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:
| COMMUNICATIVE TASK | OBJECTIVES | VOCABULARY | GRAMMAR |
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* Grammatical Notes |
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* Translations |
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* Stories |
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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.
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 present 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)
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 | 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 | ||||
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! Hεrε sira? |
| Amadu | Hεrε dɔrɔn! I ka kεnε? |
| Sali | Tɔɔrɔ tε! I tɔgɔ? |
| Amadu | N tɔgɔ Amadu Jara. E dun ? |
| 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! |
| Sali | U n’a mεn! |
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VOCABULARY
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COMMON EXPRESSIONS
To take leave of someone at different moments of the day: usually there is a leave taking expression followed by the answer.
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DUGAW / Blessings
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SOME TIME EXPRESSIONS
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SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY
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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. |
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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? |
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. |
| 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 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 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. |
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.
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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
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COMMON EXPRESSIONS
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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.
| +3 | * S + ka + obj. | Subj ‘s obj. | * N |
|---|---|---|---|
ka | saki | my bag. | * John |
ka | so | John‘s house | * U |
| * 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. |
| * 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. |
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 |
N ka saki don. | It is my bag. |
N ta don | It is mine. |
Aw ta tε. | It’s not yours. |
ii | ---- |
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.
| 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.
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VOCABULARY FAMILY MEMBERS
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SOME EXPRESSIONS
- x sigilen don + 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 | n | fε. | I have a pen. |
Negative form: | ||||
Object | + tε | +Subject | + fε | |
Subject have not the Object | Den | tε | n | fε. |
I have not a child. | Interrogative form: | |||
Object | + bε | +Subject | + fε | |
(wa) ? | Den | bε | i | 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 ye. Kɔmi e don, 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 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 | 50F = | (dɔrɔmε) tan |
100F = | (dɔrɔmε) mugan | 250F = | (dɔrɔmε) biduur |
500F = | (dɔrɔmε) kεmε | 1000F = | (dɔrɔmε) kεmε fila |
2500F = | (dɔrɔmε) kεmε duuru | 5000F = | (dɔrɔmε) waa kelen |
10.000F = | (dɔrɔmε) waa fila |
MARKET VOCABULARY
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BUTIGI KƆNƆFƐNW (THINGS IN THE SHOP)
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SUGULAFƐNW (THINGS IN THE MARKET)
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NAFƐNW (INGREDIENTS)
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OTHER THINGS
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HAKƐW (MEASURES)
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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 sɔgɔma, n bε kafe min. (Present tense)
Bi sɔgɔma, n ye mɔni min. (Past definite)
Kunun, n taara sugu la.
| 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? |
| 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? |
| 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:
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Do the following matching game:
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Change the following sentences into the past definite
N bε namasa 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.
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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 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…)
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The following expressions are used to lead someone to a certain point.
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These other expressions are very polite used by someone who wants a help to find your way.
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Here are some useful prepositions for giving or receiving directions.
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The are other common words you meet in the context of giving or receiving directions.
| 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. |
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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 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
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QUALIFIERS ( PHYSICAL )
The following adjectives are used to describe physical traits.
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QUALIFIERS ( MORAL)
These adjectives are used to portray moral state.
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QUALIFIERS ( TASTE )
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SOME EXPRESSIONS
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COLORS
Please note the different forms of expressing colors in Bambara.
white | Jεman | nin ye jεman ye | nin jεlen don | a ka jε | |
| black | Finman | nin ye finman ye | nin finnen do | a ka fin |
| red | Bilenma | 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
| S | V | Adj | S | V | N | Adj. (man) | - | S | Adj. (man) | V |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bob | ka | bon | Bob | ye | den | belebele(ba) | ye | mɔgɔ | belebele | do |
a | ka | dɔgɔn | a | ye | cε | fitini | ye | cε | fitini | do |
i | ka | jan | i | ye | jamanjan | ye | jamanjan | do | ||
a | ka | ɲi | a | ye | ɲuman | ye | ɲuman | do | ||
n | ka | kunba | n | ye | kunbaba | ye | kunbaba | do | ||
a | ka | di | a | ye | duman | ye | duman | do | ||
ka | ye | ye | do |
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 is used to express is/are ( or it is, they are ) as in the following examples:
Mobili bilenman don __ It is a red car.
