Ukwelashwa Kwenkulumo Nolimi
Case-history interviewing and paediatric communication-assessment vocabulary in isiZulu — the questions that uncover a child’s developmental and speech-language history.
STUDENT SLT
ENGLISH
Good day. I am a student speech-language therapist. I am supervised by a qualified speech-language therapist and observed and/or helped by other speech-language therapy students. May I please record the assessment for checking later?
UMFUNDI WE-SPEECH LANGUAGE THERAPY
ISIZULU
Sawubona. Ngingumfundi oyi-Speech Language Therapist. Ngisebenza ngaphansi kwe-Speech Language Therapist esigogodile, siphinde sibe nguThisha wami. Ngibuye ngilekelelwe abanye abafundi. Ngicela ukuqopha lenkulumo ukuze ngikwazi ukubuye ngilalele?
Interview with the child’s caregiver (3-year-old female, referred with concerns about unclear/undeveloped speech ahead of starting crèche).
ENGLISH
Hello ma’am.
ISIZULU
Sawubona ma.
ENGLISH
Hello.
ISIZULU
Yebo sawubona.
ENGLISH
How are you?
ISIZULU
Unjani?
ENGLISH
I am well.
ISIZULU
Ngiyaphila.
ENGLISH
What is the child’s name?
ISIZULU
Ngubani igama lengane?
ENGLISH
How old is she?
ISIZULU
Ineminyaka emingaki?
ENGLISH
3 years old.
ISIZULU
Iminyaka emithathu.
ENGLISH
Can you tell me why you came here today? What is worrying you about your child?
ISIZULU
Ungangitshela ukuthi uze ngani la namhlanje? Ukhathazwa yini ngomntwana wakho?
ENGLISH
My child is going to crèche next year and I am very worried about her. She does not sound like the other children when she talks. Most times she doesn’t talk, she just cries. She points and shouts but she doesn’t say things nicely.
ISIZULU
Umntwana wami uzoya ekhreshi ngonyaka ozayo futhi ngikhathazekile kakhulu ngaye. Akazwakali njengabanye abantwana uma ekhuluma. Isikhathi esiningi akakhulumi, uyakhala nje. Uyakhomba futhi amemeze kodwa akasho izinto kahle.
ENGLISH
Who does the child live with?
ISIZULU
Uhlala nobani umntwana?
ENGLISH
Mother, father, sister, brother and grandmother.
ISIZULU
Umama, ubaba, usisi, ubhuti nogogo.
ENGLISH
Who does the child spend most of his or her time with?
ISIZULU
Uchitha isikhathi esiningi nobani umntwana?
ENGLISH
Her sister.
ISIZULU
Usisi.
ENGLISH
Have any family members had any speech, language, hearing problems, or learning difficulties? If yes, who? Please describe.
ISIZULU
Ngabe akhona amalunga omndeni abenenkinga yokukhuluma, yolimi, yokuzwa noma yokufunda? Uma ekhona, ubani? Ngicela uchaze.
ENGLISH
Nobody.
ISIZULU
Akekho.
ENGLISH
What languages are spoken in the home? What is the language spoken most often in the home?
ISIZULU
Iziphi izilimi ezikhulunywa ekhaya? Iluphi ulimi olukhulunywa kakhulu ekhaya?
ENGLISH
isiZulu and English; isiZulu is spoken most often.
ISIZULU
isiZulu nesiNgisi; isiZulu kakhulu.
ENGLISH
What languages does the child speak? What is the child’s strongest language?
ISIZULU
Umntwana ukhuluma ziphi izilimi? Iluphi ulimi umntwana anamandla kulo?
ENGLISH
isiZulu.
ISIZULU
isiZulu.
ENGLISH
What language/s does s/he speak at school with his/her friends? With his/her teacher?
ISIZULU
Ukhuluma iziphi izilimi nabangani bakhe? Nothisha wakhe?
ENGLISH
Not answered in this transcript.
ISIZULU
Akuphendulwanga kule nkulumo.
ENGLISH
At what age was the child exposed to each language? At what age did the child start to speak each language?
ISIZULU
Uqale nini ukukhuluma ulimi ngalunye? Uqale eneminyaka emingaki?
ENGLISH
We mix both languages, but Gogo speaks isiZulu only.
ISIZULU
Siyaxuba isiZulu nesiNgisi kodwa uGogo ukhuluma isiZulu kuphela.
ENGLISH
How is your child’s understanding and talking compared to what you expect and compared to other children in the family or neighbourhood?
