Resources to Learn Zulu

Zulu language is mainly spoken by one of  the African tribal group of people known as Zulu. Like most indigenous Southern African languages, Zulu was not a written language until contact with missionaries from Europe, who documented the language using the Latin script. Standard Zulu as it is taught in schools, also called "deep Zulu" (isiZulu esijulile), differs in various respects from the language spoken by people living in cities.

Zulu, is one of the 11 official languages of the Republic of South Africa. It’s also spoken in Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland.

According to Ethnologue, it’s the second most widely spoken of the Bantu languages, after Shona. Like many other Bantu languages, it is written with the Latin alphabet.  Even in English, the language is often referred to by using its native form, isiZulu.

There are 10 million speakers of Zulu who live in South Africa. Men wear the amabeshu, an apron made of the skin of goat or cattle, but worn at the back. Men decorate their heads with furs and feather, while also wearing goatskin bands on their arms and legs. Women in the Zulu villages of South Africa wear the isidwaba, a traditional Zulu skirt of goat or cattle skin.

Zulu is the most widely spoken as home language almost 24% of the population total population in South Africa. Almost half of the total population understands Zulu. Rest of the people speak other African languages.

THE ORIGIN OF THE LANGUAGE

The Zulu (Zulu: amaZulu) are a Bantu ethnic group of Southern Africa and the largest ethnic group in South Africa, with an estimated 10–11 million people living mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Small numbers also live in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique. They speak Zulu language.

Basically, nothing to do with Zulus in Africa - it's just that in the NATO phonetic alphabet (and amateur radio) contexts, the word for Z is "Zulu". In the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), Z stands for "zero hours", meaning the offset from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is zero.

Here is a link where a person is speaking Zulu https://youtu.be/1tgBuR2dWh4

When it’s come to African languages, the internet offers less content in comparison to European languages; by searching a little bit harder, such content can be found. Here are some recommended links for starters. As this list is not exhaustive, let us know if you have any other links to provide so that we can add to this list.

LEARNING ZULU ON YOUR PHONE

Technology is very much part of language learning throughout the world at all different levels. Do you want to make use of your free time by learning a new african language? Here are some links where you can easily download apps or learn Zulu online-

Zulu Phrases language tutor - Zulu Phrases is a simple yet useful and completely free Android app that plays about forty frequently used Zulu (or isiZulu) conversational phrases with their English translations on your Android phone. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=za.uct.jpvb.ZuluPhrases1

uTalk Go - Arabic to Zulu - You can learn any language when you're on the move - available across your iOS devices. This travel-ready, easy to access language learning tool is simple and fun with immediate results. https://itunes.apple.com/za/app/utalk-go-arabic-to-zulu/id591795091?mt=8

Zulu English Translator - This free app is able to translate words andtexts from english to zulu, and from zulu to english. http://apk-dl.com/zulu-english-translator

READING BOOKS IN ZULU

It’s not always easy to find content in African languages. Here a selection of dictionaries and books that LaPolyglotte recommend you-

This is a link of amazon where you can purchase online books for learning Zulu language https://goo.gl/fJAUrW

Here is another link to books that may help you learn Zulu http://www.alibris.com/search/books/subject/Zulu-language

ZULU TV SHOWS

Most of us enjoy watching a fun TV shows to relax, but tv shows can also be a great way to improve your listening skills. Here the selection of LaPolyglotte-

Shaka Zulu - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086798/

Zulu Djævleræs - https://youtu.be/WJpExIxo8ng

Zulu kvægræs - https://youtu.be/C68d6xNcZlw

LISTENING MUSIC IN ZULU

Singing in a foreign language can make learning how to speak it easier. Here my selection Nursery rhyme in Zulu and English-

Traditional Music Channel: African Zulu Voices Music
https://youtu.be/cYGIbyBfspY

Redeemed Tsohle: A Song of Zulu.
https://youtu.be/axoOJ1v00Rg?list=PLvnCtY8CDl9Z-llIH9T6RoDmqVurvMWEM

Keke Phoofolo- sibekiwe: A Zulu music artist and his song.
https://youtu.be/KY4kprn99bQ?list=PLvnCtY8CDl9Z-llIH9T6RoDmqVurvMWEM

ACADEMIC STUDY IN ZULU

For those of you who want to go back to school to study Zulu. it’s still possible to do it! Check out the following list-

University of Wisconsin- Madison: here you can do certified course on Zulu language learning.

http://languages.wisc.edu/languages/zulu

SIT Study Abroad: It’s a school for international training on language learning program.
https://studyabroad.sit.edu/documents/studyabroad/2017SSP-SFD-ZULU1003.pdf

ZULU ON YouTube

Learning a language shouldn’t be difficult and online videos can help. Here are my top selections to learn Zulu-

Let’s Learn Zulu: an youtube video through which you can learn zulu.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Guew9KWY78

Learning Corner SA: An youtube channel from where you can learn languages.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd3J_dp3_2E

Zulu 101: Pronunciation - you can hear pronunciation from this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCMj7da5Da4

Learning Zulu will help you to better communicate with Zulu people if you travel there. I have found these resources to learn Zulu. These are very helpful to me and those friends I referred. Hopefully you will get these effective as well.

Ngikufisela iwela!