Amerikεn finman don He/She is a black american.
| The negative of don 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 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 | Subject + Verb + len/nen + tε |
Karamɔgɔ jɔlen don kalanso kɔnɔ. | Kalandenw sεgεnnen tε. |
Interrogative Form: | |
Subject + Verb + len/nen + don (wa)? | |
Subject + Verb + len/nen + tε (wa)? | Kalandenw jɔlen don kalanso kɔnɔ wa? |
EXERCISES
Identify each part of the body according to the following indications:
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Do as in these examples (using the modified adjectives).
Nin dute ka gonin. _ Dute gonin(man) don
Nin muso ka ɲi
Nin cε ka surun
Nin jiri ka jan.
Nin ji ka suman
Nin namasa 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 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
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| 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:
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SOME EXPRESSIONS OF PHYSIOLOGICAL STATES:
- kɔngɔ
hungry
- minɔgɔ
thirsty
- funteni
hot
- nεnε
cold
DUGAW / BLESSINGS
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SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY:
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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 go don. | U tun tε baarakε san’u ka na Mali la. |
Interrogative Form: | |
sm | 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 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.
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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 go don wa? Dugu kɔnɔ cεw bε mun kε don 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
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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:
n | n | fajiri | ka | ||
bε | kabini | wuli | ko | ||
Don o don | Fanta | Daraka | |||
fɔlɔ | tobi | bε | |||
fa | la | soli | Ka | ||
bε | n | baarayɔrɔ | taa | ||
n | taa | la | Sani | dun | ka |
ekɔli | bε | Daraka | fɔlɔ | ka | n |
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, 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, 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!!!
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:
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BISIMILA
WELCOMING
| 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
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|
GRAMMAR THE HABIT OF DOING SOMETHING: ka deli 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 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 jumεn? I seginna don jumεn?
I taara cogodi?
I taara bolifεn jumεn na?
A tun falen don 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:
It’s important to invite people to eat (feel free to say yes or no).
Avoid smelling food.
Always use your right hand to eat.
Generally people eat together in the same bowl but men and women eat separately.
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
tamati mɔnenba
tigatulu
jabakεnε
kɔgɔ
ji
Dilanniminεw
barama/fugantasa
furunε
finfin
kutu
muru
Dilancogo
Finfin kε furunε kɔnɔ, tasuma kε finfin na. A fifa.
Ni tasuma kamina, barama wala kasilɔri sigi tasuma kan. Ji dɔ k’a kɔnɔ.
I tεgε ko k’a jε. Tamati ni jaba ko k’u jε.
Tamati kε ji kalaman na. U kelen kelen ta, u fara b’u la.
U bila tasa jεlen dɔ kɔnɔ. U nɔɔni.
Barama sigi tasuma kan tuguni. Tulu hakε min bε bεn i ka tamati ma, o kε barama kɔnɔ.
Tulu mana kalaya, tamati dɔɔni dɔɔni kε tulu la. To ka kutu kε k’a lamaga.
Jaba tigε-tigε. A kε tamati na kan.
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 a dilanni na wa?
I bε se k’a lamara cogo wεrε jumεn na?
VOCABULARY
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|
|
HERE ARE OTHER WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS WHICH CAN HELP YOU TO TALK MORE EASILY ABOUT MEALS.
|
|
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 wa ?
Aw nisɔndiyara kɔsεbε wa ?
