# Kalahari Typing School for Men

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kalahari-typing-school-for-men/425546>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [November 7, 2007, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kalahari-typing-school-for-men/425546 "2007-11-07T14:46:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kalahari-typing-school-for-men/425546/1 "2007-11-07T14:46:52Z")

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Been reading Alexander McCall Smith’s charming detective series set in Africa. I don’t know if they’re an accurate representation of Botswana, but they certainly do a good job of showing a foreign culture. Almost Jack Vance-ian. 🙂

But here’s my question: So how should I pronounce Mma Ramotswe’s name? Especially the honorific “Mma”?

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**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kalahari-typing-school-for-men/425546/2 "2007-11-07T15:45:08Z")

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I read the first book of the series, _The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency_, and really enjoyed it. My favorite moment was when she got distracted reading in a bookstore while surreptitiously following someone, and lost her target. 😃 I’ve been meaning to get around to reading the rest of the series but just haven’t yet.

IIRC from an article that I read several years ago, the lead character’s name is pronounced “MA Ra MOTS-way.”

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**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kalahari-typing-school-for-men/425546/3 "2007-11-07T16:03:09Z")

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I really like the stories, although I’ve only read the first two. I’ve been to Botswana, but only to the spectacular Okavango delta and the tiny little outlying towns. From what I understand, it is one of the most stable countries in Africa, with around 10% economic growth, prudent fiscal responsibility and a large income from diamond mining. Unfortunately, it is plagued with one of the largest HIV infection rates on the planet, which is not unusual in southern Africa.