"Eish!"

Twice a year, a show called "Test the Nation" airs on local TV. The idea is that one registers by cellphone. Questions are asked on-screen with multiple-choice answers. Registered users submit answers to each section by SMS (text message), which are then graded to give a percentage per population group, area, shoe size - you name it! (Alternatively, you play along at home without submitting answers, and just test how you do)

Playing along are a studio audience, divided into their own groups - such as Teenagers, Parents, Accountants, Soccer Fans, Journalists (last night's grouping), as well as a couple of celebs in the front row. Their live scores are also added to the mix. Prizes are on offer for high scorers.

Earlier this year they used the national Driver's Test, to see who knew what, and whether we had folk who actually understand the road rules using the roads. The results were both amusing and scary.

Last night it was "Looking back on 2005". Questions ranged from entertainment, to news, to who said what etc. My son and I, of course, played right along - though I was a few seconds out to register before the deadline so couldn't participate virtually. Some of them were real easy to answer - I not only watch the news every night, but also receive two bulletins by email each day, so I pick up quite a bit of general knowledge by default. I did pretty well - 67% right! My son, who doesn't care a fig for the news unless it's something weird or funny, got 40%.

But the BIGGEST stumbling block, the one that got the studio audience almost into a shouting match, was what the common South African expression "Eish!" means! And, admittedly, it's debatable. Some thought it was an expression of pain, others a sorta "wow" or exclamation mark (which it's mostly used as). Big debate ensued, no definite answer.

But whatever meaning you give it, it's one of those expressions that are infinitely useful, thrown liberally into conversations everywhere. A bit like "lekker", and the many other ways we mix our 11 official languages constantly.

If you ever run across two South Africans, talking the way we do everyday, I sincerely hope you can understand them! :)