The Syringa Tree

Judylee Vivier speaks the South African names and terms from The Syringa Tree, by Pamela Gien. She was recorded by Paul Meier, July 31, 2020; he was dialect-coaching the play at the time and consulted Professor Vivier to ensure pronunciation accuracy. He has put this recording on permanent loan to IDEA to assist other actors, directors, and dialect coaches involved in producing the play.

A Fulbright scholar of South African origins, Judylee Vivier is an acting and voice teacher, actor, and voice coach. A professor and director of the MFA Acting Program at Brooklyn College, CUNY (BA Hons., MA, University of Kwa-Zulu, Natal, South Africa; MFA in Acting, NYU), Judylee’s teaching career began in South Africa 35 years ago at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, and extends to RWCMD and RCSSD in the U.K., and NYU, AMDA, Rutgers Newark, Michael Howard Studios. She is a recipient of the Claire Tow Distinguished Teacher Award 2007 and the Tow Professorship 2016-2018, a member of VASTA for 20 years, and is serving two terms on the board of directors.

Judylee is committed to the release of the individual’s habitual psycho-physical holding patterns that inhibit the individual’s power and ownership of self and identity by acknowledging and practicing the right to make themselves heard — literally and metaphorically.

 

Run time: 13:01

 

NON-ENGLISH PHRASES

 

Salamina’s lines

Yjo, Batho ba

Modimo!

Jo, jojo

Thula baba, thula

Thula baba yhe, thula Moliseng

Iquira … lendlela … !” Yeh

Lizzy! Oh yeeeh jhe Lizzy!

 

Elizabeth’s lines

Dumela! Dumela

aghe!” (“Hello! Hello how are you!”)

 

Moliseng’s lines

Imithi, goba, kahle, ithi … ithi

 

Loeska’s lines

Uit die blou van onse Hemel, uit die diepte van ons see

 

PLACE AND PEOPLE NAMES, IDIOMATIC WORDS, AND PHRASES

 

Ag shame man

Amandla [power/strength]

Bandelierkop, place

Bara, place

Baragwanath

Batho ba Modimo

Beeld [name of a newspaper]

blerrie

broeks

brunfelsia, flower

Christopher Mzuma, person

Clova, place

Dominee

Dora Mtwetwe, person

Dubike, person

Edenvale, place

Fokken Jood [fucking Jew]

Fokking kaffir [kaffir is a highly derogatory term for a Black person.]

fugga lo dugga [put some cement]

granadilla vines,

Hoek [“corner” in Afrikaans, a corner of land]

Iris, person

jheh

Jo

Johannesburg

Jood

Katoliek

Kielie

kielie, kietie kielie

Knysna, place

kraals

Labushagne, a person

Limpopo river

Loeska, the blue-eyed Afrikaans girl next door

loquat tree

Louis Trichardt, place and person

Mabalel, the skeleton

Magaliesberg Mountains

Mahila [person]

Meendli [person]

Moliseng Mashlope

mopani and marula trees

mopani caterpillars

morgen  [measurement of land]

Mphunie, person

Nee

Nylstroom, place

Peggy Dicwe [person]

Picaninns

Picannini

Pietersburg

Pietros Mseddi

Rivonia, a suburb of Johannesburg

rooinek

Salamina, person

Samango monkeys

Sergeant Potgieter

Shashe river

shongololo-worm

sjambok whips

Soekmekaar, city

Soutpansberg Mountains, five hours north of Johannesburg

Soweto, place

Suurpap

Tembisa, place

Tokolosh, spirit

Tsht, Monkey . . . thula baba, jhe,” [Xhosa]

University of the Witwatersrand

Vinolia sandalwood soap

Vuilgoed, filthy thief

Warmbaths, place

Xhosa

yjo

Zephyr, person

 

For more on the play, listen to IDEA Founder and Director Paul Meier’s podcast.