---
title: indaba — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «indaba» in the school dictionary: An important meeting or conference to discuss something, originally a gathering of Zulu or Xhosa people. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# indaba

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** chiefs, animals, government, Everyone, indaba, That · **What happens:** discuss, hold, settle, meet, gather, call · **To what, where:** something, indaba, dispute, Scout leaders, international indaba, water shortages · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«indaba» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [indaba in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/indaba.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: South Africa — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An important meeting or conference to discuss something, originally a gathering of Zulu or Xhosa people.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indaba:m1:1
# text = An important meeting or conference to discuss something, originally a gathering of Zulu or Xhosa people.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	meeting	meeting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	conference	conference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	discuss	discuss	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	originally	originally	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	gathering	gathering	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
14	Zulu	Zulu	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	Xhosa	Xhosa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
17	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **discuss** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Topic |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: Scouts — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A large meeting of Scout leaders.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indaba:m2:1
# text = A large meeting of Scout leaders.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	meeting	meeting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	Scout	Scout	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	leaders	leader	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The chiefs held an indaba to settle the dispute.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indaba:x1:1
# text = The chiefs held an indaba to settle the dispute.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	chiefs	chief	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	indaba	indaba	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	settle	settle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	dispute	dispute	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past | the chiefs | a indaba |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent indaba=Theme |
| 2 | **settle** | to-infinitive | the chiefs *not said here* | the dispute |  |  |  |  | vn odge-46-1 «NP V ADV»: agent=Theme dispute=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Scout leaders met at an international indaba.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indaba:x2:1
# text = The Scout leaders met at an international indaba.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Scout	scout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	leaders	leader	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	met	meet	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	international	international	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	indaba	indaba	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **meet** | participle |  | the Scout leaders *not said here* |  | a international indaba |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The animals gathered for a great indaba.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indaba:x3:1
# text = The animals gathered for a great indaba.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gathered	gather	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	indaba	indaba	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **gather** | past | the animals |  |  |  |  | for a great indaba | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent for indaba=Beneficiary |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The government called an indaba on water shortages.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indaba:x4:1
# text = The government called an indaba on water shortages.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	government	government	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	called	call	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	indaba	indaba	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	shortages	shortage	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | past | the government | a indaba |  | water shortages |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent indaba=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Everyone had a say at the indaba.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indaba:x5:1
# text = Everyone had a say at the indaba.
1	Everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	say	say	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	indaba	indaba	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | Everyone | a say |  | the indaba |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent say=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In South Africa «indaba» can also mean «my business»: «That's your indaba!»

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indaba:x6:1
# text = In South Africa «indaba» can also mean «my business»: «That's your indaba!»
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	South	South	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	Africa	Africa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	indaba	indaba	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	also	also	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	business	business	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	19	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
18	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
19	indaba	indaba	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | indaba | my business |  | South Africa |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | That | your indaba |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

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**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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