EWE BASIC COURSE

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EWE BASIC COURSE

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1

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EWE BASIC COURSE

.

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TABLE ay CONTENTS 4,

.

A.

4.

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to Ot

II

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ACS

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OA, to:

va,

,:

IntrodUction

z

.

The Language Bac kgrbund

1

,

Some- General. Linguistic' Featuiea:.

Phokieine IV'

4*

et

Tone arr.

:

40 S

,;.

,;

4 to$

*

40

7'

:L.

4-

or.

8,8

44:.

*

S

..T4o

It!re-Spe: soh Drilla

B.

Ai

.

.1

; *

Phonem,,u Dri us ,

^h,

.*

c'

IA *Ns

I

, 10.

ir

"

- ;'

*

4

'

vi

0

11

r-

Some Tongue,* *Twisters 4` § 0*,

oo,

C

,47 **I ( 40 D

..A

oto

o

'

.

*4 4

?)Eiie Basic* Greutmar--

t

,

mt

4'

t

*

i"e r,

.

KIP

"

';

.*

.

*IF

*5

*

t *,*

Pt.

1.-

*1' $

.

'"

'or

' te ***,

..-

Greetings* 11-

"

40.

.>

7.

r

So

-11

'The- Definite- Article:4' the- Emphsticlet:

16 ','` :22

li*:1111

Pronouna'

.

r0

the' Demot1its4ftive The Tronvanorina/ *and. the' 'Particle "ifyit.: /sidts

IndePOndetit'

4

. to

-

26

Negative Possessives

31 36

IX

Possessives (continued) Substantives of Place$ Possessive Substantives

47

X

The Verb /le/ 0. to be, Simple Past and Present

VI

VII

VIII

Tenses

56

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?Az ITNIT

*XII

.

63

Future Tense

XI

havet The 'Hitifilial Tans4 the Verb Ito

XIII

The Indefinite Pronouns

XIV

Object Pronouns$ Days of the Week

XV

Relative Clauses& the In4irect.00jecW.

86

AD SIP

the Particle

105

XVI

The Intentional$ Strong Form of the PranauneN,.ftw

XVII

The Progressive -

XVIII

Telling Tim& Numbers

nx

The Preterite, FUture, and Habitual Progressive

131

XX

The Imperative and the Jussive

140

XXI

Adjectives

XXII

Campound Words$ Causal Clauses

XXIII

Cohortative

XXIV

of t4e The-Comparative-and Superlative Degrees

.

115 122

146

Adjscti.XXV

o

156 '14:40

181

T ... ,

"

.

Verbal Nouns $ Verbal Ad j ec tive

-Negation.

,,and

"'

. Immo .. alimimmawdmommivsposamom '

ala Olo

XXVI

The Conditional

XXVII

.The ReciprocaL andf the .Reflexiye Pronclin t

D.

Dictionary

r

r.

.4.

.

if

ii

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Introduction Purpose - The purpose of this manual is to give a beginning student an introduction to the structure of the Ewe language and reasonable practice in speaking it.

It is

intended to be taught

with

the

assistance of a native speaker of Ewe.

Time Allotment -Allis book can be minimally covered within two This presup-

semesters of classlmeetings of three hours -each week.

poses that much wotk is done on the studentls own time.

In an intensive course this book is minimally estimated to cover about 250 haute.

If the instructor wishes to add further drials and

exercises', this can cover mudh more.

Note that the units are not of

equal length, and the first few chapters especially may go at a fairI7 rapid rate. Methods of Use - We stress oral practice and speaking with the in-

formant as much as

possible.

this purpose in many ways.

The dialogues may be utilized for

We have found the following methods

helpful. 1) Repeat after the native speaker each sentence or phrase. This may be done separately andfor in a group.

2) Read the dialogues with one another, with the native spedker neking corrections as neoessary.

3) Memorize the dialogues or portions of them and practioe both among members of the class and with the native speaker.

4) Analyze the dialogues sentemce by sentence, for grammatical content.

This can be both a review and an exercise for the

particular tDpic of the unit. iii

,-,

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5) Improvise conversations based .on the content of that and

preceding units.

6) Do the comprehension.

This nay be a reading* translation*

or dictation exercise.

.

k

7) The questions following the comprehension meiy be between two students with the native speaker making corrections* or ipletween a studeut and_the native speaker.- Samo:o;:the ,

questions may also be the basis for more convorsatigns.

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THE EWE IANGUAGE

The Ewe languaie belOngs iso the so-called kwa group Of languages. This group is part of Westermaimts Westlichen Sudaisprachentr and Greenberg' s ttNiger-dongo tt Family (Ansre) 2. The Kwa languages' are Spoken in the eastern part of the 1.*

Ivory Coast, the southern part of the Gold Coast, Togoland- and Dahomey, and t.he southwestern part a Nigeria (Westermann). 3. The term tt Kwa languagestt was first used. by q.A. Krause in 18.85 and. propagated by Christaller:. It 3.s derived from the word for people, which in many of the.se languages contains the root /kwa/ (Westermann). s.

The Ewe lansuage is spoken by some 1,700,000 people, according. to the most.recent estimates available (Ansre, 1961). The various dialects which are classified, under the. term Ewe are divided LI..

into three oyoups. .a) The western section with Ewe proper, ,which consists.of

the tt inland dialectstt and Aialc. b) The central section which incltdes the dialects Watyi* Ge (Mina)* and Adya.

,c) The eastern section which is made up of att. Fe and Maxi galec ts Ewe proper is spoken in the southern part of the Volta Region in Ghana* the south of the Republic of Togo and _the south of Dahomey .

(Ansre)

5. .LinguistA.cally this language. is one .of the best Lnown in West Africa. The most extensive study on Ewe has been done by D.

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produced a camplete crammer (on which much of

Westermann, who has

Other more this grammar was based) and a comprehensive dictionary. Greenberg, and G. Ansre. recent studies are those by J. Berry, J. received his Ph.D. Ansre is a native, speaker of Eve and has recently

in Linguistics from the. LSOAS.

His dissertation is said, to be a,

camplete and u.)-to-date grammar of Ewe.

His 11.A. thesis is.on tones

in Ewe. III

Same General Lin uistic Features 1.

There are seven vowel phonemes. There is vowel length, but it is of secondary importance.

Nasalized vowels are very common. that WestVowel assirailatien is very regular to the extent

ermann speaks of a tendency 'to vowel harmony. 2.

African languages, we In Ewe, as well*as in several other

not clusters find the coarticulated stops /kp/ and /gb/, which are

but single units.

In same of the languages in which' they appear

eiplosive. these consonants are implosive, but in Ewe they are docording There are two /a/ thaunds one whióh is altreolar

Berry, and another post-alveto Westermann.and dental according to

olar retroflex /4/. consists There are two sets of labial fricatives, one set other of the labiOdental /f/ of the bilabial All and /v/ and the and /v/.

/1/ and /r/ constitute one phoneme. bear tone. /m/ and /n/ are often syllabic, and they

/p/ seems to be a borrowed Phoneme frOm Twi.

Host' of the

words in which' it occurs are loin Words. vi

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.

3. Tone is of outstanding importance. Ewe is the classical and lexirare example of a, language in which tone is ahaost exclusively

cal. 4. Most. of the roots (verb or noun) are monosyllabic and consist of CV.: If a stem consists of more than one syllable, it is_ either a compound or a loan word.

frequent. S. Compoundi nouns and compound verbs are very. 6. There..are no true noun classes and no concord with other

parts of speech used to 7. Hours often have a vowel or nasal prefix which is, form nouns,from verbs. -plural pronoun 8. To form the plural you suffix the 3rd person to the singular. 9. There is no grammatical gender. the sen10. Case is expressed by the position of the word in tence. 11. There are no morphological word classes. idea"is expressed 12. 'there is no formal passi've; :the passiVe pronoun as the by an active constraction with the 3rd person plural t4

sUbject; i.e., the Engliah expression Ills is hitt is rendered in Ewe f,

by I they hit himt The pronoun I they is considered impersonal. usually 13. The verb root is invariable. Tense and mood are It is often hard expressed by particles or by reduplication or both. are 3:ndi-

to distinguith between tense and mood. Perswy and number cated by the subject pronoun, hi./ 14. The verb describes actions condition and quality: Ito got; /mlo/ I to lief ; and /ko/ Ito be high!. Because of the ,

vii

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last type of Ewe verb, many Engli sh adjec ti ve s are expressed by verbs in Ewe.

ç.

15. Ewe, as well as related langukses, has a peculiar type of

verb. adverb. There are adverbs which are associated with only one Mo St of them are picture words (onomatopes) , which at tenpt to express by their sc,und the impression conveyed by the senses, e.g.

/zo/ ! to walk! /zo bafobafo/ !describes* the walk of a small man whose body is briskly moved when he walks!

/zo bohoboho/ !describes the heavy walk of a fat man, etc.! 16. The. word order in a sentence is: subject - verb - object. 17. In a genitive construction the thing possessed follows the possessor. 18. Adjectives* including numerals, follow the noun they modify. IV. Phonemes

The alphabet for writing Ewe is generally written thus:

abddeeftghy,xiklmn klooprstu:v w y z.

Note that it does not contain a special symbol for all of ihe phonemic sounds, such as dz,

gb&,. kp.

,

V. Tones.

Tones are, not usually marked in Ewe 'except for /rit/ of the "-firist person plural, /wq of the third- person plural* and /wd/ of the second person singular. In rare oircurnstances, a writer' may Mari tonea on the pronouns Tto. eliminate the: doubt in his readers.

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t,

Pronunciation Cokisonants

amintion .b, g

m, n

Examples

For all practical purposes, these conSonants are prop. nounced the same as the.

corresponding sounds in English.

bid ve

fa

=rad no

po to k

.Similar to the corresponding dd consonant in English, but dd pronounced with the tip of the tongue against the back of the teeth and not against the ridge behind the teeth.

Ito send'

Made with the tip of the tongue against the front of the hard palate. Technically: a voiced retroflex stop.

Ito fill' 'gunpowder'

46 4a.

Similar to the corresponding pipd English consonants,. but with pf less aspiration (puff Of td

'tam'

breath). /V, like /d/s i8 td

'papa' 'chisel' 'yam' 'father' Ito be tall' Ito die'

Pronounced with *simultaneous gba

'voice'

closure at the lips (as.for /b/ or /IV) and at thesoft

Isidevvicinityl

pronounted with the tip of kd the tongue against the back kd of the teeth.

gb, kp

Ito ask, 'money' Ito finish! 'debt' 'grandmother' 'mother'

palate (as for /g/ or /k/).

gbd

kp kpd

Ito be heavy' Ito see'

Released Simultaneously and withoUt aspiration. Technically: labiovelar stops, voiced and voiceless, respectively.

ix

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ts

,f°

Usually similar to the final dzd consonant clusters in English da cads and cats respectively, ets8 Wrpronounced with the tad tongue against the back of the teeth. dzdsf Before No and sometimes before other vowels, similar de to the consonants in English tst Joe,and Chew respectively.

In producing /c/ and /11, the air passes through a narrow opening left between the lips (rather than between the lower lip and the upper teeth as in /v/ and

u8

Ito lodge Ito fall (of raip)Ir 'yesterday'

Ito come framl

tto reb6ipiiet Ito Give birth to'

!water' 'door! 'vehicle' Iyearl Ito beats

sa

/fn

Technically: bilabial fricatives,.voiced and voiceless respectively.

yip x

zi Similar to the corresponding sounds in English, but ilight- izt ly palatalized (i.e., somewhat.sia closer to the nedial consonant ast sounds in English pleasure and pressure respectively) before /i/.

tin abundance

In producing /y/ and /4, the air passes thrauaka narrow passage formed by raising the back of the tongue towards the soft palate. velar fricaTechnically: tive:s, voiced and voiceless respectively.

'sun' 'bird' 'friend'

'peanut' 'wife, husbandI 'handl

Ihouse, to mend, to patch'

;

.

bdt produCed 11,e Similar o somewhat further back in 'the. haa mouth. a. voiced Technically: pharyngal fricative. .

Ito educate !broad!

,

ny

Similar to French Ea as in Boulogne. Technically: a palatal nasal.

nye nyd

II, me' Ito be good'

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Similar to Engliati-w as in 0.

ito break!

AAMIE'

!name!

i velar nasal.

Tridlinically:

Similar to 'the first 1 in English little. The.Tongue

1

lf blf

Ito be (there)!

sre

!wife, husband!

1Cornt

is raisermarflat, nOt retracted as in the iecond 1 in little.

In producing/1Y, the air passes through a narrow passage formed Inr,raising the tip of the tongue, twards the, ridge-behind the teeth. Technically: a voiced, alvso!lar fricative.

1

.

.

w 7

Ito dol Itent Itoego!

Siailar to the eorresPonding w8 sounds in English, but of ten ew6 weakened to the.point.of yi disappearing-completely between. °gavels,

Vowels%

Agatha

4

Desbription

Examples

Similar to the vawel in English beat, but unglided.

dzf

TechnicaTUT a high front

lf

It6 giva birth tot..

Ito be theret

unrounded vowels

Between the vowel in Englidh bet and thelinal vowel ielaglidh sofa. Technically: a clETTialized mid front =rounded:vowel.

.

0 Sva

Betweep,the vowel in

cit

English bet and :that of.

PE*

ltio mairt

IWO

!cook it! !chisel!.

English Ea, but much closer to the former. Technically: a lower mid front unrounded vowel.

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Similar to the vowel in American English 221. Technically: a low central unrounded vawel.

a

md Similar to the vmael in English bought, but unglided. Technically: a lower mid back rounded vowel. .

Similar to the vowel in English boat, but unglided. Technically: a higher mid badk rounded voWel.

0

Similar to the vowel in English boot, but unglided. Tedhnically: a high babk rounded vowel.

X

V

6

6 6

r

All of the above vawels have a nasalized counterpart.

td td

Ito beat' !earl

td

Iseal IgunI

fi gbld ke

hi f

1

!street,

Ito blow the nose! Ito spoil' Idrill himI !also!

1

Ipalm branch! Ito take from the stoves

la..

Ito

shave I

Tones

Ewe has three distinctive tones: hig4:

tet

Ito draWI

td

!earl ,

mid:

tn ta

!head! Imorta0::

ti ta

Ito Wearlof native dress)! !buffalo!

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EWE BASIC COURSE

B. Pre-Speech

Drills

Nan Schneeberg

Prosper Kpotufe With Some Help From

Roland Kofi Glover

This work was prepared under Peace Corps the auspices of the PC42-1917 throuei Contract

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1.1

Drills ,t

vs. /gb/ Students should listen carefully to each of tlya-follow,ing pairs of words as said by the inetructor. bd b4 bet ba

Are the

, to hide,

,voi4ey ref.usel

gbe gbd gba sba gbd

I that! ,mud,

Ito gather, haagio,

following pairs of words

to break, , to come back 'unripe, same or different? cto hide) be

*

3.

.

gb6 gbd

(voice) (voice)

^

%to hide)

bd bd gbd

(to hide) (to hide) (voice)

be Gba bd gbd

gbd gbd gbd gbd bd

(to refuse) (to refuse) (to refuse) (to refuse) (to say)

ebd gbd bd gbd gbd

(to refuse) (to ,refUse) (to say) (to refuse) (to .rquse)

bat

(mud) (mud)

gba ba

(to 'break)

ba gba eba ba

(to break) (to break)

ba ba

(mud)

gba

gba be gbô ba gb6

(to come back)

(to gather) (to come back) (to gather)

be be 814 ba gba

bd gbd ba gbd gbd

(magic)

bd bd

ba ba gbd bd gbd

(to bide) (to hide) (voice) (to hide)

( to come.back)

(unripe) 1,6 (magic) bd (unripe) gbd (unripe) Dolthe.,follbwtize word! containlb/ or /gb/t.,.

(voice)

(voioe)

(to Lida) (voioe)'.

(Mud) (*10'

(mud) (to break)

: ( to gather)

(to gather) (j.to,.come back) (to gather)

,-:;( to oome.back), 11114540,

(magic/ (ilaS*0OkaGio

.4' (1=1430

It

gb T. 1

$'. e'

gb

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x

( to refuse) ( to say) ( to refuse) ( to refuse)

gbd

gb

gbd*

( to* refuse)

gb gb gb

gbel

( to break)

gb

gbd gbd

bd

bi

bet

(Mud) (mud) (mud) (mud)

ba

( to gather)

gba ba

ba

gb6

Lgb

.gb6 b5 b5

,

44

gb

to coMe back)

gb

( to gather) (unripe) (unripe) (unripe)

1St

e

( to coke. back).

(to gather)

gb a

P

,

;

A,

gb gb gb

(magic ) (magic.)

, 5.

gba

bd -glut

b5

gbd gb 6 gbEt.,.

(+4 .com, back)

gb

(mud )

( to say) .( to break) .

gb

(magic) (

to cOme back )

(voice)

( to refuse) ( to hide) ( to break)

r

gb gb gb

gb

,4

*

:Identify by givi,g the English gloss. Thewórdsföi Or this ()Zero i se ire /bd/ I to hi:del' 'and Igbd/ voiciaf. ,ba "gbd g be

gbd

(icithide)

(*Sice) (vOice)l (Voice) (

to -hide)

to hide' 'voice' 'voice' voice'

to tide'

words for this execidise Eire. /b,4/tto *,itayiand "igbd/.1: I to. refuse' to refuse' ( to refuse) gbd to say' to say) bd I to refuse' ( to refuse) gbd to refuse' ( to refuse) gbd I to refuse' ( to refuse) gbd The

4

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74.

to break14

!mud! and Aisbelt wordd 'for th.i:s exercise itre /bit/ '.gbet

(t6:oleak)

,ba

(imW)

ItO break!

g133.

'

e

!mud! !mud! Ito breale, Ito break!,

(11-tid)t.

40)41

,

(to break) (to break)

,

;

/68/

and

1The vords, for this exercise irelba, Ito

;

to 4

,

4pa "gba

come badks came badk! gather! gather! Ito come back'

ItO ItO ItO ItO

(to coma badk) (td:vome back)

(W:gather) 1)(3 iltb

,

a

O.colMe, back) .ri$Igiller)

,.

/b5,/ !magic! and /gbd/ !unripe!. The words for this exercise are

ba gbd gbd ba gbd

!magic! !unripe! !unripe! !magic! !unripe!

(magic) (unripe) (unripe) (magic) (unripo)

4

4-4

/, /kp/ vs /gb/

ee';4

/

I

,

4;

carefully to each of the follow* paire'of shoull listen Students words as said by the instruotbro ;

kpd kpd kp4 kpa kp6

Ito Ito Ito Ito Ito

be heavy! invite! fade! be cheap! see!

!voice!

gbd gb4

,Itos-Arefise!

gbet

..vtoirookl ltd.:scone back!

gb8 gbd

'heart

same or di7erent, Are the following pairs of words ftv,belleavy) kpd (to be heavy) kpd gbd (to be heavy) kp ((', lto-:bcheavy) kpd (to be heavy) kpd (voice)) i gbd (voice) gba (to be heavy) kpd (voice) gbd (tw Waite) kp6 (to refuse) gb4 invi te) ( kp4 (to invite) kpé gb6 (to refuse) gbd (to:Ativite)' kp4 (to invite) kp6 (to refuse) gb6 (to invite) kpd 4.

toerise)

4_44774 -

p.

,

11-

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(to fade)i (to roof) (to roof) (to fade) (to be cheap) (to be cheap) p(tO, come vbaCk) (to be cheap) (to be cheap)

kpa kpa gba kpa kpa

icp

gbd kpd gbd *

(near)

(to see) (to see) (near) (to see)

';

.

,

:

..

.

I .. 1

3

44

I

.

t

1

(to be heavy) (voice) (to be heavy) (to be heavy) (voice)

kp

gbd kpd

(to refuse) (to invite) (to invite) (to invite) (to refuse) -; to fade)

gb

kpd gbd kpd kpd

kpd. gbi

gbd

,-

(to come back to come backr A. to be ,oheap

( to omitie .baCk).

kp6 kp6 kp6 kpd gb6

kpd gba kpd kpd gbd

.iltpd

r(.to.,,i3e cheap)

gba gba kpa gba

Do the following words contain /lei)/ or .>

t° t.0,9f,

Ypa

!

gb6 kp6 kp6 gb6 kp6

(to roof) (to fade Ito roof to fade

&di

tto r.0041

gbd kpd gbd gbd kpd

(tostie) (to' 64)6) (to see

-

D

'D

.

i'xitio,asre)e

/0/2 4

r

*,

,

/.

gb

kp kp gb

kp ;

411

gb

kp kp kp

1(10 ,fade) (to -20.4e)

(to roof) (to roof) (to bóóIieàpi

. *,*

4

,*

Bb

I

gb

4.

kpa :

kpa ,.kpa gba gbd

,come

^.

( tonbe,- :Cheap)

be, cheap) (to Come back) -,

(near)

Acpd

gb6

back)

kp

(ne ar),t

gb

kp kp gb

.

r^.^-t,^ 4444,

.

1

" .1

,

/

,

*

.

`,.

gb

kp kp

.74`

gb gb

^

...

t'

i"..^!..%.

