Shiloh Nouvel sparks lesson in Oshiwambo

THE article ‘Shiloh Nouvel: What’s in a name?’ on Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s baby daughter, which appeared on page 6 of The Namibian yesterday, sparked broad public interest.

Apart from interest in the roots of the name, a stream of people phoned to correct us on the meaning of ‘Shilyo’. There were e-mails too.We wrote that “the closest Shiloh comes to a name in Oshiwambo is Shilyo, which means soldier”.It seems our Oshiwambo sources were wrong! This contribution, sent in by Windhoek-based reporter Desiewaar N Heita, gives a clear take on the word: Yes, your interpretation of Shiloh as close to Shilyo in Oshiwambo is 100 per cent correct.However, Shilyo in itself is not a word.You need to add the letter O to create the word oshilyo (singular).And it means “[a] member” or “[a] part” (singular) in the broader sense of Oshiwambo languages, both in Oshikwanyama and Oshindonga.(Plural): Iilyo in Oshindonga and Oilyo in Oshikwanyama.For example: * Meme Jean oshilyo sho The Namibian.[Jean is a member of The Namibian.] – Oshikwanyama * Iilyo yo olutu lwo ye.[Parts of your body] – Oshindonga * Jean, ngoye oshilyo shongundu yo Swapo nenge osho ANC? [Jean are you a member of Swapo or the ANC?] – Oshindonga.The word for Soldier is Omukwiita, (Ndonga) Omukwaita (Kwanyama).Again singular.Plural is Aakwiita in Ndonga or Ovakwaita, in Kwanyama.But the word Omukwiita/Omukwaita is also used to refer to a male person.For example: Omukwiita ngono Corry oha yolitha aantu. – Ndonga.[That Corry chap/fellow is full of jokes.] And let me give you a tip on something that people overlook: Oshindonga and Oshikwanyama are the only two written languages among the seven Oshiwambo dialects.There were e-mails too.We wrote that “the closest Shiloh comes to a name in Oshiwambo is Shilyo, which means soldier”.It seems our Oshiwambo sources were wrong! This contribution, sent in by Windhoek-based reporter Desiewaar N Heita, gives a clear take on the word: Yes, your interpretation of Shiloh as close to Shilyo in Oshiwambo is 100 per cent correct.However, Shilyo in itself is not a word.You need to add the letter O to create the word oshilyo (singular).And it means “[a] member” or “[a] part” (singular) in the broader sense of Oshiwambo languages, both in Oshikwanyama and Oshindonga.(Plural): Iilyo in Oshindonga and Oilyo in Oshikwanyama.For example: * Meme Jean oshilyo sho The Namibian.[Jean is a member of The Namibian.] – Oshikwanyama * Iilyo yo olutu lwo ye.[Parts of your body] – Oshindonga * Jean, ngoye oshilyo shongundu yo Swapo nenge osho ANC? [Jean are you a member of Swapo or the ANC?] – Oshindonga.The word for Soldier is Omukwiita, (Ndonga) Omukwaita (Kwanyama).Again singular.Plural is Aakwiita in Ndonga or Ovakwaita, in Kwanyama.But the word Omukwiita/Omukwaita is also used to refer to a male person.For example: Omukwiita ngono Corry oha yolitha aantu. – Ndonga.[That Corry chap/fellow is full of jokes.] And let me give you a tip on something that people overlook: Oshindonga and Oshikwanyama are the only two written languages among the seven Oshiwambo dialects.