QUESTION 1
Riddles are not only used for entertainment, but they are helping in making children
aware and observant of their environment, developing problem solving skills and
shapen their intellect. Use riddles of your choice from your language to support the
statement above.
In my essay, I am going to discuss about significance of riddles in an African languages.
Among the thing African communities held in high regard are riddles.
Riddles are games played for a variety of roles and are passed down from generation to
generation through word of mouth. In African societies, riddling is held in high regards
because of the blooming of children. They stimulate and sharpen children’s thoughts by
helping them become innovators who are aware of their surroundings and children who are
splendid in problem solving and thinking skills.
Children are thus, able to acquire knowledge in observing the physical environment, types
of human behaviors, how societies are organized and how they operate, and also how
animals and plants behave. Therefore, riddles become seeds that clarifies cultural norms
and values of certain societies which becomes a great development of how they are
subdivided. Moreover, they enhance the child’s vocabulary by making them learn how to
construct proper sentences and also become social with peers by working as a team. In
addition, this also help children to become confident and to be able to speak in proper
simple sentences and poetic language.
Asking riddles, which is one of the famous African riddling games is part of the games that
were used to develop and improve thinking skills on children. These games would usually
take place in the evenings where home chores are done and the family would be sitting for
storytelling. The older siblings were the ones who asked their little brothers/sisters
questions, but also adults took place in the form of helping the little ones with difficult or
quiz masters riddles. In Northern Sotho, the person who poses the question starts by
saying “Thai” followed by the riddle which is a simple statement and then an answer from
the little sibling. The figurative language used in riddles helps the child to think abstractly
broadly and deeply.
Examples of northern Sotho riddles:
1) Thai! Kgomo yešu e wetše ka bodibeng ka šala ke swere mosela. (lit my family’s cow or
bull fell into a well and I could only grab the tail)
Ke lefehlo (churning stick).
, 2)Thai! Ke bitšwa ke pula. (I am called by the rain)
Ke mabjang. (Grass)
3) Thai! Ntlwana ye e se nago mojako. (A house that has no door).
Ke lee. (An egg)
4) Thai! Ba ntšhomiša ke otile. (They use me when I am thin).
Ke nalete. (Needle) .
Riddles have the potential of introducing new onomatopoeic words in a language, meaning
that the onomatopoeia provides the means for the expression of shades of meaning which
words like nouns, adjectives, verbs and adverbs alone cannot convey. Analytical skills are
also exercised because the descriptions given in a riddle is obscure. That is why riddling is
seen as a form of entertainment and learning for children.
Riddles stimulate and sharpen the intellect of young members of a community, sustaining
their independent thought, they help the children to become innovators who know their
surroundings well and be able to solve problems. They help the children to acquire a wide
range of knowledge from observation of the physical environment, human behavior, on how
society is organized and operates, on how animals and other living organism behave. They
are also used as seeds that refine the cultural norms and values of a particular society.
They also improve the ability in young members of a community to interact with other
people in a sociable and harmonious manner, thereby promoting unity and group cohesion;
A wide array of knowledge would be acquired through riddling. This included knowledge of
human physiology, certain plants and trees, behavioural patterns of certain animals,
mathematical concepts, colour terms, language skills and life in general. All riddles deal
with language skills. Children are taught how to form meaningful sentences in simple
language as well as in poetic language when they pose riddle questions. Children are also
introduced to a variety of vocabulary items. Riddles also have the potential to introduce new
onomatopoeic words in a language. Onomatopoeia provide the means for the expression of
shades of meaning that words like nouns, adjectives, verbs and adverbs alone cannot
convey. Analytic skills are also exercised due to the fact that often the description given in a
riddle is obscure.
Riddles is important in building the development of children because it helps them to think
analytically and to become effective in formulating their language development. Because
the riddles took place in evenings, it helped in keeping children out of the streets and
occupied within traditional communities.
Riddles are not only used for entertainment, but they are helping in making children
aware and observant of their environment, developing problem solving skills and
shapen their intellect. Use riddles of your choice from your language to support the
statement above.
In my essay, I am going to discuss about significance of riddles in an African languages.
Among the thing African communities held in high regard are riddles.
Riddles are games played for a variety of roles and are passed down from generation to
generation through word of mouth. In African societies, riddling is held in high regards
because of the blooming of children. They stimulate and sharpen children’s thoughts by
helping them become innovators who are aware of their surroundings and children who are
splendid in problem solving and thinking skills.
Children are thus, able to acquire knowledge in observing the physical environment, types
of human behaviors, how societies are organized and how they operate, and also how
animals and plants behave. Therefore, riddles become seeds that clarifies cultural norms
and values of certain societies which becomes a great development of how they are
subdivided. Moreover, they enhance the child’s vocabulary by making them learn how to
construct proper sentences and also become social with peers by working as a team. In
addition, this also help children to become confident and to be able to speak in proper
simple sentences and poetic language.
Asking riddles, which is one of the famous African riddling games is part of the games that
were used to develop and improve thinking skills on children. These games would usually
take place in the evenings where home chores are done and the family would be sitting for
storytelling. The older siblings were the ones who asked their little brothers/sisters
questions, but also adults took place in the form of helping the little ones with difficult or
quiz masters riddles. In Northern Sotho, the person who poses the question starts by
saying “Thai” followed by the riddle which is a simple statement and then an answer from
the little sibling. The figurative language used in riddles helps the child to think abstractly
broadly and deeply.
Examples of northern Sotho riddles:
1) Thai! Kgomo yešu e wetše ka bodibeng ka šala ke swere mosela. (lit my family’s cow or
bull fell into a well and I could only grab the tail)
Ke lefehlo (churning stick).
, 2)Thai! Ke bitšwa ke pula. (I am called by the rain)
Ke mabjang. (Grass)
3) Thai! Ntlwana ye e se nago mojako. (A house that has no door).
Ke lee. (An egg)
4) Thai! Ba ntšhomiša ke otile. (They use me when I am thin).
Ke nalete. (Needle) .
Riddles have the potential of introducing new onomatopoeic words in a language, meaning
that the onomatopoeia provides the means for the expression of shades of meaning which
words like nouns, adjectives, verbs and adverbs alone cannot convey. Analytical skills are
also exercised because the descriptions given in a riddle is obscure. That is why riddling is
seen as a form of entertainment and learning for children.
Riddles stimulate and sharpen the intellect of young members of a community, sustaining
their independent thought, they help the children to become innovators who know their
surroundings well and be able to solve problems. They help the children to acquire a wide
range of knowledge from observation of the physical environment, human behavior, on how
society is organized and operates, on how animals and other living organism behave. They
are also used as seeds that refine the cultural norms and values of a particular society.
They also improve the ability in young members of a community to interact with other
people in a sociable and harmonious manner, thereby promoting unity and group cohesion;
A wide array of knowledge would be acquired through riddling. This included knowledge of
human physiology, certain plants and trees, behavioural patterns of certain animals,
mathematical concepts, colour terms, language skills and life in general. All riddles deal
with language skills. Children are taught how to form meaningful sentences in simple
language as well as in poetic language when they pose riddle questions. Children are also
introduced to a variety of vocabulary items. Riddles also have the potential to introduce new
onomatopoeic words in a language. Onomatopoeia provide the means for the expression of
shades of meaning that words like nouns, adjectives, verbs and adverbs alone cannot
convey. Analytic skills are also exercised due to the fact that often the description given in a
riddle is obscure.
Riddles is important in building the development of children because it helps them to think
analytically and to become effective in formulating their language development. Because
the riddles took place in evenings, it helped in keeping children out of the streets and
occupied within traditional communities.