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5,,I5r5tr,

be heavy)

kpd

(to`refuse) (to fade)

gbt

kpd gb8 gba kpd kpa gb6

kp

'

e

gb

kp

. *!

(to come back): (near)

gb gb

(to invite)

kp kp

(to be cheap) gb (near) kp (to be cheap) kr, gb (near) gb6 kp (to see) kp6 ICP (to fade) kpd Identify by giving the Englieh gloss. The words for this exercise are /kpd/ to be hearis, and /gbd/ lyjoicet I voice' (voice) gbd I voice I (voice) gbd Ito be heavy' (to be heavy) kpd 'voice' (voice) gbd to be heavy' (to be heavy) kpd The words for this exercise are /kpd/ to invitet am/ /gbi/ to .

r

P

A

refuse'.

+I

.

; Ito invite! (tot3nvite), kp4 1. .i to refpset (to refUse) gbd to refuses (to refuse) gbiS Ito invites (t invite) kpd t to refuses ". (to' refuse) gbd The words,,tor. this exercise are /kpi/ to fade/ and jgbd/ to riof ; to fades (to fade) kpd fade!. at IV:(tO fade) kpd Ito roofs (to root) gbd Ito fades (to fade) tpd I to fades (tO fade) kp The words for this exercise are ikpq I to be cheap;s 4id /gb8/ ..r.

;,

-

,-; A'!"

I to come bac:kg

gb6 kp8 -gb8

gba

s+kp8

.

(to come back)

.( tO be _Cheap) ;Come back)

.(to Come back) be.Cheap)

I

I. 1r"

^

Ito Ito Ito Ito Ito

come backs

be cheeps,

tt

5.;

come bit& s

come backs

be cheat,' (..,

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The

words for this exercise are /kpd/ to sees and /gb.d/ 'nears.

gbd kpd kpd gbd kpd

(near)

/13/

/gb/, /kp/

tneart Ito see1 tto seet

(to see) (to see) (near) (to see)

Ito seet

/b/, /gb/ p or

Do the following words contain

(to invite)

kp

kp

ba

(to be cheap) (to gather) (to say) (to be cheap) (to come back) (to hide)

bilabial

/f/ vs. labio-dental /1Y

kpd gbd

gb4 gbd. 148

.

ba

kpd gbd

gb gb gb

(voice) (voicp) (to -refuse)

kp gb

folloWing pairs' .of Students should list4n carefully to each of the words as said by the'iustructor. debts fa 'years

fit fa

sbuy its

" to, beats seas 'bone I

Are the

,

rd

following pair4 of.wor4s same or

(debt) (debt) (year) (debt) (year)

sa sa fa

(buy it) (cut it Up,), (buy it) (cut it tits) (buy it)

flf

scut it ups sto be lights 'misery'. 'feathers different? (Tear)

(year) (debt) (debt) (year)

faSe

elf rif fli elf

*.

D

'3

(cUt it up) (buy it) (cUt it up)

(cut it up)

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(to (to (to (to (to

(sea) (misery) (misery) (sea) (misery)

D

(to beat) (tO,be,light) ( to. beat)

be light) beat) beat) beat) beat)

( to'be' light)

1

D

3

D

'

.,

(tiji beat)

14

0

(feather),..

(feather) (bone)

.S D 8

(feather)

,tboneY

l(bonW

(bone) (bOte)

(feather) (feather)

:

D -"'D

.

,

Do the following words cottain'bilabial /X/ or labio-deptal /f/t

.

labio-dental labio-dental labiokiental bilabial bilabial

(debt) (debt) "

(year) (year)

(buy (out (buy (cut

4

r

it) it up) it) it up)

bilabial labio-dantal bilabial labio-dental

..

.

1/4

I'

.44

;

.!.

',

labio=idental

(to (to (to (to

labio-dental labio-dental bilabial labio-dental bilabial t

.1

(to be light)'..1

be light); beat) be light):' beat)1

bilabial labio-dental labio-dental bilabial labio-dental

ieit) 1/4.1*-

(misery) (misery) (sea) (misery)

a!

, t, A

bilabial labio-dental bilabial, labio-dental labio-dental

(bons) (feather)

JbOnalY, (feather) (feather)

xix

4 4 0 00.00.04.0W0=.-4, "ZO. 0011.44.04:044.44014 4 '4 1/40 -A 041/47.>1.

.4.m..4.0.,004,

0 4,00., 0 0 0 r 4 0 4 ". 7707 0 0

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bilabial bilabial bilabial

(year)*

(sea)

(bone)

labio-dental labio-dental (to be light) labio-dental (dobt)1 labio-dental (feather) labio-dental (misery) bilabial (to boat) labio-dental (cut it up) Identify. by giving the English gloss. The words for this exercise ate /fa/ tyeart lyeart (y0Etii is (debt)

I

A

(debt (year): (year) (year)

ra

ra

54

debt! year year

a

year t '.a

for this exercise are /flt/ Ibuy itt ancr flt/ lout it wit. scut it up! (out it up) flt !buy itt (buy it Slit buy it! (buy it flt lbw itt (buy it nit !cut it up! (cut it up) flt words for this exercise ire /561 Ito beat! Ito beatly (to beat) Ito beatv. (to beat) Ito beat' (to beat) Ito be light' (to be light)., Ito be lightl* (to be light) /f1/ 'misery'. The words for this exercise.Are 114/ 'seal and The words

.

0.4

Ltd

XII

The

fd

fd

'misery' 'misery' I seal 'misery,

(misery) (misery)

(sea) (misery) (sea)

I seal

AA

words for this exerdise are /AV 'bone' A

(bone) (bone) (bone)

Ibonel Ibonel

(bone)

!bone'

'bone'

'feather'

(feather) xx

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bilabial /y/ vs. labio,-dental /7/. to each of the following paimof listen carefully Students dhould words as said by the instrutar. Igranaryl Awl 'war, Au& 'tto finish' va 'door, ea la fight' vd 'blood' ud Ito tear' vd 'vehicle, ud 'torn' vdvd Ito shake' udud same or different? Are the following pairs of words Itwir) Au& (war) Aug (war), Au& (granary) Avi ,( granary) AvA (war) (granary) AvA (war) obi (granary) ivi (war) Ault (to finish) (to finish) (to finish)

lui

(door) (door) (to finish) (door)

uil vd

ud

(blood) (a fight) (blood) (a fight) (blood)

ud ud vd ud ud

(vehicle) (vehicle) (to tear) (vehicle) (vehicle)

vdvd

(torn) ( to shake) (torn) (to shake) (to shake)

lidud

vdvd udud udud

(door)

jto finish) (to finish)

va

(blood) la (a fight

vd

;La fight "(a fight)

ud

(vehicle) (to tear) (vehiele) (tb tear) (to tear)

vd

ud vd

udud udud udvd udud vdvd

Avis

du& AvA AuA

(8ranary) (granary) (war) (granary) (war)

D

(to shake "(to shake (to ahake )

(to shake) (torn)

labiordental / contain bilabial /u/ or Do the following words AvA

8

/2

laio-dental labio-dental bilabial labio-dental bilabial

Jrati

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va va va va va

(to finish) (door) (to finish) (to finish) (door) (a fight)

uil

uil vd

ud

vd vd

Iti:::i (blood) (blood) (to tear) vehicle) to tear) 'b) tear) (vehiol'e)

vdvd vdvd *vdvd

vdvd vdvd

(to shake) (torn) (to shake) ItOrn)

(to shake)

vdvd vd

(torn) (to tear) (bloOd) (war) '.

iva

11%114")

va

..vdvd va ufd

(door) (to.shake) (to finish) 1b3.4:00:00

bilabial labio-dental labia-dental bilabial

labio-dental bilabial bilabial bilabial bilabtal

labio-dental bilabial labio-dental,

labio-dental bilabial bilabial labio-dental bilabial labio-dental bilabial

labio-dental labio-dental bilabial bilabial labio-dental bilabial bilabial bilabial labio-dental bilabial

Identify. by giving the English gloss.

The words for this exercise ire /INV !wart ,

''Ivi

la

ivi 4011

iVA

(granary) (war),

(granary) (war) Nail)

The words for this ;exeról:if are (to finish), (door) (door) (door) (door)

and /ay&

granary

'granary' 'war, 'granary' 'war' 'wart

/IA/ door! and. pity

tlo

Ito finish' 'door, Idoort

tdoort 1 door

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The words for this exercise are /Ant/ !blood! and

ud vd ud ud

!blood !

la fight!

The words for this exercise aie /utt/ !vehicle! (vehicle)

.

(to

(to tear (vehicle (vehidle)

The words for this

admit

udud edud vdvd vdvd

ta fight".

!blood! la fight! !blood!

(blood) (a fight) (blood) (blood) (a fight)

ud vd vd vd vd

/vd/

and /vd/

Ito tear'.

svehiclet Ito tear! Ito tear! !vehicle!

Ivehiclef

exercise

are /Antud/ Ito shakel

(to shake) (to shake)

Ito shake! Ito shake!

(to shake) (torn) (torn)

Ito shakes !torn! !tornt

and /vdv4/

'torn'.

/ vs. retroflex /4/.

dental /d

the following pairs .Of ;Student* &mild listen carefully'to each of

words as dfdf idg da

d8 dd cus

de

said by the instructor. lgoing down! !tongue! tto cook!

Ito.be long!

lealival** Ito throw! !hunger! Ito send! Ito plant! !town!

4

tto fill! Ito arrive' !gunpowder!

Are the following pairs of words same or differentt, (going (going (to be (going (going

down) down) long)

down) down)

(saliva) (saliva) (saliva) (tongue) (tongue)

dica

(going down)

didi didi

(to be long (tO be long) Agoing down)

dd

die

(to be lonl

Ad5 A45

-(saliva)

eld6

Jealiva)

i45

(tongue)

6145

(tongue)

(tOnsie)

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( to throw)'

(to coOk) ( to throw) ( to coolc) ( to throw)

da ad

da dts dfs

dts

da de da da da

(net)

da

N

cid

dd dd 46 dd

de

(hunk;er er All (net (net

( to fill) ( to fill) ( to fill) ( to fill) ( to fill)

d6 d6

( to plant) ( to plant) ( to plant) ( to arrive) ( to plant)

46 46 dd dd

( town)

dd de4

iicItiPir4r)

(gunpowdet

(gunpowder)

od dd dd

.

46 dd

i t4t 0

3

3

se ee nn dd

to fill

( to send),

( to fill)

46

,

(gunpowder) ( town),

dd

(to cook (to 000k

di dd

hunger) (hunger)

3 D

(to

net)

*da

(to Itircmr) (to thr010)

act

(to arrive) arrive ) i'tt. plant) (to arrive)

t

(tot) arrive)

( town

(gunpowdeii

Do the folloiiing :words contain dental /cv o.r'iteiroflex'14/1 ,

( gO

ciown)

(going,' 4own)

.( to be long &in.& down ( to' be long

(salita

e

( tongue),

saliva)

s aiiVa) saliva)

( to 'coOk)

( to throw) (to cook) ( tO ccOOk)

(th,

thr9w)

retroflex retroflex dental retroflex

dental ''dental retroflex dental dental dental

0

9

retroflex dental retroflex retroflex dental

"..

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46 do da

dd 46

'ad

46 dd

flet) net) (hunger) (hunger)

(net)

.

( to send).

( to fill) (IV 'send) ( to fill)

( to send)

dd dd ad 46

(to plant) ( to arrive) (to plant) (to arrive) ( to arrive)

dii

( town) ( town)

411

(gunpowder (gunpowder ( gunpowder)...

:dits

cbs

ato

8

retroflex dental retrorlex dental retroflex dental dental retroflex dental

retroflex retroflex dental dental,

( to cook)

ddt

retroflex. retroflex dentil dental

( to bi long) ( to-send) (net)

( to, fill)

(going down)

retroflex retroflex retroflex retroflex .retroflex dental dental

retroflex retroflex retroflex

dental dental dental didi Identify by giving the English Sloss. The words for this exercise are /didi/ I to be ong' and'. /OW dd d8

( to, plant) (hunger) (to, be, long)

,...sgoing dim&

didi

( to be long)

414t

( going '.!lown)

7..41141

(going down)

; (acing down) (gOing down)

to be longs

!going downs saving downs !going downs 'going downs

.7

_.The words tor this exercise are hid5/ I saliva' and /145 !saliva! (ialiva). 'saliva! (saliva) !tongues (tongue) !waive (saliva) ;

tonsil's

4

(tongue)

!tongues

Iggv

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The words 411

di da The words

for this exercise are /da/ ! to throw! an& /c1

cook!

to cook! ! to cook'

( to cook) ( to cook) ( to throw) ( to cook) ( to throw)

to throw' ! to cook! to throw'

for this exercise are /thy !hunger' and /48/ net!

da

(hunger)

da da

(hunger) (hunger)

48

I to

'hunger! !net! 'hunger' !hunger!

(net)

1 net,

(net)

velar /y/ vs. pharyngal /hi.

word's as Students should listen car'efully to the following pairs of

said by the instructor.' ; I suns

ha hag,

Ito educate'

( sun) ( sun) ( sun)

ya

( sun)

!broad' 'flowing' Are the following pairs of words same or different? Ya

yaa

( to educate) ( to educate) ( sun)

( to educate) ( sun) ( sun)

( to educate)

h&A

MA iota MA OA bAA yiA

WU

' yAA'

yAA

(broad) (broad) (flowing) (broad) (flowing) (broad) (flowing) (broad) 4

( flowing)

(flowing)

ha ya ya ya ha ha ha ha

( to, educate)

yeti haft

(flowing) (broad) (broad) (broad) Iflowing (flowing (flowing (flawing (broad) (broad)

haa

hia

yaa

,

yet&

haa

( sun ( sun

(sun) ( to. educate) ( to educate) ( to educate) ( to educate)

xxvi

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Do the fcillowing words va ha Vd

ha ha VA ha va Vd Vd

yid hdi

hdd

ydd

yid

hdd hdd ydd hdd yell Vd

vEl

ye had yeti

he

hA }mid

va

/vit

contain velar

( sun)

( to educate) ( sun) ( to educate) ( to educate) ( sun)

or Pharyngal,./b/V

velar pharyngal velar pharyngal

pharyngal

velar

( to educate) (sun) (sun) (sun)

pharyngal velar velar velar

(flowing)

velar pharyngal pharyngal

(broad) (broad)

(flowing) (flowing) (broad) (broad)

(flowing) (broad) (flowing) ( sun) ( sun)

( to educate) (sun) (broad) (flowing) ( to educate)

(broad) (broad) ( sun)

velar velar

pharyngal pharyngal velar pharyngal velar velar velar pharyngal velar pharyngal velar pharyngal pharyngal pharyngal velar

Identify by giving the English gloss. The words for this exercise are

ha ha he

id he

( to educate)

( to educate) ( to educate) ( sun)

( to educate)

va va

( sun) ( sun)

ha

( to educate)

ire

( sun)

ha

( to educate)

/ya/ I sant and /ha/ 1 to

educate! .

to educate! 1 to educatel 1 to educate! Isun! to educate' 1

1

sun! sunt

to educate! sun! 1

to educatel

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The wordsor

hii

bii

and /ha/ 'broad!. this exercise are /yeti/ Aflowingl

(flowing) (broad) (flowing) (broad) (broad) (flowing)

broad) broad) (flowing)

'flowing' 'broad' 'flowing' 'broad' 'broad' 'flowing' 'flowing' 'broad' 'broad' 'flowing'

a

xzysti

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II. Same Tongue Twisters tte

blitibitcli, biiie, litirmii; rtt.

:

+

,

p

!#%

'4+60.

4

"

k .,

kik.*

re,

"7

"

'

AAA dadis Op Odd, 4it4e, 04f, di414A64, dilrOdo, 'Aldo:Mop d6dd44de,

Oda; 'a64aidirs'ziade4e,,';'4"604a6dos,rdid.4rit, ,464die% iita-vuitko;;:ki*uddcfo,

edadtii cliddcgt, CIA greitttit:

-r

tt,

i"" t

-zr

A

1+:7'

'

t04.1+

t *0.

+

'4 "4

4

.

'4t.

A

.+

r

.;r1.

II, to a fttfau, :drags ANN, Ard,rd, jiddedu, fotd,

ametederaiso,

tafetfd, JAM, fliteld, diNf, afokarlare, nattrla fitri n4 Indxe Art Ise

xd, yd, yld, hlidzia, xld, heyt, Art, yeSyl, Oyes xixi,

yely14e,ahay4ye,4and yibuyabu, bla, xldloo, hia, xAbuxabu, :4 xli, yeglidu, yeyfyi, yedzerd, yadddyi, ii1bdbia, ylfdodo, hAxixe a

pt. n, n

nd, od, me, nd, 13d, me134, anem6m16, m61cr4174, woe:41131d,

ameodtineld, mianevfnydna, mlanevAldted, nni, ameodald vs Us W,

vd, a, w6, itua, thzô, Ava, lduo, avelua, aveliht, wozamed, atrd,

vemevivi, vendwewo, luaword, awobd4040, awlamatafa, vetarkla,

veud, ivlfafa, ulnyianyi, guawogbe, vovoyi, awoeud, ituawoud, AviwBwo, wlduldi, ufuli =rife ld mduli

_

::::::;-":i17;rgiicTaTAN,

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224.1.

.,t,13.0,P111.1,3;41101

04.01.44.V.Icr&i_s144,064

dzil3gbik,,c4:441401).00,4114,ti AS.ii,:tEt04,!4/ P 0404 OP

t s id zad za

az id z eraii

kp6dz6dzo, dzftsfdzodzoegba g

'41.

4t

A

'7'

11'16.46Am....24 .

f.

%4'

'

.*T^

,,d ' "

*,

r, t,

:N'

.'.'" .w.

*. ..

'

'

A,

''' 4 Th4, t*,.'t ,,',.

".4". , '

..e.

4

*

Z*

+#*

w

gb,"4,04.1 $bAdzaa Ot *plat pa2c,4 ;,,zicrqicizaa 4'1 *P114136,*.. 3lP4 tikc .`t.TcP031).4 1{Pdrig4g4e. st. ,(81,4414441,i 04d 4gbad 1960.4r4 at. 7gbpaiekpoyp;!) vilikpgi.gbt,

gbagbogblo , klogbadza , kpelimdtsfa , &edited:a:I , kpokp1oy#344,,,,,.. gbabilblIsba gb okpokpl o gb 84dgb acts, kpdkpaldeui tpagb 911'614 , 11". 4

slab addnftpdkpai

t!4, .^-' 1/4:

t

f.

;

A

"";

n rt A

A'n

..

r

4

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4

,Y4

Vso

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t.

4.

,

.±

t,'

J. 4

-

r

N. 4

'11"

4%

ty

tr:

,tt,

,

,..

;,

Jo;

41'

0, )0,7,f..

,-.7

,

+

4.

4..

.4

?te

-,t

F

'

V+,

:

t

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41/4

.a

,;

,

r

14r

r.

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F,=.

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1,1 4:4

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LI.

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kf,...:

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tt

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4, 14

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tr -

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4,4

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EWE BASIC COURSE C. Ewe Basio Grammar

Irene Warburton Prosper KPOtufe

Roland Glover

This work was compiled with the support of the Office of Education, Department of Health, Education and Welfare of the United States of America Contract OEC-3-7-070097-2201

The preliminary edition was compiled with the support of the Peace Corps through Contract PC-82-19l7

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Unit I 4

Greetings

'

SUbiect Pronoun:C Asking Questioni General Greetings-(1fitho ciiy)1

Dialogue k:

%

K:

Af Akuwa

Komla

K:

a

fd

to get lap'

arts

you got up

aftso

did y-ou get upt2

if6a?

How ari you71. A:

yes I got up.

mefd a

I'm fine, thanks.

E, maf6.

t.

K:

thc children

clividwd

4ilsoi even

hi

How are the children?

Davfdwd hi f61? A.

they got up

w6f 6

A

They're fine.

E, w6f6. Notes:

t

1.

A relatively ahort exchange of greetinss is more common in the city.

In the country, where people are in less of a hurry, 0,

longer greetingeAre*MOifte usual. 2.

Note the difference in the following pairs of sentences. ^

/111'6/

6116ii

you 'got ups.. I did- yOu *get up?

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2

Revidwd hi f6/ 'The children isot up also.' /4dvidw6 hi 04/ 'Did the children set up too?'

/-Vat the end of a sentence marks a yes-no question. 3.

Literally, the above conversation means: ifZel?

Did you got up (in good health)?

to maf6.

Yes, I got up.

DavfAw6 ha -f611?

Did the children get up tooi Yes, they eot up.

wad. Dialogue 2: K:

horning (In the city).

Kumla

Ko:

Kofi K:

liorningt1

lAnit Ko:

home

how about, what about,

461

and (denotes a question)2 horning, how's everyone at home?

/On!, Ardima ad (or Ar4dmet6wd ad)? IC:

lt

to be there They're fine.3

1461i.

Ko:

mi6f6

you (pl.) got up4

nydid

well You're all well?

mtera nydfdi? K:

we'got up

mfdfd ,

z

Yes, we're all, fine.

B, migf6 nydie. -2sw

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I.

Notes:

1.

Fro!a ,pnglish morning.

It is used on the coastal, areas, the

ADlo area and especially in, Accra where there is a great

mixture of tribes. 2.

