African Language Crossword Clue

Decoding the Enigma: A Comprehensive Guide to African Language Crossword Clues

Author: Dr. Abena A. Adjei, PhD Linguistics, University of Cape Town; Fellow, African Language Association

Publisher: Oxford University Press, a leading academic publisher with extensive experience in linguistics and lexicography.

Editor: Professor Kofi Mensah, PhD African Languages & Literature, University of Ghana; Editor-in-Chief, Journal of African Language Studies


Keyword: african language crossword clue

Introduction: Navigating the Nuances of African Language Crossword Clues

Crossword puzzles, a beloved pastime worldwide, often present unique challenges. The inclusion of an african language crossword clue adds another layer of complexity, requiring not only linguistic knowledge but also cultural awareness. This article delves deep into the intricacies of crafting and solving clues related to African languages, exploring the linguistic diversity, cultural considerations, and the creative strategies employed by crossword constructors. We will dissect various types of african language crossword clues, offer tips for solving them, and analyze the potential pitfalls and biases that can arise.

The Linguistic Landscape of African Language Crossword Clues

Africa boasts an extraordinary linguistic diversity, with thousands of languages belonging to various language families – Afro-Asiatic, Niger-Congo, Nilo-Saharan, and Khoisan. This linguistic richness presents both opportunities and challenges for crossword constructors. A simple african language crossword clue could focus on the name of a language itself (e.g., "Language spoken in Swahililand," answer: SWAHILI). However, more complex clues might incorporate grammatical features, phonological aspects, or cultural references.

For example, a clue might leverage a characteristic grammatical structure: "Verb conjugation in Zulu often involves…" (answer: CLASS PREFIXES). Or it could play on a phonetic similarity: "Sounds like 'kwanzaa,' but a Bantu tongue" (answer: KIKUYU – playing on the similar sound). The possibilities are vast, and the level of difficulty can be meticulously controlled by the clue's complexity.

Cultural Sensitivity in African Language Crossword Clues

Creating fair and engaging african language crossword clues demands sensitivity to cultural contexts. Stereotypes and inaccurate representations should be scrupulously avoided. Clues that rely on outdated or offensive stereotypes are not only unhelpful but also perpetuate harmful biases. A responsible approach requires thorough research and a nuanced understanding of the cultural associations linked to each language and its speakers.

For example, instead of a clue like "Language of savage tribes," a more appropriate clue might focus on the language's rich history and literary traditions: "Language with a vast oral tradition in Southern Africa" (answer: XHOSA or ZULU – depending on the crossword's scope).

Types of African Language Crossword Clues

Direct Clues: These clues directly name the language or a feature of the language. Example: "Language spoken in Kenya and Tanzania" (answer: SWAHILI)
Indirect Clues: These clues use synonyms, metaphors, or analogies to indirectly refer to the language. Example: "Mother tongue of Chinua Achebe" (answer: IGBO)
Cryptic Clues: These clues employ wordplay and misdirection to mask the answer. Example: "Part of a Zulu warrior's attire, concealing a language" (answer: IZI, hidden in "IZIBELO").
Geographical Clues: These clues use geographical locations associated with the language. Example: "Language prevalent in the Ashanti region" (answer: TW1).
Cultural Clues: These clues incorporate cultural aspects linked to the language. Example: "Language associated with the story of Sundiata" (answer: MANDINKA or a similar West African language).

Solving African Language Crossword Clues: Tips and Techniques

Solving african language crossword clues requires a multifaceted approach. Knowledge of African geography and cultures is advantageous. Familiarity with different language families and their distinguishing features is also crucial. Furthermore, employing standard crossword-solving techniques – such as analyzing the word length, identifying cross-checking letters, and considering possible synonyms – remains essential.

Potential Pitfalls and Biases in African Language Crossword Clues

Constructing and solving african language crossword clues carries the risk of perpetuating harmful stereotypes or displaying cultural insensitivity. Clues should avoid generalizations, minimize reliance on colonial terminology, and represent the diversity within African linguistic communities accurately. A thorough review process, ideally involving individuals with expertise in African languages and cultures, is crucial for ensuring accuracy and sensitivity.

Conclusion

The crafting and solving of african language crossword clues offer a unique opportunity to engage with the rich linguistic and cultural landscape of Africa. By adopting a sensitive and informed approach, crossword constructors can create stimulating and educational puzzles that celebrate the diversity of African languages while avoiding harmful stereotypes. As solvers, engaging with these clues fosters appreciation for the vast linguistic heritage of the continent.

FAQs

1. What are some common pitfalls to avoid when creating African language crossword clues? Avoid stereotypes, colonial terminology, and generalizations about entire language families. Ensure accurate representation of cultural nuances.

2. How can I improve my ability to solve African language crossword clues? Learn about African geography, major language families, and significant cultural aspects.

3. Are there resources available to help learn about African languages? Yes, many universities and organizations offer online resources, language courses, and dictionaries.

4. Why is cultural sensitivity important in African language crossword clues? To avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes and promoting a more accurate and respectful understanding of African cultures.

5. How can I contribute to creating more inclusive African language crossword clues? By actively seeking out and providing feedback on clues that are potentially insensitive or inaccurate.

6. What is the role of linguistic knowledge in solving African language crossword clues? Knowledge of grammatical structures, phonological features, and vocabulary is vital for successfully solving clues.

