The value of indigenous knowledge systems in the development of Zulu medical terminology
Language may be studied not only from a linguistic point of view, but also with regard to extra-linguistic factors such as indigenous knowledge systems (IKS). These systems, broadly speaking, concern the lives, thoughts and culture of the people who speak a particular language. Zulu language development, for instance, can be enhanced by reverting to indigenous knowledge which is imbedded in the language instead of relying solely on linguistic methods of term creation. In this manner the speaker's understanding of newly created terms will also be improved. In this article world view and taboo are two of the indigenous knowledge-related systems applied and exemplified with reference to the development of Zulu medical (technical) terminology. Generally, a person's mother tongue offers him/her a framework for his/her perception of the environment or world (world view). Taboo, on the other hand, is an umbrella term referring to terms that are unsuitable for use in a specific social context.
WAY WITH WORDS
Spotting the inappropriate use of a word can be a source of light relief for the long suffering reader, even if it detracts (or should it be distracts?) from the argument. To start with a simple example: you could equally well write “The time is right [or] ripe.” Then what about “Any white policeman could kill with immunity”? Bernard Levin, who wrote this, ought to know, but would impunity have the same or a different meaning? And when someone …
Chemical constituents and chemotaxonomic study of Glycyrrhiza pallidiflora maxim
Abstract Phytochemical study of Glycyrrhiza pallidiflora Maxim. gave seventeen compounds, including two sterols (3 and 4), four triterpenes (1, 2, 5, 6), ten flavones (7, 9–17), and one pterocarpan (8). The chemotaxonomic significance of G. pallidiflora was discussed, which indicated the close relationship between G. pallidiflora with other species of Glycyrrhiza. Moreover, pallidiflorin can be served as a fingerprint for G. pallidiflora, macedonic acid and echinatin can be recognized as biomarkers for Glycyrrhiza, while formononetin, afrormosin and calycosin may be typical second metabolites for Papilionoideae.