Note the following sentences. /ardda,/ 4 home.'

/4f44md 44/

How s ( everyonp at ). home ?

/4Avi4w6/ I the children! AsivItiwc5 44/ IHow are the children?I; !Where are the childreni%

and the children?

.,

/44/ at the end of a noun phrase may be translated 'how JAW, where is?' r !what is?! or land...21, depending: on: the 'context. 3.

/14/61.1/ Literally:

'They are..there.I /li/ I to be there! is

here used synonymously with /f6/ and /d4/. 4.

/of4/ Iyou (sg.) got upl Iyou (pl.) got upt

Ewe makes a distinction between the second person.:singular and plural.

Eiploat.1: Abl

Alaa.

Good Morning (In the country)

Am:,,Ama Ab:

Good),Imorningl Am:

Good morning, howl s everyone*

4418 ifddmitdwd 4412

at home? Ab:

&id Efd.

s4e., it got 1.1p.,

Fine.

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I. 4 A,

Am:

.1

*

How about the 'children'?

Dillvf1W4 441-

,r

fl

.

.

4,

.4

They' re .fine:

W4513 (or, W6f6)

4.1

They' re all' well?

WdfsS nydfdEll

Air

Yes, sahd your bbildient

44v14w4?

S.

1.AM.

A

A 2.

;

Theylie fine.. -

w613.

.

W4A,

Idf

Th5ylie au wear- -*

r*dfdal

it

'. Yes..

E110

Notes:

,

,.

1. /ifê6mataw6 44/

.

,.

.-

.,

4.

I How I s eyeryone at home? I .,,,-

/4elvfiwd 44/ /44vialw6/

,

;.

..v.

P

... :*, ? 0 ' *' .1 ..k. .. . x, .

'How are the children?' ,

: I)

.

ri,:T f'..

,

-

If the context is clear, /46/ may be omitted .in queitions 'like the above. 2. ate makes ho gender..distinction in the third person singular pronoun. :)

ThErSub lee t P1onoune,:4.

/m4f6/

/mi6f6/ 'we got upt

got up'

/df6/ 'you ( sg.) got up' :.**/mf4/ 'you (pl.) got upl /w4f6/ 'they got up' /4f6/,' the, she, it got upl 640,..11

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5 I.

Singular

1st person

E

v

2nd person 43rd person The pronouns are mil and, mi, but e acts as a liaison between ceptain pronouns and verbs and/or verb tenseg. t

part of the, pronoun. Diakostue 4: ,Good Afternoon (In the country)

This e is nOt

K:

Kosi

A:

Abia

(Good) af ternoon

10dot

(form of respect)1 13do, god Areame 44?

V.

Good af ternoon, how I s everyone

at home?

Ed6.

to sleep Pine.2

1:04v/44

How about the childrelit:

W6416, Ovfliwd?

-They're fine, and your children?

VIOrd nydfd.

They' re fine.

dâ

No tea:

,

41.

1. /gad/ is a respect form used by a woman to a man, a commoner to a chief, or -in any.,,situation where one wishes ta: 1

:

.

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6

I. 2.

Literally, lIt (i.e.,

the housett-Gid)-elept well.'

is when e lit' is.Uied instead of

wd-1*-theyl.

Good Eveninii

Dialogue $,: K:

This

Kosi

Ko:

Kodzo 4o,

uo 44

r>,

to

(Obbd) óvoñingV

Alts

.

,

-,CloOd\kiAreningi

Fie gc3c3, kritimat

at homie-f.'-

K Edo

Fine.

6

Kos:

How about the childreilli:

DdrftiwiSV:i

T

3

-4

They' re fine. Ko

They're all well?

W6d5 !wadi?

wife, husband, spouse

sri

your wife, hubn *;Yes, howls your wife?

E, srawai 445? a

She's fine. Ilow about the children?

Davidwdt 1

0T4m

Wcilit:nytti4.*

oj tivw,

"31,104. 4

eto,p2,,T,"

IlOyLrO rtriti,

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Supplementary Vocabulary: your father

or, t6w3

fofowo,

dawa'(or, awd)

your mother

t6gbdf

grandfather,

elderly) grandznother, mother (if

melmi

your

avfwawd Grammatical 1.

brothers, sisters, cousins

Drill

Respond with the appropriate Examples:

2'0

father (if elderly)

pronoun +

/f6/.

Sriwaa dd?

Efo.

Dav/awd 46?

IldfS.

Afdama 46?

ifo (or, wofo).

pronoun + Respond with the appropriate

Sr5wda 44?

Noviwaw6 462

Wdlt

Fofowo 4A

3.

Dawd

1:6?

Mara

4.6?

Eli. Eli.

pronoun + Respond with the appropriate Minitt 46?

Deviawd 46? Fofowd 4.62

Edo. 141dcio.

Edo.

Sr 5wia 44?

Af dame, 14..

46?

Edo (or, wddo).

pronoun + /f6 nydi4/. Respond with the appropriate T6gbdi 46?

Dawd 44?

h'fo Efo nyzi16.

Sr5waa 46?

Novfwdwd 462

Waa

nyd16.

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I.

W6fo nydfd.

Delviaw6 46?

5.

Respond with the appropriate pronoun+ /lf nydf4/..

'

if6am6 46?

Lli nydf4 (ors wdlf°nydf6).

Dawd 44t.

1l

nydfd DIP

U. nyuie.

T6gbuf 46?

6.

.Marati 462

E1

D6viawd 46?

W6lt nydf6.-.

nytife.

Respond with:the appropriate pronoun + /d6 nydf4/. Wod6 nyd16.

Noviwaw6 46? Dawa

44?

Edo nyuie: Edo. nyuie.

Sr N641 46?

0,0

0

do

Edo mule (ors wodo-nyuie).

Areame 02.

*00

Edo ,nyuie.

Togbdi 44?:.: 7.

Respond with /e/ + the' appropriate pronoun + i Oft. p Examples: Efoa?

Efoa?

mef o.

Ef6 ny1f6i?,

mef6..

/f6/.

.if;i?

Wofoa?

2, wof:00

Wofo nydfdit

t, wOa.

E, 06.

1

Efoa?

mg,

E,

Miefo nyuiea?

8. Respond wiih

/eft

W611&?

the appropriate pronoun' + /1V. .

m6la.

Miei?

E, mi,eli.

:

44.ifit2

.

E,

411

-

-8-

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I.

Respond wi th

9

+ they appropriate mrkoun

0

4

0

Miedoa?

miedo.

0-"wcsd6,nydiat ."..

wodop.,

taw

medo.

10460

wodo.

,...*_ :1.

.rtLi ,t.E

C:1

I

10.

Fiespond with /e/ + the appropriate

pronoun +

the verb used_

in the question. Examples:

Efoa?

E, ifo.

Efoa?

E, mefo.

gfo nytifea

g, mefo.

Ado nraei?

E, mefo.

Deviawo hA d62

E, wedo:

00041

nyuiea idoa?

E, medo.

Sr3woa foa2

Es 6fo.

ido nytlila

E, edo.

Deviawo hl lia?

E,

0411

E, wdfo.

Wofo nyuiea? ..0,

Miedo nyuiea?

E, miedo.

Question and Answer Drill: instructor. Then ask another Answer the question asked you by the pattern. student in the class a question based on the same

has had a chance to ask Continue in this manner until everyone and answer several questions. 1.

Question Example:

wi th /ad/ . Instructor: Student:

Afeame 46?

ifo.

Deviawd

ad?

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10. I. 2.

Question Example:

Instructor:

Melia?

k.

StudentI'' is mieli. Deviawo ft; nytlieell

Conversation Drill: dialogues in, Unit Improvise a conversation, on'the model of the

,

3.

.010-

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1

Unit II The Pronouns /na/ and /wd/

Demonstrativesisia/ Uses of the Particle /ya/ The

Dialogue 1 Edward

E:

K:

Kwasi

Nlifiala Lid sukftvi ne nydA?

Are you a teacher oi a studentIl IC:.

igble

farm

Lgbladelet

farmer

tree root doctor, herbalist illness, sickness doctor (healer of illness) 'on the other hand2 I sin a farmer.

ati atike itikewolL e

da

td0814 ya Agblwadditi meny4. A

*

Kofi ya nyd sukuvi.

on the' other hand student.

Koff

is a

E:

Nye ya ettlkewold. menyd.

I,- on the 'other hand doctor.

amw a

tee

person which, who

'time

ka

who

aieka

man

sit

.41. .

.1

this3

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I this man

3311t= sia

Who is' this man?

.Ameka' enye Odtsu

he also

,eya hik

, ,

to

citizen

towd

Oitizeno.citizens

Eya hit nye Amerikatowo.

He also is an American.

Ndtia1aw3nye.

He4ts.a teher.,

,

Good morning,'Bob; this farmer's

nawa, Bob, agbledela sia'

name is Kwasi.

33k6 dny6 Kwasi.

,

Notes:

alternate as. /nal lyou,(13134, and../d/tyou,(sg4, freely

1.

subject of a sentence.

/enye nufialai lyau(se.), arg,a

(se.), are a teacher.4 teacher.!. /nenye,nufiala/ 'you

is used to place the npun it other'hand, but' 2.. /yAtiomthe 1:follows in:,opposition to aaother.

/Kofi ya nye

;1141cdvii/

,ontheother hnad is a student.' or 'But Kofi is, a else whip hae student.' (When speaking:of Kofi and someone, '

3.

600 ther.

oetupation

/ask/ (pl. /sia1140

.

this' is the

It follows the noun it modifies.

demonsti-ve adjective. Autsu sia nye nufiale/ .

t'This man is% a teacher.

4.

t

.

,

tAy

r

/Amerikato/ 'American, American citizen.1 /Amerikatowd/ 'Americans, American citizens.'

/to/ 'citizen, citizen oft

only may be used in the plural [bowl/even When it refersito one person4:- The choice is optional.

/to,/, /towo/ ip_

suffixed to the name of a country, city, town or yil,lage to signify resident or citizen of that place.

/0.14natp/

/Ghanatowd/ IGhanaian(s)1 /Togotqi/Togiotorwo/ ITogqlesel /Geto/ /GEtowo/.1resident-of,Accra'.

-12m

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VP.

3 Dialogue 4 Bob

B:

Kofi

K:

K:

to give, for, to

nA

you

via

to you

ntiwa

Good morning to you/

Ndi awaf,

B:

Ndi, afda?

K:

teacher

ndfiala

you (singular)

(n)e

Fine geg. Are you a

Ndfiala ndny4A?

E.

Good morning, how are you:

teacher? B:

you (emphatic)

wa

Yes, I am a teacher.

manyd.

What about you.

Waa

K:

student

sukdvi

or

ild

I an only a student.2

Sukdvi nye ya meny6.

Are you African or Amorican?

.

ifrikátawo alo Amerikatowo nanyda?

B:

Amerikatowo meny4.

I um American.

Notes: 1.

/wila 44/ is the result of the contraction of

/wo +ya

4e/

you?Ilya/ is 'And you on the other hand?' or 'How about 3

2.

usually contracted with /wd/ to form /woa/. directly, it can often foilow a noun does not When

/ya/

'only' or 'just'. be better translated as 'but' or

/Sukdvi nye ya meny4/ 1I'm only a student.' -13-

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Dialogue 3 Bob

B:

K:

Kosi B:

English

4ilisitowo

1011sitowo

Is this man English?

odtsd sia nyéi? K:

E, 1OlisitoWo wdny4..

Yes, he is English., B:

Is Kofi African?

AfrikitSe'Koff nyeEl? IC:

ifrilaito4 Koff ya ny4.

Yes, Kai, on the 'other hand, is an African.

Dialogue B:

Bob

K:

Kosi B:

Suldtvi anydi?

Are you a student?

K:

no

o (or ao)

44,

No, I am a farmer.

0, agbledela menye.

And you?

Vida 44?

B:

Togolese

Tdettilwo

I am a.teacher.

Ndfiala menyd.

Are you Togolese?

Tdgdtd any4A?

IC:

Yes, I am Togolese,"

E, T6gdt4 meny4.

And you?

W844?

B:

I am American.

imerikatowo menye.

Comprehension Kosi nye Afrikit;wo.

Lye

Togoto agbledela.

KOff,

e,

auka710

Nutsu

sfiwc; nylo AmelriliatZw4.

Asia nye Bob.

ya

nye

gnye

a.

ndfialtt. ,Edward ya.nye doyola.

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5

A.

Questions Based on the Com rehension

1.

ifrikeltSwo Kola nyea

2.

Tdgotowo w8rly4a2

3.

Sukdvi ald agbladald !Cosi nyda?

4.

sukevi ald agbladali Koff ya nydin

S.

imerikt;tSwo

6.

Ndfiala Bob nydta

7.

D6yold, Ind ndfiala Edward ny4A?

B.

Questions for the Class

1.

Sukdvi anyda?

2.

Ndfiala menytg?

3.

Ndfiala ild sUkdvi Otsd sia nyda?

4.

Yevd (white man) wdnydA2

Afrikit6wo Bob nyga?

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1

Unit III The htlphaticLY..

The Definite Article Dialogue 1,

Edward

E:

Kosi

E:

person, human

81110

what, whicfi (quedtion

e

ka

particle)

who

ameka

the (definite article),

tit

(or, a)

this1 'teacher

%Who is'the.teacher

Imekat nye ndfialatt-Bob alts

,

Kofif

Koffi?

K: :

ABobA.s the teacher).

'114fiala la).

Kofils a student.3

°Koii nyd

E: '

clatugbui

Sukfti ald tsadillt(e)-detugbui K:

Sukdvi e wany4. -

E: .

daksiipui

Amdka 4ny4 '46kitkpui dial'

*APS:tb B`rone.

.

.1s:this young*lidy. a 'student

r Or a visitor?

ex

,

..afto

young-lady

visitor, 4anderet

tsa4ili

.'

,

it is2

a-t*is'bob who is the t6acher;

Bobe nye ndfialaai'(Or,' '

4e sia ny4a?

Bob or

.. She.is a student4 .

,

young maa,\gentleman Who is this gentlemaa?

K:

MIstei He is Mister Brown.

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E: nyd

(be) good5

.,

dnyo

(he *11.10; It) very, much

-goad

Kolto

Kt.

7. %C

t

s. r

it is very nice, it ii

dnyo vita ot

"

very good

,

Ooc,efdel, Arsito Brczwn..',

Moto nyuie.

B:

Well, how are you, Mr..Brown. I am well, thank you.

Notes:

li(4I/1/7:or

.is a .demonstrative adjective, and it serves as

the definite ai,ticle after a substantive. Similar to the adjectives and _other noun modifiers it follows the,:no,un it jatfa/ ..1 tilt:I:tree' modifies,' .e.g. /ati/ tree' /ati lift/ If' there is an adjective modifying the noun the ax4.ka.le,./191/ or /I/ followt,the_adjective, e.g. /agble/ 'farm' tlga/ ga .14/ 'the big farm' (114ere.1.1.v ,sfarim WA the). The-definite article, is normally used when tOe noun it:podifies has alreadyr been previously mentioned or kniiwh.;...Thus it, is not used as Often-As it is used in English. 2. /yd/ or; /Id/ t t et. places a substantive or a pronoun noticeably

oppcbition to another. The.,/ye4orle/ ,,,(br,hick is:: more common, dueto-sease of pronunciation) is suffixed,. to the noun it emphasizes.. Comparc. the following examplest,..; ". /Kotny4 ntifiala/ iKofi is a teacher' simply:announces what Itiofilikprofe,sp:i.on happens. to be. ;..

/Kofie dyL .ndfialtk/ Literally, fit is Kofi-,,,who

teacher' (in oppositionpo else).

is a someone

-17-

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However, this type of construction is much more common in Ewe than the construction lit is Bob who...' is in. English. Note that the pronoun e is attachtd to the preceding, v'erb,

e.g. /enyo utsV lit is very good.'

The ell,phatic e is attached

to the noun or whatever it emphasizes, e.g. /Eon. nye .hufials/ t.

'it is Kofi who.is the teacher.'

/Amekae nye esiali 41166.is *

this?' 4

3.

Cf

I

To emphasize the substantive predicate, you place,it at t46 beginning of the sentence and you add the emOhatic to it. ,

/sukdvf Kofi nyd/ 'icon is a student.'

,

**

a

/sukevie Kofi ny4/ 1Kofi is a student

e

,.,

rather th

something else).' ;

In a short question or answer where only on'e substantive is

used, 6 follows the sibstantive and the verb is Ohitted, Question: '-Answer:

/Amdkae nye clek&kpui sia?,/ 'Who is this man?'

"Afdtpc Browhe/ 'It is Mr..;Brown.

and Bob:

/D8yold(e ) datugbui sia ny6.,/ 'This young,laay is

4 doctor. Kofi:

4.

/AmeriktiltdwdeaV lIs she American?

/wd/ 'he, she.,'itl replaces /d/ in an affirmative, etente404,

when there is Some other ele;ment preceding the subject 'as for example:

fiukdvie wany4/ fIt is a student that.sh9440

or

'She is a student.' 5.

Many words, such as 'good,' which we consider an adjective, are expressed in Ewe by &Verb, for example, /nyo/ 1(to) be

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good, is good.'

Further discussion will come later in the

book.

DialoAue 2,

Br

Kofi

Bob

Rofi, are you African?

Kofi, Afrikatowo nenyea2 K:

-*

E, Afrikatowo menye.

Yes, I am African.

Wdya 44? (or, wda 44)?

What about you? B:

I am an AmeAcan.

imerikitwo menye. K:

Are you the teacher?

Wdenye ndfialael? B:

2, nye; nye nlifiala

Yes, I am the teacher.

Sukdvi nany4&?

Are you a student? K:

No, I am a farmer.

0, Agbledel4 meny4.

Dialogue.3 K:

dot i

Ko:

Kosi K:

imerikatowo alo Afrikeltwoe

'Is this man American or African?

nye 13dtse Ko:

He is African.

Afrikatowoe. K:

ljlisitowo

Is John English or French2

Fransetdwoe

nye Johnel? Ko:

He is English. K:

Who is the teacher, Bob or

Amdkae nye ndfialag, Bob

John?

ild Johni? Ko:

Bobe.nye ndfiala

Bob is the teacher.

Dayoli(4) John nyd.

John is a doctor.

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a

Dialogue 4 tt

Kofi

K:

Bob

B:

B:

Ndi, lion* doyolae detugbui

Good Eorning* Kofi .this youilg ,

lady ksAdoctsm,.

sia nyd.

1s ,phe American?,

Ah1,1 Amerikilttiwoea?

Yes, she iq.American.

Es imerikatowoe.

Kofi, are you i teather?

Kofi nufiala nenyea2

K:

1,am a ktudent..

No.

0* sukevie menyd.

*,

Note:

1. AMU is an exclamation equivalent to:.

.'Oh yes.1, AThat'

reminds me.' etc.

Comprehension Bob nyd i1T1erikat6wo.

Lye atIfiala.

4reto Brown nye d;yolel.

Lye

John ha nye Amerikatowo.

inye lisiawo.

Koff nye

* I

Afrikatowo.

Kluli hi nyd Afriktltwo.

Kofi nye sukilvi.

Kumla

ya nyd Agbledeld.

1.

Questions Based on the Comprehension I I I I Amerikatowo alo Afrikatowo Bob nyea?

2.

Ndfiala w8mydA2

3.

AmeriktItclwo

4.

Ndfiala Al6 dayold wanyda?

5.

iseto Brown cle dayold wanydell

6.

. aisiawo Afeto Brown nyea? Amerikatowo alo

7.

ifrikatZwo

8.

Sukavi wonyea?

9.

Amdkae nye Agbledeld ld?

A.

lalisiawci John nyea?

.

.

10.

.

imerikelt;wo Koff nyea?

.

ifrikatwo alt; imerikatwo 16m14 nyea? -20-

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B.

Questions for the Class

1.

Amdkad nye ndfialaa?

2.

Amdkad nye dtsd sia?

3.

Amdkad nye Otusbuial

4.

imerikeits;wo 2LO ifrilultZwo nenyeal

5.

AmerikatZwo

6.

imeriktItZwo mienyea?

7.

Amdkad nyelmerikatwo?

8.

Amdkad nye istfrikiltwo?

9.

Amdkad nye Kaisiawo?

lS) lifrik;ttZwo c

menyea?

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Unit IV Plural

Dialogue 1 Bob

B:

K:

Kosi B:

Fig, ea?

Good evening, how are you?

IC:

I am well, thank you.

go mefL B:

devi

a child

devii

the child

daviiwo

the children1

Ddvidwo dd?

What about the children? these men

Vitsd siawo

They are fine.

Wofo.

Are these men students?

Sukaviwo odtsd siawo nyfia?

or (Sukilviwoe nye ijuteu siawoa?) A

E, sukuviwoe (wonye). Afrikatowoe nye sukuviawoa?

