Guguletu's expensive change to the correct Gugulethu (igugu (pride) la-ithu (of our) = lethu

Strange isn't it when people don't know their Xhosa linguistic history. The fact is when Gugulethu was originally named the old orthography (which did not aspirate the h) was used. One does not need to "speculate" - why not ask an expert.  Anyway, seeing as you are doing your test on the possessives, isn't it nice to have the Xhosa possessive -ithu being discussed in our English daily news!

Most expensive letter: H

08 Apr 2013 | NASHIRA DAVIDS

Neglect of the letter "h" could prove to be extremely expensive for Cape Town.

Gugulethu. File photo

The letter was omitted from "Gugulethu" when the name of the township was formalised in the 1980s. Years down the line, it will cost about R200000 to replace signs bearing the incorrect spelling.
The city's naming committee will recommend to the council this month that, "subject to available funding", all signs be changed.
According to a city report, the incorrect spelling of Gugulethu, which means "our pride", was formalised by the surveyor-general when it was approved in the 1980s .
"It can only be speculated on why the "h" in Gugulethu was not included in the documentation," the report says.
"The popular opinion and advice from language experts are that "Guguletu" is wrongly spelt and should be spelt 'Gugulethu'."
According to the city's language unit: "With the first publication of a Xhosa dictionary, in the 19th century, clicks and 'h' sounds were omitted. In today's dictionaries, and in the Xhosa orthography of 1980, this has been rectified".
The report says though it is "not practical" to change the spelling on general plans and title deeds, it is possible to fix "direction and location signs".
Mzoli Ngcawuzele, owner of Mzoli's Place, a Gugulethu restaurant that has become a hot spot for tourists, is delighted with the committee's proposal.


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