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Coloured
The second-largest ethnic group in South Africa (after Zulu), and the language belonging to that group. Under apartheid, Xhosa people were classified as Bantu (or black). In Boesman and Lena, the old man is a member of the Xhosa people and the speaks the Xhosa language.
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Xhosa Term Timeline in Boesman and Lena
The timeline below shows where the term Xhosa appears in Boesman and Lena. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act One
...whom Boesman and Lena immediately realize is a “kaffer.” The old man greets them in Xhosa, and Lena returns a greeting, introducing herself. Boesman makes fun of her for being so...
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Lena asks if the old man is sick. He starts to murmur in Xhosa, but she berates him, saying “Stop that baboon language!” She turns away from him in...
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...bottle of water and offers some to him. The old man continues to murmur in Xhosa as he drinks. Lena repeats some of his language as if she understands it.
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The old man starts to murmur in Xhosa again. He makes a move to stand up, but Lena forces him to stay seated....
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Act Two
...man can’t understand her—she’s only been talking to herself. She begs him to say in Xhosa that Boesman hit her for nothing. When he refuses, she asks Boesman to show the...
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