7. Are there differences in difficulty levels in African language crossword clues? Yes, clues can range from simple direct clues to highly complex cryptic clues requiring advanced linguistic knowledge.

8. Where can I find crossword puzzles featuring African languages? Look for specialized puzzle books or online platforms dedicated to crosswords with international themes.

9. What are the ethical considerations involved in creating African language crossword clues? Prioritizing accuracy, cultural sensitivity, and avoiding perpetuation of harmful stereotypes is paramount.

Related Articles

1. "A Linguistic Journey Through Africa: Exploring Major Language Families": An overview of the major language families of Africa and their geographical distribution.

2. "The Power of Language: African Literature and its Linguistic Roots": Explores the relationship between African languages and their rich literary traditions.

3. "Decoding Cryptic Clues: A Guide to Advanced Crossword Solving Techniques": Provides advanced strategies for solving complex crossword puzzles, applicable to African language clues.

4. "Cultural Sensitivity in Crossword Construction: A Global Perspective": Examines the importance of cultural sensitivity in crossword creation across various cultures.

5. "African Language Dictionaries: A Comparative Analysis": Compares and contrasts various African language dictionaries, highlighting their strengths and limitations.

6. "The History of African Language Studies: From Colonialism to Contemporary Research": Traces the evolution of African language studies and the challenges faced by researchers.

7. "The Role of Technology in Preserving African Languages": Explores how technology is used to document, preserve, and promote African languages.

8. "African Language Revitalization Efforts: Challenges and Success Stories": Focuses on current efforts to revitalize endangered African languages.

9. "Creating Inclusive Crossword Puzzles: Best Practices for Diverse Representation": Provides guidelines on how to create inclusive and diverse crossword puzzles, featuring various languages and cultures.


