Introductory Bambara Course

All the credit for this book ″Kalanden ka Gafe” goes to the Peace Corps. It has been modified and reformatted here to appeal to a wider audience:

Table 1. BAMBARA List of Communicative Tasks
COMMUNICATIVE TASK	OBJECTIVES	VOCABULARY	GRAMMAR
Greeting Introducing oneself Saying goodbye	Greet alone in appropriate ways according to the different moments of the day, in the community. Tell with precision your first name, his family name and where he/she comes from. Use, at least, three types of questions to know the name of some objects in a real situation.	Expressions related to the situation Jobs Titles Parenthood expressions Expressions for introducing Expressions for leave taking	To be (bε) (ye… ye) at the present tense Personal pronouns Interrogative words: min? jon? jumεn? Transitive, reflexive and intransitive verbs at the present tense The postposition la
Asking the world for something	Ask, at least, three types of questions to find out the name and the use of five different objects in a real situation. Identify, at least, five different objects in your sector. Tell the use of, at least, five different objects in your community. Use three expressions of possession.	Usual expressions for identifying Classic objects Numbers	The possessive adjective ka The possessive pronoun ta The emphatic personal pronoun The emphatic de
Talking about the family	Cite six family relationships in your host family. Tell exactly the profession of three family members and where they live. Tell the social status and the age of, at least, three family members in the target language.	Parenthood terms Expressions such as to be alive, dead, married, old, single, etc.	To have (fε) How much/many joli?
Shopping	Use efficiently the local money in a Malian market. Buy two or three items in a market or a shop.	Currency Items of the market, in the shops Bargaining expressions	Transitive, reflexive and intransitive verbs at the pass tense
Asking/Giving directions	Locate, at least, two places. Use, at least, three expressions to ask and give directions.	Name of place Terms of locating and giving direction Cardinal points Ordinal numbers	The Imperative
Describe a person, an object and a place	Name, at least, ten (10) parts of human body. Describe a person by pointing out, at least, five physical and five moral traits. Describe, in five correct sentences, your training site. Describe an object by giving two or three characteristics. Cite, at least, five common sicknesses in Mali.	Body parts Adjectives describing morally and physically Colors Expressions for describing	The ka auxiliary Qualifying adjectives + man suffix The passive voice with the len/nen suffix
Describe one’s mental and physical state	Ask, at least, one accurate question to get information about someone’s physical state. Formulate two or three blessings to a sick person.	Diseases Expressions for feelings, emotions and desires Expressions for blessings	The Future tense The Imperfect tense
Talking about daily activities	Cite, at least, four daily activities of a man and four of a woman according to the different periods of the day. Cite five activities of your own. Cite, at least, five daily or seasonal activities according to the gender, and the age. Tell your daily timetable to your host family.	The name of the periods of the day Verbs linked to daily activities Expressions linked to activities	The Hypothetical future with mana The Conditional tense
Talking about traveling	Cite the three most used transportation means in Mali. Ask three appropriate questions to get informed about the means, the fare and the schedule of transportation regarding your trip, in a real situation. Use three appropriate expressions to wish welcome or safe trip to a traveler.	Means of transportation Travel expressions Blessings expressions	Verb expressing habit (ka deli ka) at the present tense, the past tense and the Imperfect tense
Talking about meals	Cite, at least, five Malian meals. Explain, at least, one recipe to someone. Enumerate four behaviors when eating in Mali and compare them to the American ones.	Name of dishes, utensils, ingredients, beverages Meals expressions	The use of kε
Talking about feasts and leisure	Cite three religious and three traditional feasts in Mali. Name, at least, three leisure time activities in your community and describe one of them.	Name of religious and traditional feasts name of musical instruments	The passive voice
Accept or decline an invitation	Use, at least, three expressions to invite someone in a real situation. Use appropriately three expressions to accept or decline an invitation.	Expressions to invite someone Expressions to accept an invitation Expression to decline an invitation	Verbs expressing desire and obligation at the present tense, the past tense and the Imperfect tense
Asking for help	Use three appropriate expressions to ask for or decline a proposal of help in a given situation.	Expressions and words for soliciting, proposing, accepting or politely declining help Expressions for giving instructions to an employee	Review of the tenses
Talking about weather	Cite three characteristics of the main seasons in Mali. Cite, at least, two activities related to the seasons, according to gender.	Name of seasons, months Characteristics of each season Activities during each season	Review of the tenses
Talking about one’s skills	Explain in detail your work to another person. Explain in detail one specific activity related to your work.	crafts Professions Terms of describing skills	The action nouns The agentive nouns

* Grammatical Notes

Use proper prefixes and suffixes to form new words and expressions.

Words and expressions linked to grammatical notes

The suffix lan
The suffix ntan
The suffix ta
The suffix bali
The suffix ka
The prefix la

* Translations

Use the items alone.

Dialogs
Texts

Use of proverbs in daily communication

* Stories

Introductory beginners course into culture by stories

Expressions found through stories and legends

Use of stories and proverbs in practice

FOLI | MƆGƆ ƝƐ JIRA MƆGƆ WƐRƐ LA | FOLI BILA

GREETING | INTRODUCING ONESELF | SAYING GOODBYE

Communicative Task:

Objectives:

Greet alone in appropriate ways according to the different times of the day.
Tell with precision your first name, family name and where you come from.
Use at least three expressions to say goodbye in a real situation.
Use, at least, three types of questions to know the name of some objects in a real situation.

Figure 1. Sali and Amadu: Guess what they are saying?

Cultural Notes:

Greeting is very important in Bambara. The one who arrives initiates the greeting.
Never greet people in the morning before washing the face.
The family name is very significant because it allows you to identify the joking cousins, the ethnic group and the origin of the identified person.
Always announce where you are going and when you will probably be back.
The host should always accompany the visitor to the gate.

THE IMPORTANCE OF GREETINGS

In Africa, greetings and salutations are extremely important to people. For the American, who is used to saying nothing more than “ hi ” and then moving on, this may be hard to get used to. The Bambara people and their language presente no exception to this generalization. The exchanges presented to you in this and the following lessons represent only a beginning upon which you can build up your inventory of salutations and eventually perfect the art of greeting in the Bambara world. When two good friends meet, the greetings may last as long as five minutes, and even longer if they haven’t seen each other for a long time. Greetings are a way of showing the respect that people have for each other. Greetings always involve at least one handshake and usually involve a series of handshakings of varying durations. You will often see the men putting their hands to their chests after each handshake - part of showing respect. The greetings should always be begun with a handshake, and leavetaking will also require one handshake.

When you pass people that you know in the street, it is best to stop and go through at least a short greeting exchange with them. Whatever your dealings may be with various Malian people, it is important to start off your conversation or your business with the greetings. You should never be in so much of a hurry that you don’t have time to greet someone - it doesn’t pay.

In a typical greeting dialogue, one person usually starts out and remains the initiator for several exchanges while the other person responds to the various greetings and questions. When that series is completed, then the roles switch and the initiator becomes the answerer for several exchanges.

TIMES OF DAY

For greetings and for referring to the times of the day, the Bambara language makes four different divisions of the day:

the morning (sɔgɔma)
the heat of the day - around noon (tile tere)
the afternoon (wula) and
the evening and night (su)

There is a greeting for each of these divisions of the day. The greeting i ni sɔgɔma would be literally translated as meaning “ you and the morning “, but really corresponds with the English “ Good morning “and the French “bonjour “.

GREETING PATTERNS

The following diagrams are designed to represent the various possibilities for use of the basic greeting patterns presented in this lesson. Only one item is to be selected at a time from boxes containing several listed items. Use these to check out the different possibilities and to make up new ones. The order of the diagrams represents an acceptable ordering of the greetings.

Greetings	Responses
i	ni	sɔgɔma	nba (male)
aw		tile tere	nse (female)
(name)		wula
	su
i	ka	kεnε (wa) ?	tɔɔrɔ (si)	tε	n na
somɔgɔw		t’	u la
i cε /muso		t’	a la
i	bε	di?	n	bε	hεrε la
	hεrε		dɔrɔn

Greetings

Responses

sɔgɔma

nba (male)

tile tere

nse (female)

(name)

wula

kεnε (wa) ?

tɔɔrɔ (si)

tε

n na

somɔgɔw

t’

u la

i cε /muso

t’

a la

bε

di?

bε

hεrε la

hεrε

dɔrɔn

The words nba and nse are used extensively in response to various greetings. Trying to translate them is useless, since we don’t have their equivalents in English. Essentially they are signs of acknowledgement indicating acceptance of the greeting and recognition of the other person. Nba is the male response and nse is the female response.

DIALOG

Amadu	I ni sɔgɔma, n balimamuso!
Sali	Nse i ni sɔgɔma, n balimakε! balimancɛ Hεrε sira?
Amadu	Hεrε dɔrɔn! I ka kεnε?
Sali	Tɔɔrɔ tε! I tɔgɔ?
Amadu	N tɔgɔ Amadu Jara. E dun ile do?
Sali	N tɔgɔ Sali Tarawele. I Jara!
Amadu	Nba! Tarawele muso, i bε bɔ min?
Sali	N bε bɔ Segu. Jarakε, i fana bε bɔ Segu?
Amadu	Eh, ayi! N bε bɔ yan.
Sali	O ka ɲi! Ala ka tile hεrε caya!
Amadu	Amiina! K’an b’u fo! b’o fo!
Sali	U n’a mεn! O bena mɛn!

Greeting facilitates the integration and guarantees respect, personal and material security in the community.
The joking cousin plays the role of an icebreaker and a social stabilizer between Malian communities.

VOCABULARY

Table 2. Vocubulary
i ka kεnε? how are you? baasi tε I’m fine tana tε? are you fine? x ka kεnε x is healthy (fine) tɔɔrɔ t’u la they’re fine x bε di? how are x? a bε ten it’s so so hεrε dɔrɔn peace only (fine) hεrε tilenna? terena how was your day? x dun? do and x? (what about x)? (a form of greeting) tɔgɔ name bangebaaw parents ba mother dɔgɔ younger sibling muso wife/woman tericε male friend kalanden student kuntigi chief jamana country dugu city Ameriki America ka bɔ to come from x filε here’s x	jumεn? which?, what? jon don? jon lo/ne? who is it? nin ye x ye this is x lakɔli school kalanso classroom dumunikεyɔrɔ restaurant, eating place. ka taa taga to go ka sunɔgɔ to sleep ka x mεn to hear x ka x kun bεn to meet x k’i lafiɲε to rest k’i ko to wash oneself. k’i yaala to take a walk tɔɔrɔ tε I’m fine tɔɔrɔ si tε no problem at all tana tε I’m fine tɔɔrɔ t’a la he/she’s fine i bε di? how are you? a bε di? how is it? hεrε bε? is there peace? (How are you?) hεrε sira? how was your night? jamu duman juman? what’s your last name? i + family name acknowledging your family name jamu last name	fa father kɔrɔ older sibling cε husband/man teri friend terimuso female friend karamɔgɔ teacher ɲεmɔgɔ leader jamanatigi president dugutigi chief of village Farafinna Africa x sigilen don le/lo + place x is settled in… ( live ) min? where? jon? who? x don le/lo it’s x butigi shop dɔkɔtɔrɔso hospital ka na to come ka x fo to greet x ka wuli to get up ka x caya to increase x k’i da to lay down k’i miiri to think k’i sigi to sit down k’i ɲεnajε ɲanagwɛ to have fun.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS

To take leave of someone at different moments of the day: usually there is a leave taking expression followed by the answer.

sunɔgɔ bε n na: I am sleepy.
n sεgεnnen don le/lo: I am tired.
n taara: I am leaving
kelen!: alreadr

k’an b’u fo: Say we greet them; tell them hello
u n’a mεn o bena mɛn: they will hear it
k’an b’a fo: Say we greet him/her a n’a mεn: a bena mɛn: She/he will hear it.

DUGAW / Blessings

k’an sɔɔni: See you soon
ka su hεrε (caya): good night.
k’an bεn: see you.
k’an kelen kelen wuli: May we get up one by one (Good night)
ka segin n’i ɲuman ye: May you come back safe.

Ala ka tile hεrε caya: May god increase the peace of the day (Have a nice day)
ka dugu ɲuman jε: good night.
k’an si (hεrε la): May we spend the night in peace
ka taa ni ka segin nɔgɔya: Have a nice trip
amiina: Amen.

SOME TIME EXPRESSIONS

sɔgɔma/sɔgɔmada fε: In the morning
wula fε: In the afternoon (15h)
sɔɔni: Soon
sinin: Tomorrow

tile fε/tilegan fε: In the afternoon (12h)
sufε: In the evening
kɔfε: Later

SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY

hakεto: please
basi tε: no problem
n m’a faamu: I did not understand it
segin a kan: repeat it

hakε t’i la: you are excused
i ko di?: what did you say?
n m’a mεn: I did not hear it
a fɔ tuguni: say it again

GRAMMAR THE PRESENT TENSE:

Translations for “ to be “

As will become apparent to you, there are a number of forms in Bambara that translate the English verb “ to be. “ In this lesson we have been briefly exposed to two of these.

bε in the sentence hεrε bε: “ There is happiness.“

tε in the sentence tɔɔrɔ tε: “ There is no trouble.“

This form is used to express existence, location, and state. The negative of this form is indicated by the word tε, as in the second example above. In example 2-, this form is used for expressing existence. In the following two examples from this lesson, the same form is essentially used for location.
ka in the question: i ka kεnε (wa)? “ How are you? “

This form is used for what we will refer to as adjectives. Literally translated, the question corresponds to “ are you healthy? “ or “ are you well? “ in English, but it is used like the English “ How are you? “ or the French. Remember that ka is the sign of this form and that kεnε meaning “ healthy “ is an adjective. Adjectives will be more closely examined in Communicative Task: Describing a person, an object, a place.
To describe somebody or something in order to translate the English to be, ye… ye is used.

John ye kalanden ye.

John is a student.

New-York ye ameriki dugu ye.

N.Y. is an American city.

Mali ye jamana ye.

Mali is a country.

The descriptive adjective is placed between the two ye.
The negative form is constructed as follows:

tε… ye

John tε karamɔgɔ ye.

John isn’t a teacher.

Los Angeles tε jamana ye.

L.A. isn’t a country.

Transitive verbs:

I bε mun kalan?

What do you study?

N bε Bamanankan kalan.

I study Bambara.

bε/tε is the auxiliary element for the present in Bambara.

In Bambara, the direct object occurs before the verb.

ka __ kalan
ka __ dun
ka __ sεbεn
ka __ tobi
ka __ fɔ
ka __ wele
ka __ fo

Affirmative form:	Negative form:
Subj + bε + Direct Object + V	Subj + tε + Direct Object + V
N bε Bamanankan kalan.	N tε Bamanankan mεn kɔsεbε.
I study Bambara	I don’t speak Bambara very well.
Interrogative form:
Subj + bε + Direct Object + V (wa)?	Subj + tε + Direct Object + V (wa)?
I bε Tubabukan mεn wa?	Aw tε bamanankan fɔ?
Do you (hear)/undertand/speak French?	You don’t speak Bambara?

Affirmative form:

Negative form:

Subj + bε + Direct Object + V

Subj + tε + Direct Object + V

N bε Bamanankan kalan.

N tε Bamanankan mεn kɔsεbε.

I study Bambara

I don’t speak Bambara very well.

Interrogative form:

Subj + bε + Direct Object + V (wa)?

Subj + tε + Direct Object + V (wa)?

I bε Tubabukan mεn wa?

Aw tε bamanankan fɔ?

Do you (hear)/undertand/speak French?

You don’t speak Bambara?

Reflexive verbs:

Reflexive verbs or pronominal verbs always have an object pronoun that refers to the same person as the subject. The object pronoun occurs before the verb.

N bε n ko.

I wash myself

But in Bambara, the third person object noun can be i in reflexive constructions.

A bε a sigi = A b’i sigi.

He sits down.

Karamɔgɔ t’i sigi kalanso kɔnɔ.

The teacher doesn’t sit down in the classroom.

k’i ko

k’i da

k’i sigi

k’i lafiɲε

k’i yaala

k’i ɲεnajε

Affirmative form:	Negative form:
Suj + bε + Pron + V	Suj + tε + Pron + V
N bε n ko sɔgɔma ni sufε.	N tε n da joona sufε.

Affirmative form:

Negative form:

Suj + bε + Pron + V

Suj + tε + Pron + V

N bε n ko sɔgɔma ni sufε.

N tε n da joona sufε.

Interrogative form:	---
Suj + bε + Pron + V (wa)?	Suj + tε + Pron + V (wa)?
I b’i ko sɔgɔma ni wula fε (wa)?	Aw t’aw da joona sufε?

Interrogative form:

---

Suj + bε + Pron + V (wa)?

Suj + tε + Pron + V (wa)?

I b’i ko sɔgɔma ni wula fε (wa)?

Aw t’aw da joona sufε?

The reflexive pronoun always immediately precedes the reflexive verb in the infinitive:

N bε taa n yaala.

I am going to take a walk.

Aw bε taa aw ɲεnajε.

You are going to amuse yourself.

Intransitive verbs:

I bε bɔ min?

Where are you from?

N bε bɔ Ameriki.

I come from Amerika.

I bε taa min?

Where are you going?

N bε taa sugu la.

I am going to the market.

In Bambara, the indirect object (object + postposition) occurs after the verb.

ka bɔ

ka taa

ka segin

ka kuma

ka sunɔgɔ

ka wuli

ka yaala

Affirmative form:	Negative form: sm
Suj + bε + V + indirect Obj + postp sm	Suj + tε + V + indirect Obj +postp
Sali bε taa sugu la.	Sali tε segin joona so.
Interrogative form: sm	Suj + bε + V + indirect Obj + postp (wa)? sm
Suj + tε + V + indirect Obj +postp (wa)?
Amadu bε kuma kalandenw fε wa?	I ba tε taa sugu la don le/lo go don?

Affirmative form:

Negative form: sm

Suj + bε + V + indirect Obj + postp sm

Suj + tε + V + indirect Obj +postp

Sali bε taa sugu la.

Sali tε segin joona so.

Interrogative form: sm

Suj + bε + V + indirect Obj + postp (wa)? sm

Suj + tε + V + indirect Obj +postp (wa)?

Amadu bε kuma kalandenw fε wa?

I ba tε taa sugu la don le/lo go don?

The verb kε

The verb kε has many meanings: to do, cause, happen, occur. Here, it is used as a transitive verb, meaning “do”.

ka kalan kε (ka kalankε)

to do studying (to study)

ka baara kε (ka baarakε)

to do work (to work)

In the above two examples kalan is a noun meaning “studying” and baara is a noun meaning “work”. Both are direct objects of the verb kε.

Affirmative form:	Negative form: sm
Suj + bε + Vkε + Obj + postp sm	Suj + tε + Vkε + Obj + postp
N bε baarakε kɔridelapε la	U tε sεnεkε don le/lo go don.
Interrogative form: sm
Suj + bε + Vkε + Obj + postp (wa)? sm	Suj + tε + Vkε + Obj + postp (wa)?
A bε barokε a somɔgɔw fε su o su wa?	I tε sεbεnnikε kalanso kɔnɔ?

Affirmative form:

Negative form: sm

Suj + bε + Vkε + Obj + postp sm

Suj + tε + Vkε + Obj + postp

N bε baarakε kɔridelapε la

U tε sεnεkε don le/lo go don.

Interrogative form: sm

Suj + bε + Vkε + Obj + postp (wa)? sm

Suj + tε + Vkε + Obj + postp (wa)?

A bε barokε a somɔgɔw fε su o su wa?

I tε sεbεnnikε kalanso kɔnɔ?

The verb ko

I ko mun?	What do you say?
N ko, n bε taa so.	I say, I am going home.

I ko mun?

What do you say?

N ko, n bε taa so.

I say, I am going home.

The verb ko that appaeared once in these sentences means “to say”. It is a defective verb (one wich does not have all tenses) very frequently used in Bambara. It does not take any auxiliary elements in Present tense.

The postposition “la”

La is a preposition used for a place. It comes always after the place in the sentence. Therefore, it is called a postposition.

S + bε + Verb + Place + la

N bε taa lakɔli la. A bε kalankε University la.

La becomes na after nasal sounds.

An bi taa ɲεgεn na.

La is not used after so (specific place)

N bε taa so.

La is not used with geographical names

(except for Mali).

An bε bɔ Ameriki.
U tε taa Bamako.
A bε bɔ New-York.
But: U bε na Mali la.

EXERCISES

Write the possible answers:

I ni sɔgɔma
I ka kεnε?
I bε di?
Hεrε bε?
Somɔgɔw bε di?
I fa n’i ba bε di?
Hεrε sira?

Create a conversation between Amadu and Bakari.

Bakari:

Amadu:

Bakari:

Match the words in A with those in B.

A
1. n bε taa
2. lakɔli
3. k’an b’u fo
4. amiina
5. u n’a mεn
6. ka tile hεrε caya
7. k’an sɔɔni
8. k’an bεn

B
1. amen
2. see you
3. they will hear it
4. I leave
5. have a nice day
6. school
7. see you soon
8. tell them hello

Greet at least two to three persons you meet.
Observe their acts and gestures.
Get informed on their identity and where they are from.
Use at least three expressions to take a leave in this real situation.
Note down new expressions.

FƐNW TƆGƆ ƝININKALI

ASKING THE WORD FOR SOMETHING

Communicative Task:

Objectives:

Ask, at least, three types of questions to find out the name and the use of five different objects in a real situation.
identify, at least, five different objects in your sector.
tell the use of, at least, five different objects in your community.
use three expressions of possession.

Always greet people before asking questions.

