Vocal Voices

Gqeberha, that is.

South Africa is changing some place names into local languages so old Port Elizabeth has become Gqeberha. Trouble is that the local language is Xhosa and it is a 'click' language so Gwebera or Guberha or some other such Anglicised version will not do.

Watch the video and get your tongue twisting.

I would love to hear Joanna Lumley or Brian Sewell having a go.

A town not far from where I grew up is called Pietermaritzburg (named after Pieter Maritz)...... also referred to as uMgungundlovu (which very beautifully roughly translates to "Place of the Elephants)

But will admit that whilst not very good at it; I can do that click

And people have problems pronouncing Hednesford where I grew up!

Even the locals - from memory; everyone had their own version.

I just went with 'Hensferd' and nobody complained.

BTW the 'er' part was silent so more like Hensf'd.

Ria, I have been practising but it does sound very strange in a Yorkshire accent.

When Becky went to Namibia she said the local language had clicks it in! The reserve she went to was
Na an Kuse https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naankus ... _Sanctuary

JoM wrote:And people have problems pronouncing Hednesford where I grew up!