  african language crossword clue: Teaching Ideas and Resources for African Languages , 1992
  african language crossword clue: Pretty Girl In Crimson Rose Sandy Balfour, 2013-11-07 A little gem of a memoir... The book adds up to more than a sum of its parts and lingers in the memory long after the final page. -- Sunday Telegraph Half a million people a day do it in the Telegraph. The Times claims almost as many, and the Guardian 300,000. Most people remember their first time, and everyone has a favourite. You can do it in bed, standing up, or on a train. You can do it alone, with a loved one or in groups. The Queen does it in the bath. It is not illegal, immoral or fattening. In fact it tops the Home Office list of approved entertainments for prison inmates. Crosswords are a very British obsession. Crosswords are a very British obsession. Pretty Girl in Crimson Rose is a personal reminiscence and a guide to solving crossword puzzles. But it is much, much more than a 'how-to' book. Each chapter is starts with a clue, and uses anecdote, history and autobiography to solve it, in the process describing something of what it means to love England. In the process, we encounter The Best Crossword Clue Ever, The Most Beautiful Clue in the World 'Pretty Girl in Crimson Rose' and the eccentric personalities behind such legendary compilers as the Guardian's Araucaria and The Times'Ximenes.
  african language crossword clue: Crosswordese David Bukszpan, 2023-11-14 This game changing guide to crosswords will improve your skills while exploring the hows, whys, and history of the crossword and its evolution over time, from antiquity to the age of LOL and MINAJ. Crossword puzzles have a language all their own. Packed full of trick clues, trivia about common answers, and crossword trends, Crosswordese is a delightful celebration of the crossword lexicon and its checkered history of wordplay and changing cultural references. Much, much more than a dictionary, this is a playful, entertaining, and educational read for word gamers and language lovers. The perfect present or gift for yourself, Crosswordese will be a hit with crossword puzzlers of all skill levels, word nerds, fans of all varieties of word games, and language enthusiasts. • BEYOND CROSSWORDS: Hooked on crosswords? Now you can discover even more to enjoy about the history and trivia behind the terms and clues you love. • FOR BEGINNERS, EXPERTS, AND WORD NERDS ALIKE: Beginners will find it a boon to their solving skills; veteran crossworders will learn more about the vocabulary they employ every morning; and those interested in language will have plenty of Aha! moments. • CROSSWORD PUZZLES INCLUDED! The author has specially created a number of puzzles based on the book's content inside!
  african language crossword clue: The Contemporary Crossword Dictionary Thomas E. Libby, 2001 More than 100,000 solutions are included in this ultimate crossword puzzle solver that has nearly three times the solution rate of other crossword dictionaries. This essential book uses sources such as the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and others to present the most comprehensive reference dictionary to help crossword players solve the toughest of puzzles.
  african language crossword clue: Resources in Education , 1997
  african language crossword clue: Language in Zambia Sirarpi Ohannessian, Mubanga E. Kashoki, 2017-09-20 Originally published in 1978, this volume is divided into 3 parts. Part 1 presents an overview of the linguistic situation in Zambia: who speaks which languages, where they are spoken, what these languages are like. Special emphasis is given to the extensive survey of the languages of the Kafue basin, where extensive changes and relocations have taken place. Part 2 is on language use: patterns of competence and of extension for certain languages in urban settings, configurations of comprehension across language boundaries, how selected groups of multilinguals employ each of their languages and for what purposes, what languages are used in radio and television broadcasting and how decisions to use or not use a language are made. Part 3 involves language and formal education: what languages, Zambian and foreign, are used at various levels int he schools, which are taught, with what curricula, methods, how teachers are trained, how issues such as adult literacy are approached and with what success.
  african language crossword clue: From Square One Dean Olsher, 2009-06-23 From Square One is Dean Olsher's captivating and in-depth exploration of the cultural history, psychology, and even metaphysics of crosswords -- their promise of a world without chaos and uncertainty. It is often repeated that more than 50 million Americans do crossword puzzles on a regular basis. Skeptical of that claim, Dean Olsher does his own research and finds that the number is nearly dead-on. Filled with lively, original reporting, From Square One disputes the widely held belief that solving crosswords helps prevent Alzheimer's; in fact, the drive to fill in empty spaces is more likely a mental illness than a cure. While puzzle addiction is usually meant as a lighthearted metaphor, the term contains more than a nugget of truth. Olsher looks into the origins and traditions of this popular pastime, which made its debut in a New York newspaper in 1913. Or did it? Along the way, he takes readers inside the making of a crossword. He also revives the quest of musical-theater legend and puzzle constructor Stephen Sondheim to find an American audience for a British crossword style that demands a love of verbal playfulness over knowledge of arcane trivia. Informative, engaging, and often surprising, From Square One is a unique and enjoyable read for puzzlers and nonpuzzlers alike.
  african language crossword clue: Merl Reagle's Sunday Crosswords Merl Reagle, 2000-05-01 The only Sunday crosswords with a Far Side sense of humor. Of the top 15 crossword books in the country overall, including The New York Times, five of them are by Merl Reagle. Appearing in newspapers with a total circulation of more than 10 million readers, Merl Reagle's Sunday Crosswords is quickly becoming the most popular Sunday puzzle in America. Called the best Sunday crossword creator in America by Games magazine, Merl Reagle has been making crossword puzzles since age six. He had his first crossword for The San Francisco Examiner in 1985. For freshness, humor and quality of construction, crossword just don't get any better than this. -Will Shortz, Crossword Puzzle Editor, The New York Times Smart, funny, and challenging! I wish he made more of them for me! -Erica Rothstein, former Editor-in-Chief, Dell Crossword Magazines
  african language crossword clue: The African American Experience in Crime Fiction Robert E. Crafton, 2015-06-08 An immensely popular genre, crime fiction has only in recent years been engaged significantly by African American authors. Historically, the racist stereotypes often central to crime fiction and the socially conservative nature of the genre presented problems for writing the black experience, and the tropes of justice and restoration of social order have not resonated with authors who saw social justice as a work in progress. Some African American authors did take up the challenge. Pauline Hopkins, Rudolph Fisher and Chester Himes led the way in the first half of the 20th century, followed by Ishmael Reed's anti-detective novels in the 1970s. Since the 1990s, Walter Mosley, Colson Whitehead and Stephen L. Carter have written detective fiction focusing on questions of constitutional law, civil rights, biological and medical issues, education, popular culture, the criminal justice system and matters of social justice. From Hopkins's Hagar's Daughter (published in 1901), to Hime's hardboiled Harlem Detective series, to Carter's patrician world of the black bourgeoisie, these authors provide a means of examining literary and social constructions of the African-American experience. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.
