Don, i ni mba. What you said about African languages vs. Western languages really resonates.
I came to the related conclusion, many years ago, that anybody claiming to be studying anything African misses out a lot if s/he doesn't try to learn the language of the group under study. I'm sure this is common sense, even to Biblical scholars who study (long dead) ancient Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic to get a better sense of the good book's meaning. Unfortunately, I have yet to see social scientists (African and foreign) do something remotely commensurate as a matter of course and urgency. Returning to the theme of difference, I have an interesting example in Ma'di grammar, which has two forms of the first person plural. Example 1: conjugation of the verb yaka or to go. Maya -- I am going Nyiya -- you are going Koya -- he/she/it is going amavu, adivu -- we are going anyivu -- you (pl) are going kakivu -- they are going Example 2: the possessive pronoun maa -- my nyaa -- your anaa -- its, his, her ama, 'baa -- our anya -- your (pl) aiya -- their Explanation: "amavu" and "a'divu" (we are going) have distinct nuances. E.g., the use of yaka (to go or going) in reference to persons A, B, and C. If A, B, and C together, or one of the trio wish to convey to themselves the sense that all three are going (somewhere), "a'divu" is used. However, if A, B, or C, wishes to say that s/he and one other in the group, excluding the third member, are going (somewhere), "amavu" is used. The key here is that a'divu is used in an inclusive sense, while "amavu" is used in an exclusive sense. In a similar vein, in the use of our, i.e., "ama" and "'baa", "'baa" is used inclusively whereas "ama" is used exclusively. Thus, we can demonstrate the uses of the forms of the firs person plural posessibe pronoun by describing something pertaining to a group of people (in one place or somehow identifiable as a loosely aggregated entity), some of them Dutch and others German. For a demonstration of the two uses, see below: Ama ti ni Dachi (Our language is Dutch) or Ama ti ni Jeremani (Our language is German). But 'Baa dini ni Isilamu (Our religion is Islam) if indeed everyone in the group (Dutch and German) is Muslim. vukoni ps. Because Ma'di doesn't neatly fit into the categories of English or Arabic grammar and is still largely taught by ear, many native speakers (amazingly) believe that the language doesn't have a grammar. Consequently, from that premise, they sadly if wrongly) conclude that Ma'di is an inferior (and not different) language. --- In [email protected], "Don Osborn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Vukoni, all, Best wishes for 2005! > > Vukoni, In response to your question: In Bambara the usual response > for greetings and praises that begin with "i ni..." (literally you > (s.) and...) or "aw ni ..." (lit. you (pl.) and...) is "mba" by men > and "nse" (n'say) by women. It's an acknowledgement that does not > translate, but could take the place of "thanks" to a "welcome," > or "you're welcome" to "thank you." > > Part of what interested me as a foreign learner of African languages > is that some of the concepts are different than those in European > languages - not better not worse, but different finite sets of > assumptions and ways of organizing time, thought and social > communication. Learning very different languages can give one an > insight into the range of human thought and possibilities for > communicating it. (Of course African languages are also different one > from another like those of any continent, as you know better than I.) > > Re the Chicago winters - remembering the cold was a kind of mental > air-conditioning when I got used to the heat in the Sahel. "Too hot? > Nah, I remember too cold and I'll take too hot!" > > Don > > --- In [email protected], "Vukoni" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Hello Don, > > > > Thanks for the welcome. How do I say that in Bambara? It appears we > > have a convergence of interests in the areas of languages and IT. > > > > Whatever news I have, I will share in this space. > > > > But more later. > > > > vukoni > > ps. I tell myself that each winter I spend in Chicago will be my > last. > > That I'm still here, moping through my fifth year of chill-winds, > > must be proof that I love to wallow in self-inflicted misery. Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AfricanLanguages/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