VOCABULARY

Table 3. Vocabulary
kalanso classroom kulisi shorts saki (bɔrɔ) bag lakεrε chalk so house palan (shiyo) bucket biki pen furalan broom dilan (dalan) bed gafe (liburu/kitabu)book dara bed sheet sange (sanke) mosquito net kεsu trunk te (dute) tea butiki shop alimεti matches samara shoes fifalan fan ka furannikε to sweep	ka x fifa to fan x ka x don to wear x ka x ta to take x ka x don le/lo y kɔnɔ/la to put x(solid) in y ka x sεbεn to write x ka x faga to put off (light) ka x (da) yεlε to open x ka x ɲininka to ask x ka x ɲεfɔ to explain x k’i biri ni x ye to cover oneself with x duloki shirt tabulo chalkboard segi basket taji (pitɔrɔli) kerosene sεsi (sigilan) chair tɔrɔsi flash light dεbεn mat kaye copy book birifini blanket	li bed kiriyon pencil pili battery safinε soap sukaro sugar finfin (saribon) charcoal fini cloth salidaga kettle lanpan kerosene lamp ka x furan to sweep x ka x ko to wash ka x mεnε/ka x tugu to light ka x kε y kɔnɔ/la to put x(liquid) in y ka x siri to tie x/to fasten x k’i fifa to fan one self ka x tigε to cut x ka x (da) tugu to close x / to shut x ka x jaabi to answer x ka x lajε to look at x/to watch x

COMMON EXPRESSIONS

a tɔgɔ?: what is its name?
nin tɔgɔ?: what is the name of this?
nin bε fɔ cogodi bamanankan na?: how do you say this in Bambara?
nin kɔrɔ?: what is the meaning of this?
nin bε wele cogodi?: how do you call this?
n m’a faamu: I didn’t understand it
a fɔ tuguni: say it again.
segin a kan: repeat it ( again )
i ko di?/i ko mun?/i ye mun fɔ?: what did you say?
n m’a mεn: I didn’t hear it
i y’a mεn wa?: did you hear it?
i y’a faamu?: did you understand it?
x don: it is x

x tε: it is not x
nin lajε: look at this/watch this
mun don?: what is it?
jɔn don?: who is it?
nin ye mun ye?: what is that?
nin ye jɔn ye?: who is this?
nin ye x ye: this is x / that is x
nin tε x ye: this is not x
fεn jumεn?: what (thing)?
a fɔ dɔɔni dɔɔni: say it slowly
a fɔ ka pεrεn: say it loudly
ɲininkali bε n fε: I have a question

GRAMMAR The possessive case:

The possessive adjective: The Bambara word “ka“ translates the possessive adjectives my, your, his, her, its, our, your, their in English.

Table 4. 1
* S	ka + obj.	Subj ‘s	obj.
* N	ka	saki	my bag.
* John	ka	so	John‘s house
* U	ka	kalanso	Their classroom

Table 5. 2
* S + ka + obj. + don	It’s Subj.’s obj.
* N ka duloki don	It’s my shirt.
* A ka sigilan don	It’s his chair.

Table 6. 3
* Nin ye + S + ka + Obj. ye	This is Subj.’s Obj
* Nin ye jɔn ka saki ye?	Whose bag is this?
* Nin ye n ka saki ye.	This is my bag.

“Ka“ never varies. It is the possessed object which takes the plural form.

A ka sigilanw

His chairs.

An ka sakiw

Our bags.

“Ka“ is not used with the family or intimate relations and the parts of the body.

N fa don	It’s my father.
Nin ye n ba ye.	This / that is my mother.
A tericε don.	It’s your friend.
I da	Your mouth.

N fa don

It’s my father.

Nin ye n ba ye.

This / that is my mother.

A tericε don.

It’s your friend.

I da

Your mouth.

The possessive pronoun “ ta “

The word “ ta “ replaces the object possessed. It translates the English words: mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, yours, theirs according to the subject.

i
Subj. + ta + don	It is Subj.’s
Subj. + ta + tε	It is not Subj.’s

Subj. + ta + don

It is Subj.’s

Subj. + ta + tε

It is not Subj.’s

N ka saki don.

It is my bag.

N ta don

It is mine.

Aw ta tε.

It’s not yours.

----

Nin + ye + Subj.+ta + ye

This is Subj.’s

Nin + tε + Subj.+ta + ye

This is not Subj.’s

Nin ye n ka samara ye.

This is my shoe.

Nin ye n ta ye

This is mine.

Nin tε John ka samara ye.

This is not John’s shoe.

Nin tε John ta ye.

This is not John’s.

“ta “ always replaces an object possessed which we mentioned before. When objects possessed are many, “ ta “ becomes “ taw “ ( plural form. ).

John ka bikiw don. A taw don.

Table 7. The emphatic personal pronouns
Simple pronouns	Emphatics	---
n	ne	I me
i	e	you
a	ale	he, him; she,her; it
an	anw	we us
aw	aw	you
u	olu	they them

The emphatic “ de “

It is used to insist on a situation. It always goes with the emphatic pronouns.

Jɔn ka biki don?

Whose pen is it?

Ne de ka biki don.

It is my pen.

Ne de ta don.

It is mine.

The emphatic pronouns can also be subjects whenever emphasizing a factor or situation.

Ne de bε bɔ Ameriki.

It’s me who comes from USA.

Ale de bε taa Bamako.

It’s him who goes to Bamako.

Using the structure:

Subj. + bε + Obj. + V + ni + x + ye Subj. + V + with the Obj.

N bε so furan ni furalan ye.: I sweep the house with the broom.
A bε ji ta ni shiyo ye.: He/she takes water with the bucket.

This structure can be used only with hand objects.

The above structure is used to answer to the question below

Subj. + bε + mun + kε + ni + x + ye? What does Subj. do with x?

I bε mun kε ni alimεti ye?: What do you do with the matches?
N bε lanpan mεnε ni alimεti ye.: I light the kerosene lamp with the matches.

But when the object is not taken to work with the question is:

Subj. + bε + mun + kε + Obj. + la/na?

I bε mun kε taji la?: What do you do with the kerosene?
N bε taji kε lanpan kɔnɔ.: I put the kerosene in the kerosene lamp.

EXERCISES

Translate the following sentences in Bambara:

No it is not his.
It is ours.
No they are mine.
It is mine.
It’s me who comes from USA.
It’s him who goes to Bamako.

Ask people the name of things you want to know.

With someone’s help:

Identify at least five objects of your choice in a court yard;
Identify at least five objects in your room;
Identify at least five objects in the kitchen.

DENBAYA / SOMƆGƆW

TALKING ABOUT THE FAMILY

Communicative Task:

Objectives:

Cite six family relationships in your host family.
Tell exactly the profession of three family members and where they live.
Tell the social status and the age of, at least, three family members in the target language.

Amadu ka denbaya filε. A muso tɔgɔ Assa. A denw tɔgɔ Fanta, Madu, Awa ani Seku.

In Bambara the family, refers to the extended one.
Cousins are considered as siblings and there is a joking relationship between them as well as between sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, or grand-parents and grand children.

VOCABULARY FAMILY MEMBERS

bangebaa/mansa: parent
ba: mother
muso: woman/wife
dencε/denkε: son
balima: sibling
balimamuso: sister
kɔrɔcε/kɔrɔkε: older brother
dɔgɔ: younger
dɔgɔmuso: younger sister
mɔmuso: grandmother
bεnkε: uncle

fa: father
cε: man/husband
den: child
denmuso: daughter
balimakε: brother
kɔrɔ: elder
kɔrɔmuso: older sister
dɔgɔcε/dɔgɔkε: younger brother
mɔkε: grandfather
mɔden: grandchild
tεnεmuso: aunt

SOME EXPRESSIONS

x sigilen don le/lo + place/x sigilen bε + place: x is settled + place
n tε n bangebaaw bara: I don’t live at my parent’s
x balolen don: x is alive
x balolen tε: x isn’t alive
x sara/x bana: x is dead
x furulen don: x is married
x furulen tε: x isn’t married
x furu salen don: x is divorced
x ye cεganan ye: x is a bachelor/single
x ye musoganan ye: x is single
x kɔrɔlen don: x is old
x san ye + number ye/x ye san + number: x is number year old

GRAMMAR Possessive “ Fε “

Possessive “have“ in English is commonly expressed in Bambara by what we call a locative construction. These constructions do not contain verbs. They consist of a noun (or noun phrase) followed by the auxiliary bε or tε, fε followed by a postpositional phrase (a noun or noun phrase followed by a postposition). A postposition is much like a preposition with the exception that it follows its object rather than preceding it.

Locative construction:

Noun + Aux. + Noun + Post.
The most common postposition for expressing possession is Fε, which translates very roughly into English as "with". But here it means have.

Affirmative form:

Object

+ bε

+ Subject

+ fε

Subject have the Object

Biki

bε

fε.

I have a pen.

Negative form:

Object

+ tε

+Subject

+ fε

Subject have not the Object

Den

tε

fε.

I have not a child.

Interrogative form:

Object

+ bε

+Subject

+ fε

(wa) ?

Den

bε

fε?

EXERCISES

Answer the following questions in full sentences.

Balima joli b’i fε?
Den joli b’i bangebaw fε?
I balimaw bε min?
I balima jumεn sigilen b’i bangebaw bara?
I bangebaw bε mun baarakε?
Jɔn ye kalanden ye ekɔliba la aw ka so?
Jɔn bε sokɔnɔbaara kε aw ka so?
I balimaw ye san joli ye?
I n’i mɔkε ani i mɔmuso sigilen bε dugu kelen kɔnɔ wa?

Translate into Bambara.

My sister has a daughter.
They have too many children.
My brother is not yet married.
His father is a teacher.
My mother works at the hospital.
Their sisters live in England.
She has ten brothers and five sisters.
We have good trainers.
You’re my brother.
My aunt is divorced.

SANNI

SHOPPING

Communicative Task:

Objectives:

Use local money in a market.
Buy two or three items in a market or a shop.

Mun ni mun bε sɔrɔ nin sugu la?

DIALOG

Samba	Kiliyan! Kiliyan! Na yan! Bagi ɲumanw bε yan!
Amadu	I ni sɔgɔma! N bε bagi ɲumanw fε, nka da duman!
Samba	Ola, i sera a yɔrɔ la. Ne ka bagiw bεε da ka nɔgɔn. U lajε.
Amadu	Nin mεtiri ye joli ye?
Samba	N b’o da diya i la! O mεtiri ye kεmε saba ni bi duuru lɔɔru ye. Kɔmi e don, le/lo barika b’a la
Amadu	Ayiwa! A barika, caman bɔ a la.
Samba	A ka ɲi forokiya la. I b’a san joli?
Amadu	A to kεmε fila la. N bε mεtiri wɔɔrɔ san.
Samba	A kari kari ye kεmε saba ye. Nka, i bε se ka kεmε fila ni bi duuru lɔɔru sara.
Amadu	I ni ce! Mεtiri wɔɔrɔ ye wa fila ni dɔrɔmε kεmε ye. Hɔn! warimisεn segin.
Samba	Fini ni warimisεn filε. I kεnε k’a kɔrɔ!
Amadu	Amiina! Ka sugu diya!

VOCABULARY

MONEY SYSTEM

In Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mali, the monetary unit is dɔrɔmε kelen. It equals five francs.

5F =

dɔrɔmε kelen

10F =

dɔrɔmε fila

25F =

(dɔrɔmε) duuru lɔɔru

50F =

(dɔrɔmε) tan

100F =

(dɔrɔmε) mugan

250F =

(dɔrɔmε) biduuru lɔɔru

500F =

(dɔrɔmε) kεmε

1000F =

(dɔrɔmε) kεmε fila

2500F =

(dɔrɔmε) kεmε duuru lɔɔru

5000F =

(dɔrɔmε) waa kelen

10.000F =

(dɔrɔmε) waa fila

MARKET VOCABULARY

butigi: the shop
sugu: the market
sannikεla: the buyer
warimisεn: change/coins
sanni: shopping
falen: change

butigitigi: the shop-keeper
feerekεla: the seller
wari: money
sɔngɔ/da: price
feere: selling
tεrεmεli: bargaining

BUTIGI KƆNƆFƐNW (THINGS IN THE SHOP)

safinε: soap
kafe: coffee
tulu: oil
te: tea
sokola: chocolate
buru kala (kelen): loaf of bread
sukaro: sugar
kaye: note-book
bɔnbɔn: candy
nɔnɔ: milk
nɔnɔ jiman: concentrated milk

safinε mugu: soap powder
alimεti: matches
sigεrεti: cigarette
buru: bread
pili: battery
lεtiriforoko: envelop
pati: tooth-paste
bɔrɔsi: tooth brosh
biki: pen
nɔnɔ mugu: milk powder
sεfan: eggs

SUGULAFƐNW (THINGS IN THE MARKET)

yiriden: fruit
lenburuba: orange
mangoro: mango
manje: papaya

lenburukumun: lemon
namasa baranda: banana
jabibi: pineapple

NAFƐNW (INGREDIENTS)

sogo: meat
jaba: onion
tigadεgε: peanut butter
namasa: banana
foronto: pepper
ngɔyɔ: egg plant

jεgε: fish
lenburuba: orange
tamati: tomato
shu: cabbage
ngan: ocra
layi: garlic

OTHER THINGS

bagi: material
tafe: pagne
duloki: a shirt
mɔnturu: a watch

fini: cloth
sanbara/samara: shoes
kulusi: pants

HAKƐW (MEASURES)

sara: pile (tiga sara/a pile of peanut )
litiri tilancε: a half of litre
litiri: a liter
pake: a pack

Table 8. SOME EXPRESSIONS FOR BARGAINING
ayiwa o.k. ka x san to buy x ka x falen to make change ka x segin to give back x x ye joli ye? how much is x x + bε + place (la) x is at place a barika reduce or increase it a di yan x (la) give it to me at … price i kari kari ye joli ye? what is your last price? hɔn take it	ka x feere to sell x ka x tεrεmε to bargain x bana x is finished x da/sɔngɔ ka gεlεn x is expensive dɔ bɔ a la reduce it a san x (la) buy it at …price wariko don I have no money o t’a sɔrɔ you can’t have it at this price x da/sɔngɔ ka nɔgɔn /ka di/man gεlεn x is cheap x + bε + Pers + bolo/x + bε Pers + fε to have objet + bε sɔrɔ place (la) object is found at place

GRAMMAR THE PAST DEFINITE

The past in Bambara is grouped into categories: Regular verbs and irregular Verbs. All verbs requiring an object, all verbs ending by kε and all reflexive verbs are regular. In transitive constructions the past is indicated by the auxiliary ye. In the negative, the past is formed in the same way for both transitive and intrasitive constructions: the auxiliary is ma in regular auxiliary position.

Here are their structures:

Regular Verbs

Transitive Constructions:

Don go don le/lo sɔgɔma, n bε kafe min. (Present tense)
Bi sɔgɔma, n ye mɔni min. (Past definite)
Kunun, n taara sugu la.

Table 9. i
Affirmative form:	Negative form:
Subj + yε + Obj + V	Subj + ma + Obj + V
Bi sɔgɔma, n ye safinε san butigi la.	Bi sɔgɔma, n ma safinε san butigi la.
This morning I bought soap in the shop.	This morning I didn’t buy soap in the shop
Interrogative form:
Subj + yε + Obj + V (wa)?	Subj + ma + Obj + V (wa)?
Bi sɔgɔma, i ba ye ji kalaya joona wa?	Surɔ i ma dute min wa?
Did your mom heat water earlier this morning?	Didn’t you drink tea last night?

Table 10. ii
Affirmative form:	Negative form:
Subj + ye+ Vkε + Obj + postp	Subj + ma+ Vkε + Obj +postp
A ye baarakε kɔridelapε la	U ma sεnεkε foro la.
Interrogative form:
Subj + ye + Vkε + Obj + postp (wa)?	Subj + ma + Vkε + Obj +postp (wa)?
I ye barokε i somɔgɔw fε surɔ wa?	I ma sεbεnnikε kalanso kɔnɔ?

Table 11. iii
Affirmative form:	Negative form:
Subj + ye + Pron + V	Subj + ma + Pron + V
N ye n ko bi sɔgɔma.	N ma n da joona surɔ.
I washed myself this morning	I did not lie down early last night.

Interrogative form:

Subj + ye + Pron + V (wa)?

Subj + ma + Pron + V (wa)?

I y’i ko bi sɔgɔma (wa)?

Aw m’aw da joona surɔ?

Irregular Verbs

Intransitive Constructions:

In intransitive constructions the auxiliary is the suffix ra or na or la attached to the verb.

Suffix ra/la is the basic form

Affirmative form:

Negative form:

Subj + Vra + Compl + postp

Subj + ma +V + Compl + postp

Kunun, n taara sugu la

Aw ma taa sugu la kunun.

Yesterday I went to the market.

Yesterday I didn’t go to the market.

Interrogative form:

Subj + Vra + Compl + postp (wa)?

Subj + ma +V + Compl + postp (wa)?

Aw sunɔgɔra joona surɔ?

Aw ma sunɔgɔ joona surɔ?

Did you sleep early last night?

Didn’t you sleep early last night?

Suffix na: after nasal consonants

Affirmative form: Negative form:

Subj + Vna + Compl + postp

Subj + ma +V + Compl + postp

An kununna joona

Aw ma kuma u fε.

Interrogative form:

Subj + Vna + Compl + postp (wa)?

Subj + ma +V + Compl + postp (wa)?

Aw kumana u fε wa?

Aw ma kuma u fε?

Did you talk to them?

Didn’t you talk to them?

Suffix la: if the consonant immediately preceding is an l

Affirmative form:

Negative form:

Subj + Vla + Compl + postp

Subj + ma +V + Compl + postp

Kunun wula fε an bolila dugu sira kεrεfε.

Aw ma boli bi sɔgɔma.

Yesterday afternoon we ran by the road.

You did not run this morning.

Interrogative form:

---

Subj + Vla + Compl + postp (wa)?

Subj + ma +V + Compl + postp (wa)?

Aw wulila joona bi sɔgɔma?

Aw ma boli bi sɔgɔma?

Did you wake up early this morning?

Didn’t you run this morning?

Time expressions

Here are some time expressions used with the past definite.

surɔ: last night
kunun: yesterday
kunasinin: the day before yesterday
dɔgɔkun tεmεnen: last week
kalo tεmεnen: last month
salon: last year

EXERCISES

Do the following matching game:

kεmε
kεmε saba
kεmε wɔrɔ ni biduuru lɔɔru
wa kelen ni kεmε segin ni biwolonfila ni kelen
wa kelen ni kεmε
mugan ni fila
tan ni naani
dɔrɔmε kɔnɔntɔn

9355F
5500F
70F
110F
45F
3250F
500F
1500F

Do the following matching game:

dɔ bɔ a la/a barika
i b’a san joli?
o t’a sɔrɔ.
i kari kari ye joli?
hɔn.
safinε banna.
duloki ye joli ye?
wari di yan.
safinε bε sɔrɔ butigi la.
nɔnɔ banna.
buru tε yan.
tiga dɔrɔmε tan na di yan.
kεmε falen b’i bolo wa?
warimisεn segin.
mun b’i kun?

what do you have on you?
what’s your last price?
how much is the shirt?
have it.
how much do you pay for it?
reduce the price.
that cannot afford it.
give the money.
give the change back.
can you change 500F?
you can find soap in the shop.
there is no bread.
soap is finished.
give me peanut for 50F.
milk is finished

Change the following sentences into the past definite

N bε namasa baranda san sugu la.
An bε na kalanyɔrɔ la sɔgɔma joona.
A tε sannikε bi.
N bε wuli joona ka boli.
I tε foyi kε nakɔ la.
An bε dumunikε yan dimasi.

Refering to this picture complete this dialogue between Amadu and Samba.

Amadu
Amadu
Amadu
Amadu
Amadu
Amadu
Amadu
Amadu

Samba	Nba i ni sɔgɔma
Samba	fini mεtiri ye wa kelen ye
Samba	I b’a san joli?
Samba	O t’a sɔrɔ
Samba	Kεmε segin
Samba	Wari di
Samba	K’an b’u fo

In a village, identify at least five products from the places below:

At the market;
In a shop;
From a street seller.

Use the board below:

Shop items Market items Fruits/jiridenw Sauce ingredients/nafεnw Others/fεn wεrεw

Buy two or three items of your choice in a shop or in the market.

Observe the sellers attitudes before and during buying;
Bargain the prices of items (what were the proposed prices and the ones at which you bought your articles?)

YƆRƆW TAMASERECOGO

ASKING/GIVING DIRECTIONS

Communicative Task:

Objectives:

Locate, at least, two places.
Use, at least, three expressions to ask and give directions.

DIALOG

Umaru	A’ ni sɔgɔma!
Amadu	Nba, a’ ni sɔgɔma! Dɔ di!
Umaru	Baasi tε! A’ bε hakε to! N bε dugutigi ka so de ɲinin.
Amadu	Dutigi ka so bε an kεrεfε, An bε se ka taa ɲɔgɔn fε.
Umaru	I ni ce! A sira ɲεfɔ n ye, n yεrε kelen bε se ka taa.
Amadu	Ayiwa! I tilen nin sira kelen in fε. I bε kare saba tεmεn,o kɔ, fara i numan fε. Da naaninan don le/lo i kini fε. Mangorosunba bε soda la.
Umaru	I ni baraji! K’an bεn!
Amadu	K’an bε! Ka se ni i ɲuman ye!
Umaru	Amiina!

VOCABULARY

There are some places people refer to locate a given point ( common or public places or buildings, well known people…)

dɔgɔtɔrɔso: hospital
yirisunba: the big tree
siraba: the main road
worodugu: south
kɔrɔn: east
fan: side of x
yan: here

pɔn: bridge
dugutigi ka so: the village chief’s house
pɔnpe: pump
kɔkɔdugu: north
tilebin: west.
x fan fε: at x side
yen: there.