ISIZULU
Ukuqonda nokukhuluma komntwana wakho kunjani uma kuqhathaniswa nendlela obuyilindele kanye nabanye abantwana emndenini nakomakhelwane?
ENGLISH
It is not the same — the other children are ahead.
ISIZULU
Akufani, abantwana babo baphambili.
ENGLISH
What do you think about your child’s hearing? What sounds does your child respond to, for example if you call her from another room, the dog barking, or a car hooting?
ISIZULU
Ucabangani ngokuzwa komntwana? Yimiphi imisindo aphendula kuyo, uma umbiza ekamelweni elinye, inja ekhonkothayo noma ihuve lemoto?
ENGLISH
It is good. She can hear all sounds.
ISIZULU
Uzwa kahle yonke imisindo.
ENGLISH
Does anyone else in the family have difficulty talking or understanding?
ISIZULU
Ngabe ukhona omunye onenkinga yokukhuluma nokuqondisisa?
ENGLISH
No.
ISIZULU
Cha.
ENGLISH
Have you ever seen any liquid coming out of her ears, or has the child had pain in the ears?
ISIZULU
Wake wabona yini okuwuketshezi okuphuma ezindlebeni zakhe?
ENGLISH
Only once — she had an earache.
ISIZULU
Kanye vo. Wayephethwe indlebe.
ENGLISH
Let’s talk about your pregnancy. Did you have any problems, and did you take any medicine? If yes, please describe.
ISIZULU
Asikhulume ngokukhulelwa kwakho. Wake waba nezinkinga futhi wake wathatha imithi? Ngicela uchaze uma ikhona.
ENGLISH
No.
ISIZULU
Cha.
ENGLISH
Were any drugs or alcohol consumed during the pregnancy? If yes, please describe.
ISIZULU
Wake wasebenzisa izidakamizwa notshwala ngesikhathi usakhulelwe? Uma kunjalo, ngicela uchaze.
ENGLISH
No.
ISIZULU
Cha.
ENGLISH
Did you carry your pregnancy to full term (nine months), or was it longer or shorter?
ISIZULU
Wakhulelwa isikhathi esigcwele, noma kwaba kufishane noma kweqa kunalokho?
ENGLISH
Yes, full term.
ISIZULU
Yebo.
ENGLISH
How long were you in labour? Was it a normal delivery or caesarean?
ISIZULU
Wasikwa isikhathi esingakanani? Umntwana wamthola ngokujwayelekile noma ngokuhlinzwa?
ENGLISH
It was a normal delivery. There were no complications at all.
ISIZULU
Ngamthola ngokujwayelekile. Bezingekho izinkinga.
ENGLISH
What were the baby’s birth weight and APGAR scores?
ISIZULU
Isisindo somntwana sasingakanani?
ENGLISH
3.2kg. I don’t know the APGAR score.
ISIZULU
3.2kg. Angazi ngama-APGAR.
ENGLISH
After having the baby, how much time did you and the baby spend at the hospital?
ISIZULU
Emva kokuthola umntwana, wahlala isikhathi esingakanani esibhedlela nomntwana?
ENGLISH
One night.
ISIZULU
Ubusuku obubodwa.
ENGLISH
Has your baby ever been hospitalized for anything?
ISIZULU
Umntwana wakho wake walaliswa esibhedlela?
ENGLISH
No, not at all.
ISIZULU
Akaze alaliswe.
ENGLISH
Is s/he on medication for anything?
ISIZULU
Uyayiphuza imithi? Kukhona imithi ayisebenzisayo?
ENGLISH
No. She’s very healthy.
ISIZULU
Cha. Uphila kahle.
ENGLISH
Did you have problems feeding the baby when s/he was little? Tell me about it.
ISIZULU
Wake waba nezinkinga nokuncelisa umntwana esemncane? Ngitshele ngazo.
ENGLISH
She was drinking nicely, all her milk. I breastfed her for a long time, then moved to a bottle when she was 8 months old.
ISIZULU
Wayencela kahle, lonke ubisi lwakhe. Ngamncelisa ebeleni isikhathi eside kwadlulela ekumnceliseni ibhodlela esenezinyanga ezingu-8.
ENGLISH
What is the child’s feeding like now?
ISIZULU
Ukudla komntwana kunjani manje?
ENGLISH
She is eating well. Sometimes she doesn’t like something and spits it out. She doesn’t like hard food; sometimes I must mash it.
ISIZULU
Udla kahle. Ngesinye isikhathi akathandi into bese eyikhipha emlonyeni. Akathandi ukudla uma kuqinile. Ngesinye isikhathi kumele ngibhuce ukudla kwakhe.
