery garlic bread
Copycat KFC Coleslaw Recipe: A Classic Side Dish Made at Home
Get rid of flies from outdoor spaces with this trick