The following expressions are used to lead someone to a certain point.

i tilen ka taa.(fo…): Go straight.(until…)
fara i kini fε.: Turn right.
tεmεn so la.: Pass over the house

fara i numan fε: Turn left.
sira tigε.: Cross the road
se so ma.: Reach the house.

These other expressions are very polite used by someone who wants a help to find your way.

ɲε n ma!: Please, help me!
haketo!: Excuse me! x yɔrɔ ka jan wa? Is x far?
a ka ja dɔɔni: It’s fairly far i b’i tilen nin sira fε You go straight on this road.

i bε se ka ɲε n ma?: Can you help me?
x bε fan jumεn fε?: Where is x ?
a ma jan (wa)?: Isn’t it far?
x sira bε min?: Where is the way to x ?
i ni baraji: Thanks.

Here are some useful prepositions for giving or receiving directions.

x ɲεfε: in front of x
x kɔnɔ: in x
duguma: on the ground
x kεrεfε: next to x
x kuna: above x
x sanfïε: above x

x kɔfε: behind x
x kan: on x
x Kɔrɔ: under x
x ni y cε: between x and y.
x cεmancε la: at the center of x

The are other common words you meet in the context of giving or receiving directions.

ka x ɲinin: to look for x
ka fili: to make an error
x tununnen don: x is lost
k’i munumunu x kɔfε: to go around x

ka x jira pers. la/na to show x to pers. ka tunun:: to be lost x ka jan y la/na:: x is far from y

The Ordinal numbers are built on the cardinal numbers by adding nan, except for fɔlɔ (first) and laban (last). Here are some examples:

Cardinal numbers

Ordinal numbers

kelen

fɔlɔ

first

fila

filanan

second

saba

sabanan

third

naani

naaninan

fourth

x laban

laban

last.

In big cities, people hesitate to indicate somebody’s house. (Because of security issues)
Always double-check when you are given a direction.
“He who asks doesn’t get lost”.

GRAMMAR The Imperative

The Imperative in Bambara is used for making polite requests, suggestions or commands.

Affirmative form:

Negative form:

(obj) + Verb

kana + (obj) + Verb

Ji min! (Drink water!)

kana ji min!

I ko! (Wash!)

kan’i ko!

Taa! (Go!)

kana taa!

This is formed by using the auxiliary ka in the affirmative and kana in the negative.

Affirmative form:

Negative form:

Suj + ka + (obj) + Verb

Suj + kana +(obj) + Verb

An ka ji min! (Let’s drink water!)

Aw kana kɔlɔnnaji min!

An k’an ko! (Let’s wash!)

I kan’i ko kɔji la!

An ka taa! (Let’s go!)

An kana taa!

The second-person plural imperative (you all) is frequently formed by using the pronoun a and the auxiliary ye.

Affirmative form:

Negative form:

Suj + ye + (obj) + Verb

Suj + kana +(obj) + Verb

A(w) ye ji min!

Aw kana kɔlɔnnaji min!

A(w) y’aw ko!

Aw kan’aw ko kɔji la!

A(w) ye taa!

Aw kana taa!

EXERCISES

Translate the following sentences into Bambara

Come here.
Turn left.
Go straight.
Cross the third road.
Come and eat.
Don’t speak English.
Speak Bambara.
Don’t laugh.

Translate the following sentences into Bambara

We are in the classroom.
The blackboard is in front of us.
My book is on the wall.
The mosque is in the center of village
My house is near the shop.
The book is under the table._
Segu is between Bamako and Mopti.
Sometimes we study outside.
The bag is on the floor.

Translate these sentences into Bambara.

Excuse me. Can you show me the way to Bamako?
Good morning brother. I am lost. Do you know where the hospital is?
It is not far from here
Go straight. Cross the fifth road and turn right
Yes, I know him. Do you see the big house other there? It is behind that one.
Is Segou far from Bamako?
Turn around over this red car then turn left and go straight.
The mosque is in front of you.

Use the command or the imperative form of these sentences below. Please follow the modeles.

Modeles:

I bε taa sugu la.

taa sugu la.

An bε mangoro dun.

An ka mangoro dun.

Aw tε biyεri min.

A kana biyεri min.

Aw bε lεtεrε ci aw teriw ma.
Aw t’aw ko baji la.
I bε barokε i somɔgɔw fε.
Aw bε kuma bamanankan na tuma bεε
I tε kuma Angilεkan na.
Aw t’aw sigi duguma
I b’i ko don le/lo o don
I tε mɔgɔw neni dugu kɔnɔ.
I bε taa dute min i teriw bara
Aw bε na kalanso la joona

MƆGƆ NI FƐNW TAMASERE COGO

DESCRIBING A PERSON, AN OBJECT AND A PLACE

Communicative Task:

Objectives:

Name, at least, ten (10) parts of human body.
Describe a person by pointing out, at least, five physical and five moral traits.
Describe an object by giving two or three characteristics without notes.

TEXT

Nin muso in man jan, a man surun. A ɲεkisεw ka kunba, a ɲinw jεlen don. A cεkaɲi. A nison ka di tuma bεε. Mɔgɔ sεbε don.

VOCABULARY

PARTS OF THE BODY

FARIKOLO

bolo(kala): arm
bolokɔni: finger
da: mouth
disi: chest
kamankun: shoulder
kan: neck
kunbere: knee
kunkolo: head
kɔnɔ: stomach/belly

nun: nose
ɲε: eye
nɔnkɔn: elbow
senkala: leg
senkuru: ankle
sentεgε: foot
tulo: ear
tεgε: hand
woro: thigh

QUALIFIERS ( PHYSICAL )

The following adjectives are used to describe physical traits.

x ka jan: x is tall
x ka dɔgɔn: x is small
x ka kɔrɔ: x is old
x ka girin: x is heavy
x cεkajugu: x is ugly
x ka surun: x is short.

x ka kunba: x is strong
x ka fin: x is black
x cεkaɲi: x is beautiful (handsome)
x ka bon: x is big/fat
x ka misen: x is thin.
x ka jε: x is light (complexion)

QUALIFIERS ( MORAL)

These adjectives are used to portray moral state.

x ka jugu: x is bad/mean
x ka kisε: x is devoted/hard working x nison ka di x is happy/glad x hakili ka di x is intelligent
x ka ɲi: x is good.

x ka kegun: x is clever
x nison man di: x is sad
x hakili ka go/(man di): x is stupid (not intelligent)
x ka farin: x is courageous

QUALIFIERS ( TASTE )

x ka di: x is good Namasa ka di Namasa duman don
x ka kunan: x is bitter Woro ka kunan Woro kunanman don
x ka kumun: x is sour Lenmuru ka kumun Jiriden kumun don

x ka timi: x is sweet abibi ka timi Jiriden timiman don
x ka farin: x is hot Foronto ka farin Foronto farinman don
x ka go: x is bad in jiriden ka go Jiriden goman don

SOME EXPRESSIONS

x bε cogodi?: How is x? ( What is x like? )
x ɲε bε cogodi ?: What color is x?
x fεrεlen don.: x is spacious/roomy/comfortable
x korilen don.: x is round.
x ka magan.: x is smooth.

x ka gεlen.: x is hard/tough
x ka gonin: x is hot
x ka kalan: x is hot
x ka di n ye: x is good to me ( x likes )

COLORS

Please note the different forms of expressing colors in Bambara.

white

Jεman

nin ye jεman ye

nin jεlen don le/lo

a ka jε

black

Finman

nin ye finman ye

nin finnen don le/lo

a ka fin

red

Bilenman wuleman

nin ye bilenman ye

nin bilennen don

blue

Bulaman

nin ye bulaman ye

x bulaman don

green

Binkεnεman/ɲugujiman

nin ye ɲugujiman ye

ɲugujima don

yellow

Nεrεmuguman

nin ye nεrεmuguman ye

nεrεmuguman don

purple

Lankiriman

nin tε bilenman ye

lankiriman don

orange

Worojima

brown

Sikɔlɔma

baga

In Mali for many rural or illiterate people there are only two concepts of colors: WHITE ( for bright ) and BLACK ( for dark ).

GRAMMAR ka auxiliary

The ka auxiliary is used to express the english is/are in the affirmative.

The man is the negative form of ka and it expresses is/are not.

Affirmative form:

Negative form:

Subject + ka + adj

Subject + man + adj

Mike Tyson ka surun.: Magic Johnson man surun.
Mike Tyson is short.: Magic Johnson is not short.

Chart of exception

These are exceptions to the formation of adjectives in Bambara

Table 12. Chart of exception
S	V	Adj	S	V	N	Adj. (man)	-	S	Adj. (man)	V
Bob	ka	bon	Bob	ye	den	belebele(ba)	ye	mɔgɔ	belebele	don le/lo
a	ka	dɔgɔn	a	ye	cε	fitini	ye	cε	fitini	don le/lo
i	ka	jan	i	ye		jamanjan	ye		jamanjan	don le/lo
a	ka	ɲi	a	ye		ɲuman	ye		ɲuman	don le/lo
n	ka	kunba	n	ye		kunbaba	ye		kunbaba	don le/lo
a	ka	di	a	ye		duman	ye		duman	don le/lo
	ka			ye			ye			don le/lo

When you use a substantive ( noun ) to express is, the following is used:

Affirmative form:

Negative form:

Subject + ye + noun + adj(man) + ye

Subject + tε + noun + adj(man) + ye

Mike Tyson ye cε suruman ye.

Mike Tyson tε mɔgɔ jiman ye.

Mike Tyson is a short man.

Mike Tyson is not a white person.

The ye… ye is negated to tε… ye.

The don le/lo is used to express is/are ( or it is, they are ) as in the following examples:

Mobili bilenman don le/lo __ It is a red car.
Amerikεn finman don le/lo He/She is a black american.

The negative of don le/lo is tε

Mobili jεman tε	It is not a white car.
Muso juguman tε	She is not a mean woman.

Passive voice “ len/nen “

In this Communicative Task you have been briefly introduced to the Bambara Passive voice. In the following sentence occurred: “Karamɔgɔ jɔlen don le/lo kalanso kɔnɔ“. Jɔ is the root of the verb “stand”. jɔlen is a Passive voice.

Passive voice is not used to describe actions, but to describe the state achieved upon completion of the action. The Passive voice is formed for all verbs without exception with the verb root plus the suffix len (which becomes nen in nasal environments.)

ka jɔ _ jɔlen ka sεgεn _ sεgεnnen

Affirmative form:

Negative form:

Subject + Verb + len/nen + don le/lo

Subject + Verb + len/nen + tε

Karamɔgɔ jɔlen don le/lo kalanso kɔnɔ.

Kalandenw sεgεnnen tε.

Interrogative Form:

Subject + Verb + len/nen + don le/lo (wa)?

Subject + Verb + len/nen + tε (wa)?

Kalandenw jɔlen don le/lo kalanso kɔnɔ wa?

EXERCISES

Identify each part of the body according to the following indications:

bolokala
tulo
senkɔniw
kɔnɔ
sentεgεw
nɔnkɔn
nun

woro
senkuru
ten
senkala
kunbere
da
bolonkɔni

Do as in these examples (using the modified adjectives).

Nin dute ka gonin. gban _ Dute gonin(man) don

Nin muso ka ɲi
Nin cε ka surun
Nin jiri ka jan.
Nin ji ka suman
Nin namasa baranda ka di
Nin jiriden ka kumun
Nin sɔgɔn ka ca
Nin so ka bon
Nin mobili ka dogon
Nin cε ka kunba

Do as in these examples (using the passive voice).

A fa ka kɔrɔ _A fa kɔrɔlen don.

Bob kunsigi man fin _A kunsigi finnen tε.

I ka mobili ye bilenman wuleman ye wa?
A cε man kɔrɔ.
Madu fari ka fin.
Umaru kunsigi man jε.
Nin lenmuru ka kumun wa?
Nin so man fεrε.
N nison ka di bi.

Translate these sentences into Bambara.

She’s a tall, dark woman.
She and her husband are really good people.
They have a blue car.
They are always happy.

Describe your charming prince/the lady you dream of.
Describe a person of your choice. Then, draw him/her respecting your description.
Describe the tastes of two foods and two drinks.

One of each that you like and one of each that you don’t like. Present your description.

Visit 2 or 3 different places.

For each place, record whether it’s a big or small one, whether there are lots of people there or not. In short, describe each one of the places visited. Present the results to someone and ask questions on the subject.

Identify at least two or three child frequent sicknesses in this season.

FARIKOLO LAHALAW

DESCRIBING ONE’S MENTAL AND PHYSICAL STATE

Communicative Task:

Objectives:

cite, at least, five common sicknesses
ask, at least, one accurate question to get information about someone’s physical state.
formulate two or three blessings to a sick person.

Ablo ni Musa bε min? Ablo ye jɔn ye? Mun bε Musa la?

DIALOG

Fanta	I ni sɔgɔma, Bakari. I nisɔn man di, mun b’i la?
Bakari	N fari man di n na.
Fanta	I yɔrɔ jumεn b’i dimi?
Bakari	N ɲin de bε n dimi kojugu bi.
Fanta	I ye fura ta wa?
Bakari	Ayi, n bεna taa dɔgɔtɔrɔso la.
Fanta	Ala ka nɔgɔyakε, k’a ban pewu!
Bakari	Amiina. Ala ka dugaw minε.
Fanta	Amiina.

Fanta	I ni sɔgɔma, Bakari. Munna an m’i ye surɔ?
Bakari	N tun man kεnε.
Fanta	Ee! Mun tun b’i la?
Bakari	N kungolo ye n dimi kojugu kunun wulada. Sufε, n ma se ka sunɔgɔ, n fari bεε tun ka kalan.
Fanta	O bε sɔrɔ sumaya ye dε?
Bakari	N hakili la, a bε sɔrɔ o ye. N bεna taa dɔgɔtɔrɔso la.
Fanta	I ka kan k’i yεrε tanga sosow ma.
Bakari	Tiɲε! N bεna sange sulen damadɔ ɲinin n ka denbaya ye. Ola, sumaya ni bana misεnw tεna an tɔɔrɔ.
Fanta	Ala ka nɔgɔyakε, ka tɔɔrɔ dɔgɔya!
Bakari	Amiina. Ala ka dugaw minε.
Fanta	Amiina.

VOCABULARY

bana: Sickness/disease
banabagatɔ: (banabaatɔ) a sick person
kεnεya: (Good)health
kɔnɔdimi: stomach ache
ɲindimi: tooth ache

kɔdimi: back ache
ɲεdimi: sore eye
bolodimi: sore arm
kandimi: stiff neck
sendimi: sore foot
kungolodimi bε x la/na: x has a headache

In these expressions it says: sickness is at the person

dimi translates ache

kungolo bε a dimi: x’s head is aching him/her
N ɲin bε n dimi: my tooth is aching me

This means person’s part of body is hurting : him/her

MOST COMMON DISEASES:

kɔnɔboli: diarrhea
tɔkɔtɔkɔni: dysentery
sumaya: malaria
murafarigan: flu +
Sɔgɔsɔgɔ bε Paul la: Paul has a cough
Mura bε Tom la: Tom has a cold
Kungolodimi bε John la: John has a headache
Kɔnɔdimi bε Lucie la: Lucie has stomachache
Farigan bε Sarah la: Sarah has a fever +
n man kεnε: I am sick
i yɔrɔ jumεn b’i dimi?: Which part of your body is hurting you?
i fan jumεn b’i dimi?: Which part of your body is hurting you?
mun b’i la ?: What is the matter with you?

kɔngɔ bε x la/na: x is hungry
salaya: lazy
n sεgεnnen don: I am tired
n tɔɔrɔlen don: I am pained
n degunnen don: I am suffering
n dusukasilen don: I am sad
n nisɔn ka di: I am happy
n nisɔn diyalen tε: I am not happy
fosi/Foyi tε x la: x has nothing

SOME EXPRESSIONS OF PHYSIOLOGICAL STATES:

kɔngɔ: hungry
minɔgɔ: thirsty
funteni: hot
nεnε: cold

DUGAW / BLESSINGS

Ala ka nɔgɔyakε: May God grant relief.
Ala k’a tɔɔrɔ dɔgɔya…: May the pain lessen.
Ala ka sini fisaya ni bi ye: May tomorow be better than today

Ala k’i segin i yεrε ma: May you come back to yourself
Ala k’a kε jurumu kafari ye: May it be a sin expiator.
Ala ka dugaw jabi: May God answer the blessings

SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY:

Table 13. Vocabulary
banakisε microbe banaba leprosy banakunbεn prevention kεnεyaji oral rehydration water kεnεyaba(ga)tɔ a healthy person dusukundimi palpitation kumabin migraine sumu dental decay sumuni boil joli a wound nε pus kankɔnɔdimi/mimi sorethroat kaba ringworm fa madness jawuli scatteredbrain hakiliwuli mental fatigue x kɔsalen (don) x is energyless	x walakalen (don) x open, extravert mun ye x sɔrɔ? what happened to x mun binna/cunna x kan? what struck x? mun gεrεgεrε ye x sɔrɔ? what unexpected thing (mishap) happened to x k’i mun to apply an ointment k’i digidigi to get a massage k’i wusu to transpire through smoke or vapour k’i furakε to cure oneself ka sogolikε to get an injection ka biɲεturu to give an injection (muso) jiginninso maternity dɔkɔtɔrɔ doctor dɔkɔtɔrɔso hospital ka fura ta to take medicine ka furakisε kunun to take a pill ka furaji min to drink (a drinkable) k’i boloci to get vaccinated ka pikirikε to get an injection

GRAMMAR

Here are some ways to say that someone is (not) sick.

Affirmative form:

Negative form:

Part of body + dimi + bε + Pers. +la/na

Part of body + dimi + tε + Pers. + la/na

Kungolo dimi bε John la.

Kɔdimi tε Sarah la.

Interrogative Form:

Part of body + dimi + bε + Pers. +la (wa)?

Part of body + dimi + tε + Pers. +la (wa)?

Kungolo dimi b’i la wa?

THE IMPERFECT TENSE: Tun bε

tun bε/tun tε is the auxiliary element for the Imperfect tense in Bambara.

Affirmative form:

Negative form: sm

Suj + tun bε + obj + Verb

Suj + tun tε + obj + Verb

Soso tun bε Bakari cin su o su.

Bakari tun tε sange sulen siri.

Kalandenw tun bε kalankε don le/lo go don.

U tun tε baarakε san’u ka na Mali la.

Interrogative Form:

Suj + tun bε + obj + Verb (wa)?

Suj + tun tε + obj + Verb (wa)?

Soso tun bε Bakari cin su o su?

Bakari tun tε sange sulen siri wa?

Kalandenw tun bε yaala Ameriki kɔsεbε wa?

tun ka/tun man is the auxiliary element for the Imperfect tense with adjectives in Bambara.

Affirmative form:

Negative form: sm

Suj + tun ka + Adj

Suj + tun man + Adj

A tun ka di

It was good/pleasant.

Here are some ways to say that someone was sick.

Affirmative form:

Negative form: sm

Part of body + dimi + tun bε + Pers. +la/na

Part of body + dimi + tun tε + Pers. +la/na

Kungolo dimi tun bε John la.

Kɔdimi tun tε Sarah la.

Interrogative Form:

Part of body + dimi + tun bε + Pers. +la (wa)?

Part of body + dimi + tun tε + Pers. +la?

Kungolo dimi tun b’i la wa?

THE FUTURE TENSE: bεna (bε)

bεna (bε)/tεna(tε) is the auxiliary element for the Future tense in Bambara.

Affirmative form:

Negative form:

Suj + bεna + obj + Verb

Suj + tεna + obj + Verb

Soso bεna Bakari cin su o su.

Bakari tεna sange sulen siri.

Suj + bεna + Verb + Obj

Suj + tεna + Verb + Obj

Kalandenw bεna kalankε don le/lo go don.

U tεna yaala dɔrɔn Mali la.

Interrogative Form:

Suj + bεna + obj + Verb (wa)?

Suj + tεna + obj + Verb (wa)?

Soso bεna Bakari cin su o su?

Bakari tεna sange sulen siri?

Sumaya bεna Bakari minε?

Bakari tεna kεnεya sɔrɔ (wa)?

Suj + bεna + Verb (wa)?

Suj + tεna + Verb (wa)?

Kalandenw bεna barokε dugumɔgɔw fε wa?

U tεna taa Ameriki sisan?

Here are some ways to say that someone will be sick.

Affirmative form:

Negative form:

Sickness/disease + bεna + Pers. +minε

Sickness/disease + tεna + Pers. +minε

Farigan bεna Tom minε barisa mura b’a la.

Sumaya tεna Sarah minε barisa a bε fura ta.

Sumaya bεna Bakari minε.

Interrogative Form:

Sickness/disease + bεna + Pers. + minε (wa)?

Sickness/disease + tεna + Pers. + minε?

Farigan bεna Tom minε wa?

Sumaya tεna Sarah minε?

EXERCISES

Translate these sentences into Bambara.

A	Are you sick ?
B	Yes, I am sick.
A	What do you have?
B	I have a cold.
A	Do you need pills?
B	No, thank you. I am tired. / I am sleepy.
A	May the pain lessen.
B	Amen.

Refering to the picture make a dialog between Fanta and Ablo

Ablo	I ni sɔgɔma, Fanta. I nisɔn man di, mun bε den na?
Fanta	A fari man d’a la.
Ablo Fanta Ablo Fanta	Fill in the blanks by using the appropriate auxiliary. Tuma min, n camancε lakɔli la, n kegun dɔɔni. N _ marabatiga cimin kalanso kɔnɔ. N _ (neg) taa farikolo ɲanajε kε yɔrɔ la tuma bεε. Ne ni n teriw _ taa kalanso kɔfε ka sigarεti min. N basikεti ton na, nka n npogotigininw lajε dɔɔrɔn. N (neg) kalankε kɔsεbε nka n ko di karamɔgɔ ye. N karamɔgɔw dεmε ka kalansow labεn. O kɔsɔn, u hakili la n kalanden ɲuman ye.