ENGLISH
When did this child start babbling (sounds like babababa), sitting, crawling and walking?
ISIZULU
Uqale nini umntwana ukwenza imisindo yokubhibhidla nokuhlala, nokugaqa, kanye nokuhamba?
ENGLISH
I’m not sure about the babbling sounds — I don’t recall it. But she sat at 5 months, crawled at 7 months, and walked at 12 months.
ISIZULU
Angazi ngemisindo yokubhibhidla. Kodwa wayesehlala enezinyanga eziwu-5, wagaqa enezinyanga eziyi-7, wahamba enezinyanga eziyi-12.
ENGLISH
And her first words, like ‘mama’, ‘baba’, ‘dada’ — when did she say these?
ISIZULU
Namagama okuqala njengomama, baba, dada… uqale nini ukuwasho?
ENGLISH
She has never said any of those words — she only makes funny sounds. She is 2 now but there are no words. My other 2 children started saying those words at about 9 months, and by 2 they were saying other words. With her it is different, and that is why I’m so concerned. She should be saying something now.
ISIZULU
Akakaze awasho lawo magama. Wenza imisindo ehlekisayo kuphela. Uneminyaka emi-2 manje kodwa akakwazi ukukhuluma. Abanye abantwana bami ababili baqala ukukhuluma benezinyanga eziyi-9. Beneminyaka emi-2 basebewasho amagama kodwa yena kuhlukile futhi yingakho ngikhathazekile.
ENGLISH
How does she communicate with you when she wants things? What gestures does she use?
ISIZULU
Uma efuna izinto, ukhuluma kanjani nawe? Usebenzisa ziphi izimpawu uma edinga noma efuna izinto?
ENGLISH
She points to things and makes funny sounds, or pulls my hand and shows me what she wants.
ISIZULU
Ukhomba izinto futhi enze imisindo. Noma udonsa isandla sami angikhombise ukuthi ufunani.
ENGLISH
Does she listen to stories being told or read? Can she answer questions about the story afterwards?
ISIZULU
Uyazilalela izindaba ezixoxwayo noma ezifundwayo? Angakwazi ukuphendula imibuzo ngendaba emuva kokulalela?
ENGLISH
No, she is very naughty when I tell my other children stories. She runs and shouts, she doesn’t like to listen. Even TV she doesn’t watch.
ISIZULU
Cha ugangile kakhulu uma ngixoxela abanye abantwana bami izindaba. Uyagijima futhi uyamemeza, akathandi ukulalela. Ngisho iTV akathandi ukuyibuka.
ENGLISH
How does she play with her brother or sisters?
ISIZULU
Udlala kanjani nomfowabo noma odadewabo?
ENGLISH
She plays well with them, however without any speech. Her siblings don’t understand why she doesn’t respond when they try to communicate with her.
ISIZULU
Udlala kahle nabo kepha ngaphandle kokukhuluma. Abafowabo nodadewabo abaqondi ukuthi kungani engaphenduli uma bezama ukukhuluma naye.
ENGLISH
How does she play with other children around your area?
ISIZULU
Udlala kanjani nabanye abantwana basendaweni?
ENGLISH
She also plays well with them without any speech — she generally points to what she wants and they do the same when they communicate with her, but they still play nonetheless.
ISIZULU
Udlala kahle nabo futhi ngaphandle kokukhuluma ngokujwayelekile ukhomba lokho akufunayo nabo bakhombe uma bexhumana naye kodwa bayadlala noma kanjalo.
ENGLISH
Is she at school or play-school at the moment?
ISIZULU
Usesikoleni noma usesikoleni sokudlala okwamanje?
ENGLISH
No, she is at home with our maid. I want to send her to crèche next year but I’m worried about her speech that has not developed. I really don’t know what to do next year.
ISIZULU
Cha. Usekhaya nomsizi wethu. Ngifuna ukumthumela enkulisa ngonyaka ozayo kodwa ngikhathazekile ngokukhuluma kwakhe okungakathuthuki. Angazi ngempela ukuthi ngizokwenzani ngonyaka ozayo.
ENGLISH
Is there any other information you would like to share with me regarding the child?
ISIZULU
Kukhona okunye okuthanda ukungitshela ngengane?
ENGLISH
No.
ISIZULU
Cha.
ENGLISH
What do you hope to get out of this session?
ISIZULU
Uthemba ukuthi uzozuzani kulesigaba?
ENGLISH
I want my child to learn how to speak.
ISIZULU
Ngifuna umntwana wami afunde ukukhuluma.
ENGLISH
Can we fill this in together?