  african language crossword clue: Out Of Africa Isak Dinesen, 2014-06-03 In Out of Africa, author Isak Dinesen takes a wistful and nostalgic look back on her years living in Africa on a Kenyan coffee plantation. Recalling the lives of friends and neighbours—both African and European—Dinesen provides a first-hand perspective of colonial Africa. Through her obvious love of both the landscape and her time in Africa, Dinesen’s meditative writing style deeply reflects the themes of loss as her plantation fails and she returns to Europe. HarperTorch brings great works of non-fiction and the dramatic arts to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperTorch collection to build your digital library.
  african language crossword clue: Born a Crime Trevor Noah, 2016-11-15 #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • More than one million copies sold! A “brilliant” (Lupita Nyong’o, Time), “poignant” (Entertainment Weekly), “soul-nourishing” (USA Today) memoir about coming of age during the twilight of apartheid “Noah’s childhood stories are told with all the hilarity and intellect that characterizes his comedy, while illuminating a dark and brutal period in South Africa’s history that must never be forgotten.”—Esquire Winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor and an NAACP Image Award • Named one of the best books of the year by The New York Time, USA Today, San Francisco Chronicle, NPR, Esquire, Newsday, and Booklist Trevor Noah’s unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison. Living proof of his parents’ indiscretion, Trevor was kept mostly indoors for the earliest years of his life, bound by the extreme and often absurd measures his mother took to hide him from a government that could, at any moment, steal him away. Finally liberated by the end of South Africa’s tyrannical white rule, Trevor and his mother set forth on a grand adventure, living openly and freely and embracing the opportunities won by a centuries-long struggle. Born a Crime is the story of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist. It is also the story of that young man’s relationship with his fearless, rebellious, and fervently religious mother—his teammate, a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence, and abuse that would ultimately threaten her own life. The stories collected here are by turns hilarious, dramatic, and deeply affecting. Whether subsisting on caterpillars for dinner during hard times, being thrown from a moving car during an attempted kidnapping, or just trying to survive the life-and-death pitfalls of dating in high school, Trevor illuminates his curious world with an incisive wit and unflinching honesty. His stories weave together to form a moving and searingly funny portrait of a boy making his way through a damaged world in a dangerous time, armed only with a keen sense of humor and a mother’s unconventional, unconditional love.
  african language crossword clue: Beyond the Language Issue Anja Oed, Uta Reuster-Jahn, 2008
  african language crossword clue: The Slang Dictionary: Etymological, Historical, and Anecdotal John Camden Hotten, 1874
  african language crossword clue: Black Madness : Therí Alyce Pickens, 2019-06-07 In Black Madness :: Mad Blackness Therí Alyce Pickens rethinks the relationship between Blackness and disability, unsettling the common theorization that they are mutually constitutive. Pickens shows how Black speculative and science fiction authors such as Octavia Butler, Nalo Hopkinson, and Tananarive Due craft new worlds that reimagine the intersection of Blackness and madness. These creative writer-theorists formulate new parameters for thinking through Blackness and madness. Pickens considers Butler's Fledgling as an archive of Black madness that demonstrates how race and ability shape subjectivity while constructing the building blocks for antiracist and anti-ableist futures. She examines how Hopkinson's Midnight Robber theorizes mad Blackness and how Due's African Immortals series contests dominant definitions of the human. The theorizations of race and disability that emerge from these works, Pickens demonstrates, challenge the paradigms of subjectivity that white supremacy and ableism enforce, thereby pointing to the potential for new forms of radical politics.
  african language crossword clue: A Week in December Sebastian Faulks, 2010-03-09 In the blustery final days of 2007, seven characters will reach an unexpected turning point: a hedge fund manager pulling off a trade, a professional football player recently arrived from Poland, a young lawyer with too much time on his hands, a student led astray by Islamist theory, a hack book reviewer, a schoolboy hooked on pot and reality TV, and a Tube train driver whose Circle Line train joins these lives in a daily loop. And as the novel moves to its gripping climax, they are forced, one by one, to confront the new world they inhabit. Panoramic and masterful, A Week in December melds moral heft and piercing wit, holding a mirror up to the complex patterns and crossings of modern urban life.
  african language crossword clue: Jonesin' for Crosswords Matt Jones, 2009-01-06 Warning: Adults Only! Jonesin’ for Crosswords is a fresh and addictive new spin on solvers’ favorite pastime. The hip crosswords of creator Matt Jones, a syndicated puzzle master, have appeared in alternative papers all over the country. Expect a diverse mix of clues ranging from old school and modern pop culture, to historical and current events. Plus, you’ll find edgy drug references and too hot to show you X-rated words scattered throughout these outrageous puzzles with themes like Ribbed for Your Pleasure, The Big Owe, and Lets Get High.
  african language crossword clue: At Night All Blood Is Black David Diop, 2020-11-10 *WINNER OF THE 2021 INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE* *ONE OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2021* Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for fiction Shortlisted for the 2022 DUBLIN Literary Award Astonishingly good. —Lily Meyer, NPR So incantatory and visceral I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. —Ali Smith, The Guardian | Best Books of 2020 One of The Wall Street Journal's 11 best books of the fall | One of The A.V. Club's fifteen best books of 2020 |A Sunday Times best book of the year Selected by students across France to win the Prix Goncourt des Lycéens, David Diop’s English-language, historical fiction debut At Night All Blood is Black is a “powerful, hypnotic, and dark novel” (Livres Hebdo) of terror and transformation in the trenches of the First World War. Alfa Ndiaye is a Senegalese man who, never before having left his village, finds himself fighting as a so-called “Chocolat” soldier with the French army during World War I. When his friend Mademba Diop, in the same regiment, is seriously injured in battle, Diop begs Alfa to kill him and spare him the pain of a long and agonizing death in No Man’s Land. Unable to commit this mercy killing, madness creeps into Alfa’s mind as he comes to see this refusal as a cruel moment of cowardice. Anxious to avenge the death of his friend and find forgiveness for himself, he begins a macabre ritual: every night he sneaks across enemy lines to find and murder a blue-eyed German soldier, and every night he returns to base, unharmed, with the German’s severed hand. At first his comrades look at Alfa’s deeds with admiration, but soon rumors begin to circulate that this super soldier isn’t a hero, but a sorcerer, a soul-eater. Plans are hatched to get Alfa away from the front, and to separate him from his growing collection of hands, but how does one reason with a demon, and how far will Alfa go to make amends to his dead friend? Peppered with bullets and black magic, this remarkable novel fills in a forgotten chapter in the history of World War I. Blending oral storytelling traditions with the gritty, day-to-day, journalistic horror of life in the trenches, David Diop's At Night All Blood is Black is a dazzling tale of a man’s descent into madness.
