Thursday 18 September 2008

Ex Unitate Vires

"Unity is Strength"; yes this is the old South African coat of arms still standing prominent on the west wall of Park Station. The four quadrants on the shield are for the four original areas that made up the Union of South Africa: Maiden of Hope (Cape Colony), Wildebeests (Natal Colony), Orange Tree (Orange River Colony) and the Trek wagon (Transvaal). These arms were replaced in 2000 by new arms with a new motto "!ke e:/xarra//ke" written in the Khoi San language and means "Diverse people Unite". I found on another website that it is pronounced (click)-eh-air-(click)-gaara-(click)-eh. The first click is produced by flicking the tongue against the front of the palate. The second is produced by pressing the tip of the tongue against the front teeth. The third is made by sucking air through the side of the mouth. The "g" is guttural." So, just start practicing your San.

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