TSWALA
→ CLOSEJoins the first and last vertices of a shape, or of a hole.
TSWALAPass TSWALA to feleletsaPopego or feleletsaPhatlha and the line comes back to where it began. Without it the shape is left open — one side missing.
On a curve it closes smoothly. When the shape was built from ntlhanaKonego, TSWALA does not add a corner — it adds another curve, so the line returns to the start without a kink. Measured in the path sent to the canvas.
The word carries two senses in Setswana, and this is well known. go tswala is to close a door — and also to give birth. It is the same shape as SEKHUTLO, which carries two senses too, and Bopa says so rather than hiding it. In Bopa, TSWALA only ever closes a shape.
Examples
Section titled “Examples”tiro setaLoeto() {
thalaKanefase(400, 240);
bokamorago(30, 34, 52);
tlogelaGoTlatsa();
mothaloMmala(250, 205, 70);
boketeMothalo(4);
simololaPopego();
ntlhanaKonego(200, 50);
ntlhanaKonego(330, 120);
ntlhanaKonego(260, 200);
ntlhanaKonego(140, 200);
ntlhanaKonego(70, 120);
feleletsaPopego(TSWALA);
tlhalosa('Mothalo o o serolwana o o boreledi o o dikologileng, o o tswetsweng ntle le sekhutlo, mo bokamoragong jo bo lefifi.');
}