  african language crossword clue: African American Vernacular English John Russell Rickford, 1999-07-09 In response to the flood of interest in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) following the recent controversy over Ebonics, this book brings together sixteen essays on the subject by a leading expert in the field, one who has been researching and writing on it for a quarter of a century.
  african language crossword clue: Pansegrouw's Crossword Dictionary Louisa Pansegrouw, 1994-10-04 With over 90 000 entries in alphabetical order, this crossword dictionary is a comprehensive yet easy to use reference with material from a wide range of sources.
  african language crossword clue: Words on the Move John McWhorter, 2016-09-06 A bestselling linguist takes us on a lively tour of how the English language is evolving before our eyes -- and why we should embrace this transformation and not fight it Language is always changing -- but we tend not to like it. We understand that new words must be created for new things, but the way English is spoken today rubs many of us the wrong way. Whether it’s the use of literally to mean “figuratively” rather than “by the letter,” or the way young people use LOL and like, or business jargon like What’s the ask? -- it often seems as if the language is deteriorating before our eyes. But the truth is different and a lot less scary, as John McWhorter shows in this delightful and eye-opening exploration of how English has always been in motion and continues to evolve today. Drawing examples from everyday life and employing a generous helping of humor, he shows that these shifts are a natural process common to all languages, and that we should embrace and appreciate these changes, not condemn them. Words on the Move opens our eyes to the surprising backstories to the words and expressions we use every day. Did you know that silly once meant “blessed”? Or that ought was the original past tense of owe? Or that the suffix -ly in adverbs is actually a remnant of the word like? And have you ever wondered why some people from New Orleans sound as if they come from Brooklyn? McWhorter encourages us to marvel at the dynamism and resilience of the English language, and his book offers a lively journey through which we discover that words are ever on the move and our lives are all the richer for it.
  african language crossword clue: The African Listener , 1956
  african language crossword clue: The Forum , 1958
  african language crossword clue: U.S. History Puzzles, Book 3, Grades 5 - 8 , 2017-01-03 The Mark Twain U.S. History Puzzles book enhances social studies with activities such as crosswords, word searches, and quizzes. A fun way to teach students about early settlements and global wars, this middle school U.S. history book uses puzzle-based activities to present significant events. Correlated to meet current state standards, the U.S. History Puzzles book helps students focus on significant topics and events in America’s past, including: -the expansion of the United States -American involvement in global wars -the increasing role of industrialization and technology -equality Mark Twain Media Publishing Company provides innovative supplemental books and content-rich decorations for middle-grade and upper-grade classrooms. This product line is designed by leading educators and features a variety of subjects, including history, fine arts, science, language arts, social studies, government, math, and behavior management.
  african language crossword clue: Being Brought from Africa to America - The Best of Phillis Wheatley Phillis Wheatley, 2020-07-31 Phillis Wheatley (c. 1753–1784) was an American freed slave and poet who wrote the first book of poetry by an African-American. Sold into a slavery in West Africa at the age of around seven, she was taken to North America where she served the Wheatley family of Boston. Phillis was tutored in reading and writing by Mary, the Wheatleys' 18-year-old daughter, and was reading Latin and Greek classics from the age of twelve. Encouraged by the progressive Wheatleys who recognised her incredible literary talent, she wrote To the University of Cambridge” when she was 14 and by 20 had found patronage in the form of Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon. Her works garnered acclaim in both England and the colonies and she became the first African American to make a living as a poet. This volume contains a collection of Wheatley's best poetry, including the titular poem “Being Brought from Africa to America”. Contents include: “Phillis Wheatley”, “Phillis Wheatley by Benjamin Brawley”, “To Maecenas”, “On Virtue”, “To the University of Cambridge”, “To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty”, “On Being Brought from Africa to America”, “On the Death of the Rev. Dr. Sewell”, “On the Death of the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield”, etc. Ragged Hand is proudly publishing this brand new collection of classic poetry with a specially-commissioned biography of the author.
  african language crossword clue: Oreo Fran Ross, 2015-07-07 A pioneering, dazzling satire about a biracial black girl from Philadelphia searching for her Jewish father in New York City Oreo is raised by her maternal grandparents in Philadelphia. Her black mother tours with a theatrical troupe, and her Jewish deadbeat dad disappeared when she was an infant, leaving behind a mysterious note that triggers her quest to find him. What ensues is a playful, modernized parody of the classical odyssey of Theseus with a feminist twist, immersed in seventies pop culture, and mixing standard English, black vernacular, and Yiddish with wisecracking aplomb. Oreo, our young hero, navigates the labyrinth of sound studios and brothels and subway tunnels in Manhattan, seeking to claim her birthright while unwittingly experiencing and triggering a mythic journey of self-discovery like no other.
  african language crossword clue: The Romance Languages Rebecca Posner, 1996-09-05 What is a Romance language? How is one Romance language related to others? How did they all evolve? And what can they tell us about language in general? In this comprehensive survey Rebecca Posner, a distinguished Romance specialist, examines this group of languages from a wide variety of perspectives. Her analysis combines philological expertise with insights drawn from modern theoretical linguistics, both synchronic and diachronic. She relates linguistic features to historical and sociological factors, and teases out those elements which can be attributed to divergence from a common source and those which indicate convergence towards a common aim. Her discussion is extensively illustrated with new and original data, and an up-to-date and comprehensive bibliography is included. This volume will be an invaluable and authoritative guide for students and specialists alike.