K: B:

Yes, they are students. 2 Are the students African

xe, xol6

friend

kpld

and

and Koff. are Africins. Kamld kpld KofiwdnyAtrikatowo. Komla Bill and Tdm are Americans*. Bill kple Tam wdnyd Amerikatowo. The Americans and the Africans Amerildt6awo kple Afrikittiawo

are friends.

nye xgwo. Notes: 1.

a.

addin&Wo to them. The 'plural of 'iubstantives is formed by

personal pronoun), e.g. (Wo is the 3rd person plural of the /ame/ Ihuian being:

-22-

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/amewo/ Ihuman beings!

b. Should the substantive be followed by a modifier

(adjective, pronoun, article), the sign of the

'plural is added to the latter, e.g.. !child! Revi/ ! the child! bievilapor kievia/ .

Reviawo/.

!the children!

/1g/

I animal!

/woada/

Iwild!

/liwoadawo/

Iwild animals!

2. In the singular the definite article/may be

or I.

In the plural it is always

/ati/

I tree!

/atili/ or /atilt/

I the tree! I the trees!

/atilwo/ Dialogue 2 B.

Kofi

Bob

y.

B:

ny6nu .

woman

Afrikatowoe nye nyonu siawoa?

W.

Are these women African?..;

Yes, they *are African.

.Ariikato*oe wohye:.

are:Totblese.

Togo towo- vonye. VatrOplairb& nye odtallsiawdat a

err

B

Are.

thesie men. European?4,7

E, ljutsusiawo kple dekakpuisiawo Yes, these men aid these. young man Are Europeans. nyd Eur6pit6wo. .Are; you' Students?

suicuvxv6e'lkienyeel?:

two

fewi' ISO

ift

B, mienye wukuviwo.

.6 3..

Yes

wet.are students.

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IV.

These two young man are the

Dakakpui dva'siawde ny6

teachers.

ndfitildawd.

Dialogue 3 B:

BOb

.Kofi

B1:

Are these girls Togolese or

T6g6t6w6 abs Ghanat6wd

Ghanaian?

detugbui siawo ny6a?*

They are Togolese.

T6g6t6w6 w6ny6.

visitor

tsadild

Sukdviwo A16 tsadildwo wdny6a2

Are they students or visitors?

K: Tsadilawo tordnyd.

They,are visitors:,

Dekakpdiawd ny6 sukdviwo.

The boys .are sttidents. D:

Is the teacher English or

laisiawo alo Amerikatowo

American?

ndfialaa nyda? K:

He is American.

Amerikatowo wonye. Dialogue 4 B:

Bob

X:

Kosi

Kamlg B:

Are the children students?

Sukdvfwoe deviawo ny6a? K: E,

Yes, they are students.

sukdviwo wdny6. .

4,

B:

Are they Africans or Americans?.'

Afrikatowo alo Amerikatowo wdny6a? IC:

.

They are Africans.

Afrikatowo wonye. 13 :

Are you the teachers?

Miawoe nye ndfialaawoi? tiKo:

Yes, we are.

Es miawoe. .

.

B:

Are you (pl.) Africans or

Afrikatowo alo Amerikatawo

Americanel

mienyea? 11:S;

We are Africans.

Afrikatowo mienye. -24-

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IV.

Comprehension Bob kpld John wonye Amerikitt6wo.

Sukavfawo nye AfrLkatwo. ndfialaawo nyd xewo.

Itirdnye ndfislawoo.

TOgOtwo wOnye.

Sukavlawo kpld

Koff kpld Kamli nyi xiwo..

Kofi nyd

0

sukavi.

Kamld ya nyd agbledela.

A.

Questions Based on the Compalehansion

1.

Amerikatawo Bob kple John wonyea2

2.

Ndfialawo Al dayoldwo wdny6a2

3.

a owo a o If rik atawo sukavfawo nyea2 Amerik.t

4.

Sukavlawo kpld ndfialaawo w6ny4 x5woa2

5.

AfrikiltZwo Koff kpl4 Kamli wdnyda2

6.

nwoe wdnydA2

B.

questions for the Class

1.

Ndfiala

2.

Ndfiala mienyea2

3.

4Cfrikeltwo denyea

4.

Imerikatawo mienyea

.19

1d sukavi raianyea2

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Unit V Independent

Personal Pronoun.s

MO...mm.14 ,

IC:

Ko:

Kamlit.

Kosi

4.11

4

4.

i

V.

How are yoUt

if4(1?

So mato. Wd

Ko: *-

.

hi efoli

V.

I am fine..

,

How are yOU41;.

Lo mefo.

Pines.

Davidwo 40

How aie.the children? Ko:

Wdli nyuie. Srilwoa 40

Eyih

K:

Ko:

116.

They aie: well. :;-. And you*, wife?

She is al da well.2

K:

to come from

afi'

-.place, here J 4uefition marker, what* e

-

kit

whichitc

-*41,20. 1,

affki

.

'what..place,:.,where

Where do .you come from?

Afika mietso?

'toff tsi;

..

ya

Ko: -

mated Lame.

V.

..;Kofi comes froni:Kpalimei come from Lome. to si to to atity...tnS:14.4,p3tace

to Stay habitually*

nana

Do you (pl.) 11.ve, in Kpalime?

Itpalime mienonii?

Ko:

afisia .: gake

but (and) T Kofi lives in Kpalimeo Is op 1.0 the other hind', 'liVe"here. *

Kofi naa (or, nana) Kpalimeo fiake7 ny8 ya manani afisia. *ks

this place, here

"

,:

t

o'

tb.1

;

.

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V.

Notes: 11

also got upl

/nya hi maf4/

1.

hi af4/

'you (ss.) also got upl"

/4ya hi mief6/

lhe, she, it also got upf

/we)

4.

'we also got upl

/millwO hi ralef61

/mielwO hi mief4/

'you (pl.) also got up'

/w66r6 hi w6f6/

'they also got upY'

Plural

Singular

1st pervim

nya

mliw6

2nd person

wd

ralawc1

3rd person

4

used when the pronolin The independent personal pronouns are either subject or is to be emphasized. They may be used as precede the verb but object. As subject they do not directly /h5/, /0,/, etc. are separated from it by a particle like Inon-independentl In all but the thixd person singular the /116/ and personal pronouns are also used after the particle

before the main verb, pronoun before 2. /ya/ is attached to the third person singular /hi/.

Dialogue 2 Bt

Koff

K1

Bob

B.

A

4)

Kofi, ari4a netso?

Kt

I come from Togo.

matsd T6golA.

B:

A

Afika Akuwa tso? .4

,

Eya b

.Kofi, where are you from?

K:

ts6 T6go.,

Kofi,,nufiala nenyea?

B:

Where does Akuwa come from? She 'ilso comei frani Togo.

Koff, are you a teacher?

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3

V. gs nilfiala menye.

Yes, I an a teacher.

Ndfiala wa hi anydaT

Are you also a teacher? 13:

Yes, I am a teacher.

E, ntlfiala monye.

Dialogue 3 B-J:

Bob and John

E-T:

/1114

Edward and Tam B-J:

Are you Americans?

Amerikatowo mienyeal E-T:

E, nye kple Tam mienye

Yes, Tom ad I are Americans.

1

Amerikatowo. imerikilt&wo miawc; hi mienyda?

-

B-J:

E, AmerikatLwo mfenyes eye

Are you also Americans?

Yes, we are also Americans, and we come from Kokcmo,

mietso Kokomo, Indiana.

Indiana.2

How is, how are

aldk8

How are you (pl.)?

A1dk8 miefSa?

B-J:

Ittifef;, nyUie.

'Very well, thank you (pl.).

Notes: 1.

/kple/ land, with' conjoins only words (substantiVes, pronouns, verbs etc.), e.g.

/Bob kple Ton/ IBob and

Tam' orABob 'with Tam'. 2.

/eye/ 'and' conjoins sentences. Chicago./

/nonye Amerikato, eye metso

am American, and I come fram Chicago.

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V.

Dialogue 4

,

John

Datugbui

D:

D:

Washington mietsoa?

Are you (pl.) from WalshAlstccn?

Bob ts6 Washington.

Bob comes from Washingto44

Nyea matsd New York.

I come fram 4ew.York' to know, to be ,ac.quainted

nya

to recognize

dzelsi

r,

Aht

Enya 06to Brownd?

Ahi

Do you knoW Iir. 'BrotInt

He com es from N ew lbri

Eya hI ts6 New York. dd ga.

to meef

medd gd

1 'met

la

in, at

A

t.

Yes, we met Mr. Brown in New

E, miedo go Areto Brown la

4

York.

New York. D:

He is a teacher.

Ndfiala wanyd. e

,

Are you also teachers?

Ndfialawo miawo hl Mienyea? J:

Bob is a teacher,

Bob nyd ndfiala, nyad

I an a

doctor.

manyd dayo14.

-st

ComDrehension Edward ts6 New York. e,

Edzesi Bob kple John.

dayold, eye wanona Lame. i inye

ido lic4) Bob kple John la New YOrk.

Edward dzasi Ardto Brown hI; Ar4to "biOW'n, bob kpld JOhn woawo 111 w6tso AmerikA, syd w6awo hit w6n3na T6go.

Ardto

Brown kpl6 Bob wdnye ndfialawo, sake John ya ny6 A.

Questions Based on the Com rehension

1.

Afika Edward tso?

2.

Afika wonona?

-29-

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V. 3.

WyolA, ndfiala ald agbledela wanyda? *

4.

01

*

Edzesi John kple Boba? I

5.

Afika wodo go w6 1a2

6.

Afika Bob kple

7.

Dkrolti, ndfiala 6116 agbledela wcinyda?

8.

AfIka wOn;na?

B.

questions for the Class

1.

Afika ats82

2.

Afika mets82

3.

Afika aekakpui sia tso2

4.

Affka datugbdi sia ts62

5.

Amdkae ts6 New York?

6.

Amdkaa tsd Wathington?

7.

Amdkae ts6 T60?

8.

Amdkae ts6 Ghana?

9.

Amdkae tsd California?

John wotso2

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1

Unit VI

agative Dialogue 1 B:

K::

Bob

Kofi B:

ml

kafla (tafIatse)

excuse

afikatowo

citizen of what place

Kaflg, Kofi.

Excuse ms Kofi.

Afikatowo nony82

Where are you fram? K:

Togotdwo.menyth

I am Togolese,

1311siaw6 nenyea, Bob?

Are you English,

Bobg

No, I am not English3.

(or, Ao), nye meny6 *

kaisiawo o.

Amerikatowo menye.

I am Amrican.

Menye sukavi nenyd 0612

Aren't you a student?

(5,

No, I am not a student.

nye mnye sukavi O.

mny6.

I am a visitor. B:

amdiawd

who (pl.)

3autsuvi

boy Who are these boys?

Amekawd enyd 13ittsuv1 siawci? Alk

Arent they students?

MAny4 sukftiwoe wonye °a? K:

to know

ny4 Nyto rldnya a.

I do not know.

W86 nyd naiale12

Are you the teacher? B:

0, nyd mAnye riiifialaa c.

No, I am not the teacher.

Afeto Browne nye nufiala la.

Mr. Brown is the teacher.

Doyolae nyea menye.

1, on the other hand, I (emph.) am a doctor.

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2

VI.

Notes:

1.

/taflatse/ - formal /kafla/ - colloquial

2. /131isiawo/, glisitowo/ 'English, Englishman' Both forms are used interchangeably. The first is a combination of

Ansi/ 'England, English ( adj ) + /W def. article' + /1116/ plural.. Similar to this: /Togoawo/ I Togolese,' etc. 3. Negative

the children got upt

ciaviawo f;/ /coviiawo mdfo 6/ /claylawo foa/

'the children didn't get up'

'did the children get up?1 'didn't the children get up?1 Alevlaw6 m626 6A/ The negative is formed by placing /m6-/ after the subject and before the predicate and /c3/ at the end' of .the .sentence. pits. This can be.compared to :French ne The Negative ,Paradigm with Personal Pronouns in Subject Position did not get upt /nyekneo 6/

frait6 6/

?you (sg.) did not get upt

/rrigfo.

the, shei it did not get upl lwe did not get upl

/miefo/. fmiefo/

'you (pl.) did not get up!

'they did not get :kip' Note the _following. changea of the pronominal prefix

/wdmefo

..

in the negative: is replaced a In the first person singular /rag-/ by /nyd-/. In the second and third persons singular the pronominal and the negative prefixes contract to form /me/ which -32-

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VI.

carries the tone of the pronozninal prefix:

I.

/m8/

/m4/+,40/

hatV+ /d/ "--"t /IRV

e. In the first and second persons plural the m negative /me/

of the

is elided:

/infb /me/4 /foill" /6/

The fori /mimefa

6/

/111;-ef

is dialectal.

In the negative question; the negative prefix /mg-i, is used in the Berne way; but the question marker /A/ is added to the negative: !Didn't you get up?! /mato clii.2/ Kd:

Kodzo

Km:

Bob

Komla Kd:

Amdkae nye Kidsta sia?

Km.

Nyamdnya 6.

Mdnys staravi 6.

Kd:

K4fla, irdto, wdenyd

ndfiala 142

B:

nyad.

I do not know..

He is not a student. Excuse me, sir, are you the teacher? Yes, I am.

Kd:

AmerikAt6woe nye sukftvlawoa2

Who is this man?

Are the students American?

B: No, ihey are African.

6, Afrikatwoe. Dialogue 3

Kosi

A:

Akuwa

Bob

B: K:

Pie, Akuwas amdka dnye

,Good evening, AkUwa, whoP is

the teacher?

Nyamdnya

a.

I do not know. -33-6

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K:

Is KO'mla a student?

Sukdvi enye Kamlg?

A. A

0, Kamll menye sukuvi o.

No, Komla is not a student.

Afrikatowoe Bob kple John

Are Bob and John Africans?

wdnyeia B:

8, iormenye

Dialoaue E:

ifrikaaw6

No, they are not African.

4 K:

Edward

Kofi Do

Enya John kple Bobs.? K:

Nycl mAnyi John 8, gake

you

know John and Bob?

I do not know John, but I. know Bob.

many4 Bob 0. FJ :

to meet, to get acquainted

kpe

with Where (what place) did you meet

iffka n;kp; Bob la

Bob? K:

I mat Bob in Lome.

Mekpe Bob la Lame.

E

We

village town

big, large big town, city

Wee nye

Is Lame a village?

Lamea.? 0

0, Lame meme kore o; ddgi

No, Lame is not a village; it is a city.

wOny6.

Comprehension Bob kpl6

John

w6nye ndfialawo.

W6ny6 Amerikatowo.

suktIviwo

Agb1edel4 w6ny6.

wcimenye ntifialawo 0, wonye

Kofi kple;

WOmetso Amerika 6

W6menye Afrikatowo o.

Wts O Lame

lanai mSnye sulcavi

Lame anye kAre 8; dAgg wamd. -34-

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VI.

A.

229.11420_pmed on the Com rehension

1,

Sukdviwoe Bob kpld John wdnyea?

2.

Afrikatawoe wonyea?

3.

Afika wotso?

4.

mifialawoe Kofi kpld Jtki.w

5.

Amerikatowoe wonyea?

6.

Afika wotso?

7.

Sukdvie K&ii1

8.

D8y814 wonyeA2

9.

Ndfiala wanydal

B.

Questions for the Class

1.

Ndfiala nenydA?

2.

Sukiiviwoe mieny4A?

3.

Sukdvi meny(64?

4.

D8y3l4 mnyda?

5.

Tsaaild menydA?

6.

Ndfialae odtsA sia nytiA?

7.

Sukdvi wanyda?

8.

Amerikatowoe nenyea?

0 A

0

wOnyea?

A

nyda?

0.14

op.

9.

Afrikatowoe nenyea?

10.

Lame netsda?

11.

T6g6 netsda?

12.

Ndfialawoe 4ek4pui siawo nydA?

13.

Tsaaildwoe wonydA?

lk.

ifrikatwoe w8nyea?

15.

k)lisiawoe wdny61?

"35-

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1

'Unit VII

Possessives

Dialogue I A:

AkuWa,

K:

Kofi

Bob

B:

A:

nyel

my

(1)a

the

xinyaa

my friend

Xanyaa nyis Amerikatowo.

hy friend is American.

itso New York.

He comes from,New York. K;

his, her, its

ti(fe)

What is his name?

iljko 46? A.

His name is Bob.

Erjkoe nye Bob. B:

your (sg.)

What is your name?

Ijkowo ad? K:

My name is Kofi.

4konya enye Kofi. B:

Are you a student, Kofi2

Sukdvie nenyea, Kof12 K:

brother, sister, cousin

nav/

Yes, my brother and I are

E, nye kple novinye mienye

students. Notes: 3..

Possessive Adjectives

/ Zionya/ !my name!

/nya Zko/ /C3kowd/

!your namet /weo5ko/

/kko/

!his, her, its name!

/mfaZko/

lour name!

-36-

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VII. /miaZko/

I your ( pl ) name'

/wdijko/

I their name'

Plural

Singular

1st person

nyd-

raiawd2nd person wd6. 3rd person The possessive always precedes the possessed noun, except for the, possessive adjectives of the first tad secohd persons.

singular. The possessive adjectives of the first and second. persons singular normally follow.the possessed noun if the

latter is: a. a kinship term - /t6nya/ !my father'

/awl/ b. /x8/ 'friend!

/xenycl/

I

'your mother! !my friend'

ixiwa/ !your friendi' When the possessive precedes the possessed noun,,it takes',a, lowhigh tone; when the posseseive follows the possessed noun, it takes a low tone.2. In West Africa, the immediate family includes father, mothers brothers, sisters, paternal uncles .and their '41

children. 'Ale term /novi/ therefore includes all the children in this family-in other words, brothers, sibters and cousins. B:

Bob

K:

ICodzo

B.

Fin. Fie,

ea?

K:

Good evening. Good evening, how are yota

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VII . B: Fine.

mef6.

Who are these gentlemen?

Amekawoe nye dekakpui slawol K:

They are my friends.

Kiny4 woe. B:

What are their names?

Wgkowo 46? K:

Their names are Kwani and

Wdrjkowoe nye Kwami kpl4

Eon.

Kofi.

A

What about your (pl.) names?

Miawo Kikowo de?

B: my name is Bob, my friend's

4konye enye Bob, xinyea

name is John.

4koe ny4 John. .4:

Menye miawOe nye ntifialaawo oa?

Aren't you the teachars?

B:

Yess'ire are teachers; and

Es mlawoe; eye miawOe nye

yau are students.

sukuvillw6.

K:

vito

verr, mudh

nyd

be good, nice Isn't that. nice?

Menyo kAto 8i?

.

B:

Yes, it is very nice.

E, enyo juto.

Dialogue 3 Kodzo

Ed:

K;

EDO. :

:

Kd:

What's your teacher 6 name'?

wa ndfialaa 4ko d(62

L.

X: .

his name is sob.

Ek06 enye Bob. Kd:

Isn't he English?

Menye Ulisiawoe wanye oa? E:

0, menye ljlisiawoe o.

No, he' is not 'Engiish.

Amerikatowoe.

He is American'.

wifellausbang, spouse,

sraa

His wife is English.

Sroa 4nye Wsiawo -38w.

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VII Kd:

What is her name?

,

ioko de?

NI

Nya mAnya c3..

-

I donit know.. .

Kd:

Buktiviwenye.woviawoa?

Are their children-students?

K:

Yes, they are students.

"A, suki74woe wOnye.

PlA19,02.4 B:

K:

Bob

Brawn

Bn:

Kofi

B:

Kofi, how are You?

,,

KOfi, ef6it

X:

Fine, do you know my.griend?

.

enitt Xinyett?

.

li :

6, hko de? #

s

..

,

K:

.

.

No, whit is hii name;l 0 His nake.iS John BrOwn.

-

Bokoe nyi'John Brown.

.B:

ht. Brawn, my name is Kpfi.

Afet6 Brown, okonye enye

Kofi.

Bn:

Oh, my friend's name is also

8, xinye hi okó enye KOff.

Koff. -K:

Are you the teacher,

Woe nye ndfiaIal, 4fdto Brown?.

hr.'

Brown? Bn:

Yes, I UM. E, nyee.

IC:

my wife and I are teachers.

Nye kpld srenye mienye

Our children are studedts

Bia viwo nye .sukuviwo.

gourehension: 4-:nyf

0/1.41.:11t6wo,

W6v1wo nyg sukivfwo.

WeiawO. hkspe ny, Nary. Tom,40, Susan.

Bioko dnye Elf4to Lrown.

AfAto Brawn nyd ndfiala. .

Akuwa kple, Ana wonye aOledelawo.

8r8a nyA

yookowbe nye

Sr5a hi nyd. ndfiala.

Woviwo nye sukUviwo.. Wookowoe

nyd Kati kpld

-39-

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5 VII.

A.

questions eased on./.12.urehension

1.

Aakae nye Ardto Brown?

2.

Amerikatowo alo rjlisiawo wonyea?

3.

Sukeviwoe nye woviwoa2

4.

w6 13kom6 462 .

5.

Ndfialawoe Aktlwa kpl(r) Ama wonyea2

6.

Sukdviwoe woviwo nyea?

7.

lid iokow6 462

B.

Questions for the Class

1.

Wkiko 46?

2.

Nyebko 44?

3.

Eijko 462

4.

Afikatowo neny82

5.

Afika nowo ts82

6.

Afika x5waa ts82

7.

Affka nedOg8 Awoa 12

8.

Xicioa *co 462

9.

Tdwo 4ko 462

10.

Nowo 4ko 442

11.

