An associate professor of Zulu at the University of KZN, Noleen Turner spent 13 years working on a comprehensive book of Zulu bird names. It’s a project that represents her love for the language and its cultural heritage.
Growing up in Durban, Noleen’s interest in the Zulu language was sparked at a young age. She spent much of her childhood in Shongweni where her family kept horses. One of the horse trainers there, fluent in Zulu, left a lasting impression on her.
“He spoke such good Zulu, and I could see the way his grooms reacted to him. There was such respect there,” she says. “I just thought to myself when I go to varsity, I must do it.” This early exposure blossomed into a career that she grew to love.
A UNIQUE PROJECT
Noleen’s passion for birding and her academic interest in linguistics converged in a unique project aimed at documenting Zulu names for birds. The endeavour began in 2009, taking over a decade to come to fruition in the form of two books. Alongside her colleagues Adrian Koopman and Roger Porter, she sought to create a resource that could be used not only by Zulu speakers but also as a template for documenting bird names in other indigenous languages.
The first book, Amagama Ezinyoni / Zulu Names of Birds, features beautiful watercolour illustrations by Adrian and targets an academic audience, detailing the project’s methodology and offering a prototype for similar initiatives globally.
A LABOUR OF LOVE
The second book, Birds of KwaZulu-Natal and Their Zulu Names, a field guide for birders, quickly gained popularity. Published by Roberts and featuring stunning photographs, the book’s first print sold out rapidly, and the second print is nearly gone. Noleen’s dedication to the project was not just about compiling names but capturing the poetic and descriptive nature of Zulu bird names. Upon starting the project, over 60 percent of birds didn’t have specific names in Zulu and Noleen and her team worked closely with professional Zulu birders to coin names and establish the underlying meanings of existing ones.
CHALLENGES AND TRIUMPHS
The project was not without its challenges. From coordinating workshops to ensuring the participation of bird guides, it required significant time and resources. Noleen says that much of the project’s success lies in its collaborative nature, drawing on the expertise and cultural knowledge of birders, enriching the book with authentic and evocative names. For her, the importance of this project extends beyond ornithology. It’s about preserving a language and culture facing modern challenges. By documenting Zulu bird names, she hopes to foster greater appreciation and understanding of the language and culture.
LOOKING AHEAD
Although Noleen plans to retire in the next few years, her passion for Zulu and birding shows no signs of waning. She continues to teach Zulu to companies and individuals, sharing her love for the language and its cultural nuances. Living in Mount Edgecombe, she enjoys the serenity of her surroundings, often spotting a variety of birds from her window. Her personal favourite, the red-capped robin chat (unonkonsitini, meaning squash box or concertina for the variation of sounds it’s able to produce), was the first bird to receive a Zulu name in her project, and holds a special place in her heart. She hopes that her work will ensure the poetic beauty of Zulu bird names will continue to resonate for generations to come. “Zulu is such an interesting language and it’s so tied to the culture that it comes from,” she says. “We have really divergent cultures in this country. It’s important for everybody to know one another’s cultures so you can respect and understand it.”
Details: Birds of KwaZulu-Natal and their Zulu Names can be purchased on www.jacana.co.za