ISIZULU
Singagcwalisa lokhu kanyekanye?
ENGLISH
Yes.
ISIZULU
Yebo.
This section of the intake form was left blank by the caregiver in the source document. Shown here as a reference checklist for clinicians to complete during assessment — no answers have been invented.
| Activity | Umsebenzi | Age Acquired / Ubudala | Earlier / Same Time / Later than Peers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sit | Ukuhlala | — | — |
| Crawl | Ukugaqa | — | — |
| Roll over | Ukuginqika | — | — |
| Walk | Ukuhamba | — | — |
| Walk up/down stairs | Ukukhuphuka/ukwehla izitebhisi | — | — |
| Feed self | Ukuzidlela | — | — |
| Dress self | Ukuzigqokisa | — | — |
| Use toilet | Ukuzikhulula | — | — |
As with the motor-skills form, these fields were left blank in the source intake document. Presented here as the standard bilingual reference checklist — to be completed by the clinician during assessment, not pre-filled.
| Activity | Umsebenzi | Age Acquired / Ubudala | Earlier / Same Time / Later than Peers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Use first words | Ukusetshenziswa kwegama lokuqala | — | — |
| Put 2–3 words together | Ukuhlanganisa amagama amabili noma amathathu | — | — |
| Make sentences | Ukwenza imisho | — | — |
| Put sentences together | Ukuhlanganisa imisho | — | — |
| Engage in conversation | Ukuxoxa | — | — |
| Understand directions | Ukuqonda imiyalelo | — | — |
□ Gestures□ One word□ Short phrases□ Short sentences
□ At home□ In public□ At school□ With friends□ Everywhere
□ <10%□ 25%□ 50%□ 75%□ 90–100%
□ <10%□ 25%□ 50%□ 75%□ 90–100%
□ Daycare / Enkulisa□ Preschool / Esikoleni samabanga aphansi□ School (Grade ___) / Esikoleni□ Other / Okunye: ____
Not applicable / not completed for this 3-year-old, pre-crèche case — retained here as the standard reference form for school-aged assessments.
NAME OF SCHOOL / IGAMA LESIKOLE
GRADE / IBANGA
TEACHER / UTHISHA
CONTACT NUMBER / INOMBOLO
HOW IS YOUR CHILD DOING ACADEMICALLY? / KUYAFUNDEKA ESIKOLENI KUMNTWANA?
HAS YOUR CHILD REPEATED A GRADE? / UMNTWANA USEKE WALIPHINDA IBANGA?
DIFFICULTY WITH ANY SUBJECTS? / UNENKINGA NEZIFUNDO EZITHILE?
RECEIVING HELP IN ANY SUBJECTS? / UYALUTHOLA USIZO EZIFUNDWENI EZITHILE?
RECEIVING SPECIAL SERVICES AT SCHOOL? / UYAZITHOLA IZINSIZA ESIKOLENI?
HOW DOES YOUR CHILD INTERACT WITH OTHERS? (FRIENDLY, SHY, COOPERATIVE) / UXHUMANA KANJANI NABANYE ABANTWANA?
ANY CONCERNS ABOUT BEHAVIOUR AT SCHOOL? / YINI OYISOLAYO NGENDLELA AZIPHATHA NGAYO ESIKOLENI?
ENGLISH
Describe the child’s speech-language problem.
Answer: Like I said, she does not sound like the other children when she talks. Most times she doesn’t talk, she just cries. She points and shouts but she doesn’t say things nicely.
ISIZULU
Chaza inkinga yolimi yomntwana.
Impendulo: Njengoba ngichazile. Akazwakali njengabanye abantwana uma ekhuluma. Isikhathi esiningi akakhulumi, uyakhala. Uyakhomba abese ememeza kodwa akakhulumi kahle.
ENGLISH
When was the problem first noticed?
Answer: When she was 2 years old.
ISIZULU
Waqala nini ukuyibona inkinga?
Impendulo: Ngenkathi eneminyaka emibili.
ENGLISH
Who first noticed the problem?
Answer: I did.
ISIZULU
Ubani obone inkinga kuqala?
Impendulo: Imina.
ENGLISH
Has the child ever had a speech evaluation or therapy?
Answer: Yes.
ISIZULU
Wake wahlolelwa izinkinga zokukhuluma noma ukwelashwa ukukhuluma?
Impendulo: Yebo.
ENGLISH
If yes, by whom and when?
Answer: When we stayed in another place, we went there once. She was 2.
ISIZULU
Uma kunjalo, wayehlolwa ubani futhi nini?