Noviwoa ijko de?

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Unit VIII Possessives (continued)

Dialogue 1 Kf:

Kofi

Kwasi

Kw:

Km:

E:

Kumla

Edward

Kf:

our

dare .

Oot Kwasi, adzesi dekakpui sia2

Ehl

Kwasi, do you know this

gentleman? Eyae nyd miare n.fiala.

He is our teacher. Kw:

that's nice; what is his

Oht

Ot dnyo oitc, dIjko dd?

name? Ef:

.

Mr. Edward.

Areto Edward.

Kw:

Areto Edward, Kidi nawd.

afo nyuiea?

E:

Kw:

Wa sukavfe Korai nyea

Mr. Edward, good morning.

Good morning, how are you?

Is KaMla your student?

E: two'

eve

all

katI

both of,them, both

ame eveawo kith' .

E, wo sima eveawd

kt nyd

sukeviwo..

Yes, they are both my

nye

students. Kw:

come (plural imperative)

mivet

house

ardmd

Karon, come to our house this

mivi mist() ardma

evening..

fie sia.

see you later, good-bye

miagado go Enye, miagado go. Yoo.

0.K., see you later. Km:

O.K.

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VIII. Notes:

1.

Possessives (continued) /10m1i .116 ndfiala/

!Komlals teacher!

/4r6 ndfiala/

!his *teacher!

/rafaire

/wArd ndfiala/

lour teacher! !your Cpl.) teacher! ! their teacher!

./Ety6 057fiala/

qay teacher!

/mist 4 ntifialaf but: ;

!your (sg.) teacher! ilote that, wi,th the- eexception of possessive adjectivea'o the first, and second person sin6ular, the possessive always /w3 ndfiala/

.

precedes the possessed noun (See Unit VII, Note ,1),, and. it is usually, separated from it by the possetsivemarker Ar6/.1 /.116/ is omitted:: a. Before nouns :?fl kinship and nationality, eege !Kofils mother! ,/Kofina/

/OW

1*

!their father'

.

/Amerikit16wo/

!citizens of Americall

Before /x8/.

!friend! e.g.

!my friend' /Anye/ :and in-a few other cases to be noted later.

ad/ is optional; :a..

bfrfore. /13k6/

/06

\

! name!

!his name!

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3

I home

before /Ardme/ /mitif erne/

1 our home I

/milikre kemei If a noun be$inning with /a/ is preceded by a possessive

noun or pronoun witWwithout /sq , /a/ becomes /4/: 'my home' /ny5 Vdmel/

'your (sg.) home'

/wa 4(SW

*I'

/6-/ this, her, its', /milt/

When directly preceded by

'our' /mi;,/ 'your (pl.) I or a Possessive noun, this /d/ is .

elided in normal speech: /dssma/

'his home'

imit#Teme/

our home

/mieVeme/

'your (pl.)

home'

the teacher' s

/ndfiala :454/ When directly preceded by

home'

/w6/ 'their', the /4/ is

optionally elided: Or

twd 06ma/

'their home' /wof erae/

/w6f e Elf eme/

If /4/ is directly

preceded by ArV, the /4' ,of

ad/ is

op-p,onally elided:

./imieVe 4remeV

tour 'home!'

jral;kras feria/

Dialogue 2

J: John

K:

Kosi

J: . Koii, aitekae nye wo mifiala2

K:

itCate'nif1alaô nye' E;i4:to Brown.

Kosi, whoià youi teaOher2 Our teacher is Mr. Biown.

-413-

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VIII. J:

Jalisiawoea?

Imerikatawoe

Is he American or English?

K:

He is American.

Amerikatowoe. J:

PrIsegbe

Frenai (language)

fia

to teach

fiana

to teac'h habitually'

Do you know Edward?

inya Edwarda?

His brother is also 67 teacher.

ny4 ndfiala. afian'aHFrits4gbe.

He teaches

gs Konila J4714 Koff wdnie

Yes, toinlii and Kati are

ihiench^.' *hi's

sttidents.

4fe sukeviwo.

Ria2stat.i Kofi

E:

Edward

r

anyigba

earth, country

dzi

on

anyigba ka dzi

on what'country do you

come from Good morning, EdWaid; where

Wis Edward, anyigbajca dzie nets8?

Metsd Ameiika. 4,

a

ate yoU 'from? E:

I côme from "AinericS.:s K:

Afrikatowoe nye wo sukuviawoa? E:

NyS

stikaviawo ny4.Tdgotdwoo K:

Novinye hi nye ntifiala. Ere suktivfawo hi nye Tdgoviwo. E: gnyo xgto.

K:

Vamieer.a; r 4 sia..

,

Are your students Afripan? My studente are TogOlese. my brother is also i -teacher. His students are also togolise. That's hiee,

Come00 An= house tonight. Very wells, I will com.

Eny9s B240?-_

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VIII. K:

See you -later.

Miagado go.

E:

Y6d.

Yftwa

Akdwa

A:

Kilisiawc; Koff Se ntlfiala

nyal:

Is Kofi's teacher English? No, his teacher is not

8, ese ntifiala m4nye

English, he is American. 6, imerikatowoe.

Where is youi% teacher from?

Affkatuwoe nye miAre ntlfiala?

Y:

teacher is also an American. Amerikat6wo. Our Mare nufiala ha nye A: What is his name? A0co 44? ii3koe nye

V.

His name is Mr. Brown.

1;kripato Brown.

May, Ardto

Aren't you Mr. Brown's

Brown St5 sukdvfe

-

.

student?

nanyd a

A:

a

0, migre nufiala Se ijkoe nye

No, our teacher s name is Er. Edward.

Afitto Edward. 2211-1P121-'

Kofi nye sukavi.

iijkoe

Afe ndfiala nyd AmerikAawo.

isSto Brown Se sr8 hi ny6 ndfiala.

nye APSto Brown.

ifiana

K;mli kpl6 Koff winye

Prasgbe. Wife

sukthriwo ny6 "frikiltwo.

w6se sakdvfwo.

wanyd. Wo Kos/ novi anye sakdvi 6, Agbledel4

fofo ha nye agbledela.

A. Questns

Based on the Com rehension sukavf Koff ny4a2

1.

Ae,bledeltt Lac;

2.

imekae nye Are ndfialin

3.

Affka w8ts82

4.

Ndkae sr5a ffana2

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A

A

S.

Afikatowoemo,fe.:sukuviawo nye?

6.

Sukdvie Kosi novi ny44?

7.

Ndfialae Koff fofo nyeSel?

B.

Questions for the Class

1.

Affka netso?

2.

Afika ate?

3.

Affkat6wo w ndfiala ia nye?

4.

Afikatowoe ere sukuviawo nye?

5.

Afikatowoe wore nufiala nye2

6.

Amerikatowoe wo nufiala nyea2

7.

itrikat&oe sukdviawo nyéel?

411

0

-

A

0

t

A A

.

p,10

8.

Amerikatowo woxam5 nylVa

9.

Agbledelae: ANto Smith foto

10. 11.

ny61142

Sukdvie nogia nyea?

. Hiaxo ere nufiala nyea?

464.

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Unit IX Substantives of lace Possessive Substantives Dialogue 1 K:

Kwasi

Km:

Komla

Dakikpui, taflate6, vkowd

K:

Pardon young man, what is your name?

Km:

'Camila Sanyo.

Atha netsa? Mateo Lame.

K: Km:

V.

Korea Sanyo.

From where are you? I am from Lome.

yekayi

when

va

came

va clo

arrived ait. come arrivel When did you arrive?

ifekayie nev c67 Km:

Nevi cicS Ficlagbe.

V.

dze

Afika nedze? gbede

.

Km:

I arrived on. Friday: lodge, put up. Where are you lodging? blacksmith

vicinity, side at the blacksmithis1

gbo

obiede gbo

I have put up at tittest blacksmith's.

Medze &Add gb6. Note:

1.

Postpositions or Substantives of place I at the blacksmith, so

/gbede E12.9/

( lit. ,.. the blacksmith' s vicinity) 'on the main street' (lit., the main stree,t1 s surface

/mogI dal/.

447Hosted for free on livelingua.com

/gbo/ and /dzi/are called postpositions or substantives They are true nouns which denote some kind of location, such as the inside I the I surface' the vicinity! $ however, they of ten perform func tions similar to those of English prepositions, adverbs, and conjunctions. In addition to referring to place, they Mar also rbfer

,place.

to time, degree, cautie and purpose. The substantives.Of place are called postpositions:because;Ethey'always follow the noun or pronoun 1.1objec which they. modify. The conc ept of ft objec tf I is impOrtant to note for purpoites of translation. For example:

/xo ka, le tukuxo la megbe /is correctly translated tWatbufl.dingisbehind the school?! not !What building is the SchoOl. behind21'.

Following is a list .of some of the postpositiono o'r. substantiveS of .plitáe, with their meanings as nouns and extended meaningS'as function words, and examples of' their

use. 1. a place, between 2. between, among, in 'Thor school Mixt 34).re' pOSu la kpli kpovitowoxo la dome

/doiñe/4

is between the post office and the police station. .1. surface,.upPer part sku /dzi/ 2. on Alilikpo (cloud) acieke. (not' a) mole dd. o =-c. There are no

dsi' used as a clouds in the isky Agbal5 la le kPla la 'dzi -tie book i on'the desk (table) `48-- post position. Hosted for free on livelingua.com

3

IX.

/gm*

foundation, the underneath

1.

part 2.

dawn, under, downstairs

passesunder this game--The railway le sia ketekemo la to bridge. vicinity.

1.

side

2.

near, towards

dligbq

place is near gbo--His working le posu la gre dowofe la the Post office.

/me/

1.

the place inside a line, the inside, the content

of a word or speech 2.

in, inside, during, to

indicate extension of space, time, or to indicate

a state or quality. the school compound. Kofi yi sukure is me--Kofi went into place are used as nouns they do not substantives of When the most commonly as nouns Substantives appear positions. take post seldom do they stand alone. /dzil above words, very in compound

is'an exception to this.

/megbe/

1.

the back part, rear

behind, after, back, except

is behind mine. megbe--Kofits house le tonye Kofi fe Afe the front, place before, 1.

Aso/

future

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2.

before, in front of

school in front Suku-lae nye ema la mowa--That is the of you. face, appearance, that

AlkdmA/

which is before you 2.

before, in front of

o--The child did not wash his Devi la'maklo Kikume cdi. sia

face.this morning. la--The building before xo si le wa xikume lae nye suku school. you (in front.of you) ,is the 1. outside, outer surface, /331.1/, Mti/

that which surrounds you 2.

round, by, near, according to, regarding, on account of

lifetso kotoku la ku dI ta,/

the wall. e 4i la outi--I hung the bag on place 1...the underneath part,

Under an object

.,

.2. *t.

under

under'the table. .Dadi la le kpl5 la te--The cat is 1. middle /titing/ 2.. in the middle of, ia.the .

midst titina--The river tJordantosisi la to Indiana University middle of I U. Jordan passes:throUgh the

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IX.

Dialogue 2 X:

Km:

Kwasi

Komia X:

With which blacksmith are

Gbede ka gb6 adze?

you lodging?

mo

road

sa

large, big main road; main street

mmgi dzi

.

to be .

fia

chief

afeme

home, house

fiafeme

chieffs house (home)

p

I

Ele m.oga la dzi le figfeme gbo.

He is on the main street near the chief's house.

(e)mat (dkOmet)

thatt

dowofd

work ahop

Oh, gbede mat

Oh, that blacksmith&

Menyae nyuie.

I know him.

gfe dowofiliKtIgg la game.

His work shop is under the big tree;

exactly, indeed

tututu

that is it, that is that

evyaema

Eyiaka titutu.

4That is it indeed.

'X:

ta

draw

ti 44

at, dratt near, close by

(e)to

his, hers, its, dic.1

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6

IX.

Is your house near close

Iliarafi la te 46 gbede la to gbdta ele gbede la to megbe.

by)

the blacksmith's? Km:

Ycs, It is behind the blacksmith's.

Note:

1. /to/ is used with the pOis6ssivo pronouns to form the pos-

sossivo substantivos mines yours, etc. Asia Shift ej'e agbale/ 'This is his book' 'This is his' /tsigi enye eto/ !mine! /tanye/ hif a to/

I ours'

/tawa/ /mtató/

'yours'

4.tot jilts to/

thii, hers , itsr theirs'

I yours'

Dialogue 3 K:

Kwasi

Km:

KOÜI1a

to lead, to.take

kpla

(and lead. away) Should I take you home?

Mikpla wa 1t Af'dmeil? Km:

f'iase 0, nyaraili .s.reme

store now, soon, at once etc2 Ao, thanks, I am not going. A.

fia, g.

home immediately. 74A.S1,419,14.4e!

el

K: A*5290

I am going to the store. river, stream

(to) run 5fs tz:running Hosted for free on livelingua.com

river

tosfsf

.

y60'

new

kp

ever (never in negative sentence)

Ede fiase ydyd le tosisi la US

Have you ever been to

ttie

storo an 'the river bank?

me kpdla. Km:

ta

build

'case (n

faith, belief to believe

se

mexo se

I believe

zt dela

once, one :time .

zt dvelfa e c.

second time

last time 67.e. the end

ingralie

(timeg 0, nydm6x3 se bd wdtai yeyi yi si meva afi zt

Sos I don't believe that it was buiit (has been'''.

d..

built) the last timO that I was here (when I wai hOre the last time).

K:

Kwasi

Kra:

Konila

444wzdilm to.be big etc.

lalo

Ac$11,4,1i.e.. of species);

tDgbui

type

-

Ffase sit lelo Oto.

Thipstore.is very.big (large).

Nyemokpo dt5gbui kpd o.

I have never before seen anythingpf. its kind -"53" Hosted for free on livelingua.com

.411.

Ix. N:

about, (it will be about)

ina...Abi

It was built about two years

Wo tui ano abe Po eve enye

esi

S.

ago. Nna

sell

dzri 4: 4

NIAkae wodzrda lô fiase la me?

What is mIld in the store?

..;;

klde

almoit

Awu

dress, all WeOern-styled apparel. thing

nd

everything, all things

ndsfind

2

Ndsfknd kide si pAdf la.

Almost anything that

.

ypu want.

'4

I buy my clothes here.,

Meflea nye.awuwd le

Comprehension Enye Togotp,tso LOBle

Dekakpui sia tiko enye Komla Senyo.

Sanyo dze gbede gbo Eva 40 Kpando.etsp Le yeakpo xolea Kofi. are la te 4e fia la to uu, eye etre le magi la to. Gbede '

1

dowqre la itigi la to. nags's& si le tosisi Le tido me la, Sanyo kple Nwasi yi 4e la to la me sakeyomefle naneke 0.

Wogatro yi teems enuMakel. J

wove be wo aadawo tsi dzi le yewo v5.a.4.-%.....4...r-to.:tee afraid

-enuriake-----atl.bice, immediately yewo ---- - - --thdk

(i.e. Kofi and Komla in the comprehension)

A.............AuAq14x4milko4gvcLIkt42Mialh22f12H

1. -tekakixii

2.

ifikit..w4tscissi

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9

3. Nukata ways Kpando? xotox 33ko cle?

5.

Ameka gbo Sanyo dzat

6. Gbede sia re ere to 4e fia la to gboa? 7. Gbede la fe Are la le atigl la tea? 8. Gbede la fe dowofe le atigit la tea? 9. Pia la fe are le tosisi la toa? 10. Kofi nya gbede si gbo Senyo dzea? 11. Kofi kple Senyo fle nene le fiasegl la mea? 12. Afika Mule sia le? Babiawo

1. Xowd vko 4e? 2. Eva tso Omeha be yeakpo wd 4a? 3. Ameka gbo xowd a dze? Afisi wddze la te de wd Are gboa? 5. Ede fiasegi axle me la Indianapolis egbea? 6. Nukawo nefle le fiase la me? 7. nage sia te cl.e tosisi la gboa? 8. Piase sia le tosisi la toa? 9. Blase la 33ko de? 10. Dada wd tsia dzi le vuwd vutoa?

45" Hosted for free on livelingua.com

1

Unit X The Verb /le/ -tto bef Simple Past and Present Tenses

Dialogue 1 A:

Komla

Km:

Akuwa Km:

be, is, be present

le

Good morning, is Kofi at

23d1, Kofi le Area mea?

home? A:

0, ele suku.

No, he is at school. Where is the school?

Afika sukua le?

A. :

baton, club

kpci

small

v/

policeman (one who carries

kpeivit6

small clubs or batons)

building

xo

policemen's building,

kpovitowoxo

police station

between

dame

post office

pdva

Sukd la le p6611 la kple kpôvItc5wox

l

The school is between the

post office and the police

dame.

station.

Note 1.

condition, quality, place ile/lbe, islbe present in a certain or time. /ele mogl dzi,/

lit is on the main street'

/ele lquie/

the is well'

similar to /nye/tbe, is,' in Although /lePbe, is,1 is .56.0

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X. meaning, their uses are quite differant.

/le/ is used to describe an adverbial condition. 'where,' and 'when.'

It answers the question 'how,

/nye/ is the verb of equation; it is used before a substantive predicate.

/Bob nye nufiala/

'Bob is a teacher'

/Non nye sukavil

IKofi is a student'

(However /le/ is used before a true adjective predicate.

Definition mad examples of ,this will be discussed later.) /le/ is also used to introduce adverbial phrases of place, time, and manner which contain a substantive. /Kofi dea suku le afisia/ here.'

'Eofi goes to school is

Kofi goes to school here.' (iafisialis a

noun meaning 'here' or, literally, this place.)

Km:

Kamla

Akuwa Erg

Afika kpovitawoxa la le? A: to

Where is the police station? edge, bank (of river) .pass

to

past, by

bridge..

le

front, ahead

logo

Menyae oa?

Don't yau knaw?

Ale tosfsf la t6..

It is on the river bank. Take the main street .and walk (go)

Tao rwgi la yi vg6.

straight ahead.

Walk by under the bridge.

Z8 US le Li game. Km:

Is it on,this bridge:that LE:sia4zie_k;tekam6. 'la UN? -57-

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X. railway line passes? A.

in your face, in front

lOktime

of you.

Yes, from this bridges'the police

fp tsd ic sra gbd la,

station iè in front of you.

kpovit6wox'd 14 le wa kikdme. Km:

to describe .(give

co

directions) tilf6

place

babo

soft, easy

easily

:b5b

You have described it very

Edoe nyuie 'auto.

well. 1 (you have given me

*directions very well.) A.

to be far, long

didi

It is not, far either.

hAdidi hA b. Km:

very much, (a lot)

kekeke

Thank you vbry much.

Akp6 kekeke.

in it

eme f,

0.

Not at all; or don't mention

Akpe mole eme 0

it.

(or you are welcome).

Note: 1.

The simple past and simple present tense are represented in the same manner in Ewe', that is by the verb itself.

Interpretation of these two forms is based on context. For example:

Kofi is a student'

/Kofi nye sukuvii

fKofi was a student' 8.-

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/enya areto Brown4/

'Did you know Mr. Brown?' 'Do you know Nr. Brown?'

Note that there ia no infinitive form in Lwei /nya/ may

be glossed for English speakers as It* know', but wore correctly it is know, knows, or knew.

Note that /np/ 'was' past tense of /leV lbe, is'

/le/ is quite an exception, since it is conjugated irregularly.

/np/ is used in the same manner as /1e,A .However it ia a verb in its own right with the meaning of 'sit, stay, remain.'

/Koff noa Nyagbo/

'Kofi lives in Nyagbo' (habitual)

/eno nyuie/

'he was well'

/eno mog4

lit was on the main street'

121422a11.1 KM:

Kom la

Togbe (togbui), elderly man. Kna

Good morning. Togbe, is this

Ndi nawa Togbe, esiae nye

the police station?

kpovitowoxo la2 T:

E, enye kpovitowoxo.

Yes, it is the police station.

Vinye mimlae ny6 kpovit6.

my last child (son) is a policeman. that

be

Mexose be enye kpovito nyuie.

I believe that he is a good policeman.

devf

child

nSnl

overseer, one who has D.59"

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5 X. others under his care

or direction

happy, content

dzidzo Enye slevi nyuie eye enanoltiwo

He is a good child (boy)

and his overseers (superiors)

kp6a dzidzo le diju kluto.

are much happy about him. Km:

to look (for), to search

di

(for)

Afika suku la le?

Where is the school?

Xonye Kofi nye sukuvi le

My friend Kofi is a student

there.

afima. T:

that, that one

ema

Oo, suku la enye graa la rjA0 wO. Oh, that is the school that

is in front of you. Km:

Thank you.

Wes4w8 do. T:

You are welcome.

Yoot

(O.K.)

Dialogue 4 Km:

Komla

.N:

Sufiala (teacher) Km:

Good morning teacher,

nawo nufiala, suku

is Kofi in this school?

siNme Kofi lea? d6

(to) test

dd kp6

test and see (testing to sa4

daddkpo

middle, midst

E, gElk6 mexose be 618 dad5kp3

Yes, but I believe that he is in the midst of an exam

titina fifia.

right now. -60Hosted for free on livelingua.com

6

X. .1Cm:

behind, after

mOgbd

Can I see him after the

Matel3d kpdb le daddkpo

examination2

magbea2 vie

awhile, a little

lala

wait

anyi

down, earth

n8 anyi

sit down

Wait for just a while.

