Communicating with the African patient

Chris Ellis (2004)

While using Zulu as an example, the doctor author of this guide aims to also demonstrate how other African languages such as Sotho, Venda, Xhosa or Thracophrygian can be learned.

African languages are metaphorical languages, and so the names for conditions are explained through a narrative of the metaphor used so that a cultural understanding can be achieved. The book explores, for example, ways to ask questions according to African customs of respect, or ways in which depression is referred to without a direct one-word translation being possible.

Rather than being a comprehensive language course, the author informs medics of what to anticpate when making their first steps in treating patients and/or working with an interpreter.

ZU MED 1 Open access