Fill in the blanks by using the appropriate auxiliary.

Surɔ n _ dakabana sogo kε. N _ mobili kura dɔ boli la.
N _ cεkɔrɔnin dɔ ye sira kan n ɲε fε. A ka sira tigε fali kan.
Cεkɔrɔnin _n ye nka a tεmεn a ka sira fε.
N ’a ɲinin ka mobili lajɔ nka a fεrεnw _ (neg) sɔn.
N _ ’a fε ka kule nka n da ___ (neg) se ka yεlε.
Mobili _ ka girin. N _ _ cεkɔrɔnin faga wa?
Yɔrɔnin kelen, mobili jεnsεn__.
N _ n yεrε sɔrɔ, n sigilen dugumakolo kan; mobili walan _ n bolo kɔnɔ.
Cεkɔrɔnin _ n lajε i n’a fɔ foyi _ (neg) kε.
A _ n ɲininka, “ E _ taa min tan?”

Say how the person in each of these picture is feeling.

. . . . . . . . . .

Refering to the picture do the following matching:

Treated mosquito net

Sange sulen

Sange su ji la, a yεlεma siɲε caman f’a ka ji min miniti 5 kɔnɔ.
I tεgεw ni tasaba ko k’u jε ni safinε ye.
Sange fεnsεn sumaman yɔrɔ la, k’a laja.
San’i k’a daminε, ganw don.
Ji tɔ ni ganw kε dingε kɔnɔ, walima u fili ɲεgεn kɔnɔ.
I ka sange sulen siri, i ka sunɔgɔ i lakananen.
Ji litiri 1 kε tasaba kɔnɔ.
Bulɔku kisε kε ji la, a ka yelen.
Ji ni bulɔku ɲagami.

Identify at least five day time activities.

DELINAKOW / TALKING ABOUT DAILY ACTIVITIES

Communicative Task:

Objectives:

Cite, at least, five daily activities of men and women according to the different periods of the day.
Cite five activities of your own by him/herself.
Cite, at least, five daily or seasonal activities according to the gender, and the age.
What is your daily timetable.

Nin musow bε ka mun kε? Aw ka dugu musow bε ji bɔ kɔlɔn na don le/lo go don le/lo wa? Dugu kɔnɔ cεw bε mun kε don le/lo go don?

TEXT

Musow ka baara dugumisεnw kɔnɔ.

Dugumisεnw kɔnɔ, musow ka baara ka ca. U bε wuli kabini fajiri. U bε fɔlɔ ka ji bɔ kɔlɔn na. U bε tasuma mεnε ka koliji kalaya. U bε yɔrɔw furan ka sɔro ka daraka tobi. Daraka mana dun, u bε minan nɔgɔw ko. U bε susulikε, u bε fini nɔgɔw ko, u bε denw ladon. Mali dugumisεn musow sεgεnnen!

VOCABULARY

Table 14. Vocabulary
fajiri dawn (sunrise) tilegan the heat of the day fitiri dusk (sunset) gεrεn club k’i yalayala to have a walk ka sεnεkε to farm ka te wuli to make tea ka balɔn tan to play football. ka nɔnnikε to swim. k’i ɲεnajε to have fun ka fɔlɔ ka to begin by/with o kɔ after it/that ka sɔrɔ ka then kabini since	sani (yani) before, since ntεnεn Monday tarata Tuesday araba Wednesday alamisa Thursday juma Friday sibiri Saturday kari/dimasi Sunday sɔgɔma o sɔgɔma every morning selifana around 2 PM. la(g)ansara around 4 PM. saafo around 8 PM. k’i lafiɲε to rest

GRAMMAR THE HYPOTHETICAL FUTURE: with mana

mana is the auxiliary that marks what is called the hypothetical future in Bambara. It is often used like a conditional sentence with “if”, “when” or “whenever” in English. Mana is always found in a subordinate clause in Bambara.

N bε taa n ka dugu la, n bε baara daminε. N mana taa n ka dugu la, n bε baara daminε.

Affirmative form:

Subj + mana + (obj) +Verb + Subj + bε(na) + (obj) + Verb…

Fanta mana daraka dun, a bε(na) minan nɔgɔw ko.: If Fanta eats breakfast, she will wash the dishes.

Subj + mana +Verb + Subj + bε(na) + (obj) + Verb…

Fanta mana wuli, a bε(na) ji bɔ kɔlɔn na.: If Fanta gets up, she will draw water from the well.

Negative form:

mana is not used in the negative form. The negative form is used with ni.

THE CONDITIONAL TENSE: with ni

When the past occurs with ni in the firts clause, it is not referring to past action but rather to something that will have happened in the future.

Affirmative form:

Ni + Subj + (obj) Verb (Past tense) Subj + bε(na) + (obj) + Verb…

Ni Fanta ye daraka dun, a bε(na) minan nɔgɔw ko…: If Fanta eats breakfast, she will wash the dishes.

Negative form:

Ni + Subj + ma (obj) Verb (Past tense) Subj + tε(na) + (obj) + Verb…

Ni Fanta ma minan nɔgɔw ko, a tε(na) i lafiɲε.: If Fanta does not wash the dishes, she will not take a rest.

CONTREFACTUAL CONDITIONAL:

In contrefactual conditional sentences that involve tun plus the completive in the first clause. The second clause can be compled with the future auxiliary bεna or tεna preceded by tun.

Ni + Subj + tun + (obj) Verb (Past tense) Subj + tun bεna/tεna + (obj) + Verb…

Ni n tun ye wari sɔrɔ, n tun bεna mobili san: If I had gotten money, I would have bought a car.
Ni n tun taara, an tun tεna ɲɔgɔn ye.: If I had gone, we wouldn’t have seen each other.

EXERCISES

Arrange the scrambled words in the boxes to form complete sentences:

fajiri

bε

kabini

wuli

Don o don le/lo

Fanta

Daraka

fɔlɔ

tobi

bε

soli

bε

baarayɔrɔ

taa

Sani

dun

ekɔli

bε

Daraka

fɔlɔ

Do as indicated in this example:

N bε taa n ka dugu la, n bε baara daminε.

na taa n ka dugu la, n bε(na) baara daminε.

sibiri bε se, an b’an lafiɲε.
a bε nakɔ sεnε, a bε nakɔfεn caman dun.
u bε surafana dun, u bε dute wuli.
an bε tila kalan na, an bε barokε an somɔgɔw fε.
dugu bε jε, n terikε bε soli ka na denkundi la.

Transform the following sentences into the negative form.

N bε mobili sɔrɔ, n bε taa Bamako.

Ni n ma mobili sɔrɔ, n tε taa bamako.

Baara bε jigin, an bε marasi bɔ
N bε soli ka wuli, n bε fini nɔgɔw ko.
Fitiri bε se, u bε taa misiri la.
“Stage” bε ban, an bε nisɔndiya.
An bε surafana dun, an bε te wuli.

Do as indicated in this example:

n bε taa Bamako, n bε tilen yen

ni n taara Bamako, n bε (na) tilen ye.

sanji bε na, an tε taa yɔrɔ la.
fitiri bε se, u bε taa misiri la.
n bε surafana dun, n bε tele lajε.
a bε mankankε, n tε se ka sunɔgɔ.
n bε mobili sɔrɔ ka ta Bamako, o bε diya n ye.

Complete the following sentences according to the structure of conditional:

Fanta mana ji bɔ kɔlɔn na, a (ka minan nɔgɔwko).
Fanta mana minan nɔgɔw ko, a (k’i lafiɲε dɔɔni).
Fanta man’i lafiɲε dɔɔni, a (ka taa lɔgɔ ɲini).
Fanta ka baara mana ban, a (k’i da ka sunɔgɔ).
Ni "stage" banna, a (ka taa an ka duguw la ).
Ni Fanta denw ye tilelafana dun, u (ka taa lɔgɔ ɲini).

Turn the following sentences into the negative form:

Ni Fanta ye tasuma mεnε, a bε ji kalaya.___
A mana wuli joona, a denw bε daraka dun joona.
N’a banna baara la, a b’i lafiɲε dɔɔni._
A mana lïtiri sɔrɔ, a bεna nisɔndiya kosïbε.

Combine according to the following sentences:

N bε surafana dun, n bε taa dɔnkεyɔrɔ la.

N mana surafana dun, n bε taa dɔnkεyɔrɔ la.
Ni n ye surafana dun, n bε taa dɔnkεyɔrɔ la.

N bε safinε san, n bε fini ko.
I bε taa so; i b’i ko.
Sanji bε na; an b’an lafεɲε gwa kɔrɔ.
Midi bε se, an bε kalan dabila.
Dugu bε jε, n bε soli ka taa Bamako.

Turn the following sentences into the negative form:

Ni n wulila joona, n bεna soli ka taa Bamako

Ni n ma wuli joona, n tɛna soli ka taa Bamako.

Ni ye wari sɔrɔ, n bεna mobili kura san.
Ni "Stage" banna, an bεna baara daminε.
Ni n somɔgɔw nana bɔ n ye, n bï nisɔndiya kɔsεbε.
N’aw ye baarakε, aw bï wari sɔrɔ.
Ni n ye bamanankan mεn kɔsεbε, an bεna baarokε ɲɔgɔnfε.

Fill in the blanks by using the appropriate auxiliary.

Fɔlɔ fɔlɔ, dugumisεnw kɔnɔ, musow ka baara _ ca. U _ soli ka wuli kabini
fajiri. U _ fɔlɔ ka ji bɔ kɔlɔn na. O kɔ, u _ tasuma mεnε ka koliji kalaya. U _
yɔrɔw furan ka sɔro ka daraka tobi. Daraka kɔfε, u _ tila ka minan nɔgɔw ko. U _
laban ka susulikε, ka fini nɔgɔw ko. U _ denw ladon nin bεε kɔ.
Mali dugumisεn musow _ sεgεnnen!

TAAMAW

TALKING ABOUT TRAVELING

Communicative Task:

Objectives:

cite the three transportation means.
ask three questions to get informed about the means, the fare and the schedule of transportation
use three expressions to wish welcome or safe trip to a traveler.

TEXT

Taamaw

Mali mɔgɔw bε taama kɔsɔbε duniya kɔnɔ. U bε taa yɔrɔ caman na. I b’u sɔrɔ Farafinna jamanaw bεε la. Mali denmisεnw bε taama farajεla jamanaw fana kɔnɔ.

Mali kɔnɔ, mɔgɔw ka taama ka suma, barisa siraw man ɲin. Bolimafεnw man ca, ani u tε se ka taa yɔrɔ bεε. Togodamɔgɔw bε bɔ dugu ni dugu u sen na, nεgεsow la, wotorow la, wala bagaw kan i n’a fɔ: faliw, sow, misiw, ɲɔgɔmεw. Mɔgɔw bε bato ta Kulikoro ni Gao cε, sisikuru bε bɔ Bamako fo kayes.

Sirakoro taama

Ne sera Sirakoro ntεnεn don, le/lo uti kalo tile mugan ni segin san ba fila ni wɔrɔ Mobili donna dugu kɔnɔ ka bεn ni fitiri ye, o y’a sɔrɔ san nana. An taara dugutigi ka so. A y’an bisimila koɲuman.

An sira, dugu jεlen an sɔrɔla ka taa dugu maabaw caman fo (Perefe dankan, Mεri, Dɔgɔtɔrɔ kuntigi, Muso kuntigi, Alimami, Pasitεri, cεmisεn kuntigi, ani n ka karamɔgɔ). Wula fε, dugutigi ni a ka kɔnseyew y’an bisimila a ka so. An y’an nali kun fɔ u ye. A diyara u ye kosεbε, u ko an k’an bisimila. O kɔfε ne ni n ka karamɔgɔ ye kalan daminε. Aa! Sisan kɔni, ne ye bamanankan caman faamu.

Alamisa don, le/lo uti kalo tile bisaba ni kelen, sɔgɔma dizεri waati, dugu musow bεε ni jenbe nana ka donkε n jatigiya la, ka ne fo. An ye donkε kosεbε. Jɔn ko allah, Sirakoro ka di!!!

— Fox Emily

DIALOG dɔgɔkun kelen taama

A	N nana n sara i la, n bεna taa dɔgɔkun kelen taama na sini.
B	Eh! Sini ? Ayiwa, ka taa ka segin nɔgɔya.
A	A miina, ka ɲɔgɔn ye nɔgɔya, ka hεrε fɔ n kɔ.
B	k’an b’u fo! Ka segin n’i ɲuman ye. I k’an sama. I delila ka se yen wa?
A	Ayi, n ma se yen fɔlɔ. Ni alah sɔnna, n bεna aw sama.

VOCABULARY

BOLIMAFƐNW

MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION:

taama: travelling/journey/trip
dugutaa: travelling/journey/trip
bolifεnw: means of transportation
taamaden: traveller
mobili: vehicle
bato: boat
so: horse
kurun: dugout canoe
fali: donkey
moto: motorbike
nεgεso: bicycle/bike
sisikurun: train
ɲɔgɔmε: camel
awiyɔn: airplane

ka taama: to travel
ka taa dugula: to travel.
ka jigin: to get down.
ka taa x kunbεn: to go meet x.
ka biye ta: to take a ticket
ka pase sara: to pay the trip fees
ka fa: to be crowded
ka x sama: to give a trip gift.
ka taa x bila sira: to accompany x
ka taa bɔx ye/la: to pay visit to x.
x fara/x falen don le/lo: x is full
x tiɲεna: x broke down.
x tiɲεnen don le/lo: x is broken down.

BISIMILA

WELCOMING

i danse/ i ni sε: welcome
i (aw) bisimila: welcome.
saha: thanks.
kodi/kori i ɲuman nana ?: did you have a nice trip ?

a ka na aw ɲuman sɔrɔ:: I had a nice trip i ni fama:: It was a long time. a kεra fama ye:: It was a long time n nana n sara i la:: I came to inform you about my trip.

SAMAW: GIFTS

n sama bε min?: where is my gift?
i sama filε: here is your gift.
i sama bε kɔ: I will bring it later.

DUWAWUW/DUGAW: BLESSINGS

ka taa ka segin nɔgɔya: May going and returning be easy
ka ɲɔngɔn ye nɔgɔya: May seeing each other be easy
ɲuman taa ɲuman segin: good trip, good return
ka hεrε k’i ɲε: May peace be front of you. Have a good trip.

ka sira diya: May the trip/road be good
ka segin n’i ɲuman ye: May you return well
ka se n’i ɲuman ye: May arrive well
ka hεrε fɔ n kɔ: May peace come after me.

GRAMMAR THE HABIT OF DOING SOMETHING: ka deli degi ka

This structure is used in the present to induicate that the subject has “the habit of doing something” or is used to do something. ka deli ka is follwed by the infinitive.

THE PRESENT TENSE

Affirmative form:

Negative form:

S + bε + deli ka + V (transitif/intransitif)

S + tε + deli ka + V (transitif/intransitif)

A bε deli ka na n ka so.

A tε deli ka taa a sen na baarakε yɔrɔ la.

He is used to come to my house.

He is not used to going to the office on foot.

Interrogative form:

S + bε/tε deli ka + V (transitif/intransitif) ?

THE PAST TENSE

“ka deli ka” is used in the past tense to indicate that the subject has experience of doing something. It denotes that the subject has done something already or at least once.

Affirmative form:

Negative form:

S + delila ka + V (transitif/intransitif)

S + ma + deli ka + V (transitif/intransitif)

N delila ka taa Gao bato la.

A ma deli ka don le/lo awiyɔn kɔnɔ.

I’ve been to Gao by boat

He has never been in a plane.

Interrogative form:

S + delila ka + V (transitif/intransitif)?

THE IMPERFECT TENSE:

Affirmative form:

Negative form:

S + tun bε + deli ka + V (transitif/intransitif)

S + tun tε + deli ka + V (transitif/intransitif)

A tun bε deli ka taa sinema na weekend o weekend

N tun tε deli ka dumuni san sirada la.

Interrogative form:

S + bε/tε deli ka + V (transitif/intransitif) ?

I tun bε deli ka mun kε weekend o weekend sani i ka na Mali la?

EXERCISES

Answer the following questions:

I taara min site-visit la?
I taara don le/lo jumεn? I seginna don le/lo jumεn?
I taara cogodi?
I taara bolifεn jumεn na?
A tun falen don le/lo wa?
I ni jɔn taara ɲɔgɔn fε?
I ye tile joli kε yen?
Ka bɔ Bamako ka taa i ka dugu la, i ye joli sara?
I ye mun kε tile fɔlɔ?
I ka dugu bε Mali fan jumεn fε?
I ka dugu bε cogodi?
A taama kεra cogodi? I ka taama ɲεfɔ an ye.
I delila ka nin taama ɲɔgɔn kε wa?
- Readjust the following situations:

You are coming from a trip.

A	I danse B:_
A	taayɔrɔ mɔgɔw ka kεnε? B:_
A	kor’i ɲuman nana? B:_
A	Sira diyara wa? B:_
A	N sama bε min? B:_

I am going to travel, make some blessings for me.

A	N nana sara i la, n bεna taa dugu la B:_
A	B:
A	B:
A	k’a hεrε fɔ n kɔ B:_

Make as in the following example.

N bε to ka wuli joona

N bε deli ka wuli joona.

A bε to ka n dεmε n ka baara la. _ An bε to ka ɲɔgɔn sɔrɔ yen. A tε to ka n fo. _

Make as in the following example.

A binna moto la.

A delila ka bin moto la.

An taamana ɲɔgɔn fε _ An ma taa jamana wεrε la _ A ye nin mobili ɲɔgɔn dilan. _ N ma dɔlɔ min fɔlɔ. _

Name five cooking tools
Name five meals

DUMUNIW

TALKING ABOUT MEALS

Communicative Task:

Objectives:

Cite, at least, five West African meals
Explain, at least, one recipe to someone
Enumerate four behaviors when eating in West Africa and compare them to the American ones.

Nin muso in bεka mun tobi? Mun ni mun bε gabugu kɔnɔ?

Cultural Notes:
1. It’s important to invite people to eat (feel free to say yes or no).
2. Avoid smelling food.
3. Always use your right hand to eat.
4. Generally people eat together in the same bowl but men and women eat separately.
5. Cooking is a women’s role.

TEXT

Dumuniw ani dumunikεyɔrɔ ladaw.

Mali ka bon, a siyaw fana ka ca. O n’a ta o ta, siyaw ka dumuniw n’u ka dumuniyɔrɔ ladaw man jan ɲɔgɔn na kosεbε. Mali siyaw caman bε to, basi, dεgε, mɔni, seri, samε ani malokini dun. U bεε bε dumuni kε siɲε saba tile kɔnɔ: daraka, tilelafana ani surafana. Musow ni cεw tε dumunikε ɲɔgɔn fε yɔrɔ caman na Mali la. Cεw wali musow bε dumunikε ɲɔgɔn fε minεn kelen kɔnɔ. Danfara dɔw bε siyaw ni ɲɔgɔn cε. Bamananw bε seri sukarontan walima tosira kε daraka ye. Bamananw fana ka surafana n’u ka tilelafana caman ye to ye. Malokini bε tobi nisɔndiya donw dɔrɔn. Kɔrɔbɔrɔw bε furufuru kε daraka ye. U caman ka tilelafana ni surafana ye malokini ye. Basi ka di marakaw ye kɔsɔbε. Siyaw dɔw bε barika da dumuni kɔfε nka dɔw t’a da. Dumuniyɔrɔ ye kalansoba ye Mali la.

Nin muso in bεka mun tobi? O dumuni in tobicogo ɲεfɔ.

Tamatina dilancogo

Dilannifεw
1. tamati mɔnenba
2. tigatulu
3. jabakεnε
4. kɔgɔ
5. ji
Dilanniminεw
1. barama/fugantasa
2. furunε
3. finfin
4. kutu
5. muru
Dilancogo
1. Finfin kε furunε kɔnɔ, tasuma kε finfin na. A fifa.
2. Ni tasuma kamina, barama wala kasilɔri sigi tasuma kan. Ji dɔ k’a kɔnɔ.
3. I tεgε ko k’a jε. Tamati ni jaba ko k’u jε.
4. Tamati kε ji kalaman na. U kelen kelen ta, u fara b’u la.
5. U bila tasa jεlen dɔ kɔnɔ. U nɔɔni.
6. Barama sigi tasuma kan tuguni. Tulu hakε min bε bεn i ka tamati ma, o kε barama kɔnɔ.
7. Tulu mana kalaya, tamati dɔɔni dɔɔni kε tulu la. To ka kutu kε k’a lamaga.
8. Jaba tigε-tigε. A kε tamati na kan.
9. kɔgɔ kε tamati na la, dɔɔni dɔɔni. To k’a nεnε.

Duncogo n’a lamaracogo

Nin tamatina in bε se ka kε sogo jeninen, jεgε jirannen, woso, wala kɔmitεri balabalalen kan, k’u dun. Waa, a ka di kɔsεbε.
A lamaracogo man gεlεn. I b’a kε buteli dɔ kɔnɔ ka tulu dɔɔni k’a kan k’a lasago yɔrɔ sumannen na.
Tamatina kεfεnw ye jumεnw ye?
Kεfεnw wεrεw bε se ka don le/lo a dilanni na wa?
I bε se k’a lamara cogo wεrε jumεn na?

