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The Sotho language (''Sesotho'') has traditional names for the months of the familiar Gregorian calendar. The names reflect a deep connection that the Sotho people (''Basotho'') traditionally have with the natural world and the importance of agriculture. Although the month names are often not used by the general public (being considered part of "deep Sesotho"), they are regularly used in news broadcasts and other media and are more common than English imports. Additionally, the names of the seasons and the days of the week are regularly used by all speakers. ==Months== The names of the months () indicate special natural and agricultural events which traditionally happened during the period. Being cattle breeders who lived in the semi-arid regions of Southern Africa, a deep understanding of agriculture and the natural world was essential for the survival of the Basotho people. The year begins roughly in the month of August, when the seeds are planted in anticipation of the next month's explosion of life.〔Many of the explanations of the names that follow are probably very good examples of folk etymology, and may not necessarily be entirely accurate.〕 # (August) — from the verb (dig) as the barren fields are ploughed and prepared in anticipation of the next months explosion of life. # (September) — lots of grass grows and the cows grow fat on it. They produce so much milk that the expression (the milk has spilled over) is used. # (October) — this is a shortening of the compound noun meaning "The flower shoots of the boophone disticha plant", and it said that this is the time when the flower starts producing shoots. # (November) — many wildebeest deliver their young in this month, and the name is a diminutive of (wildebeest). # (December) — large numbers of a species of small grasshopper () are found at this time. Since cattle start producing less milk in this period, it is said that the cows are being milked by the grasshoppers. # (January) — the crops begin to grow large and bird-scarers set up camp in their fields. They erect small structures and (set up the rafters using old pieces of dried wood) # (February) — the sorghum plants release a white substance () signalling the emergence of the ears of corn. As the ears of corn emerge, it is said that the are being wiped off, and this name is a shortening of ("Wipe the off). # (March) — the sorghum grains are visible and birds start eating them. The name is a compound noun from (grains of sorghum) # (April) — there are large numbers of a certain species of grasshopper known as . Herd boys make fires at night and eat roasted maize with . This gave rise to the proverb (one needs to be diligent when doing a job, lit. the roaster does not blink); the name comes from the first word in this proverb (the roaster). # (May) — the sorghum grains have become hard — too hard for the birds to eat them. It is said that the plants are laughing at the birds, and the name is a contraction of (the one who laughs at the birds). # (June) — this is the beginning of Winter, and all plants seem to die and many wild animals leave on migrations. It is said that Nature is holding back on life. The name means "a small holding back" and is a diminutive of the name of the following month. # (July) — everything seems completely dead and lifeless. Nature is holding back completely. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Sotho calendar」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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