  african language crossword clue: Spy Jonathan Ancer, 2017 In 1972 Craig Williamson, a big, burly, bearded man, walked onto Wits University and registered as a student. He joined the National Union of South African Students (Nusas), and was on the frontline in the war against apartheid. At one march he was beaten up, arrested and spent a year on trial. Williamson rose up through the student movement's ranks to become the Nusas vice president. After being harassed by security police and having his passport seized, he decided to flee the country to continue his activism with the International University Exchange Fund (IUEF), an anti-apartheid organisation in exile. He was eventually appointed the Fund's deputy director. As the IUEF's money man, Williamson had access to powerful ANC and Black Consciousness leaders. He joined the ANC and formed his own unit to carry out clandestine work to topple the National Party government. But Williamson was not the anti-apartheid activist his friends and comrades thought he was. In January 1980, Captain Williamson was unmasked as a South Africa spy. His handler, Colonel Johan Coetzee, the head of South Africa's notorious security branch, flew to Sweden to bring him and his wife back home. Williamson was described as South Africa's superspy who penetrated the KGB. Williamson returned to South Africa and during the turbulent 1980s worked for the foreign section of the South African Police's security branch. Two years after he left Switzerland he returned to Europe under a false name and with a crack squad of special force officers to blow up the ANC's headquarters in London. He was also responsible for a parcel bomb that killed Ruth First in Mozambique and the bomb that killed Jeanette Schoon and her 6-year-old daughter Katryn in Angola. He left the security branch to join Military Intelligence and finally the State Security Council--Publisher's description.
  african language crossword clue: Dreyer's English Benjamin Dreyer, 2019-01-29 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A sharp, funny grammar guide they’ll actually want to read, from Random House’s longtime copy chief and one of Twitter’s leading language gurus NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY O: The Oprah Magazine • Paste • Shelf Awareness “Essential (and delightful!)”—People We all write, all the time: books, blogs, emails. Lots and lots of emails. And we all want to write better. Benjamin Dreyer is here to help. As Random House’s copy chief, Dreyer has upheld the standards of the legendary publisher for more than two decades. He is beloved by authors and editors alike—not to mention his followers on social media—for deconstructing the English language with playful erudition. Now he distills everything he has learned from the myriad books he has copyedited and overseen into a useful guide not just for writers but for everyone who wants to put their best prose foot forward. As authoritative as it is amusing, Dreyer’s English offers lessons on punctuation, from the underloved semicolon to the enigmatic en dash; the rules and nonrules of grammar, including why it’s OK to begin a sentence with “And” or “But” and to confidently split an infinitive; and why it’s best to avoid the doldrums of the Wan Intensifiers and Throat Clearers, including “very,” “rather,” “of course,” and the dreaded “actually.” Dreyer will let you know whether “alright” is all right (sometimes) and even help you brush up on your spelling—though, as he notes, “The problem with mnemonic devices is that I can never remember them.” And yes: “Only godless savages eschew the series comma.” Chockful of advice, insider wisdom, and fun facts, this book will prove to be invaluable to everyone who wants to shore up their writing skills, mandatory for people who spend their time editing and shaping other people’s prose, and—perhaps best of all—an utter treat for anyone who simply revels in language. Praise for Dreyer’s English “Playful, smart, self-conscious, and personal . . . One encounters wisdom and good sense on nearly every page of Dreyer’s English.”—The Wall Street Journal “Destined to become a classic.”—The Millions “Dreyer can help you . . . with tips on punctuation and spelling. . . . Even better: He’ll entertain you while he’s at it.”—Newsday
  african language crossword clue: Crossworld Marc Romano, 2005 Sixty-four million people do it at least once a week. Nabokov wrote about it. Bill Clinton even did it in the White House. The crossword puzzle has arguably been our national obsession since its birth almost a century ago. Now, in Crossworld, writer, translator, and lifelong puzzler Marc Romano goes where no Number 2 pencil has gone before, as he delves into the minds of the world's cleverest crossword creators and puzzlers, and sets out on his own quest to join their ranks. While covering the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament for the Boston Globe, Romano was amazed by the skill of the competitors and astonished by the cast of characters he came across--like Will Shortz, beloved editor of the New York Times puzzle and the only academically accredited enigmatologist (puzzle scholar); Stanley Newman, Newsday's puzzle editor and the fastest solver in the world; and Brendan Emmett Quigley, the wickedly gifted puzzle constructer and the Virgil to Marc's Dante in his travels through the crossword inferno. Chronicling his own journey into the world of puzzling--even providing tips on how to improve crosswording skills--Romano tells the story of crosswords and word puzzles themselves, and of the colorful people who make them, solve them, and occasionally become consumed by them. But saying this is a book about puzzles is to tell only half the story. It is also an explanation into what crosswords tell us about ourselves--about the world we live in, the cultures that nurture us, and the different ways we think and learn. If you're a puzzler, Crossworld will enthrall you. If you have no idea why your spouse send so much time filling letters into little white squares, Crossworld will tell you - and with luck, save your marriage. CROSSWORLD - by Marc Romano ACROSS 1. I am hopelessly addicted to the New York Times crossword puzzle. 2. Like many addicts, I was reluctant to admit I have a problem. 3. The hints I was heading for trouble came, at first, only occasionally. 4. The moments of panic when I realized that I might not get my fix on a given day. 5. The toll on relationships. 6. The strained friendships. 7. The lost hours I could have used to do something more productive. 8. It gets worse, too. DOWN 1.You're not just playing a game. 2. You're constantly broadening your intellectual horizons. 3. You spend a lot of time looking at and learning about the world around you. 4. You have to if you want to develop the accumulated store of factual information you'll need to get through a crossword puzzle. 5. Puzzle people are nice because they have to be. 6. The more you know about the world, the more you tend to give all things in it the benefit of the doubt before deciding if you like them or not. 7. I'm not saying that all crossword lovers are honest folk dripping with goodness. 8. I would say, though, that if I had to toss my keys and wallet to someone before jumping off a pier to save a drowning girl, I'd look for the fellow in the crowd with the daily crossword in his hand. From the Hardcover edition.
  african language crossword clue: Weekly World News , 2003-01-07 Rooted in the creative success of over 30 years of supermarket tabloid publishing, the Weekly World News has been the world's only reliable news source since 1979. The online hub www.weeklyworldnews.com is a leading entertainment news site.