VOCABULARY

Table 15. Vocabulary
dumuni food balo food. daraka breakfast tilelafana lunch. surafana dinner nafεn condiment. na sauce kεfεnw ingredients barama pot galama ladle. filen calabash muru knife. shilan food mill/reel furunε stove finfin charcoal fugan tasa aluminum bowl kini/malokini cooked rice basi cous-cous. dεgε ceam made of cereale mɔni porridge. to to (malian food) seri porridge. zamε cokked rice with condiments mixed furufuru fritter/doughnut tosira left over to	basisira left over cous-cous minan utensil kolon mortar kolon-kala pestle kurun stool. kuyεri/kutu spoon tasa bowl. tobili cooking ɲɔ millet malo rice fini fonio. kaba maize yiriden mɔlen ripe fruit jaba onion tamati tomato. namasa baranda banana lemuruba orange. lemurukumu lemon tiga peanut. foronto pepper layi garlay tulu oil x mugu the powder of x. tigadεgε peanut butter dabilenni hibiscus.	kɔkɔ/kɔgɔ salt sogo/soko meat. siya ethnic group lada costum. x sukarotan x without sugar ka barika da/ ta to thank. o n’a ta o ta despite ka x susu to pound x. ka x ko k’a jε to wash properly ka x wɔrɔ to peel ka x kisε/kolo bɔ to take out seed ka x tigε tigε slice ka x suma to measure ka x daji to soak ka x si to grind/crush ka x tobi to cook ka x kε minε kɔnɔ to put x in ka x mara to keep ka x lasagon to keep ka x jε to clean ka x nɔɔni to mix ka x tigε to cut x. ka x kε y la/na to put x in y ka x wele y la to call x for y ka x datugu to cover x ka x dayεlε to open x.

HERE ARE OTHER WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS WHICH CAN HELP YOU TO TALK MORE EASILY ABOUT MEALS.

a barika: thank you(after a meal)
a barika Ala ye: you are welcome.
i ni gwa: thank you
i ni daba: thank you.
k’a suma i la: you are welcome
k’a suma i kɔnɔ: you are welcome.
na dumuni na: come and eat
n’an ka dumunikε: come and eat.
dumuni mɔnna: the meal is ready
dumuni sigira: the meal is ready.
n faara: I’m full

n falen don le/lo: I’m full.
n faara teu-teu: I’m completely full
n ye dumunikε sisan: I have just eaten.
k’i ni hεrε bεn: good appetite
nabaa/nabaga: newcomer
mun b’i bolo?: what do you have?
mun ni mun bε yan?: what do you have here?
a kɔkɔ cayara dɔɔni: there is too much salt
kɔkɔ t’a la: there is no salt in it.
kan’a caya kosεbε: don’t give too much
dɔɔni far’a kan: add a little bit.

DIALOG

Umaru	I ni sɔgɔma!
Amadu	Nba. Cε! a kεra di? An m’i ye gεrεn na surɔ dε!
Umaru	Foyi ma kε! N tun bε furusiridɔn yɔrɔ la. A kεra ɲεnajεba ye.
Amadu	A diyara wa?
Umaru	Kojugu! Dumuni ma kε foyi ye! An y’an kɔnɔ fa ani ka dɔnkε fo ka dugu jε.
Amadu	Ala ka kε furu ye!
Umaru	Amiina!

GRAMMAR THE USE OF kε

Kε has many meanings but in these strucures it means: to be done; to be made; to occur or happen. Below are the structures and some examples.

THE PRESENT TENSE:

Affirmative form:

Negative form:

Suj + bε kε + Compl + ye

Suj + tε kε + Compl + ye

Mɔni bε kε daraka ye sɔgɔma o sɔgɔma.

To tε kε tilelafana ye an ka so.

Mɔni is made for breakfast every morning

To is not made for lunch at our place

THE PAST TENSE:

Affirmative form:

Negative form:

Suj + kεra + Compl + ye

Suj + ma kε + Compl + ye

A kεra baara ye!

A ma kε foyi ye!

Foyi ma kε!

A kεra dɔgɔtɔrɔ ye.

Aw ma kε wɔlɔntεriw ye fɔlɔ.

Interrogative Form:

Mun kεra?

THE FUTURE TENSE:

Affirmative form:

Negative form:

Suj + bεna kε + Compl + ye

Suj + tεna kε + Compl + ye

Aw bεna kε wɔlɔntεriw ye sɔɔni .

A tεna kε foyi ye.

EXERCISES

Translate the following sentences into Bambara.

Sauce is made of peanut butter.
The trainee becomes volunteer after nine weeks.
One should not chat in class.
One should not dance in the mosque.
John will be a good volunteer.
What happened to you yesterday?
What will happen if you don’t go?
- Explain the recipe of a meal you like to cook.
- Exchange a recipe you know for a West Afrian one with a friend.
- Get informed about:
  - The types of meals in West Africa
  - The recipies for these meals
  - The typical meals of an ethnic group.

ƝANAJƐW

TALKING ABOUT FEASTS AND LEISURE

Communicative Task:

Objectives:

Cite three religious and three traditional feasts in Mali.
Name, at least, three leisure time activities in your community and describe one of them.

Answer these questions.

Nin ye mun ɲεnajε ye ?
Dugumɔgɔw y’aw bisimila ka ɲε aw na don le/lo wa ?
Aw nisɔndiyara kɔsεbε wa ?

DIALOG

Umaru	An ni sɔgɔma!
Amadu	Nba. Cε! a kεra di? An m’i ye gεrεn na surɔ dε!
Umaru	Tiɲε don. N tun bε furusiridɔn yɔrɔ la. A kεra ɲanajεba ye.
Amadu	A diyara wa?
Umaru	Kojugu. Jamaba de tun bε yen. An ye dumunikε ani ka dɔnkε fo ka dugu jε.
Amadu	Fɔlifεn jumεn tun bε yen?
Umaru	An ye balani dɔn fo k’an sen kari.

Jelikε	An ni su!
Den-fa	Nba , aw ni su!
Jelikε	Hεrε tilenna wa?
Den-fa	Hεrε dɔrɔn.
Jelikε	Mɔgɔ nakun ka fisa i yεrε ye. N’i ye n wulilen ye ka se yan, juguman tε. A kun ye furu sira ye. Keyitalakaw ye woro tan ni fura siri, k’u ɲε bɔra aw denmuso Fanta fε. U dun t’a ŋaniya ni foyi ye n’u denkε Bakari furumuso tε. Woro tan filε n’a bε bεn aw ma, o bε diy’an ye kɔsεbε.
Den-fa	An bε woro minε fɔlɔ. Den bε yan, den baw bε yan. N’an y’olu ɲininka, olu mana jaabi min di, an n’o fɔ aw ye. Nin diyar’an ye, a bεnn’an ma. Hakεto b’o kan.
Jelikε	Aw Keyita! Ala k’a ɲεn k’a d’an ma. N bε sira ɲinin.
Den-fa	Kuyate! Sira dir’i ma. K’an b’u fo!
Jelikε	U n’a mεn! Ka su hεrε d’an ma!

VOCABULARY

FƆLIFƐNW DƆW

SOME INSTRUMENTS

jenbe: drum
balani: xylophone
ntamani: hand-held drum
gitari: guitare
ŋɔni: an indigenous guitare
kora: kora
file: a flute

ƝƐNAJƐ DƆW

CELEBRATIONS

denkundi: baptism
furusiri/kɔɲɔ: marriage
furasi: circumcision party
seliba: Tabaski
selideni/seliɲinin: Ramadan
san yεlεma seli: new year’s day
yεrεma hɔrɔnya seli: Independence day
dɔn: dance
marasibɔ: to play cards
farikolo ɲεnajε: sports

ADDITIONAL VOCABULARY

gεrεn: club
jama: crowd
jeli: griot
woro: kola nut
bolomafara: contribution
ka x sɔn: to give a present
ka tεgεrεfɔ: to applaud
morikε: marabout

GRAMMAR THE PASSIVE VOICE:

The passive voice is formed by adding ra (na, la) to the infinitve form without ka (or bε of course). You can then notice that we get past form of the verb.

Affirmative form:

Suj (passif)+ Vra/na/la + Compl (suj act) +(fε/bolo)

Woro dira denfa ma jelikε fε.

Woro minεna denfa fε.

Dumuni sigira Fanta fε

The meal has been set by Fanta

Te wulila

Tea has been boiled

Mobili kora Musa fε

Negative form:

Suj (passif)+ ma +Verb + Compl (suj act) +(fε/bolo)

Ayi furu ma siri fɔlɔ.

Ayi wεri ma ci ne bolo.

Mobili ma ko Musa fε

EXERCISES

Make as in the following example.

Bakari ye wari di Musa ma -→ Wari dira Musa ma Bakari fε.

Fanta ye ji kalaya.
Kɔɲɔnmuso ye fini kuraw don.
Jelikε ye gitari fɔ furusiri yɔrɔ la.
An ye dɔn dabila su fε
U ye balani fɔ kɔsεbε
Jelikε ye wari caman sɔrɔ
- Make as in the following example.

Dumuni sigira ka ban -→ Dumuni ma sigi fɔlɔ.

Furusiri kεra misiri la.
An kunbεna ka ɲε u fε.
Mobili tiɲεna a bolo.
Kini dunna ka ban.

MƆGƆ WELELI

ACCEPT OR DECLINE AN INVITATION

Communicative Task:

Objectives:

Use, at least, three expressions to invite someone in a real situation.
Use appropriately three expressions to accept or decline an invitation.

DIALOG

Mamu	Fanta! i ni fama sa!
Fanta	An bεε ni fama.
Mamu	I tununna dε!
Fanta	O kεra! N tun taara dugu la.
Mamu	I nani diyara n ye. Tiɲε don, le/lo n dɔgɔmuso ka furusiri bε kε sibiri don. N’i b’a masɔrɔ, n b’a fε i ka na o la. An bε ɲanajεba kε wula fε.
Fanta	Basi tε, ni Ala sɔnna i bεna n ye.

Umaru	I ni wula, Susan!
Susan	Nse! Umaru, hεrε tilenna?
Umaru	N bε Ala tanu! A bε diy’an ye n’i bε se ka n’an ka furusiridɔn yɔrɔ la bi su in na.
Susan	Bi su in na! Haa! N tεn’a masɔrɔ. N bolo degunnen don le/lo barisa ɲɔgɔnye kεrεnkεrεnnen dɔ bε n bolo. A kεra baara ye. Kana jigin n na. Ala ka siɲε wεrε jir’an na.
Umaru	N tεna jigin i la. Ala ka dugawu minε!
Susan	Amiina!

VOCABULARY

EXPRESSIONS TO INVITE SOMEONE

n ba ɲin’i fε: I would like you to
n jigi b’i kan: I count on you.
o bε diya n ye: It will please me
n b’i deli: Please (I am begging you).

EXPRESSIONS TO ACCEPT AN INVITATION

o diyara n ye: It’s my pleasure(pleased me).
i bε n ɲεsigi: Organize a meal for me (set something for me).
Ala k’an to ɲɔgɔn ye: May we count on each other.
ni Ala sɔnna, i bε n ye: If god pleases, you will see me.

EXPRESSIONS TO DECLINE AN INVITATION

n t’a masɔrɔ: I won’t have time
n bolo degunnen don: I am busy.
a kεra baara ye: What a pity
kana jigi n na: Don’t hold it against me.

GRAMMAR THE EMPHATIC SA

SA

Sa is used in two situations:

As an emphatic: It means very.

I ni fama sa!

It has been a very long time!

Nin cε ka jugun sa!

This man is so mean!
It can mean, please.

I sigi sa!

Please sit down!

Dumunikε sa!

Eat, please!

THE EXPRESSIONS OF DESIRE AND OBLIGATION

The expressions of desire and obligation require the use of the infinitive.

k’a fε ka: to want
N b’a fε aw ka tilen n ka so.: I want you to spend the day at my house.
K’a ɲini x fε: to ask someone to.
N y’ a ɲini Mamadu n’a muso fε u ka na dumuni kε.: I asked Mamadou and his wife to come and eat.
A ka di x ye: to please to.
A ka di n ye i ka n dεmε tobili la.: I want you to help me to cook.
Wajibi don: It’s obligatory.
Wajibi don le/lo n ka taa nin dekundi yɔrɔ la.: I have to go to this baptism.

EXERCISES

Complete this dialog. Accept the invitation.

A	I ni sɔgɔma.
B A	I ni fama.
B A	I bε taa min?
B A	Sini sufε, n bε te wuli n ka so. I bε se ka na wa?
B A	O diyara n ye.
B	Complete this dialog. Decline the invitation.

A: N terimuso, i tununna dε.
B
A: N ba fε i ka taa bɔ n ye sini su fε, an bε te min ka barokε.
B
A: N b’i deli sa !
B
A: I b’a masɔrɔ don le/lo jumεn.
B
A: Ayiwa, k’an b’u fo.
B: Case study:

Susan is invited by her brother to a wedding party. Her brother’s cousin Invites her to dance repeatedly. A bit later she decides to go back home. The following day, she learns her brother and his cousin had a fight. Since then, she feels uncomfortable at home.

You have a very nice malian friend. He invites you at his house. Tell him you are busy. Find out 2 or 3 excuses to decline the invitation.

Invite a friend or family to an activity.

DƐMƐ ƝININ

ASKING FOR HELP

Communicative Task:

Objectives:

Ask for or decline a proposal of help in a given situation.

Nin cε in bε mun na kεnεma? A ka baara ye mun ye?

DIALOG

Sarah	Ee! Mun kεra? N ka nεgεso bila! I bε taalen ni n ka nεgεso ye min? A ye son bεn! A' ye n dεmε!
Musa	Jɔn kulekan bε yan? Mun y’i sɔrɔ? Jɔn donna i kan?
Sarah	A’ ye na! A’ ye bɔ! Son taara ni n ka nεgεso ye. N b’aw deli. A’y’a kunbεn! A’ye ɲε n ma!
Musa	I hakili sigi. A tε se ka taa yɔrɔ jan.
Passant	Kule dabila n balimamuso. U ye i ka son minε. A ni nεgεso b’u bolo ka na.
Sarah	O ye Ala tanu ye. Aw ni ce! Aw ni baraji! Hakεto! Musa, n hakili la, n ka kan ka sokɔlɔsila dɔ ɲinin min bεna n ka dukɔnɔna kɔlɔsi, k’a janto da la.
Musa	O ka nɔgɔn. An bεna mɔgɔ sεbε ɲinin i ye. Hali ni mɔgɔ wεrε fɔra i kɔ, ale na sɔrɔ yan.

VOCABULARY

EXPRESSIONS USED TO ASK FOR HELP:

wooyi! wooyi! wooyi n ba den!: interjection used to ask for help
a’ye na!: come over here
a’ye bɔ!: come out
ɲε n ma!: Please/help me
n dεmε!: help me
a/u bεna bin n kan !: she/he (they are) is agressing me.
a/u bε n kɔ!: she/he (they are) is purchasing me.
i bε se ka n dεmε wa?/a’ye n dεmε!: can you help me?

EXPRESSIONS USED TO REFUSE HELP:

i lafiɲε (sa)!: get a rest
n ma jigin i la.: I excuse you
a ka ɲi ten.: its good enough

EXPRESSIONS USED IN A CASE OF AGRESSION:

n bila!/ n bolo bila!: leave me alone
a ye son bεn!: thief ! thief !
sabali: be tolerant (easy)
hinε n na !: have pity on me
n b’i deli !: please
n to ala ye (kama/kɔsɔn): for god’s sake, leave me.

EXPRESSIONS USED IN A CASE OF INDESIRED ATTENTION:

bɔ n kun na!: leave me alone
n to yen!: leave me alone
i da bɔ n na!: leave me alone
fara n na!: leave me alone
i ɲε bɔ n na!: why do you stare at me?
i bε n lajε munna?: why do you stare at me?
i bε n foto fε wa?: Do you want my picture?
i ma n ɲɔgɔn ye wa?: haven’t you seen anyone like me?
mun kεra?/a kεra di ?/mun don?: what’s the matter?

EXPRESSIONS USED TO ADDRESS A GUARDIAN/A HOUSEWORKER:

k’i janto x la/na: to pay attention to x.
ka x kɔlɔsi: to take care of/to look after x.
ka x bila ka don le/lo: to let x get in
ka x gεn: to chase x.
ka x makɔnɔ: to wait for x.
ka fɔ x kɔ: to miss.
ka x kalifa: to give/to look after
ka gεrεn x la: to get close to x.

EXERCISES

Translate the following sentences and phrases into Bambara.

Come early tomorrow. Clean up the courtyard.
Don’t leave the door open. Lock it.
Watch out the wall behind.
Don’t let anyone enter the house.
Chase animals and water the trees.
If my friend comes while I am not here, tell him/her to wait for me.

Identify at least two activities according to the seasons and the genre

Use the board below:

1 Fonεnε

2 Tilema

3 Taratile

4 Samiya

1 Cεw

2 Musow

WAATIW LAHALAW

TALKING ABOUT THE WEATHER

Communicative Task:

Objectives:

Cite three characteristics of the main seasons in West Africa.
Cite, at least, two activities related to the seasons, according to gender.

DIALOG

John	Amadu, i ni sɔgɔma.
Amadu	Nba, hεrε sira John?
John	Hεrε dɔrɔn. N bε taa bɔ n terikε ka foro la ka na.
Amadu	Ee! I t’i jɔ dɔɔni. E ɲε tε sanfinnenba la?
John	E ko nin san bε na sisan?
Amadu	Funteni b’a kɔrɔ cogo min na, ne miiri la a bε na.
John	Funteni ye sanji tamasere ye aw fε yan wa?
Amadu	ɔwɔ, nka o dɔrɔn tε dε! San tamasere dɔ wεrεw ye kabanɔgɔ, tile bɔ cogo ani fiɲε ci cogo ye. Hali kɔnɔ dɔw bε san kibaruya fɔ an sεnεkεlaw ye.
John	Kabako! Ni n bε taa, n bεna n ka sanji minεfini ta. I ni ce. Amadu, n mana segin, an bε se ka barokε Mali waatiw ni Ameriki taw kan wa?
Amadu	O bε diya n ye kosɔbε. Ola n yεrε bεna faamuya dɔ sɔrɔ Ameriki kan. K’an bεn sɔɔni .
John	K’an bεn! Ka hεrε fɔ n kɔ.
Amadu	Amina! K’i ɲuman segin!

VOCABULARY

Table 16. Vocabulary
tilema dry season taratile hot and dry season samiya rainy season fonεnε cold season funteni waati hot season nεnε tuman cold season gɔngɔn the dust kabakolo sky sanji rain san pεrεn thunder balt san kulu thunder san mεgεru lightning	san bεlεni the hail cɔcɔ heavy rain sanfin the storm fiɲε the wind funteni the heat kawula hot and humid season bɔgɔ mud kabanɔgɔ cloud tubabu kalo gregorian calendar farafin kalo lunar month zanwuye (kalo) January Feburuye February marisi March

EXERCISES

Translate the following sentences:

It rained a lot last night.
A bad wind blew before the rain.
Kids hid themselves behind the big tree.
The big Moussa fell into the mud
His clothes are very dirty now

Ask someone about their activities during different seasons.

Use the board below: Baaraw/hajuw Sankɔnɔ kalow waati (Write the number corresponding to the activities/events) Zanwuye(kalo) fonεnε waati 1 m/w Feburuye(kalo) Marisi(kalo) Awirili(kalo) Mε(kalo) Zuwεn(kalo) Zuluye(kalo) Uti(kalo) Sεbutanburu(kalo) ɔkutɔburu(kalo) Nowanburu(kalo) Desanburu(kalo)

nakɔ baara
jago misεn
tungalataa/dugubakɔnɔtaali
forobabana
so dila/jo
biriki dila
foro baaraw
jiriden tɔmɔ
suma tigε
seginkɔtuma
furusiriw tuma/kɔɲɔw
suma dεsε
wari sɔrɔ tuma
seliw

man (m)
woman (w)

SEKO NI DƆNKOW

TALKING ABOUT ONE’S SKILLS

Communicative Task:

TEXT

Sekow ni bololabaaraw

Bololabaarakεlaw jɔyɔrɔ ka bon kɔsɔbε jamana in kɔnɔ. Kabini lawale la, an ka minεnw fanba bεε bε dilan bololabaarakεlaw de fε. Dugu si tε taa u kɔ. Ulu de b’an mago caman ɲε. I bε garankεw, gesedalaw, numuw, sanu ni warijε fagalaw, dagadilannaw, kɔlɔnsennaw, sojɔlaw, jiridεsεlaw, kundigilaw, mekanisiɲεw, menizenw sɔrɔ an ka dugu caman kɔnɔ. Nin seko ni dɔnko mɔgɔw fana tε taa sεnεkεlaw, nakɔbaaralaw, bagangεnnaw, mɔnikεlaw, dosow ni jeliw kɔ.

DIALOG

Amadu	N terikε John, e yεrε bε mun baarakε an ka dugu in kɔnɔ?
John	ɲinikali ɲuman! Ne ye yiriforow ni kungoyiri nafamaw lakanabaa wɔlɔntεri ye. N bε baarakε sεnεkεlaw ni nakɔtigiw fε. N bε ladilikan di mɔgɔw ma yirituru ni yiriw ladoncogo ɲuman kan. N bε dugu mɔgɔw dεmε yirishεnw sɔrɔ cogo n’u turu cogo la ani nɔgɔ ni nɔgɔdingεw dilanni fana la. N bε taa nakɔw ni forow kɔnɔ tuma ni tuma ka kuma nin fεnw kan.
Amadu	Ayiwa! Ne hakili la, n y’i ka baara faamu sisan. Ala k’i dεmε.