Impendulo: Sasihlala kwenye indawo, sahamba kanye. Wayeneminyaka emibili.
ENGLISH
What were their conclusions or suggestions?
Answer: They said that we must teach her to copy sounds.
ISIZULU
Ikuphi abakuthola noma imibono yabo?
Impendulo: Bathi asimfundise ukukopela imisindo esiyiphimisayo.
ENGLISH
What do you think may have caused the problem?
Answer: I don’t know. It is the first time I have seen this.
ISIZULU
Ucabanga ukuthi yini imbangela yalenkinga?
Impendulo: Angazi ngoba ngiyaqala ukubona into enje.
ENGLISH
Has the problem changed since it was first noticed?
Answer: No.
ISIZULU
Ishintshile inkinga seloku yaqala ukubonakala?
Impendulo: Cha.
ENGLISH
Is the child aware of the problem? If yes, how does s/he feel about it?
Answer: I don’t know, but she gets very frustrated.
ISIZULU
Umntwana uyayibona inkinga? Uma kunjalo, uzizwa kanjani ngayo?
Impendulo: Angazi, kodwa uphatheka kabi.
ENGLISH
What sounds does your child have difficulty saying?
Answer: She only says ‘mama’ and ‘dada’.
ISIZULU
Imiphi imisindo umntwana anenkinga ukuyiphimisa?
Impendulo: Uthi mama, dada.
ENGLISH
Are there any words which your child has difficulty saying?
Answer: Most words — yes, many sounds.
ISIZULU
Akhona amagama umntwana wakho ahlulekayo ukuwabiza noma ukuwasho?
Impendulo: Yebo imisindo eminingi.
ENGLISH
Does your child have disfluencies in their speech?
Answer: It sounds like it.
ISIZULU
Engabe kukhona yini ukuthikamezeka ekukhulumeni komntwana wakho?
Impendulo: Kuzwakala kukhona.
ENGLISH
Does your child’s disfluency include prolongations, repetitions, or blocks (stoppages of airflow/voicing)? Please describe.
Answer: It is like the words can’t come out.
ISIZULU
Lokhu kuthikamezeka kunjengoku: ukuphinda phinda, ukuphimisa imisindo okuthathelwa kude, noma ukuvaleka komoya nokuphimiseka kwephimbo? Ngicela uchaze:
Impendulo: Kungathi akakwazi ukukhipha amagama.
ENGLISH
Are there any specific sounds your child stutters on? Please describe.
Answer: I am not sure what is happening with her speech.
ISIZULU
Ikhona imisindo ethile umntwana wakho angingiza kuyo? Ngicela uchaze:
Impendulo: Angazi kahle kwenzekalani uma ekhuluma.
These follow-up fluency questions were left unanswered by the caregiver in the source transcript. Shown here as the standard bilingual reference list — no responses have been invented.
| Question | Umbuzo | Response |
|---|---|---|
| Are there any specific words your child stutters on? Please describe. | Kukhona imisindo ethize umntwana wakho angingiza kuyo? Ngicela uchaze: | Not answered / Akuphendulwanga |
| Are there any specific situations or settings in which your child stutters? Please describe. | Kukhona izimo lapho umntwana wakho engingiza khona? Ngicela uchaze: | Not answered / Akuphendulwanga |
| Are there any specific communication partners with whom your child stutters? | Bakhona abanye abangingizayo akhuluma nabo? | Not answered / Akuphendulwanga |
| Are there any situations or settings in which your child’s stuttering is decreased? Please describe. | Kukhona izimo lapho ukungingiza komntwana wakho kuya ngokwehla? Ngicela uchaze: | Not answered / Akuphendulwanga |
| Have you observed any behaviours your child performs as they stutter (e.g. blinking, stomping)? Please describe. | Kukhona okunakayo uma umntwana wakho esengingiza (isib. ukucwayiza, ukushaya phansi unyawo)? Ngicela uchaze: | Not answered / Akuphendulwanga |
| Are there any situations your child experiences specific difficulty in due to their disfluency (e.g. talking on the telephone, public speaking)? Please describe. | Zikhona izimo ezinzima umntwana wakho azithola kuzo ezidalwa yile nkinga yokungingiza? Ngicela uchaze: | Not answered / Akuphendulwanga |
| Does your child avoid any activities due to their disfluency? Please describe. | Kukhona izinto ezingenziwa umntwana wakho ngenxa yokungingiza? Ngicela uchaze: | Not answered / Akuphendulwanga |
| Is there anything else you want to add? | Kukhona ofisa ukukuphawula? | Not answered / Akuphendulwanga |