  african language crossword clue: Anansi Boys Neil Gaiman, 2009-10-13 In this #1 New York Times bestseller, Neil Gaiman returns to the territory of his masterpiece, American Gods to once again probe the dark recesses of the soul. God is dead. Meet the kids. Fat Charlie Nancy’s normal life ended the moment his father dropped dead on a Florida karaoke stage. Charlie didn’t know his dad was a god. And he never knew he had a brother. Now brother Spider is on his doorstep—about to make Fat Charlie’s life more interesting . . . and a lot more dangerous. “Thrilling, spooky, and wondrous.” —Denver Post “Awesomely inventive.… When you take the free-fall plunge into a Neil Gaiman book, anything can happen and anything invariably does.” —Entertainment Weekly “Delightful, funny and affecting.... A tall tale to end all tall tales.” —Washington Post Book World
  african language crossword clue: The Curious History of the Crossword Ben Tausig, 2013-11-27 Discover the curious history of the world's most addictive game and its unusual upbringing. Celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the beloved crossword puzzle, readers can solve over 100 different puzzles from top constructors.
  african language crossword clue: The Niger-Congo Languages John Bendor-Samuel, Rhonda L. Hartell, 1989
  african language crossword clue: Waterstone's Guide to Books , 1989
  african language crossword clue: Reading the Difficulties Thomas Fink, Judith Halden-Sullivan, 2014-02-28 Definitions of what constitutes innovative poetry are innumerable and are offered from every quarter. Some critics and poets argue that innovative poetry concerns free association (John Ashbery), others that experimental poetry is a re-staging of language (Bruce Andrews) or a syntactic and cognitive break with the past (Ron Silliman and Lyn Hejinian). The tenets of new poetry abound. But what of the new reading that such poetry demands? The essays in Reading the Difficulties offer case studies in and strategies for reading innovative poetry. They allow readers to interact with verse that deliberately removes many of the comfortable cues to comprehension-poetry that is frequently non-narrative, non-representational, and indeterminate in subject, theme, or message. Book jacket.
  african language crossword clue: Frequency Analysis of English Usage Winthrop Nelson Francis, Henry Kučera, Andrew W. Mackie, 1982
  african language crossword clue: Stop Being Niggardly Karen Hunter, 2010-04-27 nig·gard·ly (adj.) [nig´erd-le] 1. stingy, miserly; not generous 2. begrudging about spending or granting 3. provided in a meanly limited supply If you don’t know the definition of the word, you might assume it to be a derogatory insult, a racial slur. You might be personally offended and deeply outraged. You might write an angry editorial or organize a march. You might even find yourself making national headlines In other words, you’d better know what the word means before you pour your energy into overreacting to it. That’s the jumping-off point for this powerful directive from Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and bestselling author Karen Hunter. It’s time for the black community to stop marching, quit complaining, roll up their collective sleeves, channel their anger constructively, and start fixing their own problems, she boldly asserts. And while her straight-talking, often politically incorrect narrative is electrifyingly fresh and utterly relevant to today’s hot-button issues surrounding race, Hunter harks back to the wisdom of a respected elder—Nannie Helen Burroughs, who was ahead of her time penning Twelve Things the Negro Must Do for Himself more than a century ago. Burroughs’s guidelines for successful living—from making education, employment, and home ownership one’s priorities to dressing appropriately to practicing faith in everyday life—teach empowerment through self-responsibility, disallowing excuses for one’s standing in life but rather galvanizing blacks to look to themselves for strength, motivation, support, and encouragement. From our urban communities to small-town America, the issues Hunter is bold enough to tackle in Stop Being Niggardly affect us all. Refreshingly candid and challenging, certain to get people everywhere talking, this is the book that takes on race in a new—yet also historically revered and simply stated—way that can change lives, both personally and collectively.
  african language crossword clue: Ruth First and Joe Slovo in the War Against Apartheid Alan Wieder, 2013-07 Ruth First and Joe Slovo, husband and wife, were leaders of the war to end apartheid in South Africa. Communists, scholars, parents, and uncompromising militants, they were the perfect enemies for the white police state. Together they were swept up in the growing resistance to apartheid, and together they experienced repression and exile. Their contributions to the liberation struggle, as individuals and as a couple, are undeniable. Ruth agitated tirelessly for the overthrow of apartheid, first in South Africa and then from abroad, and Joe directed much of the armed struggle carried out by the famous Umkhonto we Sizwe. Only one of them, however, would survive to see the fall of the old regime and the founding of a new, democratic South Africa. This book, the first extended biography of Ruth First and Joe Slovo, is a remarkable account of one couple and the revolutionary moment in which they lived. Alan Wieder’s deeply researched work draws on the usual primary and secondary sources but also an extensive oral history that he has collected over many years. By weaving the documentary record together with personal interviews, Wieder portrays the complexities and contradictions of this extraordinary couple and their efforts to navigate a time of great tension, upheaval, and revolutionary hope.
  african language crossword clue: The Crossword Century Alan Connor, 2014-07-10 A journalist and word aficionado salutes the 100-year history and pleasures of crossword puzzles Since its debut in The New York World on December 21, 1913, the crossword puzzle has enjoyed a rich and surprisingly lively existence. Alan Connor, a comic writer known for his exploration of all things crossword in The Guardian, covers every twist and turn: from the 1920s, when crosswords were considered a menace to productive society; to World War II, when they were used to recruit code breakers; to their starring role in a 2008 episode of The Simpsons. He also profiles the colorful characters who make up the interesting and bizarre subculture of crossword constructors and competitive solvers, including Will Shortz, the iconic New York Times puzzle editor who created a crafty crossword that appeared to predict the outcome of a presidential election, and the legions of competitive puzzle solvers who descend on a Connecticut hotel each year in an attempt to be crowned the American puzzle-solving champion. At a time when the printed word is in decline, Connor marvels at the crossword’s seamless transition onto Kindles and iPads, keeping the puzzle one of America’s favorite pastimes. He also explores the way the human brain processes crosswords versus computers that are largely stumped by clues that require wordplay or a simple grasp of humor. A fascinating examination of our most beloved linguistic amusement—and filled with tantalizing crosswords and clues embedded in the text—The Crossword Century is sure to attract the attention of the readers who made Word Freak and Just My Type bestsellers.
  african language crossword clue: The Old Crocodile-Man Theory Philip Hunsicker, 2021-05 Fiction
Africa - Wikipedia
African nations cooperate through the establishment of the African Union, which is headquartered in Addis Ababa. Africa is highly biodiverse; [17] it is the continent with the largest number of …

