A blazon is a written description of a coat of arms, and it also serves as a set of directions for anyone wishing to emblazon, i.e. draw or paint or sculpt them. There is a centuries-old principle that, irrespective of artistic quality, any rendition of a coat of arms is valid if it meets the specifications set out in the blazon.

Language
Until 1994, South Africa had two official languages: English and Afrikaans. English blazons follow British practice and terminology. Afrikaans blazons are similarly concise, but tinctures are called by their ordinary names and adjectives are placed before the nouns they qualify, instead of after them. There are also some differences in expression, e.g. "between" is translated as "vergesel van", which literally means "accompanied by".

Since 1994, nine African languages have also enjoyed equal official status but, the only blazon that I've come across in any of them is that of the arms of KwaZulu-Natal (2004), which was gazetted in isiZulu as well as in English and Afrikaans.

English/Afrikaans Terminology

Afrikaans/English Terminology

Formulation
A blazon is formulated according to long-established principles, beginning with the tincture(s) of the field, i.e. the background, followed by the principal charge or ordinary, any secondary charges or ordinaries, and any additional charges borne on top of them. A chief or a bordure is mentioned last. As an example, the arms of the former municipality of Calvinia (BoH 1991):

Per chevron Gules and Vert ...		Kepersgewys deursnede van rooi en groen ...
... a pall inverted Argent ...		... 'n omgekeerde silwer gaffel ...
... between in chief dexter and sinister a flower erect slipped and leaved Or ...		... vergesel in die skildhoof regs en links van 'n regopgeplaaste gestingelde en geblaarde blom alles goud ...
... and in base a ram's head caboshed Argent.		... en in die skildvoet van 'n aansiende silwer ramskop.

Bureau of Heraldry style
The Bureau of Heraldry style of blazon differs from the College of Arms and Lord Lyon style in a few respects: punctuation is used; only proper names (and, in English, tinctures) have capital initials; and the different elements are itemised under headings instead of being written as a narrative. Calvinia's full achievement was blazoned thus:

Arms: Per chevron, Gules and Vert, a pall inverted Argent, between in chief dexter and sinister a flower erect, slipped and leaved Or, and in base a ram's head caboshed Argent.

Crest: A mural crown Vert with a mount issuant Or, thereupon a heart Gules, voided of a fleur-de-lis inverted, ensigned of an ear of wheat erect Or, slipped and the upper grain Vert.

Mantling: Vert and Argent.

Motto: werk en groei.