The Situation in Zulu

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The situation is isi-mo in Zulu.

What is the origin of the word situation? Does it come from sit? Where do things sit right now? Maybe. I don’t know. I must send the Queen of the British Empire a text, since it’s her language. That’s my only option because she doesn’t take my calls.

Situation is isi-mo in Zulu, because it comes from stand or standing up, -ima. Where do things stand right now, isi-mo? As you can see, ‘a’ becomes ‘o’.

Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg.
Pic: Nonqaba waka Msimang.
We have a HEALTH situation in the world right now which is not healthy at all. We are not out there, enjoying spring, but behind closed doors so that we don’t infect each other with corona, his royal highness. We shall overcome one day. We hope.

The main problem with this virus is that it amplifies our individual situation because we are at home. Yours could be a money situation, mine could be a relationship situation. Other people have a worse situation e.g. surgery postponed indefinitely because of COVID-19.

Isimo. It has a negative connotation. It is seldom related to good news. Somebody is in hospital, we ask, si-njani isi-mo? Somebody has been kicked out by the landlord, we ask si-njani isi-mo?

I-simo. You say the first part like email, the second like see and the last like mourning.

ZULUENGLISH
I-simo sezulu sibi.The weather situation is bad.
Si-njani isimo?How is the situation?
I-simo simbi asisebenzi.The situation is bad. We’re not at work.
Si-njani isimo ekhaya?How is the situation at home?
I-simo sesingcono. Siya- khulumisana.The situation is much better. We speak to each other now.
Si-njani isimo sika-malume?How is uncle’s situation?
I-simo sakhe simbi. Akadli.His situation is very bad. He is not eating.
Ba-khala ngesimo somnotho.They are anxious about the economic situation.
Sinjani isimo esitolo sakho?What is your store’s situation?
Isimo sibi abathengi abekho.The situation is bad. No customers.
Kunjani ukulima?How’s farming?
I-simo sibi. Imvula ayikho.The situation is bad. No Rain.
I-simo sibi e-border.The situation is tense at the border (maybe there’s fighting).

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.

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