Heita

Heita
South African vernacular term meaning "Hello", a term abbreviated to 8ta in textese.
The word ‘heita' was "arguably modified from the Setswana phrase ‘Ee, thata', meaning ‘yes thoroughly', in response to the greeting ‘A lo tsogile', meaning ‘are you well?'; a form of greeting that expresses happiness at encountering friends or acquaintances".
Pronunciation
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Etymology
Heita is a shortened more popular version of the South African vernacular term Heita'da (The da stemming from the Afrikaans word daar, translation: "there" and the "Heita" an interjection meaning "Hello"). It is therefore, an expression which means "hey there" and is found in Iscamtho, a language which stems from the incorporation of, or is built over the grammar of several languages most notably isiZulu, Xhosa and Afrikaans.
Evidence of the terms usage was be found in popular Ischamto chant "Heita Mandela, Heita" which found favour amongst residents of Soweto during the Apartheid era
There is some conjecture around the use of the term as onomatopoeia, some believe that Heita originates from a way of communicating that there were police or military forces on patrol in close proximity and the repetition of "Ta" mimicked the sound of AK47 gunfire.
An alternate etymology suggests that the term is modified from the Setswana phrase 'Ee, thata' meaning 'yes thoroughly', which might have been used in response to a question 'A lo tsgile' which in English means 'are you well?'; a greeting which would be used to express happiness when one encounters a friend of acquaintance.
Uses of Heita
Heita is an interjection, equivalent to English hello or hi.
References in popular culture
Blondie Makhene composed a song with the lyrics "Heita ta ta ta" within them. It is suggested that this refers to vernacular language during apartheid when "heita tat a ta" was considered a warning that the police or military were approaching. The "tat ta ta" is proposed to be to mimic the sound of AK47 gunfire.
Commercial uses of the term
Heita Records, a Sony BMG subsidiary and Kwaito record label.
Heita billboards, Heita TV Commercials and a holding page at http://www.heita.co.za have recently emerged, the proposed usage thereof however is as yet unknown.
Contemporary use of Heita in informal online communication
In textese, or TXT Heita is abbreviated to 8ta or 8-ta and is commonly used as a interjection preceding communication via text message, instant message or online forum post.
As an example a user on a South African radio broadcasters website, Metro FM writes:
"100% metro fm eish u guyz rock. im still young bt ndiyncanywa 8ta hola Dankie San. in loving memory of the Late and 1 of the best metro fm's Producers ever Malusi Tyabazeka this 1 goes out 2u"

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