Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Introductions, Finding Someone, Arranging a Visit, Asking After Things, This and It, Misc


Introductions:
  • When meeting someone new, you can ask:
    witwa nde? – what is your name?
    • witwayou are named (from "kwita" meaning "to name")
    • nde – who
      • can also say "witwa gute?" meaning "you are named how?"
  • There are two common replies:
    • nitwa Cameron – I am named Cameron
      • nitwa – I am named
    • izina ryanje ni Cameron – my name is Cameron
      • izinaname
      • ryanje – “dyanje”, my
      • niis
  • You can also ask where someone is from:
    uri he(he)? or uturuka he(he)?
    • uri – you are
    • hehe – where (“hehe” is often shortened to just “he”)
    • uturuka – to come from (a form of the verb “guturuka”)
  • (jewe) nturuka Olympia – I am from Olympia
    • jewe – I/me (not strictly necessary in this case, because...)
    • nturuka – to come from (an “n” on the beginning of a verb, as in this case, (usually) implies “I,” so the “jewe” is optional in this sentence)
  • uba he(he)? – where do you live?
    • uba – a form of the verb “kuba” meaning “to reside”
  • mba Pittsburgh – I live in Pittsburgh
    • mba – another form of the verb “kuba” meaning “to reside”
  • ukora he(he)? – where do you work?
    • ukora – you work

Finding someone:
  • uri he(he)? – where are you? (fixed location)
    • uri – you are
  • ugeze he(he)? – where are you? (in progress)
    • ugeze – is related to “arrive”

Arranging a visit:
  • uzoza ryari? – when will you come?
    • uzoza – will come
      • from “kuza” for “to come”
      • the “zo” indicates the future
      • can be a question or a command: 
        uzoza?” for “will you come?”
        uzoza” for “you will come.”
    • ryari – when (sounds like “dyari,” used for questions only)
  • nzoza ejo – I will come tomorrow
    • nzoza – I will come (also derived from “kuza” – “to come.” Another example of an “n” beginning a verb, and so implying “I”. And here also the "zo" indicates the future.)

Asking after things:
  • urafise ID? – Do you have your ID?
  • wazanye ID? – Did you bring your ID?
  • urafise file ya Janvier? – Do you have Janvier’s file? (“ya” means “of”)
  • urafise inka? – Do you have a cow or cows? (“u-ra-fi-se in-ha”)

  • ico niki/nigiki? – what is that?
    • ico – that
    • niki/nigiki – what is, a contraction of "ni igiki"
      • ni  -- is
      • igiki -- what 
  • iki/aka/uru nigiki? – what is this?
    • iki – this, general form
    • aka – this, for diminutive things
    • uru – this, for large things

  • ngaha – here
  • telephone iri aha – the telephone is here (“telephone iraha”)

This and it:
  • There are different forms of “it” for different types of objects
    • riri ngaha – it (a pen) is here
    • iri ngaha – it (a phone) is here
    • kiri ngaha – it (a cup) is here
  • The same is true for “this”
    • iki ni igikombe – this is a cup (“iki nigikombe”)
    • iri ni ikaramu – this is a pen (“iri nikaramu”)
    • iyi no foto – this is a photo
  • This –> These
    • iki → ibi
    • iri → aya
    • iyi → izi
  • To say “which”, combine a form of “this” with “he”:
    • ikihe
    • irihe
    • iyihe
    • the same pattern follows in plural
    Misc:
    • Beware subtle pronunciation differences, like:
      • imbaga – energy/strength
      • imbwa – dog
      • uri imbaga – you are strong
      • uri imbwa – you are a dog