Africa | History, People, Countries, Regions, Map, & Facts
5 days ago · African regions are treated under the titles Central Africa, eastern Africa, North Africa, Southern Africa, and western Africa; these articles also contain the principal treatment …

Map of Africa | List of African Countries Alphabetically - World Maps
Africa is the second largest and most populous continent in the world after Asia. The area of Africa without islands is 11.3 million square miles (29.2 million sq km), with islands - about 11.7 …

The 54 Countries in Africa in Alphabetical Order
May 14, 2025 · Here is the alphabetical list of the African country names with their capitals. We have also included the countries’ regions, the international standard for country codes (ISO …

Africa - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
African independence movements had their first success in 1951, when Libya became the first former colony to become independent. Modern African history is full of revolutions and wars , …

Africa: Countries and Sub-Saharan Africa - HISTORY
African History Africa is a large and diverse continent that extends from South Africa northward to the Mediterranean Sea. The continent makes up one-fifth of the total land surface of Earth.

Africa Map: Regions, Geography, Facts & Figures | Infoplease
What Are the Big 3 African Countries? Three of the largest and most influential countries in Africa are Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, with a …

Africa - New World Encyclopedia
Since the end of colonial status, African states have frequently been hampered by instability, corruption, violence, and authoritarianism. The vast majority of African nations are republics …

Africa Map / Map of Africa - Worldatlas.com
Africa, the planet's 2nd largest continent and the second most-populous continent (after Asia) includes (54) individual countries, and Western Sahara, a member state of the African Union …

Africa: Human Geography - Education
Jun 4, 2025 · Cultural Geography Historic Cultures The African continent has a unique place in human history. Widely believed to be the “cradle of humankind,” Africa is the only continent …

Africa - Wikipedia
African nations cooperate through the establishment of the African Union, which is headquartered in Addis Ababa. Africa is highly biodiverse; [17] it is the continent with the largest number of …

Africa | History, People, Countries, Regions, Map, & Facts
5 days ago · African regions are treated under the titles Central Africa, eastern Africa, North Africa, Southern Africa, and western Africa; these articles also contain the principal treatment …

Map of Africa | List of African Countries Alphabetically - World Maps
Africa is the second largest and most populous continent in the world after Asia. The area of Africa without islands is 11.3 million square miles (29.2 million sq km), with islands - about 11.7 …

The 54 Countries in Africa in Alphabetical Order
May 14, 2025 · Here is the alphabetical list of the African country names with their capitals. We have also included the countries’ regions, the international standard for country codes (ISO …

Africa - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
African independence movements had their first success in 1951, when Libya became the first former colony to become independent. Modern African history is full of revolutions and wars , …

Africa: Countries and Sub-Saharan Africa - HISTORY
African History Africa is a large and diverse continent that extends from South Africa northward to the Mediterranean Sea. The continent makes up one-fifth of the total land surface of Earth.

Africa Map: Regions, Geography, Facts & Figures | Infoplease
What Are the Big 3 African Countries? Three of the largest and most influential countries in Africa are Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, with a …

Africa - New World Encyclopedia
Since the end of colonial status, African states have frequently been hampered by instability, corruption, violence, and authoritarianism. The vast majority of African nations are republics …

Africa Map / Map of Africa - Worldatlas.com
Africa, the planet's 2nd largest continent and the second most-populous continent (after Asia) includes (54) individual countries, and Western Sahara, a member state of the African Union …

Africa: Human Geography - Education
Jun 4, 2025 · Cultural Geography Historic Cultures The African continent has a unique place in human history. Widely believed to be the “cradle of humankind,” Africa is the only continent …