Lila vie ko. NO anyi de xo sia

Sit in this room or under

11 le

td..

ald dd atiawo

the trees. Kra:

Thank you very much.

Akpe nawo kekeke. N:

Akpe mdla eme o.

Don't mention

it (not at all).

Comprehension Suku la le posu la kple kpovitowoxo la dome. sUku la megbe eye kpovitowoxo la le elogo. suku la la o, Akuwa fiemo lae.

Komla menya afisi

Komla zo mogI la, dzi eye wo

Tso kpovitowoxo la sbo la, Komla kpo suku

zo to le la gome.

la le wokume.

Fosu la le

Eyi suki4'e

2

la me eye wano atiawo te dlabdna3

(because) Kofi n8 dodokpo titina. ria -sukufe

dlabdna

dhow

compound :because

Babiawo 1.

Afika Kofi le ijdi ida2

2.

Awekae cbloe na Komla be Kofi le suku2

3. Eon novie nye Akuwa2

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x. 4.

Komla Senyo nya afisi salcua lea?

5.

Xo kawo dome suku la la?

6.

Xo kae le tosisi la to?

7.

bb kae dzi Komla zo yi kpovitowoxo la gbo?

8.

Nukae to lt la dzi?

9.

Tso lE la gbo la, xokae le Komla Se lokume?

10.

Suku la didi tso Kofi Se Afeme gboa?

11.

Nuka titina Kofi no le sliku?

12.

Komla kpo Kofi le dodokpo mogbea?

Biabiawo. 1.

Ede xowa Seme egkea?

2.

Xawa no Afeame yemajia?

3.

Afika xowa Se sukua le?

4.

wa suku la le kpovitowoxo la gboa?

5.

Tosisi ade to wa sliku la titina?

6.

Tosisi sia to posu la gboa?

7.

Suku la te de wa Are gboa?

8.

Indiana le Illinois kple Ohio dames?

9.

Tosisikae to Washington, D.C. titina?

10.

wa Are didi tso posu la gboa?

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Unit XI.

Future Tense DisAogue I la:

Kumla

Km:

Komi Kl:

Nav& Yiwo Nmer

Will you come to Yawolle house21

yeyiyi

time

mana

I will remain, I will stay

long

didi

Will we stay there lone2

Hiano &time yeyiyi didia? Kl:

Ao, we will not stay long.

mlan; anyl wOadidi o.

(Lit., we will not stay, it

will not be long.) Km:

An8 afimd fifial

Will he be there now?3

Ki:

xoxo

already

dowore

working place, place of employment Yes, he caxae back from work

Es egbo tso dowore xoxo.

already. Kra:

mgbd

after, afterwards

futd

the beach (or the coast)

inyo.

Fine.

Miv4, eye emagb6 ld, mayi

I will come, aad after that I will go to

ddruta. Notes: 1.

the beach.

-

Future'Terise

IKoini will come!

/Korai iveV

m63-

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2

XI. The future tense is formed by placing /d-/ !future tense indicator! before the verb stem aid after the subject.

In the

negative the future tense indicator is placed after the subject and after the negative marker. The Future Paradigm:

Affirmative /mav.4/

!I will come'

/av4/

'you (sg.) will con&

/Ava/

the will comet

/miava/

Twewill come!

/miava/

'you (pl.) will come!

/wdava/

!they will come!

/vakayi ntivt:./

!when will you (sg.) come!

hekayf waavA/

!when will he come!

Negative

/nyamdva

!I will not come!

/mavet O/

!you (se.) will not come!.

Akira a,/

The will not come!

/miaya a/

!we will not come!

/mlavd (3,/

!you (pl.) will not come!

/wdmaya a/

!they will not come!

The following changes of the pronaminal and/or the negative prefix take place in the future: a.

In the first and second persons plural affirmative, the

/e/ of the pronaminal prefix is elided. b.

/miaya/ fwe will come!

Otherwise the future tense indicator /ii-/ contracts with

a preceding /e/ to form /ai, which carries the tone of the pre-. m611.IIP

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3

XI.

the first person singular affirma(This applies in ceding /e/. singular affirmative, /ava/, in the second person tive, /mava,/;, and in /navab in the third person singular affirmative

/dvab

the entire negative.)

the indirect object if the The clArect object precedes

latter is a

noun.

it If the indirect object is a pronoun,

object. may precede or follow the direct /Afia ljlfsigbe 4aviawo./

tHe will teach the children English.?

/Afia Wsigbe 2.

'lie will teach them English.?

wO.4/

Which is introduced with a

The question !how long

always a ?yes? or !not question question wopd in English,' is in Ewe, e.g. English:

will we stay!

Icing?! /Elan; tlfl.ma didia24/ Lit., !Will we stay

Ewe 3.

long

!How

/le/ (See Unit X, Dial. 2# /nm/.is also the future form of

note 1).

/Ano afima/ the will

be there!

Dialogue,2 J:

John

Yawa

J.

to beat, to play (records)

plate, record

agba

sweet, nice

vfvi

Aldke# Yaws, mAvA ny5 4remd I

4k

miaro agba vivi aclewo oa2

Hi, Yawa, wontt you come to

my place? We will play some nice records.

-65-

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Y.

Enyo, mava.

Yes, I will come.

igbd kawde 18 Astwa?

What records do yau have/ J:

JAzz gbd ddewo 18 Asfny8.

I have same jazz records.

Jazz gbdwo koe la asfwaat

Do you have only jazz records?

Ichgagb. A6wo hi la

a.

j:

No.

I also have same Congolese

records and same thighlifell

Aenye kplei thighlifel ddewo hi.

bring

*tso

who, which, that (relative

si

marker) just, only

ka

Oh, shall I also bring my records?

Oh, matso nye agbawo hg J:

Yes, bring them.

E, tsowo ve. Note: 1.

tHighlifel is the indigenous African music influenced by

Westernism.

(Compare African, beat influenced by Spanish and

Portuguese beats in Latin Amarica).

It originated in Ghana

but is enjoyed and played all over West Africa, especially Ghana and Niaeria.

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5 XI.

Dialogue 3 Edward

E:

Kosi

K:

E:

feast, party, get-together

Aza

its place

dte.fe

to give, for

n6.

for me

ndA

Kwasi, I am going to have a

Kwasi male aza viacle duge

get-together at my house.

ld Ardnya md. MAvd, kp6 êtegre ndA 44 3a2

yekayi?

Won't you come to attend it? K:

When?

(or, Gbekagbe?)

(on which day?)

E:

On Sunday.

Kwasiclagbe.

K:

Pow

In the evening?

Fiema?

E:

Ai

E, fieme.

K:

Enyo, 11114.

Yes, in the evening. Yes, thank you, I will ()Dm.

Who will be there?

Amdkawde dna afia?

E:

Akosiwa, Yawo kple Kwadzo.

Akosiwa, Yamo mad Kwadzo.

K:

Is that all?

Evoa?

E:

mamleawo

the others, (Lit., the last ones)

No, you do not know the other

0, menya ame mamleawo o.

people. K:

inyo, iniagado ga.

OZ., see you later.

12.1.4.1e Ki Kosi

Y: ,Yao

K:

Yawo , may i Pita

Yao, we

tso . '67"

will go to

the beach

tomorrow. .

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Y:

you and who, you, with

wa kpld amdkA

wham, with whom With wham are you going?

wa kpl4 amdkA?

K:

Nye kpld Komli.

I (am going) with Komli. Won't you come with us?

Mavg, miayi aea

(Lit., Won't you coMe that

we go?) Y:

No, 1 cannot-go.

0, ny4mAtetiu yi 6.

K:

Why?

Adkata?

21

to invite

kpd

to eit *(samething)

nd

someone

ameade

that

be

Ameade kpam be nava du nu. Amdkad kpdwa?

Who invited you? Er. Brawn.

A

Enyo.

K:

21

Afeto Brawn. *

1 am going out somewhere to eat.

DU nu nyuie.

K:

Ail. right.

Bat won.

22m2R2hmakan: imiraecti(gbil)

o.

'Saturday'

Kwasidd(gb0)

'Sunday' 0 ,

vAsede

'until'

xiawd mayi.suka 23keke eve itso 4nye Mdtaecidgba; Yawo kpl4 iA wdhyi K8iala$1.63 Etso Qdi weayifuta, dye la yetr6 me

41d Agba ydy(1 Adewo.

sinedh.

Weana alma vAsede 1 i5m6 dkemawdhyL

Kwasidagbe w4fe lAisigbefiala

4i Azg viadd ndwd,

wc1 kAtl worayi.

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XI.

questionisedontirells.1.--on 1.

GbdkIgb8 6nye dtso2

Yawo kpld x5Rwd Ayi Sukua2 3.

Jakeke n4/116 w6mdyi Suku o2

L.

Ndka wawa la am1ad4 lodi2 WAyt sinema Memleda yetrA2

6.

Woayi Suta Kwasidagbea2

7.

Amekae ada &a via de le Aremel

8.

Yekayi woadu azI 1d2

9.

Sukuviawo 45142

10.

Nuka woawo le uuku KIkekewo dzi2

Questions for the Class 1.

Gbekagbe enye 4gb82

2.

Etso anye hem1edagbea2

3.

Ayi suku atsoa?

4..

Ala Indianapolis etsoa2

5.

Nuka nawo le

6.

Ele sinema yige fig sia2

7.

Agba yeye adewo le asiwd nap namfh2

summer:I me2

8. Dadawd ava kp6 wô Memledagbea2 9.

10.

Ele azI ade duge le Memledagbea2

Amekawoe ava azI

la We?

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Unit XII *hie

The-verb t-.I'to have! .14

Dialogue 1 K:

Kwasi

E:

Ed Ward

K.

agbledelifwo

farmers

yvdwo

whiite meri

land, ..es.Al2 native land .4* Are' there mani farmers In your native lands 1 'in 'plenty, 'in abundance 'tess there ire 1::41enty of farmers

ariyigba

de, (dênytgba)

4

Agbleata jol4ewd.14 we, dila?

:

.

.4

Azne'rika'ait.

E.; Agbledelawo

zi.

in America. tO go:to

4+

der

karm

to oatiirate.ii farm3 ciatiVate '*fainis (habitua1ly)4

tdAgble 2

agbeli

Manioc5

Agbeligble

manioc farn Do American farmers cultivate

Agbledela Amerikatowo deni

lies(j'Aibeliib1441' Eftiy

6, Agbeli

E:

manioc fandst hand

4

No, we dont t have manioc. did& t make

mfail

whose name is .41;021

BEI Amku 1S. kpal/ 4

-

b. /Meva tso Amerika kwasicla si

tI came fram America (in) the week which has passed'.

la me/ att96",

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A general characteristic of the Ewe language is that all $.1.10012221 clauses and in/la/ if they precede the main

clause.

If they follow the main clause, the particle 4/la/

is optional, e.g.

/Ponye si mk2,2m,Ailku la va aft ts6 Amerika/

!My brother whose name is

Alas came here from Americal.

/Miakpd

40. si gbona

!We will meet next Friday'.

(1a) mej

If the antecedent is plural, then the plural marker /wc1/ comes after /si/, e.g. /Pia nu siwo ne fie IAA/

!Show me the things you bought!.

Descriptive relative clauses are not used very often in Ewe, and many of the relative clauses that appear in English are expressed ih Ewe either by coordination or by asyndeton (omission of conjunctions which join co-ordinate words or clauses).

For example the sentence

/gfe 2co si lolo la xo asi/ tHis house, whidh is big, is eipensive!...

is better.expressed "by either: /gfe Ito la ledo eye woxo

!His house is big, and it is expensive!.

or:

/gre xog5 la xo asi/

!His big house is expensive".

- 7-

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XV.

Dialogue 2 Kt:

Koff

Kd:

Kodzo Kf:

to have been; to have

de

visited Have you ever visited Lome?

ide Ltime kalat

Kwasfga

Sundays week

si

relative pronouns who, which

kwasfcla si vayf

last week (Iweek which

passed)

next week (week which comes

kwasf4a.si gbona

5abitualn Yes, my friend aild I went there

is fly; kplel x&iy; mlede

(during) last week.

affma kwasfcla si vy m. Kf: dzii;

to pleases to satisfy

.9.. pal

edze Koff 102.

Kofi liked it

;deg 33unye

*it pleased mos I liked it it pleased us.S.* we liked it

dz miaol

Did you like it?

Edzel mtapial

Kd:

is Lame dze& amesfime' I cif; affmakpS 1S

Yes, everybody. Wild has been to

Lome likes it. to takes.to arrive

.bos kettika.

B6s Aid latgkee niacin?

bus train

Dld you take the bus or the train?

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XV.

Kd:

dzd

Friday morning

Ffdagbe 23df

Saturday afternoon

14,emle4gbe yetrS

Bos rated&

to leave (a place)

We took the bus.

tifedzo la SISkode

14'43 left

Sokode

on Friday morning, and we

Blida udf 4ye mfedo 1414

arrived in Lome Saturday after-

tgmlea yetrd.

noon..

Kf:

uceke ante mieno anyt2

How many days did you stay2

Kd:

only

k8

We stayed (there) only Saturday

M4mledagbe kple Kwasf4agbe

and Sunday.

kS4 mfea ?Lama. Notes 1.

!I'like it!

/edze elnye/

uyau (sing.) like it!

/4dze 331.1wo/

1,:he likes it!

/4Aze eud/

twe like it!

/edze mfael/

tyau (pl.) like it!

/4dze miaiju/

!they like it!

/edze whu/

Imes youo.him,1 Notice that instead of the object pronouns possessive pronouns are etc., as in !it pleases me!, the /edze zlnye/ may be analyzed literally used. The expression

as lit is of Ea satisfaction!. thow followed by a number or the word /neni/

If a nom is

many!, the noun is always in the singular.

-99

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6 XV.

laialcumea Kf:

Kofi

Kw:

Kwadzo

dt Est nade LOme

Kf:

eir.pt nitsiand

.si nedf 161

want, look for When you were (visited) Lonie,1 did you find (get) everything you wanted?

Kw:

E, mekpd nil siwo medtlEf. . .Yes, I found (got) the things I wanted, .but my friend did not dike' minpl ya meip6' nttstantt,

find everything.

Zs*

e:gain2

ga

gayi Yekayi wlagayi Lame?

Kw:

na mo

4Ekeina ill de fafcia Ne (Ina m64

go again When will he go to Lome aiiing grant permission

That depends on his father.

u.

If he pe.rinitSt him, he (my

4;1:1 la; mexo

se be Ayt ame egba. Le YElwaclagbe mayi

friend) 'will go to Lozne today. Kf:

I will go to

I;Oftze- on. Thursday.

Notes

1.

/44,

a particle (also uied ab an interrogatiVe) sometimes

uted with /eel/

.

tridicate a subordinate clause.

It is

ued in the s ame manner as /lab except that 'it has a more

interrogative sense. NOte that it is uthed he 'in interrogative sentences. One wiiula be'-eelutdly correct in sayins /Esi adé.Lome la, .4; V :Ztothen.'you were in A:visited) Lome, .41.4122

-100--

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XV.

/0/ 'again? is uaed to express the repetition of an actions

2.

and it is placed between the pronoun sad the verb, e.g.

When will he go to Loma

/Yekayi woagayi Lame/

again?'

Kw:

Kf:

Kwadzo

Kofi Kw:

Good mornings1 Kofi, did you

Ijcif notw8, Kofis ede Lameal

visit Lame? (lit., I

Yes, my mother end

E, nya kple danye.

and my mother) Kw:

fia

show

Sae

buy Show me1 the things you bought.

Ffa nd sw nAfle la. Kf:

ed

open

gbamAgbe

that day

I did not buy anything.

Nye mArle andke a.

The

shops did not OPen that day.

Flaseawo mi gbaagbe 0. Kw:

Gbakagbe neyi Lama?

When (on whieh day) did you go to Lome?

Kf:

Mfeyf NAmiegagbe fig eye

We went on Saturday-evening and

mfegatr6 dz4 Dzoagbe 33df. Danye

A ndsfelnd

came back (we turned and left) Monday morning.

dim

my mother said

that everything we want is in

mike lt la Sokocle.

Sokoge..

4.101-

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8 XV, Kw:

dziagbe

exist birthday, birthstar

vo

bad

dzagbevii

bad birthday* unlucky star*

dza

unlucky Oho

Oho you unlucky fellow

dagbeveet3&

No te

1.

Many verbs in Ave can take both a direct and an indirect

object. .The indirect object* if a substantive* always 001118E1 at the end of the sentence, and it usually does so when it is a pronoun. II obeyed the teachert

/med,8 t6 rruflai

pulled ear to the teacher')

/fia nu siwo ne :le

tShow me the things you bought'

If the direct object is a pronoun, its form and position are regular, e.g. 'Ile told it to the teacher! /egblos na nufiala/ Sometimes, however, if the indirect object is a pronoun* .it may take a form different from the regular one. This will be diacussed further in later chapters. In modern speech* the verb /na/ fto give! in certain circumstances, such as when it follows another verb, is no longer.conjugatedo and in such instances has become a

particle or preposition to express the indirect object. ;.102-

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XV. tHe gave the hook to

/Etso agbalUnami/

Good morning to you'

nawo/

Comprehension .

Le KwAsi4a si valyi mA) 14, nye kpl4 x6nye miede Lame'.

14,Stko4e Ff4agb4 yetr6 sy4 mieva a Lame Mitm1e4agb4 aitma hAm1edagb4 kpl; Kwasida gb4 eye miegatrS DzOdagb4 Ile.

mfena

Acode 14

dekpo maaxowo eye maedo ga

Lame dz4 mlauu

barikatowo, Bob kple John 14 affma. 0=4. Mfe,r14 nd 1344ewc5 le Lame.

Anye ya mAkpo ndsfanu st wad

dzi;

Kidf.

Eledzo

gedoga.wS 14 Kvasf

tguele nil:sand, et pied

gake

14 .0.

LA Idmlecla fTe 14, Koff. 4414 CiAdit Ayt tame. lagatr6

Sokode le Dzo4agbe ljdf.

Ame,r14 aneke 14.Lame o.

w614 111 14 SSkode ffasewo m4.

guestions Based on the Com rehension 1.

Ifika KWadz4 14)14 4a.wcidel

2.

Yekayf welyi affmg2

3.

Affka witso la?

44)

Yekayf weodzO2

5.

Yekayf wciva a aftpl?

6%

lakeke

7.

lane ndsiwo adi 14. 14 Larieill

8.

Kwadzd nal ndsfAnd si wad 112

go

xisloa ha si; ndsfand. at wadf la?

10.

Gb4kagb4 wStro yf asko4e2

11.

Lama dz4 whilat

12.

EnyA nd sia dz4 whil 14 Loa&

ne.nitalno ;Amp

-103-

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10

.

XV.

13.1

.

gbdkagbe Kof I kpld dadi wedd Lome?

14. Yekayf wdtro ird Sdkod,e? 15. uresla ndsiv6 wddi lit 14 Wain Ndsiwd

.1a. SZ:kod,44?

Bablawo'

tde 16go kp66.?

2.

L:

de Chieago kp4e1.?

4

"A

Yekayfe nedd Chicago? .14-

Nakao dzd, uttwo .10 Chicago?

5.

ICAStekd nec16 71 Chicavg.T.: Gb1 %) ps...ssiw6 net-1.6, 1.8 Chlop.go 14, .71=1?

Gbdkagbe nedd- New. YorkT

8.

New York da ladwod?

9.

Ntikae dzd owd

,New Xork?

10. Gbakagbe dnye dslit2 11. Ade Indianapolis 4gb4A2 12. tkp6 &Iwo egbili? 13. Yekayl nekpd da,wd 4gbal 34. Nusiwo ndji1e egbe g1éawo2 4

;.

4.

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1

Unit XVI

Strong Fonn of the Pronouns

The. Intentional DialoRue 1 Koku

Km:

Komi

the corn

bli id tst

to grow

Papa, the corn has grown.

Pelpd, blid tat. nya

word

ter 4

in place of

that is right, really

nyater4

to go 1

Yes, youtre right. I myself also went to the farm yesterday. It has really grown. tO break, to reap

to nyaterde. Nyd ofto hi maul agblim ma ets6. .

Etat nyitteff% tad

we reaped it we are going to reap

mfevee

mfeld -duege

When .are,We

Ydkayf mfela (SvegSt

Km:

Mfe ld tkege

Notes 1. /nye )3x/to/

it2

my.seift

going to reap it? Wetre gains to reap it tomorrlw. 0.4

The subjective and objective fortis of the independent 'self,: personal pron'Ouns may be strengthened by Auto/ d I myselft /nye otto/'

/wa oho/ /4yd xidto/

tyou' yourself' the himself,

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2

twe ourselves! :you yourselves, !they themselvest Auto/ is also used to strengthen a noun, e.g. /fofonye outc/ tray tather himself!.

bidawo, 9tttowo/ or /mta etowo/ fmfawo knitowo/ or /mia vitowo/ /wdawo vitowo/ or /wd lautowo/

Intentional;

.