DIALOG
1.
| 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. |
2.
| 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, 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 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 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 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
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
|
|
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
|
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
|
|
SOME EXPRESSIONS
|
|
Te wulicogo
Wulifεnw
te
sukaro
nanaye
ji
Teminεnw
barada
furunε
finfin
wεriw
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
|
|
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
da | weave | dali | weaving |
dila | repare | dilali | reparing |
taa | go | taali | going |
fo | 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 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
|
|
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
KAYES | Sarakollé Maraka Khassonké Kasonkha Malinké Maninka Peulh Foulani Maure Suraka | Diallo Sakiliba Keita Camara Konaté Konaré Sissoko Diallo Diakité Sidibé Sakho Gassama Sissoko Kanté Diakité Sangaré Bah Ould Soumaré Diawara Doucouré Silla Konté | Trade/Agriculture Animal raising /Fishing Craft | Sedentary Immigration Semi-Nomad |
KOULIKORO | Bambara Bamanan Malinké Maninka Somono Bozo Maure Souraka | Coulibaly Diarra Traoré Koné Mariko Keita Camara Konaté Konaré Doumbia Diabenta Dienta Djiré Karabenta Ould | Trade/Agriculture Animal raising/Fishing Craft | Sedentary Immigration Semi-Nomad |
SIKASSO | Senoufo Minianka Peulh foulani | Bamba Coulibaly Sanogo Bagayogo WonogoCoulibaly Cissouma Bengaly Dembélé Wattara Diallo Diakité Sidibé Sangaré Bah | Trade/Agriculture Animal raising Craft | Sedentary |
SEGOU | Bambara Bamanan Peulh Foulani Bozo Somono Bobo Bowa | Coulibaly Diarra Traoré Koné Mariko Diallo Diakité Sidibé Sangaré Bah Diabenta Dienta Djiré Karabenta Kamata Sinanta Dembélé Kwéné Dakouo Dakono Kamaté | Trade/Agriculture Animal raising/Fishing Craft | Sedentary Nomad Semi-Nomad |
MOPTI | Peulh/foulani Bozo Dogon | Diallo Diakité Sidibé Sangaré Bah Diabenta Dienta Djiré Karabenta Kamata Guindo Tapily DoloOuologuem Angoiba Tembely Timbiné | Trade/Agriculture Animal raising/Fishing Craft | Sedentary Nomad Semi-Nomad |
TOMBUKTU | Sonraï Kɔrɔbɔrɔ Touareg Arabe Maure | Maïga Touré Cissé Askofaré… Ag Ben Ould | Trade/Agriculture Animal raising/Fishing Craft | Sedentary Nomad Semi-Nomad |
GAO | Sonraï Kɔrɔbɔrɔ Touareg Arabe Maure | Maïga Touré Cissé Askofaré… Ag Ben Ould | Trade/Agriculture Animal raising/Fishing Craft | Sedentary Nomad Semi-Nomad |
KIDAL | Sonraï Kɔrɔbɔrɔ Touareg Arabe Maure | Maïga Touré Cissé Askofaré… Ag Ben Ould | Trade/Gardening Animal rising/Fishing Craft | Sedentary Nomad Semi-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 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 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! |
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 go don 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 |
|---|---|---|
ca | ka (__) caya | caya |
di | 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! |
| Sali | Nse, i ni sɔgɔma, n balimakε! Hεrε sira? |
| Amadu | Hεrε dɔrɔn! I ka kεnε? |
| Sali | Tɔɔrɔ tε! I tɔgɔ? |
| Amadu | N tɔgɔ Amadu Jara. E dun? |
| 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 ye. I give you a good price! The meter is one thousand and seven hundred and fifty. Kɔmi e don, 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 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 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 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.
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!
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.
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.
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, 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, 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!!!
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!!!
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, 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 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! |
| 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. |
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. |
| 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 dɔwεrεw 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! |
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
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 ko.
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! |
| John | Musa, i ni waati. I bε di? |
| Musa | Alhamudulilayi! I bε dugu jumεn na sisan? |
| John | N sigilen don Jitumu mara la, Keleya kεrεfε. |
| 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. 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. 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! |
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 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 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 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!
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 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 dugu kɔnɔ hɔrɔnya la barisa mɔgɔ ka juru t’ale la. Kabini o don 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, 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, 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!