VOCABULARY

PROFESSIONS/WORKERS

bololabaarakεla: hand worker/artisan
garankε: cobbler/shoemaker
numu: blacksmith
gesedala: weaver
baganmarala: cattle breeder
masɔn: builder/mason
minize: joiner/carpenter
mɔnnikεla: fisherman
sεnεkεla/cikεla: farmer
yiriturubaara: plantation/tree planting

mekanisiɲε: mechanic
baarakεden: servant/domestic
baaraɲini: laborer
nakɔbaarala: gardener
nakɔbaara: gardening
kεnεya ni saniya baara: health educator
ji ni saniya baara: water sanitary work
kɔlɔnsenna: well digger
jagokεla: merchant
jagomisεn layiriwali baarakεla: "SED" agent

SOME EXPRESSIONS

seko ni dɔnko: aptitude
x dilala: repairman
x tε fosi dɔn: x knows nothing
x tε se foyi la: x can’t do anything
x ye fugari ye: x is good for nothing
x baara nɔ ka ɲi: x does a good job
x bε se baara ɲuman na: x does a good job

ka x kε ka ɲε: to do x well
ka dεsε x la: not to be able to x
k’i kamana gan: to cause trouble/to puzzle
k’i kɔnɔna fili: to cause trouble/to puzzle
ka se ka: can/ to be able to
ka se x la: to be able to do x
ka x ɲεfɔ: to explain

Te wulicogo

Wulifεnw
1. te
2. sukaro
3. nanaye
4. ji
Teminεnw
1. barada
2. furunε
3. finfin
4. wεriw
5. pilato

Wulicogo N’i bε te wuli, i bε fɔlɔ ka:

tasuma ɲaga, o kɔ i bε te kε barada kɔnɔ.
I bε ji wεri ɲε naani ni tila k’a la.
O kɔ i bε barada sigi tasuma kan. I b’a wuli miniti bisaba kɔnɔ.
Tuma kelen kelen, i b’a jigin ka teji kε barada wεrε kɔnɔ.
O kɔ, i bε sukaro k’a la. I bε sɔrɔ k’a suuru wεriw kɔnɔ walasa ka sukaro yelen teji la.
O kɔ, i b’a nεnε ni sukaro y’a bɔ. I bε teji yεlεma barada kɔnɔ tuguni.
I b’a kalaya dɔɔni.
Mɔgɔ caman bε teji dɔ to wεri kelen kɔnɔ walasa ka musi dila n’o ye wεri tɔw kɔnɔ.
I bε tila ka wεriw kɔ sananko.
Te mana kalaya dɔɔni, i b’a tila wεriw ni ɲɔgɔn cε k’a di mɔgɔw ma.
Segin bε kε ni kan fo siɲε saba.
Siɲε fila tɔw la i bε se ka nanaye k’a la.
Temugu ni ji hakε bε yεlεma mɔgɔw hakε kɔsɔn.

SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY

barada: tea pot
ka x kε y la/kɔnɔ: to put x into y
wεri: glass
ka x suuru: to pour x
pilato: plate
ka x fifa: to ventilate x
furunε: stove
ka x kalaya: to heat up
finfin/sharibon: charcoal
ka x sumaya: to cool
sukaro: sugar
ka x nεnε: to taste
te: tea

ka x wuli: to boil
nanaye: mint
ka x ɲaga: to make x alive
hakε: the quantity
ka x yεlεma: to put x in an other recipient
musi/kangaji: the froth
ka x sananko: to clean x
tuma kelen kelen: from time to time
x ɲε + nombre: the number of the content of x
ka x jigin: to take out of
ka x yelen: to dissolve x
ka x tila: to share x

GRAMMAR The action noun

Action Nouns are formed from verbs by adding the suffix li

Bajɔw ni kɔbafiniw dilali t’a kɔnɔna fili.

Ka _ dila	dilali
(to repare… )	(reparing …)

Verb + li noun

weave

dali

weaving

dila

repare

dilali

reparing

taa

taali

going

greet

foli

greeting

There are a number of exceptions to this rule which must be memorized. A few of the most common are:

kalan

study

kalan

studying

baara

work

baara

work

min

drink

min

drinking

baro

converse

baro

conversing

sεnε

grow, farm

sεnε

farming

The agentive noun:

Agentive nouns, that is, nouns that refer to the doers of actions, are formed in Bambara by compounding the object and the verb and adding the suffix la and it litteraly translates by the "action doer"

Noun + Verbe + la Noun Vkε + la Noun

geseda

weave thread

gesedala

weaver

baarakε

do work

baarakεla

worker

sεnεkε

do farming

sεnεkεla

farmer

mɔnnikε

do fishing

mɔnnikεla

fisherman

EXERCISES

Translate into Bambara.

We cannot make tea.
Gardening is beneficial.
I am going to work with my village women’s association.
We must work well with our villagers.
I am going to help merchants to improve their business.
I will start with knowing my village labor, then I will start working.
Some volunteers do good jobs.
We are going to help with environment protection.
Our job is not to give money to people, but we are going to help them with the country development works.

Complete the following sentences according to the image

Samba ye ye. A bε wolo baara ka ni dila. A bε _ tigε, k’a kala, k’a nɔrɔ.
Kante bε nεgε baara ka _ ni _ ni jelekisε dila. A b’u kalaw dila ni _ ye. I ka nεgεmafεn o fεn mana tiɲε, a bε se k’o labεn.
Bozo Mama ye ye. Mɔnnikεla dɔw ye sɔmɔnɔw ye. U bε mɔn ni _ ye. A mana jεgεw , a muso bε taa u feere sugu la. Tuma ni tuma, a bε tilen a ka kɔnɔ baji kan.
Alu bε gese _ ni _ ye. A bε se fini cεɲiw dali la. Bajɔw ni kɔbafiniw __ t’a kɔnɔna fili.
Musajan bε _ labεn i n’a fɔ: mobiliw, ani . Olu _ t’a kamana gan. A hakili sigilen don. A ka ka ɲi. A tε dεsε _ la.

Describe your work.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of your work.

SIGIYƆRƆ KUNNAFONNIW

GETTING INFORMED ABOUT ONE’S AREA

Communicative Task:

Objectives:

Ask appropriately, at least, three questions to get informed about your site.
Interview, at least, two resource persons in order to list NGOs and development partners working in your commune.

DIALOG

Musa	Eh! John, i ni faama!
John	Musa, i ni waati. I bε di?
Musa	Alhamudulilayi! I bε dugu jumεn na sisan?
John	N sigilen don le/lo Jitumu mara la, Keleya kεrεfε.
Musa	Keleya lamini duguw ye dugu kɔrɔw ye.
John	Tiɲε don! Dugutigi ko: ale ka dugu in tutigε tuma mεnna kɔsεbε. Dugu in sigira ka kɔn Tubabu fanga ɲε.
Musa	Ha! O ye dugu kɔrɔ ye. Siya jumεnw bε yen?
John	Siya caman. Bamananw ka ca ni siya tɔw ye Jitumu mara kɔnɔ. Fulaw ni Maninkaw fana sigilen bε yen yen. Siginfεw bε sɔrɔ yen, i n’a fɔ Korokow, Marakaw, Kɔrɔbɔrɔw, Dongɔnɔw ani siya wεrεw.
Musa	O ye siya caman ye. I ye yen mɔgɔya kεcogo bεε faamu ka ban?
John	Dɔɔni dɔɔni. Nka yirikurun mεn o mεn ji la, a tε kε bama ye. N bε ka ladaw ni korɔw ɲεɲinin.
Musa	Ayiwa! O de ka ɲi. Ala k’i dεmε.
John	Amiina! K’an bεn!

VOCABULARY

LADAW NI KOKɔRɔW

ladaw: customs
kokɔrɔw: traditions
furu: marriage
tana: taboo
silamε furusiri: religious wedding
dasiri: totem
furu nafolo: dowry
sɔnni: sacrifice
kɔɲɔn: wedding
sɔnnikεyɔrɔ: place for sacrifice
kɔɲɔn so: nuptial chamber/honey-moon

seli: feast
denkundi: baptism
seliba: Tabaski
bolokoli: circonscision/excision
selincini: Ramadan feast
saya/banni: death
sunkalo: fasting month
dinε: religion
silamε dinε: Islam
kerecεn dinε: Christianity

SIYAW

ETHNIC GROUPS

bamanan
maninka
maraka
fula
senufo
bɔbɔ
miniyanka
bozo
kadɔ
kasɔnka
kɔrɔbɔrɔ
burudamε
suraka.

You can meet all the ethnic groups every-where in Mali. But there is a concentration of some ethnic groups in certain regions such as:

REGIONS

ETHNIC GROUPS

LAST NAME

OCCUPATIONS

OBSERVATION

Sarakollé/Maraka

Soumaré/Diawara/Doucouré/Silla/Konté

Trade/Agriculture

Sedentary

KAYES

Khassonké/Kasonkha

Sakho/Gassama/Sissoko/Kanté/Diakité

Animal rising/Fishing

Immigration

Malinké/Maninka

Diallo/Sakiliba/Keita/Camara/Konaté

Craft

Semi-nomad

Peulh/Foulani

Konaré/Sissoko/Diallo/Diakité/Sidibé

Maure/Suraka

Sangaré/Bah/Ould

Bambara/Bamanan

Coulibaly/Diarra/Traoré/Koné/Mariko

Trade/Agriculture

Sedentary

KOULIKORO

Malinké/Maninka

Keita/Camara/Konaté/Konaré/Doumbia

Animal rising/Fishing

Immigration

Somono/Bozo

Diabenta/Dienta/Djiré/Karabenta

Craft

Semi-nomad

Maure/Souraka

Ould/

Senoufo

Bamba/Coulibaly/Sanogo/Bagayogo

Trade/Agriculture

Sedentary

SIKASSO

Minianka

WonogoCoulibaly/Cissouma/Bengaly

Animal rising

Dembélé/Wattara

Craft

Peulh/foulani

Diallo/Diakité/Sidibé/Sangaré/Bah

Bambara/Bamanan

Coulibaly/Diarra/Traoré/Koné/Mariko

Trade/Agriculture

Sedentary

SEGOU

Peulh/Foulani

Diallo/Diakité/Sidibé/Sangaré/Bah

Animal rising/Fishing

Nomad

Bozo/Somono

Diabenta/Dienta/Djiré/Karabenta

Craft

Semi-nomad

Bobo/Bowa

Kamata/Sinanta/Dembélé/Kwéné/Dakouo

Dakono/Kamaté

Peulh/foulani

Diallo/Diakité/Sidibé/Sangaré/Bah

Trade/Agriculture

Sedentary

MOPTI

Bozo

Diabenta/Dienta/Djiré/Karabenta/Kamata

Animal rising/Fishing

Nomad

Dogon

Guindo/Tapily/DoloOuologuem/Angoiba

Craft

Semi-nomad

Tembely/Timbiné

Sonraï/Kɔrɔbɔrɔ

Maïga/Touré/Cissé/Askofaré….

Trade/Agriculture

Sedentary

TOMBUKTU

Touareg/Arabe

Ag /Ben /Ould

Animal rising/Fishing

Nomad

Maure

Craft

Semi-nomad

Sonraï/Kɔrɔbɔrɔ

Maïga/Touré/Cissé/Askofaré….

Trade/Agriculture

Sedentary

GAO

Ag /Ben /Ould

Animal rising/Fishing

Nomad

Touareg/Arabe

Maure

Craft

Semi-nomad

Sonraï/Kɔrɔbɔrɔ

Maïga/Touré/Cissé/Askofaré….

Trade/Gardening

Sedentary

KIDAL

Touareg/Arabe

Ag /Ben /Ould

Animal rising/Fishing

Nomad

Joking cousin:
- Sarakollé and Sonraï
- Malinké and Sarakollé
- Bozo and Dogon
- Peulh and Dogon Coulibaly, Diarra and Traoré etc.
- Coulibaly and Traoré/Dembélé…

GRAMMAR Comparative construction

Comparative constructions can be formed in Bambara with the postpositional phrases according to the following patterns.

Equality
- X ni Y ye kelen ye
  
  Mali ladaw ni Ameriki ladaw ye kelen ye wa ?
  
  Are Malian and American customs the same?
- X ni Y tε kelen ye
  
  Mali ladaw ni Ameriki ladaw tε kelen ye.
  
  Malian customs and American customs are not the same.
- X ni Y ka kan
  
  Bamanankan ni julakan ka kan dɔɔni.
  
  Bamanan and Jula are a bit similar (the same).
- X ni Y man kan
  
  Bamanan ladaw ni fula ladaw man kan.
  
  Bambara customs and fulani ones are not the same.
Superiority
- X ka + Adj + ni Y ye
  
  Maninkakan ka kɔrɔ ni bamanankan ye.
  
  The Malinke language is older than the Bambara language.
Inferiority
- X man + Adj + ni Y ye
  
  Fulakan man nɔgɔn ni Bamanankan ye.
  
  The Fulfulde language is not easier than Bambara language.
Look alike/the same
- X ni Y bɔlen don/bε/tε
  
  Amadu ni a denw bɔlen don
  
  Amadou and his children look alike.
- X bɔlen don/tε Y fε
  
  Farafina kokɔrɔ dɔw bɔlen don le/lo Ameriki ta dɔw fε.
  
  Some African customs look like some American ones.

EXERCISES

Answer the following questions:

Furusiri bε kε cogodi Mali la?
Furu ladaw ye mun ye?
Mun bε kε furusiri don le/lo Ameriki?
Munna musow tε furu jɔɔna Ameriki?
Munna muso caman furu dagalen tε Ameriki?
Mun ye furusa caya Ameriki?

JAMA HAKILI JAKABƆ

LEADING A COMMUNITY MEETING

Communicative Task:

Objectives:

Use, at least, three expressions to ask for the audience’s patience during a real meeting.
Use three appropriate expressions to introduce or to end a meeting in your community.
Ask two questions to get people’s opinions on subjects in a real situation.

DIALOG

John	A’ ni wula yankaw, an tilenna hεrε la, Ala k’an si hεrε la.
Jeliba	Nba! A ni wula, aw bisimila! A ye dɔ di.
John	Saha! An ma na baasi la, an ye Saniya baarakεlaw ye. An nana walasa an bε se ka hakilina falen falen dugu saniya cogo kan.
Jeliba	Dugutigi, ayiwa kuma tε! U ko, k’u nana k’an dεmε ka dugu saniya.
Dugutigi	Jeliba, a fɔ dunanw ye: k’u nali diyar’an ye. K’u bisimila!
John	Gεlεya jumεn bε yan saniyako la?
Amadu	Ne bε kuma ɲinin.
Jeliba	Kuma b’i bolo, Amadu.
Amadu	Ne hakili la, ɲaman ani jinɔgɔko gεlεya de b’an kan bi.
John	Kuma ɲεna! Aw hakili la fεrε jumεnw bε se ka sɔrɔ olu la? + (makan caman….)
Jeliba	A ye hakεto, an ka ɲɔgɔn lamεn!
Bakari	Baasi tε, ne hakili la, ni bεε bε se ka taa ɲaman bɔn dugu kɔfε yɔrɔ kelen na, o bε fisaya. Ani fana, an k’an hakili to ji saniyali la.
John	Yankaw, anw hakili la, bεε ye famuya sɔrɔ tɔnsigi in kɔnɔ. Aw ni ce, aw ni baraji! Ala k’an bεn a ɲɔgɔn wεrε ma. Sisan an b’a fε ka sira ɲinin.

VOCABULARY

To welcome:
- aw bisimila!
- dɔ di/dɔ fɔ
- kuma b’i bolo
- aw nali diyara anw ye.
To ask for the speech:
- ne bε kuma ɲinin jama fε
- kuma ka gεlεn
- n’i donna min gasi la, o ka yafa n ma
- anw ma na baasi la
- juguma tε
- Ala sago, aw sago
To approve/to agree with someone:
- hatε!
- naamu! tiɲε!
- a’ ma kuma mεn!
- a’ ma kɔrɔfɔ mεn!
To remind people to be quiet:
- aw ye hakεto!
- aw ye sabali!
- aw ye ɲɔgɔn lamεn!
- Ala k’an son sabali la!
- n bε yafa ɲinin jama fε.
To take leave:
- n b’a fε ka sira ɲinin.
- * To thank the audience:
- aw ni ce! aw ni baraji!
- Ala k’aw sara!
- Ala k’an to ɲɔgɔn ye!
- Ala k’an kafolen to!
- Ala k’an ɲε k’a d’anw ma!
- Ala k’an bεn a ɲɔgɔn wεrε ma.

GRAMMAR The demonstrative adjective nin

The demonstrative nin can occur both before and after the noun it modifies:

nin cε…

this man…

cε nin…

this man…

When following the noun, nin can always have the reduced form:

nin cε in…

this man…

cε in…

this man…

The relative pronoun min

Bambara has only one relative pronoun min which corresponds to who, which, that, whose in English.

In subject position (Relative clause)

Jon ye fini san?

Who bought the cloth?

Cε min taara.

The man who left.

Cε min taara, o ye fini san.

The man who left, (he) bought the cloth.

Cε min nana surafana dun, o ye n terikε ye.;: The man who came to dinner, that one is my friend.

+ The man who came to dinner is my friend.

In the main sentence, the demonstrative pronoun o is used to refer back to the noun followed by the relative clause marker min.

In object position (Relative clause)

N bε cε min fo …

The man whom I greet …
In adverbial phrases

Adverbial phrases such as those of place, time, and manner can contain relative clauses, equivalent to sentences such as the following:

I tun bε yɔrɔ min, ne tun bε yen.: I was at the place that you were/I was where you were.
I tun bε yen tuma min, ne tun bε yen o tuma.: I was there when you were there.
I y’a kε cogo min, n y’a kε ten.: I did it in the way that you did it.

EXERCISES

Look for the meaning of this proverb: “I dege mɔnni na, o ka fisa ni don le/lo go don le/lo jεgε deli ye.”

Grammatical Notes: KƆBILAW SUFFIX

NSANA

PROVERB

Boloŋɔnnin kelen tε se ka bεlε ta!

Look for the meaning of this proverb and try to use it appropriately

The suffix lan

lan is a suffix that can be placed on a verb to derive the instrument that performs the action described by the verb. If the verb ends with a nasalized consonant or vowel, this suffix becomes nan.

sigi

to seat/sit (down)

sigilan

a chair

tigε

to cut

tigεlan

cutter

min

to drink

jiminnan

water drinker

The suffix ntan (without the property of…) ≠ ma (having the property of…) NOTE: ntan is a suffix equivalent to –less or without in English. ma acts much like the suffix –y in English.

warintan

moneyless

kɔkɔma

salty

denntan

childless

sukaroma

sugary

kunntan

headless

nɔnɔma

milky

The suffix ta

ta is a suffix added to verbs which is equivalent to –able in English; that is the thing in question is subject to or able to undergo the action of the verb.

san

to buy

santa

buyable (to sale)

dun

to eat

dunta

edible

min

to drink

minta

drinkable

The suffix bali

bali is a suffix added to verbs which is equivalent to un…able in English; that is the thing in question is not subject to or able to undergo the action of the verb.

jaabi

to answer

jaabibali

unanswered

malo

to be ashmed

malobali

unashamed

dun

to eat

dunbali

inedible

The suffix ka

ka/kaw is a suffix which can be added to all nouns of place to express the meaning person of/from…, people of….

Bamakokaw

people of Bamako

yanka

person from here

The suffix ya

The adjective plus ya is in most cases the same form that is used for the noun counterparts of the adjectival verb. This is the form that is used to characterize, for example, abstract qualities like:

bilenya

redness

goniya

heat

nalomaya

stupidity

sumaya

slowness

When functioning as active verbs, some adjectives do not require ya The following chart lits the adjectival verbs and the active verbal and niminal counterparts:

Adjective

Verb

Noun

ka (__) caya

caya

ka (__) diya

diya

bon

ka (__) bonya

bonya

jan

ka (__) janya

janya

jugu

ka (__) juguya

juguya

jε

ka (__) jεya/jε

jεya

fin

ka (__) finya/fin

finya

girin

ka (__) girinya

girinya

gεlεn

ka (__) gεlεya

gεlεya

kεnε

ka (__) kεnεya

kεnεya

kɔrɔ

ka (__) kɔrɔ

kɔrɔya

kumu

ka (__) kumu

kumuya

ɲi

ka (__) ɲε

ɲumanya

dɔgɔn

ka (__) dɔgɔya

dɔgɔya

misεn

ka (__) misεya

misεya

timi

ka (__) timiya

timiya

ya is a suffix which functions to create abstract nouns. It is equivalent to –ness or hood in English.

cεya

manliness

denya

childhood

ya can also be added to noun-adjective combinations:

tulogεlεnya: stubbornness
cεkolonya: cowardice

Grammatical Notes: ƝƐBILAW

PREFIX

NSANA

PROVERB

ɲininkalikεla tε fili!

Look for the meaning of this proverb and try to use it appropriately

The prefix la

In Bambara any verb can take the prefix la, giving the verb a causative or indirect agency meaning:

A ye kalanden lataa

He/she caused the student to go./He/she had the student go.

Many verbs, however, have developed specialized meanings in the causative which cannot be predicted as the sum of their parts.

ka _ mεn

to hear

ka _ lamεn

to listen

ka _ dege

to teach

ka _ ladege

to imitate

ka _ minε

to take

ka _ laminε

to answer

ka _ bεn

to meet

ka _ labεn

to prepare

In these cases, the verb forms with la have to be learned as if they were not at all related to other verb forms.

FOLI - MƆGƆ ƝƐ JIRA MƆGƆ WƐRƐ LA – FOLI BILA

GREETING – INTRODUCING ONESELF – SAYING GOOBYE

Communicative Task:

NSANA

PROVERB

Dɔɔnin-dɔɔnin kɔnɔnin b’a ɲaga da!

