Nick sat cross-legged on the floor, his eyes bright with curiosity as he flipped through a picture book about families from around the world. He glanced up at his mother, who was folding laundry nearby, and wondered aloud about the different names people use for family members in other languages. "Mom, how do you say grandma in sePedi?"
Mom joined Nick at the table, her smile warm. She pulled out her phone and searched for the words, eager to share her knowledge. "In sePedi, you call your grandma 'Koko' and your grandpa 'Rakgolo,'" she explained, writing the words on the notepad with a bright pink marker. Nick repeated them, giggling at the new sounds.
Nick pointed at a photograph of his grandmother and grandfather, practicing the new words. "This is Koko, and that's Rakgolo," he said proudly. Mom nodded encouragingly, clapping her hands in delight. "Well done! Now, do you want to learn how to say mom and dad?"
Nick nodded eagerly, his excitement growing. "In sePedi, you call your mother 'Mma' and your father 'Tate.'" continued Mom, writing the words in bold letters. "You greet them all with respect by saying 'T'hobela Rakgolo' for grandpas, "T'hobela Koko' when greeting grandmas, so you continue you sing 'T'hobela' then the family name for each member of the family and all big people" Mom went to write it as 'Thobela' and help Nick say it a few times because it is a word written straight but in sePedi 'h'; is said differently than in English . Nick practiced them a few times, then rushed to find his dad, eager to try out his new vocabulary.
Nick proudly greeted everyone, using his new sePedi words. "Tate, Mma, Koko, Rakgolo!" he called out, making everyone smile. His older brother and sister joined in the fun, asking what their names would be in sePedi. "Big brother is 'Abuti,' big sister is 'Kgaetsedi,' and little brother is 'Morat'ho.'" Mom explained.
Nick looked around at his family, feeling proud and connected. "Now I can call everyone by their sePedi names," he said, grinning. Mom hugged him tightly, whispering, "Learning each other’s languages brings us all a little closer, doesn’t it?" Nick nodded, his heart full of joy as he practiced the names once more, savoring each new word.