/rafey±/

twe went/

/mit ela

twe are going 'bp got

twe camel /mieva/ !we are going to comet /mtela vAvdge/ The intentional denotes an intended action or..one. whibh is

.

going to be performed in the near future. It is formally compospd a the auxiliary verb /ley, a verbal noun. and the parpicle, /-get/ :intentional indicator! The verbal noun is formed- by prefixing the verb stem with a low-toned redupli-

cation (i.e., repetition) of itself.

.

!Itzn going to, get upt /male f8f6ge/ liote the following..ohanges in the reduplicated prep.= a. If the verb stem has a nasalized vowel, the nasalization is omitted in the reduplicated prefix* 'what. are you fp. ing to /nuka nale sosrpge/.. "

be- If, the, verb stem contains...an /1/ or 'an /r/o it is. emitted in the reduplicated. preflx. twha-b are you going to buyill /41.104tAle rtilegq /aka nale dzadzrEtge/ twhat are you going to

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c.

If the verb stem contains a palatalization, i.e., a consonant followed.by /1/, the palatalization is

omitted in the reduplicated prefix. /ndka nale fafiage/

twhat are you going to teach?!

.In the verb forms previously encountered, a transitive verb*

was one normally followed by one or more objects. /mfeyt agble/

lwe went to the farm!

/mfela agble ytg4/

twe are going to go to the farm!

hafedda Ava 20/

!we put it in the granary!

/mtela ddege Ava m41

!we are going to put it in the granary!

Note that the first object of the verb beoomes the mgaselaile .modifier of the verbal noun in the intentional, and thus it preo.tdes the verbal noun.

In this case the reduplicated

prefix is omitted.

bsia dayemgd/

Ihe is going to send mel

/ad dawog4/

!he is going to send you (sg)

/dle, ddog/

the is going to send himt !he is going to send us!

mla d4ge/

!he is going to send you (pl)

/614 Ada dike,/

!he is going to send them!

w6 ddgef WildlIVAmW010011

*In, Ewe, a verb indicating direction or location

followed by a noun phrase indicating place (e.g., /n/eyf Agble/ !we went (to the) farm!) must be considered transitive -107-

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14-

Note that: a. The possessive pronoun Of the first person singular has the form /-y8m/. /d18 dayemg4/ Ihe is going to send met b. The possessive pronouns of the first and second persons singular always follow the ve3.-bal noun. /OA d8yemg4/ the is going to send met /dle .daiolog6/ the is going 'to send you (sg.)II A high-toned verb -has low' ione before the possessive pronouns of the first and second persona singular. Dialogue 2 Kk:

Koku

Km:

Komi

Kk:

mfeyi Agble

mfelel tigble yigd ?mad eigble* yfgd dgbeett

ran

mfeyi

rafela

ire

we went to the farm we are going.to the farm we going to the farm todait we went we

aile going to go

'immediately E

y±yig fffi3A.

Kk:

blidwo

Yes, wel re going, to go right now. the.Corn (Pl.)

entireli; ill ..we reapecVall the corn

ndeme..blittbio

mel bliwo kitg )34ge Mfeli blidwo kt

we are going toreap all the corn Are We going' to reiip rall the

dgea?

108-

odrne

. e

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Km:

Yes.

Kk:

then

ekema

to do

will do

dwa

and, with

kple ikema ni1k

Then what will we do (with) it ?

mfawa kplft?

to put in

d4

granary

ava

m/edee

we put. it in the granary'

va m8

we areloing to put it in

mfel8 4dege ava m.

the granary

We are going to gut it in a

Mfel8 4dege ava ma.

granarY.

Elalav.11 Km:

Kwaku

Kk:

&Paid

Ks:

Kwasi coconut

nd (or Ago, or Agon4)

to pick, to harvest

gb8.

today

4gb8

Teflatsd, Kwakd, tdwd (fafdwd)

Excuse me, Kwaku, is yaur father going to harvest the coconut

18 nda (Agonda) gb8g6 dgbe12

today? Kk:

hc ny8 mixSes8 o. .

to be dry, ripe

not yet

d

fgare

No, I dO not think so

I

.

dont't 'believe

ndawo m4rd had4 cle

it)? Our coca.

nuts are not dry yet.

(11444ke o)

-109-

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XVI. Kk:

vdto

(after a noun or pronoun)

himself

Ah, t6nyn vita ny4 sf (sea).

Ah, here is my father himself.

(lit., my father himself is that).

eyata

therefore; and therefore to need

kpakpAclevu

help (noun)

MAO, Kwasf, mdawo .11 la nyd

.

Say, Kwasil. the.coconuts are ripe

isbl4 a. Mfele wdgb6g4

on .my farm.

Jts

pick them up tomorrow morning,

ijd

atâ m/ehil

kpakpkevu'.

We are going to

,.

and we need help. Ka:

lcpS 44 ud

to give help, to help2

kpakplef

and3

Ny'd kple srtnye kpakpli vinya

mfakpe d4 udwa.

my wife, my son and I will help you.

Kh4

akpe

applause (thanks, gratitude)

sevu

strong (stronger than)

kAkaka

very.

,A1194 kilkaka.

(WaesA vi

Thank you very

(lit.,

mucia.it.

you are the one who is very

kakaka).

strong).

Notes 1.

/nye.mexoese o/ II do not believe it'.

/xo..

se

:believe'

actually consistq.of two verbs, /xx/ .featelivtaket and ,(01/ ,

!hear!.

Of these only one verb can tdke an object, and this

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7

object inmediately follows the verb.

There are several verbs

similar to this:

/t

!draw thing see, i.e., try same-

nil kp64/

thing!

'follow person see, i.e., test

/d6 &rag 444/

somebody'

nd kal

.

.

!lick thing see, i.e., taste samething'

/11a nya se/

!ask word hear, i.e., inquire about samething!

sentence to express a The use of several verbs in one in English by one verb thaught which may often be expressed . for this with is characteristic of Ewe. Westermann accounts describe in detail every .the,explanation that the Ewe people has to be expressed by action or happening, and each detail happening and present it a special verb. They dissect every leading event in its various parts, whereas in English the either expressed by a verb, and subordinate events are is

preposition, not considered or are expressed by means of a

adverb, conjunction, or prefix of the verb.

(lit., come let us tdke a

Va m/42 tsa yi donakodzi. .

walk go hospital)

Letts

visit the hospital.

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8

XVI.

2.

II helped Kmil II helped you'

a. /mekp6 46 Komi 1311/ b. /riekp6 de awe)/

The object of the verb /kpg de 3311/ is placed between the last two forms, i.e., between /de/ and /33u/. But, if the object is a pronoun, the first aid second persons singular follow the last form /13u./. fmekpe de wow/

/mekpe.de miaklui/

helped the:0 II helped you' II helped him, her, t I helped usI

/Skpe 4e 'Amy

the helped me1

/mokpe de miakiu/

/mekpe de emu/

it

But

helped you' /kpakpliy = /kpl4/ 'and!. /kp;akple/ is r).rmally Used only /mokpe 4e 33kily

3.

when it is the last and in a series. /woese Kju/ is more commonly used in speech, but /med.& akpe .nawV or /akpd naw6/ is more formal.

Dialove J: John

K:

Komi

Amakae le neawo gbsege?

Yaovte. (Yawovi). Ainka

L

J: Who

.K:

3:

wcifoge la atfawo

game? Ny6nlittwese.

K:

going to pick the coconuts?

Yao (Yawo) the Smaller; or Jr.

to gatheio; to collect And who is going to collect them from under the trees? The women.

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J:

gba

to break

gbe

to break it

dgbe

will break it Are there same people to break

Amettclewo 14 w6gbagea?

them? K:

:to pour, to turn over, tip

tr6

water, liquid, Inicle

.tsi

big container

zagb&

Ny6ndaw8 14 w6gb

g

The women will break them, and

eye wOle

netsf la tr6ge cle ztabet

than they will poilr the Nice

de mg.

into.a big container (pot).

clolatftiagaa Bifa tsf 14 Kwakd fofiS J*4 &gb14 bla vSge eye wOlg

eee

hate w4 mhia

etso

WOle agble yige etso

d4ge ava me.

Agble

o m41810

kpakpecleuu o.

Kwdkd fofcl m414 Are n4awo sbgg4 4gba os

N4awo Pi lg Kwami fa Sgblg m4.

WmAfu hada o.

WOle.wSgbe gt). etso.

4gb14 14 1010 eyata 41e kpekpedeuu'lliage....

KWast kpl4 sria

gbage kpakpld wovf la kpgkpege cl4 Kwamt.ou..'igtsuawo 14'n4awo sya nySnuawo la w6fog4 tsoi atfawo game. g4

gkema nySnuawo la whba

wSla agonetsi 14 trogg ad zogb4

Questions Based on the Comprehension 1.

Kwakd fofo Je blIgb163,

2.

Yekayf wOle blta 3eg42

3.

WOle blta ljege 4tsoa?

-113-

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10

xv1.

5.

Kwakti fot6 le kpel.cpkelp. hiagea? Ameka fe n4woe ta?

6.

Yekayl wOle wOgbagi32

7. 8. 9.

Axngka

10.

Le ssta megbe (after this) cie ntikae ny6nawit le wowoge?

1

kpakpege dtS Yaovi 33u2

AraSkag la w6fog

iJ ttawo eme2

Amekatg la n4awo gbege?

Class

1. 2. 3,

B11.031ew6 le Amerika?

Bligblewo 18 Afrika2 Aleke AmerikatZwo atria b11?

Negblewo le itmerika2

5. 6.

7. 8. 9.

Negblewo la A.frika2 Ale'ke agbledelttwo gbena nS la Amerika?

atm wZge wile fig sf.66.?

Afika yig4 ale la midi mebg?

Afrika yig4 tsci afisit12 10. Amekag la twesbe fla ge Amelrat 1

21e Tdgo yig4a, gil4to Brown? 12. Alka wog4 nale la affmfi.? 11.

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Unit XVII The Proccressive

Dialogue 1 Km:

Kwami

Ed:

Ewadzo Km:

agblemendkuawo

the crops

tsd

to grow

Are the crops growing well?

itgblemenitruawo la tsetsdm

nydida

Kd:

kak6

cocoa

vo

to rot

is rotten 1 ray cocoa is rotting No* my cocoa is rotting. my cocoa

ny kCika vc. ny kcfolcO i

vcivOm

nyiS kak6 le vavean.

Km:

Tanye h.

Ed:

41,06

440 avfawo he devfawo dom suktigh(11) .

c

suktigi(

Ele cievfaIro clesm 4,4 sukagii(a)?

too. to send you sent the children you are sending the children high school to high school Are you sendirlg:,the children to

Nine

high school?

(lit., cowry. Cowry wai the first used money) money (4t.* metal)

money

hatsuf ga

half7pence money2 No, .1 don't have any money.

lasba

As., k6133.,41kAsinye

Nya h nyemite]jui a.

a.

Kd:

I cantt afford it ei ther.3 What shall we do?

Mika miawa.

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2 Km:

eat, reign, rule, lord it

da

over

to reign, to rule

dz/

reign (noun), government

delauclu,

de c1.o

kpo mo male mSkpom be Dziclaciva

emse am! vEtsede.Se

ade si

gb6na

lg

ma.

to pilt (in) to lend see the road I expect that the .government will lend us a hand..till:next year. gat., I MI expecting (hoping) that the tpvernment

will put its hand in it for us until next yearg Notes

1.

Progressive: /kakfi IA 1; vavOiq /mfela yiyira/ vas

/Intel; f6f6ini /nifka ale felfitam/ /ntf.ka nke felerrii /nttiza. nele .dzidzrt6n/ fmf.ela

gble

/miele &era: alia is.'

the cocoa is rottingt twe are going! 1we are coking!

twe are getting upt !what are you teaching?! 1

!what are you buying? I

1what are you selling?! two arc going to tho tw.e are*.Putting it in the?..grahaire

116-

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xvn The progressive indicates an action which is now in progress.

It is formed like the intentional except that /-* !progressive indicator! is suffixed to the verb stem (instead of /-gq tintentional indicatorlSee Unit XVI, Intentional). Note that the possessive pronoun of the first person singular has the form /-yd/ before /-ea/ !progressive indicator?. lhe is sending mel

/dld daydro/

The verbs /gbo/ tcomet, /yi/ Igo! $ /be/ l say! often take the habitual instead of the simple past or the progressive. am going to schools /mele suku yin/

2.

II am going to school! /meyina suku/ From English !copper!. /hcItsui/ (cowry) was the money used before the minted coin. /hotsui/ is therefore used to mean about money. /ga/ lmetall is money. /k6ba/ lhalf-pence, or 7/12 cents in used as money, especially to demonstrate the

3.

absolute absence of it. Literally, lI cant t do it! (i.e., send the children to school) .

Ks:

Kwasi

tdo !No, ar tiara

Km:

Kwami

Ks: Km:

dd?

Good af ternoon

Good afternoon, howl s everything at home?

Ks:

Edo. Eldvlawo ad?

W6do, avfawo?

KM

Ks:

Fine.. How about the children? They're fine, and

your

children?

-117-

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XVII. Km:

They're fine.

yap nydie. Ks:

Are the crops growing wells

idblemendkuawo lJ tstttsdm

nydieat Km:

No, theytre not growing.

Aa, wdmeld tsetsdm a. Ks:

tsidzaljelia

the rainy season

Skpa

very much, too much The rainy season has been too long.

Tsidza zjlia didi ikpa. Km:

You're right.

NyateNe. Dialogue) .Kami

It:

Yaovi

:

ablande

pineaipple

iltdtd

pineapple

Ny pineapples are rotting.

Ny5 Atbtoawo la vavdm. ndkatae

why

claw)

reap

Ndkata mAyi aclauewd oa2

Why don't you go) to reap them?

Yey/y/a deke mele asinye

I do not have any time.

a.

Mele nd hS srdm vdvid

sI am

also studying very hard.

udto.

Y: go

da

Are you going to school?

Ele sUldt damg2

X: .E.

V. gbli

Nyayi nye Auutiawo le gbegblam .le.atiawo.dzi.

Yes. to spOil

(As for me) my oranges are getting spoiled on the trees.

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5

XVII.

K

dzo ad

to happen to (with)

wddzi

on them, to them

Ndkae la dz8dz6m c

What is happening to them?

w6dzi2.

Y: I donit know.

Nyemenya a.

PlAlagatl Kwami

K:

Yawo

T. face

1)14a) (or meo)

to squeeze

70 .

make a face, grimace

yo ijkdme (or ya 28)

that way, sudh a way, such,

neama

in such a manner

Hi, Yao, why are you in such a

Yawo, ndkata neyo 33kdme

neamg?

bad humor? Y.

h.; gziSmO la gbagblem.

my peanuts are getting spoiled.

K:

is it that cl5

8;

Ohl

&bake, cle w6le voNTOm

is it that they are getting

rotten, or what is happening

16o al6 ndkae 14 wOwam2

then? Y.

wile 181760 le anyfgba me.

Yes, they are getting rotten underground.

K:

to spoil (used for tubular

dze

roots)

completely

khkeK1

Oh, it happens; as for me, it is

A, edzZna; nye ya nye

4beliawo le dzadzemk(kkei3.

my Manioc that is getting spoiled completely.

4-119-

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6

xvn. Y:

Oh, really?

8, nyate,f4a2 K:

Yes.

L. Y.:

414

thUs

glebe

end so

And so what are you go ng to 6:41

A14be ndka woga nele? K:

I don't know.

Nya anya a. Notes .1.

In interrogative sentences containing question words, the word order with the intentional and.the progressive tenses

often Changes slightly in normal speedh.

This revised order

is:

question word - main verb

.4.

intentional..or: prodressive

marker - pronoUn + auxiliary /nuk& wom nele/

'What are yOU dbing?''

/nuka woge nele/

'What are you aoing to do?'

By this rearrangement the direct object Vnukan'immediately precedes the main Verb.

It is also ii0 831ble*t6 aik the

question with the regular word order, but in this case, since

the directobject does not immediately precede the main verb, there is reduplication.

/Nuka nele 'worm/

'What are you doiniof

/Nuka'nele wowoge/

'What are you going to do?'

-120-

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7

rm. atame&makan Lb S6 en ma lie tsidzalplia drdi la

Yaws yo MD lodtot

Ghana dkpa eyata jo

gbelia 18 gb8gb1dm, 40 4re auatfawo.kple

k8k8 wOhli le gbegbltm

44 atfawo dzf.

44 mica 8.

Ga rale esi woitadcleviawo

Ele m6kpom be dziauclua Ado ga nae 'Ana fesi gbbna

la me.

uestions Based on the Com rehension 1.

Dzi la Yao dzamg?

2.

Ndkatg?

3.

Aldke Are dziawo 18 wawsm2

441

Aleke (fe Acutiawo la w8w6a2

S.

Aleke 6se agbelia la Ownt?

6.

Ga le 6siA2

7.

V1146 le Sera?

8.

Kikata wOhli ga?

9.

NtIke wale m6kpom ng?

Questions for the Class 1.

Agbledell. menyea?

2.

AgbledelS foftwO nycla?

3.

Agbledel;wo le Amerika (.16 147611) ace) gble demil?

Ga la asIwoa2 S.

Ndka sr8m ale?

6.

Ele nu srom vevisa2

7.

Aakae le nufOm netwel fifiA2

8.

littra xlem mile?

9.

Ndlcuawo le tsitam nyufea fe sid mea?

10.

Tsidzarjolia didi ire sia mea?

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unit rrnI Numbers

Telling_ Time

Dialogue 1 A:

B:

Ama

Bob A:

dzracld

to get ready, prepare

uu

drum

uutroto

drumming

Well, Bob, wont t you get reaey

Aldke, Bob, madzracid mfayi

aclakp6 m;roiroa oat

drumming?

-that we may go.. to, see. the B:

game

dza dgame

Yekayi wale dgome dzegar

A:

bo ttom, beginning, under

start Cv.) When is it going to start? time, hour, o'clock four

ane

git ane ma

Adza dgarde a one. wdnit

Loam yekaytt. adr5

/

A.

seVen

.

Awunu get adid.

at four o'clock It will beGin at l'our o'clock. to finish And when will it,finish?

It will finish at seven. B:

at5

beaip, ring (v.) 'an hour's period three

kitg

ass:much as

mit

'doltnz.

na

stal,, sit

na anyt

stay, to sit down, to last

fo gitrato

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2

VIII. Os gekrojlo clt5 kEttl wale 4.da yig63.2 A:

nidzradd mfityig.?

B:

lila lla v/e

.0h, it is Eping to last ad2much as three hours? .. Yes, will you get ready to go2 wait wait for a few minutes

(lit., wait small or wait

a little)

.

All right, wait a l'ittle.for me.

04.ani6

What time is it nal?

ffffit.2

A:

4ra git ate kp34 .

It is half past three. (lit., strikes time "three. and a

.

half). Notes 3..

The mun'erals:

The-.Cardinal numbers from 1 to 19 are: 11. hatidclki(a)/ 1. --Raki, 45/

.2.- /ava/

12. /wtti,ava/

/ ate/

13. /wdiat5/*

3.

t

4. fene/

311..

5. titt6/

15. /wttiati/

6.

76.d.6/#

/wttidne/

16. /wttiadq.

/and6/

7. /adr4/#/andr4/

17.

8. /ine/

18. /wilienyt/

9. /asilke/, /enyide/

19. /wultisidkii/

10

/wiliadr4(

/eve/

-123-

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XVIII. Prom 20 the cardinals are: 20.

/bldavd/

21. /bldavd vo 4410/

30.

/bla dtqf

40.

/bla dm,/

22. /bldave vo ve/

/bla ati(

/bldavd vo tqf

/bla add,/

23.

/bldave vo

70.

/bla adr4/

25.

/bldavd va dtqf

80.

/bla eng/

26.

/bldavd vt dd4(

90.

/bla asfektV

27. '/bldavd vd wird/

100. /alara Oka/

Ibldavd v6 n74/

29. /bldavd vt asid10/ before the The object counted is placed in the singular

As:Aro etg three hours:I3ut if the object has the article, then the plural marker

,numeral

e .g.

is added.to the numeral, e.g. Ithe disciple' /niisrBla/ /ndsrala wttieveawo/ t the twelve disciples!

igttitot The, ordinal numerals* with the 'exception:of are,-fcirmed by adding /-lia/ to each Of the numbers. !second:

firstI

/atniat At

.Aria

Bob:-

A.

time what time

git ridnalnd

do.

-

to come out. o;, from

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XVIII. What' time will you get out of

GA neneme4 nado le sukt

clasaes today?'

40282 B:

wufdakd

eliven

Afi

haff

wuldeka kp1 4 afI

at eleven and a half

Ealr

Ga wu/cf,iid kpl6 afi.

to cldse

ta

dZnokOdzI

pait eleven'.

hoipital .

Ga nenema wdtda Dandk6dziA2

,

What -time do they close the

hospiiálf twelve.

wuieve

It cloies1 at twelve thirty.

Wdtune gel wufeve kpl4

(lit., they close it) A.

to believe, faith

x8se

to'be of'the opinion that,

xose bd.

to thiik'that Do ,you think _that you2 can be

tx6se'bd ydatdbu d40 Affma

there (arrive) before it

hdff '.wdattlielt 2

closest .50

E, radglip

Any(); cusisba nd nov/wo4 ndra sta.