Look for the meaning of this proverb and try to use it appropriately

DIALOG

Amadu	I ni sɔgɔma, n balimamuso! Good morning sister!
Sali	Nse, i ni sɔgɔma, n balimakε! Hεrε sira? Good morning, brother! Did you spend the night in peace?
Amadu	Hεrε dɔrɔn! I ka kεnε? Only in peace! How are you?
Sali	Tɔɔrɔ tε! I tɔgɔ? I’m fine! What’s your name?
Amadu	N tɔgɔ Amadu Jara. E dun? My name is Amadu Jara. And you?
Sali	N tɔgɔ Sali Tarawele. I Jara! My name is Sali Tarawele. Jara!
Amadu	Nba! Tarawele muso, i bε bɔ min? Nba! Tarawele. Where are you from?
Sali	N bε bɔ Segu. Jarakε, i fana bε bɔ Segu? I’m from Segou. Jara, are you from Segou too?
Amadu	Eh, ayi! N bε bɔ yan. Euh, No! I’m from here.
Sali	O ka ɲi! Ala ka tile hεrε caya! That’s good! May you have a peaceful day!
Amadu	Amiina! K’an b’u fo! Amen! Say hi to them!
Sali	U n’a mεn! They will hear it !

SANNI

SHOPPING

Communicative task:

NSANA

PROVERB

Ni sugufiyε girinna, bεε bolo b’i kunna minan na!

Look for the meaning of this proverb and try to use it appropriately

DIALOG

Samba	Kiliyan! Kiliyan! Na yan! Bagi ɲumanw bε yan! Customer! Customer! Come here! There are good fabrics here!
Amadu	I ni sɔgɔma! N bε bagi ɲumanw fε, nka da duman! Good morning! I want good fabrics but cheap!
Samba	Ola, i sera a yɔrɔ la. Ne ka bagiw bεε da ka nɔgɔn. U lajε. Then, you are at the right place. All my fabrics are cheap. Look at them.
Amadu	Nin mεtiri joli ye? How much is the meter?
Samba	N b’o da diya i la! O mεtiri ye kεmε saba ni bi duuru lɔɔru ye. I give you a good price! The meter is one thousand and seven hundred and fifty. Kɔmi e don, ile le/lo barika b’a la I can reduce it for you.
Amadu	Ayiwa! A barika, caman bɔ a la. Ok! Reduce it, reduce a lot.
Samba	A ka ɲi forokiya la. I b’a san joli? It’s good for a bubu. How much do you buy it?
Amadu	A to kεmε fila la. N bε mεtiri wɔɔrɔ san. Give it at two thousand. I buy six meters.
Samba	A kari kari ye kεmε saba. Nka, i bε se ka kεmε fila ni bi duuru lɔɔru sara. The last price is one thousand and five hundred. But you can pay one thousand and two hundred and fifty.
Amadu	I ni ce! Mεtiri wɔɔrɔ ye wa fila ni dɔrɔmε kεmε ye. Hon! warimisεn segin. Thank you! The six meters are ten thousand and five hundred. Take it! Give back the change.
Samba	Fini ni warimisεn filε. I kεnε k’a kɔrɔ! Here are the fabrics and the change. May you feel good when it gets older.
Amadu	Amiina! Ka sugu diya! Amen! May you sell out!

YƆRƆW TAMASERECOGO

ASKING/GIVING DIRECTIONS

Communicative Task:

NSANA

PROVERB

Sen kelen tε sira bɔ!

Look for the meaning of this proverb and try to use it appropriately

DIALOG

Umaru	A’ ni sɔgɔma! Good morning!
Amadu	Nba, a’ ni sɔgɔma! Dɔ di! Good morning! Say something!
Umaru	Baasi tε! A’ bε hakε to! N bε dugutigi ka so de ɲinin. Nothing bad! Excuse me! I’m looking for the chief’s house.
Amadu	Dutigi ka so bε an kεrεfε, n bε se ka taa ɲɔgɔn fε. Chief’s house is next to us, we can go together.
Umaru	I ni ce! A sira ɲεfɔ n ye, n yεrε kelen bε se ka taa. Thanks! Tell me where the road is, I can go by my own.
Amadu	Ayiwa! I tilen nin sira kelen in fε. I bε kare saba tεmεn,o kɔ, fara i numan fε. Ok! Go straight on this same road. Pass three streets, then turn left. Da naaninan don le/lo i kini fε. Mangorosunba bε soda la. It is the fourth door on your right. There is a big mango tree at the door.
Umaru	I ni baraji! K’an bεn! Thank you! See you!
Amadu	K’an bε! Ka se ni i ɲuman ye! See you! May you get there in peace!
Umaru	Amiina! Amen!

MƆGƆ NI FƐNW TAMASERE COGO

DESCRIBING A PERSON, AN OBJECT AND A PLACE

Communicative Task:

NSANA

PROVERB

Don go don le/lo tulo bε taa kalanso!

Look for the meaning of this proverb and try to use it appropriately

TEXT

Nin muso in man jan, a man surun. A ɲεkisεw ka kunba, a ɲinw jεlen don. A cεkaɲi. A nison ka di tuma bεε. Mɔgɔ sεbε don.

Details

This woman is not tall, she is not short. Her eyes are big, her teeth are white. She is beautiful. She is always happy. She is a good person.

FARIKOLO LAHALAW

DESCRIBING ONE’S MENTAL AND PHYSICAL STATE

Communicative Task:

NSANA

PROVERB

Bana kunbεn ka fisa ni bana furakεli ye!

Look for the meaning of this proverb and try to use it appropriately

DIALOG

Fanta	I ni sɔgɔma, Bakari. I nisɔn man di, mun b’i la?+ Good morning, Bakari. You are not happy. What’s wrong?
Bakari	N fari man di n na.+ I am not feeling well.
Fanta	I yɔrɔ jumεn b’i dimi?+ Which part of your body hurts you?
Bakari	N ɲin de bε n dimi kojugu bi.+ My tooth hurts me so badly.
Fanta	I ye fura ta wa?+ Did you take medecine?
Bakari	Ayi, n bεna taa dɔgɔtɔrɔso la.+ No, I am going to the hospital.
Fanta	Ala ka nɔgɔyakε, k’a ban pewu!+ May you feel bether and you entirely recovered.
Bakari	Amiina. Ala ka dugaw minε.+ Amen. May God accept the blessings.
Fanta	Amiina.+ Amen!

Fanta	I ni sɔgɔma, Bakari. Munna an m’i ye surɔ? Good morning , bakari. Why didn’t we see you last night?
Bakari	N tun man kεnε. I was sick.
Fanta	Ee! Mun tun b’i la? He! What was wrong with you?
Bakari	N kungolo ye n dimi kojugu kunun wulada. I had a bad headach yesterday afternoon. Sufε, n ma se ka sunɔgɔ, n fari bεε tun ka kalan. At night, I couldn’t sleep, my body was hirting me.
Fanta	O bε sɔrɔ sumaya ye dε? That might be malaria.
Bakari	N hakili la, a bε sɔrɔ o ye. N bεna taa dɔgɔtɔrɔso la. I think that’s it. I shall go to the hospital.
Fanta	I ka kan k’i yεrε tanga susuw ma. You should prevent yourself against mousquitos.
Bakari	Tiɲε! N bεna sange sulen damadɔ ɲinin n ka denbaya ye. That’s true! I’ll look for some treated mosquito nets for my family. Ola, sumaya ni bana misεnw tεna an tɔɔrɔ. Then we won’t have any problem with sicknesses.
Fanta	Ala ka nɔgɔyakε, ka tɔɔrɔ dɔgɔya! May you feel better!
Bakari	Amiina. Ala ka dugaw minε. Amen. May God accept the blessings.
Fanta	Amiina. Amen.

DELINAKOW

TALKING ABOUT DAILY ACTIVITIES

Communicative Task:

NSANA

PROVERB

Dugu bila ka fisa lada wuli ye!

Look for the meaning of this proverb and try to use it appropriately

TEXT

Musow ka baara dugumisεnw kɔnɔ.

Women’s job/work in small villages.

In small villages, women have lot of work. They wake up (early) since dawn. First of all they take water from the well. They make fire to heat washing water. They sweep places and then cook the breakfast. After the breakfast, they wash dishes. They pound, wash laundries, they take care of kids. In small villages women are tired!

TAAMAW

TALKING ABOUT TRAVELING

Communicative Task:

NSANA

PROVERB

Cεkɔrɔba san tan bulon kɔnɔ, Denmisεnnin san tan jamana kɔnɔ, Olu de bε se ka barokε!

Look for the meaning of this proverb and try to use it appropriately

TEXT

Taamaw

Mali mɔgɔw bε taama kɔsɔbε duniya kɔnɔ. U bε taa yɔrɔ caman na. I b’u sɔrɔ Farafinna jamanaw bεε la. Mali denmisεnw bε taama farajεla jamanaw fana kɔnɔ.

Details

Trips/travels

Malians travel a lot in the world. They go to many places. You find them in all the countries in Africa. The young Malian people also travel to European countries.

In Mali, people travel rarely, because roads are bad. There are not enough means of transportation, and they can’t go everywhere. Villagers go from village to village on foot, by bikes, by donkey cars, or by animals like: donkeys, horses, cows, and camels.

People take boat in between Koulikoro and Gao, train leaves Bamako for Kayes.

Sirakoro taama

Ne sera Sirakoro ntεnεn don, le/lo uti kalo tile mugan ni segin san ba fila ni wɔrɔ Mobili donna dugu kɔnɔ ka bεn ni fitiri ye, o y’a sɔrɔ san nana. An taara dugutigi ka so. A y’an bisimila koɲuman.

An sira, dugu jεlen an sɔrɔla ka taa dugu maabaw caman fo (Perefe dankan, Mεri, Dɔgɔtɔrɔ kuntigi, Muso kuntigi, Alimami, Pasitεri, cεmisεn kuntigi, ani n ka karamɔgɔ). Wula fε, dugutigi ni a ka kɔnseyew y’an bisimila a ka so. An y’an nali kun fɔ u ye. A diyara u ye kosεbε, u ko an k’an bisimila. O kɔfε ne ni n ka karamɔgɔ ye kalan daminε. Aa! Sisan kɔni, ne ye bamanankan caman faamu.

Alamisa don, le/lo uti kalo tile bisaba ni kelen, sɔgɔma dizεri waati, dugu musow bεε ni jenbe nana ka donkε n jatigiyala, ka ne fo. An ye donkε kosεbε.

Jɔn ko allah, Sirakoro ka di!!!

— Fox Emily

The trip to Sirakoro

I got to Sirakoro on Monday, on August 28th 2006. When the car got into the village it was sun set, it rained. We went to the chiefs’ house. He welcomed us well.

We spent the night, and in the next morning we went to greet the village many important people (Sous- prefet, mayor, the health center leader, woman leader, the imam, the pastor, youth president, and our teacher.) In the afternoon, the village chief and his counselors welcomed us in his house. We told them the reason of our visit. They liked it and gave us sit. After that my tutor and I started learning. Ha! Now I understand a lot of Bambara.

On Thursday, August 31st, all the women came in to my host family with drums and danced in the morning around 10 am just to greet me. We dance a lot. Truly, Sirakoro is good!!!

— Fox Emily

DIALOG

dɔgɔkun kelen taama: A week trip

A	N nana n sara i la, n bεna taa dɔgɔkun kelen taama na sini.+ I inform you, I’m going to a week trip tomorrow.
B	Eh! Sini ? Ayiwa, ka taa ka segin nɔgɔya.+ He! Tomorrow? Ok! May you go and come back in peace.
A	A miina, ka ɲɔgɔn ye nɔgɔya, ka hεrε fɔ n kɔ.+ Amen, may we see each other, may you have peace after me.
B	k’an b’u fo! Ka segin n’i ɲuman ye. I k’an sama. I delila ka se yen wa?+ Say hi to them! May you come back in peace. Bring me something. Have you been there before?
A	Ayi, n ma se yen fɔlɔ. Ni alah sɔnna, n bεna aw sama.+ No, I haven’t yet. I’ll bring you something, god willing.

DUMUNIW

TALKING ABOUT MEALS

Communicative Task:

NSANA

PROVERB

Bɔrε lakolon tε jɔ!

Look for the meaning of this proverb and try to use it appropriately

TEXT

Dumuniw ani dumunikεyɔrɔ ladaw.

Mali ka bon, a siyaw fana ka ca. O n’a ta o ta, siyaw ka dumuniw n’u ka dumuniyɔrɔ ladaw man jan ɲɔgɔn na kosεbε. Mali siyaw caman bε to, basi, dεgε, mɔni, seri, samε ani malokini dun. U bεε bε dumuni kε siɲε saba tile kɔnɔ: daraka, tilelafana ani surafana. Musow ni cεw tε dumunikε ɲɔgɔn fε yɔrɔ caman na Mali la. Cεw wali musow bε dumunikε ɲɔgɔn fε minεn kelen kɔnɔ. Danfara dɔw bε siyaw ni ɲɔgɔn cε. Bamananw bε seri sukarotan walima tosira kε daraka ye. Bamannanw fana ka surafana n’u ka tilelafana caman ye to ye. Malokini bε tobi nisɔndiya donw dɔrɔn. Kɔrɔbɔrɔw bε furufuru kε daraka ye. U caman ka tilelafana ni surafana ye malokini ye. Basi ka di marakaw ye kɔsɔbε. Siyaw dɔw bε barika da dumuni kɔfε nka dɔw t’a da. Dumuniyɔrɔ ye kalansoba ye Mali la.

Food and eating places customs

Mali is big; there are many ethnic groups. Despite that, ethnic groups eating places customs are not so different. Most of the ethnic groups eat tô, couscous, dègè, porridge (rice – millet), and rice. They all eat three times a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. In most places in Mali, men and women don’t eat together. Men or women eat together in the same common bowl. There are some differences between the ethnic groups. Bambara have rice porridge or the last night left over for breakfast. They also have tô for lunch and dinner. Rice is cooked only during feasts. Sonrhaï people eat cakes for breakfast. Most of them have rice for lunch and dinner. Soninke people like couscous. Some ethnic groups thank after meals but some don’t. Eating-places are great schools in Mali.

Tamatina dilancogo

How to make tomato sauce

Dilannifεw/Ingredients

amati mɔnenba

ripe tomatoes
tigatulu

peanut oil
jabakεnε

onion
kɔgɔ

salt
ji

water
- Dilanniminεw/tools

barama/fugantasa

cooking pot/bowl
furunε

stove
finfin

charcoal
kutu

spoon
muru

knife
- Dilancogo/how to make

Finfin kε furunε kɔnɔ, tasuma kε finfin na. A fifa.

Make fire with the charcoal in the stove.
Ni tasuma kamina, barama wala kasilɔri sigi tasuma kan. Ji dɔ k’a kɔnɔ.

Put some water in the pot and put it on the fire.
I tεgε ko k’a jε. Tamati ni jaba ko k’u jε.

Wash your hands, the tomatoes and the onions.
Tamati kε ji kalaman na. U kelen kelen ta, u fara b’u la.

Put the tomatoes in the boiling water and shell them one by one.
U bila tasa jεlen dɔ kɔnɔ. U nɔɔni.

Make paste with the tomatoes in a clean bowl.
Barama sigi tasuma kan tuguni. Tulu hakε min bε bεn i ka tamati ma, o kε barama kɔnɔ.

Put your cooking pot on fire and put the quantity of oil you need according to the quantity of your tomato paste.
Tulu mana kalaya, tamati dɔɔni dɔɔni kε tulu la. To ka kutu kε k’a lamaga.

When the oil in boiling add the tomato paste little by little and with a spoon stir it regularly.
Jaba tigε-tigε. A kε tamati na kan.

Cut the onions in small pieces and add them to the tomato paste.
kɔgɔ kε tamati na la, dɔɔni dɔɔni. To k’a nεnε.

Then add some salt and taste it.
Duncogo n’a lamaracogo

How to eat and keep it
Nin tamatina in bε se ka kε sogo jeninen, jεgε jirannen, woso, wala kɔmitεri balabalalen kan, k’u dun. Waa, a ka di kɔsεbε.

This tomato sauce can be eaten with fried meat and fish or with sweet potato and french fries.
A lamaracogo man gεlεn. I b’a kε buteli dɔ kɔnɔ ka tulu dɔɔni k’a kan k’a lasago yɔrɔ sumannen na.

It is easy to keep. Put in a clean bottle, add some oil and leave it in a cool place.

DIALOG

Umaru: I ni sɔgɔma! Good morning!
Amadu: Nba. Cε! a kεra di? An m’i ye gεrεn na surɔ dε! Nba! What happened? We haven’t seen you last night at the grin.
Umaru: Foyi ma kε! N tun bε furusiridɔn yɔrɔ la. A kεra ɲεnajεba ye. Nothing happened. I was at a wedding party. It was such a big party.
Amadu: A diyara wa? Was it good?
Umaru: Kojugu! Dumuni ma kε foyi ye! An y’an kɔnɔ fa ani ka dɔnkε fo ka dugu jε. A lot! There was much food! We ate and danced a lot till the next morning.
Amadu: Ala ka kε furu ye! May it be a successful marriage.
Umaru: Amiina! Amen!

ƝANAJƐW

TALKING ABOUT FEASTS AND LEISURE

Communicative Task:

NSANA

PROVERB

Dunun diya tuma y’a fara tuma ye!

Look for the meaning of this proverb and try to use it appropriately

DIALOG

1. Umaru:: An ni sɔgɔma! Good morning!

Amadu: Nba. Cε! a kεra di? An m’i ye gεrεn na surɔ dε! Nba! What happened? We haven’t seen you last night at the grin.
Umaru: Tiɲε don. N tun bε furusiridɔn yɔrɔ la. A kεra ɲanajεba ye. That’s true. I was at a wedding party. It was such a big party.
Amadu: A diyara wa? Was it good?
Umaru: Kojugu. Jamaba de tun bε yen. An ye dumunikε ani ka dɔnkε fo ka dugu jε. A lot! There were a lot of people. We ate and danced till the next morning.
Amadu: Fɔlifεn jumεn tun bε yen? Which instruments were there?
Umaru: An ye balani dɔn fo k’an sen kari. We danced xalophone till our legs got broken.

2. Jelikε:: An ni su! Good afternoon (night)

Den-fa

Nba , aw ni su! Nba, good afternoon (night)

Jelikε

Hεrε tilenna wa? Did you spend a peaceful day?

Den-fa

Hεrε dɔrɔn. Only in peace.

Jelikε

Mɔgɔ nakun ka fisa i yεrε ye. The reason of once’s present is more important than yourself.

N’i ye n wulilen ye ka se yan, juguman tε.
If you sea me here, it’s nothing bad.

A kun ye furu sira ye.
It’s for a wedding process.

Keyitalakaw ye woro tan ni fura siri, k’u ɲε bɔra aw denmuso Fanta fε.
The Keïtas brought ten cola nuts to ask for our daughter Fanta hand.

U dun t’a ŋaniya ni foyi ye n’u denkε Bakari         furumuso tε.
They want her to be their son Bakari’s wife.

Woro tan filε n’a bε bεn aw ma, o bε diy’an ye kɔsεbε.
Here are the ten cola nuts, if you accept we would appreciate.

Den-fa

An bε woro minε fɔlɔ. Den bε yan, den baw bε yan. We first take the cola nuts. The daughter and the moms are here.

N’an y’olu ɲininka, olu mana jaabi min di,         an n’o fɔ aw ye.
We’ll ask them and let you know the answer.

Nin diyar’an ye, a bεnn’an ma. Hakεto b’o kan.
We do appreciat that, and it honour us.

Jelikε

Aw Keyita! Ala k’a ɲεn k’a d’an ma. N bε sira ɲinin. Keïta! May God help us. We ask the permission to leave.

Den-fa

Kuyate! Sira dir’i ma. K’an b’u fo! Kouyaté! You can go. Say hi to them!

Jelikε

U n’a mεn! Ka su hεrε d’an ma! They will hear it! May we have a peaceful night!

MƆGƆ WELELI

ACCEPT OR DECLINE AN INVITATION

Communicative Task:

NSANA

PROVERB

Denmisεnnin min bε yaalabakε, o t’a ba su ye!

Look for the meaning of this proverb and try to use it appropriately

DIALOG

1. Mamu: Fanta! i ni fama sa! Fanta! It’s been a long time!

Fanta: An bεε ni fama. It’s been a long time for we all.

Mamu: I tununna dε! You got lost!

Fanta: O kεra! N tun taara dugu la. That’s true! I was in a trip.

Mamu: I nani diyara n ye. Tiɲε don, le/lo n dɔgɔmuso ka furusiri bε kε sibiri don. It’s a pleasure that you come back. It’s true, my little sister’s wedding is on Saturday.

N’i b’a masɔrɔ, n b’a fε i ka na o la. An bε ɲanajεba kε wula fε.
If you have time, I want you to come. We’ll have a big party in the afternoon.

Fanta: Basi tε, ni Ala sɔnna i bεna n ye. No problem, you’ll see me god willing.

2. Umaru: I ni wula, Susan! Good afternoon, Susan!

Susan: Nse! Umaru, hεrε tilenna? Nse! Umaru, did you have a peaceful day?

Umaru: N bε Ala tanu! A bε diy’an ye n’i bε se ka n’an ka furusiridɔn yɔrɔ la bi su in na. I thank God! I would appreciate if you can come to our wedding party to night.

Susan: Bi su in na! Haa! N tεn’a masɔrɔ. Tonight! Ha! I won’t hive time.

N bolo degunnen don [.red]#le/lo# barisa ɲɔgɔnye kεrεnkεrεnnen dɔ bε bolo.
I am busy because I have a special meeting.

A kεra baara ye. Kana jigin n na. Ala ka siɲε wεrε jir'an na.
That’s tricky. Don’t be mad at me. Next time.

