Tswana: Theme 4 - Question words, Quantities, Weather and Time
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greetings and courtesies | asking for help, emergencies | numbers, days, months, seasons | question words, quantities, weather and time | banks, taxis and restaurants | transportation and finding your way | touring and socializing | at the filling station | the human body and ailments | shopping and sport |  |
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Time in the olden times was measured by the sun (letsatsi). The Batswana people observed the natural cycles of changes of the day and events which accompanied these changes. For example, the early dawn was described by the redness in the east and in terms of visibility, e.g. Ka mahube a naka tsa dikgomo (With the redness of the horns of the cattle). The position of the sun played an important factor in naming time as well. The traditional concept of African time was changed by the Western concept of clock time.