Hippo and Rabbit by Eleanor Ker
Presentation at the Library
Yesterday I made a presentation at the Albany, Oregon Public Library about Mozambique. I gave everyone a handout with some linguistic data on it so they could have a chance to learn a little about Nyungwe and Bantu languages in general. I’ve included the data below. Using the translations for each line you should be able to figure out the meaning of almost every word in the story.
1. Using this data, can you tell me how to say, “Rabbit also saw Hippo” in Nyungwe?
2. Can you guess how this story ends?
3. Bonus: How are verb tenses marked in Nyungwe? How does negation work? How are verbs marked for person?
You can post your answers in the comments (no peeking for the rest of you!). I’ll post the rest of the story in a few days.
The Friendship of Rabbit and Fire (Part 1)
1. Sulo adayenda kugombe.
Rabbit went to the riverside.
2. Mbvuu adayendambo kugombe.
Hippo also went to the riverside.
3. Mbvuu akhambadya mauswa.
Hippo was eating grass.
4. Mbvuu iribe kuwona Sulo.
Hippo didn’t see Rabbit.
5. Mbvuu adamuponda mwendo.
Hippo stepped on his foot.
6. Sulo adalira kwene-kwene.
Rabbit cried very much.
7. Sulo adawuza Mbvuu:
Rabbit said to Hippo
8. “Uli kuwona lini kuti undiponda mwendo?”
“Don’t you see that you’re stepping on my foot?”
9. Mbvuu adati: “Pepa, xamwali Sulo.”
Hippo said, “I’m sorry friend Rabbit.”
10. “Wandiponda utowa!”
“You stepped on me on purpose!”
Hallo David, I couldn’t find ‘also’ in the text, but here is goes: Sulo kowona Mbvuu
All the best for your packing and getting back to Tete.
please say hallo to Hilary and the kids from me.
Riëtte Botha
Riëtte,
You’re close! If you compare sentences 1&2 you’ll see the “word” for also. It’s the only difference in the sentences (besides the names).
I’ll convey your greeting to Hilary and kids. We’re looking forward to getting back to the land of Hippo and Rabbit soon!
Interesting! I see so many similarities in our host languages.
One confusing word, however, is the word for “river”. Here in Chiyao we say sulo. You use that word for “rabbit” instead.
A couple of other interesting points:
‘adayenda’ — we say ‘kwenda jenda’ for ‘to go walking around’
‘mvuu’ is the local word for ‘hippo’ (also in Chichewa I think)
‘kuwona’ is Chiyao for ‘to see’
‘kulila’ is Chiyao for ‘to cry’
‘kuponda’ is Chiyao for ‘to step on’
‘kuti’ means ’so that’
‘pepani’ is Chiyao for ’sorry’
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