Umaru: N tεna jigin i la. Ala ka dugawu minε! I won’t be mad at you. May God accept our blessings

Susan: Amiina! Amen!

DƐMƐ ƝININ

ASKING FOR HELP

Communicative Task:

NSANA

PROVERB

Funtinε bε yɔrɔ min, bεnkan tε yen!

Look for the meaning of this proverb and try to use it appropriately

DIALOG

Sarah	Ee! Mun kεra? N ka nεgεso bila! I bε taalen ni n ka nεgεso ye min? A ye son bεn! A' ye n dεmε! He! What’s going on? Leave my bike! Where are you taking my bike? Thief! Thief! Help me!
Musa	Jɔn kulekan bε yan? Mun y’i sɔrɔ? Jɔn donna i kan? Who is yelling here? What happens to you? Who got in your house?
Sarah	A’ ye na! A’ ye bɔ! Son taara ni n ka nεgεso ye. N b’aw deli. A’y’a kunbεn! A’ye ɲε n ma! Come over! Come out! The thief took my bike away! I beg you. Catch him! Help me!
Musa	I hakili sigi. A tε se ka taa yɔrɔ jan. Calm down. He cannot go far.
Passant	Kule dabila n balimamuso. U ye i ka son minε. A ni nεgεso b’u bolo ka na. Stop yelling my sister. They got your thief. They are come with him and your bike.
Sarah	O ye Ala tanu ye. Aw ni ce! Aw ni baraji! Hakεto! Musa, n hakili la, n ka kan ka sokɔlɔsila dɔ ɲinin min bεna n ka dukɔnɔna kɔlɔsi, k’a janto da la. Thanks to God. Thank you! Thank you very much! Please! Musa, I think, I should look for a guardian who will look after my house,, to take care of my door.
Musa	O ka nɔgɔn. An bεna mɔgɔ sεbε ɲinin i ye. Hali ni mɔgɔ wεrε fɔra i kɔ, ale na sɔrɔ yan. That’s easy. We’ll look for a good person. Even if someone else comes after you, he will be here.

WAATIW LAHALAW

TALKING ABOUT THE WEATHER

Communicative Task:

NSANA

PROVERB

I ma min fɔ i siriyɔrɔ la, kan’o fɔ i foniyɔrɔ la!

Look for the meaning of this proverb and try to use it appropriately

DIALOG

John	Amadu, i ni sɔgɔma. Good morning Amadu.
Amadu	Nba, hεrε sira John? Nba, did you spend a good night?
John	Hεrε dɔrɔn. N bε taa bɔ n terikε ka foro la ka na. Peace only. I’m visting my friend’s field.
Amadu	Ee! I t’i jɔ dɔɔni. E ɲε tε sanfinnenba la? He! Wait a little bit. It is going rain.
John	E ko nin san bε na sisan? Is it going rain?
Amadu	Funteni b’a kɔrɔ cogo min na, ne miiri la a bε na. It is hot, in my opinion it will rain.
John	Funteni ye sanji tamasere ye aw fε yan wa? Is the heat a sign of rain here?
Amadu	ɔwɔ, nka o dɔrɔn tε dε! San tamasere dɔwεrεw ye kabanɔgɔ, tile bɔ cogo ani fiɲε ci cogo ye. Hali kɔnɔ dɔw bε san kibaruya fɔ an sεnεkεlaw ye. Yeah! But that’s not all! Another sign is the cloud, the way the sun appears and the way the wind blows. We farmers are even told by some birds.
John	Kabako! Ni n bε taa, n bεna n ka sanji minεfini ta. I ni ce. Amadu, n mana segin, an bε se ka barokε Mali waatiw ni Ameriki taw kan wa? Amazing! When going, I’ll take my umbrella with me. Thank you. Amadu, if I come, could we talk about the seasons in Mali and the ones in America?
Amadu	O bε diya n ye kosɔbε. Ola n yεrε bεna faamuya dɔ sɔrɔ Ameriki kan. K’an bεn sɔɔni. I’ll like it a lot. I’ll know more about America. See you soon.
John	K’an bεn! Ka hεrε fɔ n kɔ. See you! May you have peace after me.
Amadu	Amina! K’i ɲuman segin! Amen! May you come back safely!

SEKO NI DƆNKOW

TALKING ABOUT ONE’S SKILLS

Communicative Task:

NSANA

PROVERB

Jirikuru mεn o mεn ji la, a tε kε bama ye!

Look for the meaning of this proverb and try to use it appropriately

TEXT

Sekow ni bololabaaraw

Aptitudes and crafts

Artisans play an important role in the country. Since the past, craftsmen make lot of our tools. No village can work without them. They meet most of our needs Shoe makers, blacksmiths, jewelers, potters, well diggers, masons, Sculptors, hairdressers, mechanics, carpenters are in most of our villages. Farmers, gardeners, animal risers, fishermen, hunters and griots are important.

DIALOG

Amadu: N terikε John, e yεrε bε mun baarakε an ka dugu in kɔnɔ? John my friend, what do you do as job in our village?
John: ɲinikali ɲuman! Ne ye yiriforow ni kungoyiri nafamaw lakanabaa wɔlɔntεri ye. N bε baarakε sεnεkεlaw ni nakɔtigiw fε. N bε ladilikan di mɔgɔw ma yirituru ni yiriw ladoncogo ɲuman kan. N bε dugu mɔgɔw dεmε yirishεnw sɔrɔ cogo n’u turu cogo la ani nɔgɔ ni nɔgɔdingεw dilanni fana la. N bε taa nakɔw ni forow kɔnɔ tuma ni tuma ka kuma nin fεnw kan.

Good question! I am a natural resource management volunteer. I work with farmers and gardeners. I advise people on good ways of planting and taking care of the trees. I help people in finding tree seeds, planting seeds and compost and making compost piles. I go to the fields and gardens from time to time to talk on these.
Amadu: Ayiwa! Ne hakili la, n y’i ka baara faamu sisan. Ala k’i dεmε. Okay! I think, I understand your job now. May god help you.

Te wulicogo

How to make tea

Wulifεnw/Ingredients

te

tea leaves
sukaro

sugar
nanaye

mint
ji

water

Teminεnw/Tools

barada

tea pot
furunε

stove
finfin

charcoal
wεriw

glasses
pilato

plate

Wulicogo/The processes

N’i bε te wuli, i bε fɔlɔ ka

To make tea, first:
Tasuma ɲaga, o kɔ i bε te kε barada kɔnɔ.

Light the fire, then put tea in the tea pot.
I bε ji wεri ɲε naani ni tila k’a la.

Put four glass of water and half in it.
O kɔ i bε barada sigi tasuma kan. I b’a wuli miniti bisaba kɔnɔ.

Then put the tea pot on the fire and boil it for half an hour.
Tuma kelen kelen, i b’a jigin ka teji kε barada wεrε kɔnɔ.

From time to time pour it in the other tea pot.
O kɔ, i bε sukaro k’a la. I bε sɔrɔ k’a suuru wεriw kɔnɔ walasa ka sukaro yelen teji la.

After that put sugar in it in the second tea pot and pour it in the glasses to mix it up.
O kɔ, i b’a nεnε ni sukaro y’a bɔ. I bε teji yεlεma barada kɔnɔ tuguni.

Then you taste it if there is enough sugar.
I b’a kalaya dɔɔni.

Heat the mixture a little.
Mɔgɔ caman bε teji dɔ to wεri kelen kɔnɔ walasa ka musi dila n’o ye wεri tɔw kɔnɔ.

Many people make foams with the glasses.
I bε tila ka wεriw kɔ sananko.

Clean the external side of the glasses.
Te mana kalaya dɔɔni, i b’a tila wεriw ni ɲɔgɔn cε k’a di mɔgɔw ma.

When it gets warm then serve it.
Segin bε kε ni kan fo siɲε saba.

We do the same processes for all the three rounds.
Siɲε fila tɔw la i bε se ka nanaye k’a la.

You can also add mint in it.
Temugu ni ji hakε bε yεlεma mɔgɔw hakε kɔsɔn.

The quantity of water an tea leaves depends on the number of peple drinking tea.

SIGIYƆRƆ KUNNAFONNIW

GETTING INFORMED ABOUT ONE’S AREA

Communicative Task:

NSANA

PROVERB

Dugu bila ka fisa lada wuli ye!

Look for the meaning of this proverb and try to use it appropriately

DIALOG

Musa	Eh! John, i ni faama! Hey! John, It’s been a long time!
John	Musa, i ni waati. I bε di? Musa, it’s while. How are you?
Musa	Alhamudulilayi! I bε dugu jumεn na sisan? Thanks to God! In which village are you now?
John	N sigilen don le/lo Jitumu mara la, Keleya kεrεfε. I am in Jitumu area, next to Keleya.
Musa	Keleya lamini duguw ye dugu kɔrɔw ye.+ The villages around Keleya are old villages.
John	Tiɲε don! Dugutigi ko: ale ka dugu in tutigε tuma mεnna kɔsεbε. That’s true! The chief said It’s been a very long time they settled here. Dugu in sigira ka kɔn Tubabu fanga ɲε. The village was settled before the white men’s arrival.
Musa	Ha! O ye dugu kɔrɔ ye. Siya jumεnw bε yen? Ha! That’s an old village. What are the ethnic groups there?
John	Siya caman. Bamananw ka ca ni siya tɔw ye Jitumu mara kɔnɔ. Fulaw ni Maninkaw fana sigilen bε yen. Siginfεw bε sɔrɔ yen, i n’a fɔ Korokow, Marakaw, Kɔrɔbɔrɔw, Dongɔnɔw ani siya wεrεw. Lot of ethnic groups. Bambaras are more than the others in jitumu. Fulfuldes and malinkes are there too. Some immigrated like Korokos, Sarakoles, Sonraïs, Dogons and others.
Musa	O ye siya caman ye. I ye yen mɔgɔya kεcogo bεε faamu ka ban? That’s a lot of ethnic groups. Did you understand all the ways people behave?
John	Dɔɔni dɔɔni. Nka yirikurun mεn o mεn ji la, a tε kε bama ye. N bε ka ladaw ni korɔw ɲεɲinin. Little by little. But as long as a piece of wood stays in water, it will never become a crocodile. I am still learning some customs.
Musa	Ayiwa! O de ka ɲi. Ala k’i dεmε. Okay! That’s good. May God help you.
John	Amiina! K’an bεn! Amen! See you!

JAMA HAKILI JAKABƆ

LEADING A COMMUNITY MEETING

Communicative Task:

NSANA

PROVERB

Jεkafɔ ye damu ye!

Look for the meaning of this proverb and try to use it appropriately

DIALOG

John: A’ ni wula yankaw, an tilenna hεrε la, Ala k’an si hεrε la.
Good afternoon people from here, we spend the day in peace, may we spend the night in peace.
Jeliba: Nba! A ni wula, aw bisimila! A ye dɔ di.
Nba! Good afternoon, welcome! Say something.
John: Saha! An ma na baasi la, an ye Saniya baarakεlaw ye. An nana walasa an bε se ka hakilina falen falen dugu saniya cogo kan.
Thanks! We aren’t here for wors, we are sanitation workers. We are here to exchange ideas about the village sanitation.
Jeliba: Dugutigi, ayiwa kuma tε! U ko, k’u nana k’an dεmε ka dugu saniya.
Dugutigi, so here is the topic! They said, they’re here to help us with the village sanitation.
Dugutigi: Jeliba, a fɔ dunanw ye: k’u nali diyar’an ye. K’u bisimila!
Jeliba (Griotman), tell them we appreciate them being here. Welcome!
John: Gεlεya jumεn bε yan saniyako la?
What are the sanitation problems here?
Amadu: Ne bε kuma ɲinin.+ I ask to talk.
Jeliba: Kuma b’i bolo, Amadu.
You have the floor (the speech) Amadou.
Amadu: Ne hakili la, ɲaman ani jinɔgɔko gεlεya de b’an kan bi.
I think we have problems with dirty water and trash here.
John: Kuma ɲεna! Aw hakili la fεrε jumεnw bε se ka sɔrɔ olu la? (makan caman….)
Good! According to you what are the solutions for those? (noise)
Jeliba: A ye hakεto, an ka ɲɔgɔn lamεn!
Please, let’s listen one each other!
Bakari: Baasi tε, ne hakili la, ni bεε bε se ka taa ɲaman bɔn dugu kɔfε yɔrɔ kelen na, o bε fisaya. Ani fana, an k’an hakili to ji saniyali la.
That would be better. And also let’s keep in mind water sanitation. Ok, for me, if every one can go put the trash behind the village in the same place
John: Yankaw, anw hakili la, bεε ye famuya sɔrɔ tɔnsigi in kɔnɔ. Aw ni ce, aw ni baraji! Ala k’an bεn a ɲɔgɔn wεrε ma. Sisan an b’a fε ka sira ɲinin.
We think, everyone has understood something about the meeting. Thank you! May we meet again. Now we want to leave.

NSIIRIN: SUNGURUNNIN YE JƆN TA YE?

NSIIRIN NAAMU !!!

N y’a da kamalennin saba la!

Sungurunnin ye jɔn ta ye? Kamalennin saba tun bε to ka kε ɲɔgɔn fε. U nana sungurunnin kelen sɔrɔ. Dɔ ko, “An bε taa yaala. N’an ye wari sɔrɔ, an bεna fini san k’a don le/lo sungurunnin kan na.” U taara yaalayaala. Dugalen tun bε dɔ fε. Sabara tun bε dɔ fε. Fura tun bε dɔ fε. Tile dama tεmεnnen kɔ, dugalentigi y’a fɔ ko: “Ne bε filεlikε n ka dugalen na.” A ye filεlikε k’a ye ko sugurunnin sara. A ko: “Sugurunnin sara!” Sabaratigi ko:”A ye na sisan. An bε jε k’an senw don le/lo sabara la. An bεna se yen sisan, janko an bεna sungurunnin su sɔrɔ k’a don.” Furatigi ko: ”N’an sera yen sisan, a bεna kunu.” U jεra k’u senw don le/lo sabara la. U sera sungurunnin ka dugu la. Furatigi taara sungurunnin lakunu. A ɲεnamayara kokura ka kε mɔgɔ ye. Dugalentigi ko k’ale ta don. Sabaratigi ko k’ale ta don. Furatigi ko k’ale ta don. O kamalennin saba la, sungurunnin ye jɔn ta ye?

N y’a ta yɔrɔ min, n y’a bila yen!

— Mamadou Kanté

NSIIRIN: DOSOKƆRƆ, BAKƆRƆNIN NI SAGAJIGIBA KA DUGUTAA.

NSIIRIN NAAMU !!!

N y’a da dosokɔrɔ, bakɔrɔnin ni sagajigiba la!

Fɔlɔ-fɔlɔ, dosokɔrɔ, bakɔrɔnin ni sagajigiba tun ka di kɔsεbε. Su t’u fara, tlen t’u fara. Don dɔ, barosen fε, bakɔrɔnin y’a fɔ tɔ fila ye n’u bε se ka taa dunuya yaala walasa ka nafolo sɔrɔ. O yɔrɔnin kelen na, u ye taamadon da. O don le/lo selen, u jεra ka dugu taamobili kelen ta. U selen dugu fɔlɔ min na, dosokɔrɔ ko k’ale bε jigin ye. A jiginna, ka wari di mobili bolila ma. Mobilitigi kɔrɔtɔ kojugu wulila ni mobili ye ka sɔrɔ a ma warimisεn segin dosokɔrɔ ma. Dosokɔrɔ bolila mobili kɔ, ka kule ka dεsε. Mobilitigi ma jɔ. A tɔɲɔgɔn fila dimina fo k’a dama tεmεn. Dugu filanan na, bakɔrɔnin ko k’ale bε jigin yen. Mobili jɔ, bakɔrɔnin ye fiɲε minεn. A taara, a ma wari sara. Sagajigiba kelen tora mobili kɔnɔ ŋunuŋunu na. A y’i miiri bakɔrɔnin ka kεwale la. A ko k’ale bε fεrε ɲinin waasa a kana kε somɔgɔ sama ye n’u sera dugu sabanan kɔnɔ. Sow ni kungo cε, sagajigiba ko k’ale sera. A jiginna, k’a ka wari sara. A k’ale na don le/lo dugu kɔnɔ hɔrɔnya la barisa mɔgɔ ka juru t’ale la. Kabini o don le/lo fo bi: E dosokɔrɔ tε mobilitigi tεmεn tɔ ye n’a ma kule o la! Bakɔrɔnin kegunya kojugu tε jɔ bolimafεn ɲε! Faɲa ye sagajigiba bila siraba kan taama na, a tε sira bolifεn ɲε, barisa maa ka juru t’a la!

N y’a ta yɔrɔ min, n y’a bila yen! Mamadou Doudou NDOYE

NSIIRIN: KUNGOSOGOW KA DENKUNDI.

NSIIRIN NAAMU !!!

N y’a da suruguba ni sonsannin la!

Waraba muso jiginna. A ye kungosogow bεε fara ɲɔgɔn kan denkundi la. U ko sogo bεε ka dɔnsen kelen kelen kε. Ni min ta ɲεna, misi bε di o tigi ma. Misi kofɔlen, surukuba fora ka wuli k’ale fɔlɔ bε dɔnkε. Suruku y’i dɔn k’i dɔn fo k’a wɔɔsi. Waraba den ma yεlε, a ba ma yεlε. Suruku ka dɔn ma diya mɔgɔ si ye. Kɔnɔsogonin fana wulila. O fana y’i dɔn. O ka dɔn diyara bεε ye. Waraba muso yεlεla ka yεlε. U bεε nison diyara. U ye misi di kɔnɔsogonin ma. Misi dilen kɔnɔsogonin ma tuma min na, surukuba girinna ka wuli, ko ale denkε fɔlɔ ye kɔnɔsogonin ye. Bεε ko: “Ee! Suruku den bε se dɔn na! A bε se dɔn na! ” O kεlen tuma min na, kɔnɔsogonin y’i sigi. Waraba den kasira ko kɔnɔsogonin ka wuli ka dɔnkε tuguni. Kɔnɔsogonin wulila, nka a dɔnkεtɔ sen cunna waraba den kan kan, k’a faga. Waraba muso kulela ko ka kɔnɔsogonin minε. O fɔlen, kɔnɔsogonin ye kεnε minε. U m’a sɔrɔ. Sonsannin ko: “A ma tiɲε! Ni kɔnɔsogonin ma sɔrɔ, a y’a fa minε. O fɔlen, suruku k’ale den tε! Barisa kɔnɔ ni wara tε kelen ye. Kama b’a la, kama t’ale la. Kɔnɔsogonin sen ye fila, sen naani b’ale suruku fε. Mun y’ale ni kɔnɔsogonin kε kelen? N’u ka misi kama don, le/lo u bε se k’o minε. ” Surukuba y’a dɔn k’a tε ɲε cogo si la n’ale ma minε. Suruku y’u to mankan na ka fiɲε minε. A ye gɔngɔn wuli, ka bobilen kalanman seri waraba muso ɲεda la. U ye surukuba fana ɲinin ka dεsε. Sonsannin tεmεtɔ ye kɔrɔ suruku ɲε bilen ye tu la. Sonsannin ko: “Ee, n kɔrɔ, e ni kɔnɔsogonin tε siya kelen, munna e bolila?” Surukuba y’a jaabi k’ale taalen, jɔn minεna ale kɔ.

N y’a ta yɔrɔ min, n y’a bila yen!

NSIIRIN: BAMA NI FALI.

NSIIRIN NAAMU !!!

N y’a da bama ni fali la!

Don dɔ bama bɔra ji la k’a bε taa i senna yaala. A taara fo yɔrɔ jan. A segin tuma, a filila sira ma, a munumununa ka munumunu. A sεgεnnen taara i da jalasunba dɔ kɔrɔ. Fali nana se bama ma jalasunba kɔrɔ. Fali kabakoyara, a ko bama ma: “εε! N dɔgɔ mun y’i se yan bi? Yan ni baji ka jan dε!” Bama ko fali ma: “N kɔrɔ ne yεrε tε se ka foyi fɔ nin ko in na bilen. N taara n senna yaala, n tununna, n t’a dɔn n bε segin so cogo o cogo.” Fali ko a bε taa so tuma min, bama y’a fɔ a ye “n kɔrɔ, kana nin kε ne na, i bε taa cogodi ka ne to yan? I b’a lajε ka n lase bada la.” Fali k’o tε baasi ye; a gεrεla bama la, bama yεlεnna fali kɔ la. U selen dankan na fali ko bama ka jigin nga bama y’a fɔ fali ye k’a k’i jija ka se n’a ye ji cεmancε la. U selen ji cεmancε la bama jiginna, a y’i da fa fali kɔsen na o yɔrɔ bεε. Fali ko a ma: “Aah e jo don, le/lo ne de jalaki don.” Bama y’a jaabi: “I kεra jalakitigi ye o, i kεra jotigi ye o, nin si tε ne ka sira ye, ne bε e dun bi.” K’u to kuma na nsonzanin nana; a ko: “n kɔrɔ fali! Fo ji cεmancε la tan! Mun kεra? ” Fali y’a jaabi ko: “Ne ɲuman kεtɔ de kεlen bε kara ye ne da la. Bama tununna, ne y’a dεmε ka na ji la. A selen ji la, a ye ne minε k’a bε ne dun.” Nsonzanin y’i min k’i kanto fali ma yɔrɔ jan fε: “N kɔrɔ fali, i tε se k’i puruti wa?” Fali ko: “N bε se kε!” Fali y’i pan ka bama tan a da la fo ka bama yεlεma a kɔ kan. Fali bolila ka taa so.

N’i ye maa min ka sumun furakε, o b’i ka tigasi ɲimi.

N y’a ta yɔrɔ min, n y’a bila yen!