Yes, I will. A:

Goods give my regardse:W -Ipur brother(sister), pleaset O.K., I will.

Yoo.

(Certainly, etc.)

Notes

la

Ewe does noVhave a

passive voice:

The Engliah passive

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XVIII. construction with an indefinite agent* such as II am hurt* it is read* etc.'s' is expressed in Ewe by the construction

The third person plural

'they* hurt me* they read it* etcet

subject has an impersonal meaning and is equivalent to the.

.

French pronorainal tont.

The second person subject pronoun is omitted before the verb /terju/ here because it is in a dependent clause and its subjec.t is the same as the subject of the main verb.

In this

case:

/Exose bey

!do you think that!

/Yeaterju/

!you cant

In all sirailar cases /yea

A:

Aria

B:

introduces the dependent verb.

Bob A:

that

yleti

moon

14

to catch, to catch up with* to hold

They say that the sun will catch

Wdbe ye le ylet/ ldge dgbe,

the moon today.

nyatArdi?

Is it true?

(There is going to be an eclipse). B:

to say, to speak, to rontion

Gioia

something

Es.w6gbiae la ijdf

?radio' dz/

Yes* they said it on the radio this morning.

sia.

-126-

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6

XVIII.

A.

dia leekayte wald dzadzoge?

n6 Sseso mtnrti, aclabia,rofo

B:

to happen, to occur When.wiil it happen? when it remain's mintitea (fivm English

ne

fors tO

ne esuso minrti blave voat5 ne ga asieke

Lii; when it is left 25 minutes for hour nine, to'.nine

They say it will happen at

Wdbe Ltdza ne dseso mfnXti

twenty-five 'to:. nine.

bl4vd ird ata .n6 ga, asfeke =tiro.

in advance How do they know in advance?

do 33go

Alek6 wdnytte dd 33ga hall

(lite, how they (do) knoW in advance before it occurs

wesdza nal

(happens) then?)

to calculate, to figure

be Akdiota wany6 wdbena. A: 'wuriu

nyatergat Yekiayf wale

They figure it out by mathematical calcula tiOna to finish tomething Oh, really% When will it end?

6nu wdg82

fifteen It will finish at about fifteen

wu.16etti

sisfice' kpl4 'mfnXtt wadittd en6.

Awunu elb4 get.

minutes past niheir .4427

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XVIII. Akemd rnfel nEtn6 tef'd kpd

A:

,

Then we :are. doing to 'gee some-

thing today.

.$6... dgba,.

Dialogue.k A:

B:

Aria..

'Bob

A.

lorry., bus, car to leave

z

Excuse me, when does the tibitin

yekay/ Atakpdma

kdtikda eve).

Mexose b6

dzodzdm.1.

to Atakpame 'leaVet B:

,two

.

I think it leaves at half past

dzona gEt 8ve

kpld Yekaif nexa se bd

two

A:

When do you

mitado

Atakpamfg?

at Atakpame2 B:

early to run pore, most

kdba

Jtht wd

the last, the rest

mamlae(wo)

Eku

-.,

ktk si rit'd,d la rigti,

It depends on what train you take. The t piplt runs faster than the

p%p g. la j'ua .du wua mamlas.wo . (kati), dye -'wthicie. Atakpame

Ado le getrogro ene megbd.

rest (of theth all) and arrives

,

Atakparae early.

kdba. Yikayfe nexo se bd plpg. isf Et cid

think we will arrive

And :when do you

think the ,Ipipe

arri,:ve I B:

%

It will arrive after .foui hOurs.

-148-

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8

XVIII. A.

Akema aft ab

Then we will arrive at about half

gi adi

past six.

kpld if& end.

thatle it, thatis iight

dyidma

Yes, that's exactly it.

dyidma. A.

inyo, wddse vd kdkaka.1

Not at all. (you are welcome).

o.

irkpd mdla

Good, thank you very much.

Notes le

/wdese xpu/is the colloquial but most used form of saying thank you.

The other two forms are:

/meda akpe nawd/ (formal)

fI applaud you'

/wde wo do/ (less formal)

!you did work, a useful worW

The answer to !thank youi comes from the formal ona: Tan applause is not in ordexe

/akpe mole eme op/

Comprehension Kadzd kpld John yt Atakpame atso be wdikp6 wdxiii Bob si noa

afima la. Wdfo kdba le g4 add kpld ifi ma dye la ga adri ma ld wdna ljudza.

Asuso mlniti wuieite nd gi 4nyi nit'd haJf kdtekaa

vd, Syd wedzd g

nyt tautu.

Garoto ene magbd l

Bob kpd dadzo vdto dot wakpd xaldi John. iff6t Kikekea kit1,

44 le fa ndduau

wdsip Atakpame.

John kpld Xodzo wdno

megbd 14 OA gi anyi me it

John kpld Kadzd wddo bee trddzo yi Lazio.

imutions Based on the Comprehension .

1.

Ndka Eadzd kpld John wdwa steal

2.

Ndkata wdyt affmge

3.

Yekayi wdfo2 Yekayid wdna oddza ni dsddzdt

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9 xvIII.

5.

Affka %idyl?

6.

GgroSo ka mg kdteke ld va?

7.

Ggfofo ka ma keitdke ld dzd?

8.

Yakaytd wcIdo Atakpame?

9.

Iddnd affma yeyiyi didia?

10.

Yekayie wddzo la Atakpame?

Questions for the Class 1.

Gg nenferd2

2.

Ga ndame ne v

3.

Ga ndndma ala dzadzdge la afisia?

afisia?

Gg an6m5 sukua dzia egame? 5.

Ga anda

6.

Suku deyi didina2

7.

Gg andm5 ne dd le stika etso?

8.

Ga ndnda sinemg dzena dgame?

9.

Sinemg Mina?

10.

Ga andme sinemg wda dna?

1481qua enu?

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1 Unit XIX

The PreteriteOlutum and Habitual Pro ressive Dialogue 1 Am:

Ana

Ak:

Akuwa Am:

bd

that ( conjunc tion) 1

gbo

come badk, return

Yevdwode

Europe / heard that yout son came baok

Mese bd v/wd gbo tsd

from Europe, is it trime ?

Yvtiwode, nyateSdAi Ak:

to converse (lit., talk salt)

dd dza

E, mano dz

m atso fir hill

Yes, I was conversing2 last evening when he arrived,

wdva do. ygme

air, atmosphere

ygmeod

airplane

dza

to land

dzAre

landing place

ylmevd-dzqd

airport

Mleyi

dakp4a la ygmeud-dzefe

Didn't you go to meet him at the

dal

airport2 Ak: trd

to change

seed

thoughts, thinking, mind

dtro Are casd

he changed his minds.

mamlae

the last one

-131-

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XIX.

Ao, infesnya be did ArS vm eltso o. Eralo nthni bd .yd1e

did not know he was caming home yesterday* He wtoote to us

No, we

that he3 was coming .hame next week, but then he changed his minds The last letter he wrote

are vim kwasicla si gbona 14 gake.'dtro Are semis Agbale mibulae st wd ,talo and la va dgbdas

Mika wom naviawo.na 1I4fi

Am:

to us came in tD.dayi What we're his brothers and

sistets

Wdvil? *

erg

doing when he came?

to.. learn, 'to study

4.

na ntiarrn

was studiring

kpd tet.

to bring heads together

takpdkpd

a meeting (lit., bringing heads hence Of minds,

of

ideas, together) the one ( i se. , brother or sister) born immediately

dyometo

her, it

after,..bizu,

KWamla na nd srdm, 4ydmeto...

Afua yi takpdkpe: mit eye

...Kwamla was it/dying, the one born iinmediately after-him, Atm,

went to a meeting, and the rest

makaladWo na dzd tiom.

were conversing, Notes

1.

/b4/ Ito as

say, to

speakt

follows verbs of saying, thinking, wi shlng , etc , and

introduces objective clauses; it is translated as the conjunction t thatt -132-

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rs x .

b. introduces final clauses; here, it is translated

tin order tot 2.

The progressive may also be expressed in the preterite and

the future. In this case /le/ is replaced by /no/ or /ano/ respectively. present Progressive /mele yiyim/ /mele agble yim/

II am going' II am going to .the farm'

Preterite Pro ressive /mem yiyim/

II was .goings

/meno agble yim/

II

Puture_progressi:re /mano yiyiW /mano agbie

was going to the farmt

II will be going' II will be going to the farm'

progressive, usually The habitual may also be used with the

to express a habitual or continuous action in the past. Adimea menoa Su lem/ tIn the morning I used to swlint In complex sentences where the main verb is one of thinking, sensaying, meaning, etc., the pronoun in the subordinate tence which refers to the subject becomes /ye/ or /yewo/ (or possessive /ye,re/, /yewo,fen. They 'thus appear to introduce indirect speech, although Westermann claims that in 'fact they are introducing direct speech. tYou said you would comet (lit.,

/Elbe zedvat

you said tI will comet)

/elalo nerimi be gale

afe vim/

*He wrote to us that he was

coming homet

-133-

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14.

Dialogue 2 K:

Komll

E:

Edward remember (lit., set eye on)

33ku (dzi) ddvtm.4

childhood

kd (nd)

to laugh

to laugh kt samebody

ko ame

Okuinye

myself

Pita

seashore, beadh, coast .

When,I remembeil.my Childhood, I

N4 med6 tku ddvilmd dzi la,

laugh atmyself. We lived near

mokona 40kuinye bdto.

.the sea.

Mfeno Pita. E:

NyateSea?

Ndka nano wow6A?

Really/ Whatwere you doing?

da

work

(4)44ke

any

1

D84clake mina asfriye ano

watOm

I had nothing to 'ft.

c.

(Lii.,

I had nO woik, I was doing) sea

swim

la,

faa

bathe, shower

ere

to switli in the sea (/le/

'lit. moans baihe, wash, ,

r

se

bui

'be used here)

to play' tale

to tell

71314.-

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5 XIX. In the morning we were swimmihg

13dfme mlenaa tu lam, ygtrdmd

In the afternoon

mlena f8f4m, fiEmd midna

in the sea.

glf tdm.

we were playing. ning we were

In the eve-

telling tales.

E:

Is that all?

gvoa? K. kattff

all

met

this, that

was yust that

ko enye ma)

keema

sweet, pleasant

vfvi

Mfeno

2, dUa kittg kadma.

fdfdm, na glf tdm.

Yes, that was all the job.

We were playing, telling tales.

6hL

Oh, childhood was really

clavfmt vfvi vgyi vito.

pleasant in the past.

Notes 1.

When the indefinite pronoun/4v la, a certaint is followed by the emphatic particle /ke/ lanyt, its use is generally limited to.negative pronouns only.

Dialogue a M:

Mary

A:

Akuwa

anyfgba

the earth, country

uduu

shake

nyitso

the day before yesterday,

the day after tamorraw, the other day' Nti la wan nano' hitfi.

Enyfgba

What were you doing when the earthquake talak place (the

vivu nyitso?

earth shook) the other day?

-135-

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6

cj

.

A:

(nd)

Nano ndam .Wda 4,62 M:

nyA (nd)..

cook (v.) I Was cooking,. And yOug to wash some.thing.

I was washing. My brother was studying when the earth4uake

Nyatt.mono nlinyamt NOvfny8

no ndsreln, 4s1 Enytgba la

took place.

mivu

A:

artgaral! cid

to enter the house

.

to begin something

dze nd game

to cry

.Etv.f

.yometo

little:,brother

yonyemeto

my little.

brother '(lit.,

the one,.behind me) Pao. nyA na: ardamti

My father was :ust entering the

cldm

house

tdtutu ha± wadze dgame. Y6nyera3to n8 Avi tam

vitt). M:

when it began.

My little

brother was *crying very much.

dAko

expression denoting a condition of no choice; only, but.

nya

to wake up

ATInyA n15 ale &Imo 4.3ko wanyo

zi Oka.

My baby was sleeping, but he was awakened at onov-:(all of a sudden).

.

Dialoate..4 B:

Bob

Kosi B:

(a)c1,4

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When you were working in the

Est nano d.Sw3m le ffasda ma cid, luta tdttitde nano

store, wha.t were yolf.doing

exact3ry?

wawSmi

'menial, all kiilds of

kpcitufkpatuiwo

menial jobs, all kinds of

d6 kpetufkp8tufwo

work

MOno d5 kpdtufkpatufwo Wm.

I. was doing menial jobs. B:

like

and

Like what/

INS rain gnat

K.

kplà

to, sweep

dzra c

to arrange

nttdzadzrawo

the merchandise I

Mono ffsis4mO kPl6m; mono

was sweeping

the store, ;

rittdkadirawo dzrEm ticS, kpl4H

was arranging the -merchandise,

bdbtlawdo

etc.

x4

pay.

net

to

Mtge,

to you.

H8 nent4 wtSno xOx4m avult

How. much .were you being paid?

'thottoiand (francs)

katolai3

katokd wufeiti

He was ,payi.ng me

fifteen

thousand

trims.

xtfun nitra.

Notes 1.

/(a)4e/ is used only to describe someihing quite indefinite, niade. a person or thing 'tc whicb'no more exacit reference, is

The

/4/

is optional depending on the flow of speech,and -137-

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8

*:

xiX.

dialect; e.g.

Pl.

la house, sbme.'housel

/xcacle/

/nm/ the inbidel Compounds with /me/ generally express an extension of space

2.

at

or time:

/clevit

jfiase/'

'child' 'store'

/4evime/ t(youth) childhood' ffie6zifinet 1.the inside of the Eitorer

In the sterling areasiget ketokd clfSka/ lone mOn6y 'bete is

3.

equivalent to% 100 pounds (1280) .*:

Comprehension

gst mans) c1evfm5 la; mfena j'uta. Agbe vrvi 'yeitutirt.me vita. .

.

Daideke' mint a c1,8yrftwd st :dent) wawtim 84.-141f4m ka iñin8 '14)

vdime' la' mfenif gliwd tdm. Gba clekit dài idea aftfut 14 Tuta, ntivtnye na fu 1811, detnye na ndetm; 576 vIdzra n3 115 -d6m rinyigbd let uduu. Ny8 mtlnya nd si wd18 be metwa d. Navinyd daga

15 tsTam8 eye raferu Questions Based -on: the Comprehension .Affkir xaff -na

6,110 clavi mat.--:.

2. .ApSke Etgbe ria: J yilmityt m.82 wawam l Kidf a? 3. r Ndka cuivfliwc:k' .

Ndidt wdna waw:5;111:115'105tr6 mat

t .a.

5.

Nita wdria w8w5m 15 fie met

6:

mikae

70

glia delbt?

..'iihtka win ctivfaurcii .ne

mica Karfnt5vf

'aft anyfitba .tidttif

waygmt

.

-138-

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9 XIX. 9.

NdkR w6dadd na wawara

10. Ma v/dzXa na wawana 11.

Affkg Off kpld avid Su dd yft

guestions for the Class 10

240a laku we, devf me dzi yeadowoyira

2.

MIMI ano la wa demi ma2

3.

Igbe vfvi y8mdyl m4a2 Ndka wEra nano la 4dtma2 Ndkri wem n8no 18 yatr6m82

6.

NdkR w6ra ano la fiime2

7.

Anyigbd ydvu dsi

8.

Ndcluclu kid vfvi flawd wd le was 4avfma2

9.

Efa Avi udto la devf maa2

10.

Novf yometow6 18 asiwee?

11.

W6fAa Avi 3311t642

12.

iroa 116 enuenal

13.

4roa w6 yeaclewoyfA2

nano clevf Mal

Additionali2241219xx /w11/ 'better, best, more, most' (for comparisons)

heaciewoyi/ tsamettmest

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1 Unit XX The Immr21122.and the Jassive Dialogue 1 J:

Kosi

John

J: to pass

Where ihauld I pass to go to

Affka atd ()yfl posa lg?

the post office? K:

go (lit., walk and go)

zayi yee

a little, for a while

;

nAtsd

yaa are.to take

mime

left Go straight, (and) take the third

za yi 300 pee eye, nAts6

road to your left.

a etOlfa 18 wa miAme. J:

t6

stop

place

MAnyd a 4t511a dze.ree bts ld tdnd OAT

Isntt it on the corner of.the third street that the bus stOps?

nazo

you are.to go, gp

tV

straight

ndddeme

right

g, &yadma tdtdtd; gam) ti yi

Yes, that is it exactly, then gm

0 a ene1fa 14 wd nddasfmd

straight again until (youreach)

la dzi.

the fourth road to your right. to put

etzfgbI

Iffsi w644 aegbit 4a2

.

peanut bowl Where there ,is a peanut stand?

(Lit., where they have put the peanut bowl dawn?)

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2 IOC.

jdti to

bY

to pass by

cdti

kplo

to accompany, to follow green No, pass that plaCe' and take the

cld

mdmd 6, ttaffma jiti yi; m4 sf

next road (lit., the road which follows that one)8. straight; you will reach the post office in a short time. It is the big green building.

kpla dma 46 lde nAted,

adfdi, hdfi nadd pdsd la o.

inye xc g& mime

dde.

Good, thank you veiey much.

viaelim do kdkeke.

Attica raw tsd i ajma yi

Where should I gO from there

aukdgi2

to get to the high school? IC:

.idtat

It is .a little far from. the post office. Ask soMebody there so

tsd 14. posua gbd. Ma etmeadd la iffma bd

Wafid md la W.

YM, meow do.

that he may

J:

showyou

the road.

Oa.; thadk you.

IC:

Akpd md14 tencl

Not at all.

o.

NOttes

1.

A jvculiarity in.Ewe is that_ we. often find a row:of verbs

one after the other. The chief features of this aro that all the verbs stand next to eaCh other without being con.nected, that all have the same tense or mood, and that in I

the event of their .having a compiori subject and.objeict, these

stand with the -first, the others remaining bare. Should a

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conjunction stand between two verbs, the subject and object

must be repeated. Imperative:

/zo/, the imperative, is a command to the

person addressed and is expressed by the Verb alone.

In the

plural, however, the pronoun alone (mt) precedes the plural form.

/yi/ 3.

Jussive:

Igo ( sing.) t

/miyi/

Igo (pl.)!

fineltsd/ is a command to the subject .of the verb.

It is formed by prefixing /n4/ or /nd/ to the verb. tyou.are to got

/ndyi/

the is to got

/wd ndyi/

!they are to got

211111m2.2 J:

John

K:

Kosi J:

nddle4

anal, Iffka matd dyf ndclurg?

restaurant Please, where should I pass to go to a restaurant2

kpd

to see

particle used to point to remote things Ekp6 xa ndmu md gd?

Do you see that green building?

to

to'sew

ndtold

tailor

i, dsi game ndtola age lei?

"Yes, under whidh there is a

tailor?

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XX. dza

sp34t, turn away from

trd

ttIrn

nti edid xoa gbd ld, trd yt:

Yes, at. the building turn to your

wod mtame eye naza yi 300

left and go stxmight .ahead on

la md ma dzi.

that road.

Akpd .nd4ur6

dcle le mo enelid ,re Warne.

Then..you will see

a restaurant on the corner of the fourth street.

a':.

Good, thank .you.

tnyo, *Ettpd nawo.

K: worth

st1-

a.: Dialokuela 144811 Elkpd

J:

John

Affka

Not at all.

.

K:

(You are welcome).

K9si

amedzr6dze,f6

hotel

tLe Bdnint

name of a hotel.

io

Where should I pass to go to the

mEltd (a)yi amedzrd-

tLe Belnint hotelt

dzere tLe B4nint2 K:

alight, go down, come down

di

It is a little far; take Bus 45

81 Edidi life, 45 b.os blana

and alight at .the third stop.

;Vd gt6 eye. nitai la tAfe

You will see it in front of

-.4tolga. .1kp6 e la ijgowo

you at. once.

zt dekd.

(Lit., how is it2) What does it

Ildke wa1e2

look like? 1.

intithu Abu

K:

(Lit., you cannot g t lost)

yau will not miss it

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XX.

It is a big white building.

Anye xo gi yfe Ade, mathu

You

can't miss it,

dbu a.

Pigagatil J:

A:

John

Afeto Sir, where dhauld I pass to go

kdto, affka mat6 (A)yt

to Kpalime ?

Kpallme ?

A:

a crossroad (lit., a certain

medzArda dd nu

road-splitting place)

Take the big road of the hospital

TstS danolcZdzi mti gr.. la; yi 30Go Intsecle

and follow it until you come

6st nag() mddzerda

to a crossroad.

de nu, J:

(Lite, at the crossroad where

Le mmdzelfda nu dd, affka

shauld I.pass?)

mata?

Where do I go

fram the crossroad? A:

(Lit., pass left)

TS mime, md la atsS

Go left, the

road goes to Kpalime.

wa yi Kpalime.

(Lit.,

the road will take (carry) you to go to KpaliMe). J:

Md evelfa

affka

And the (second) other road, where does it go?

wdyi? A:

lAro (or godzi)

in the direction

144 elvelfa yd yt Atakpame

The other road goes in the direction of Atakpame. J:

Thank you very much.

Weldwa do kdkaka loo. A:

O.K.

Yadt

-1144-

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xx.

comaiRmagoa (Edward and Kosi) Aftka matd (d)y/ futti?

E:

a yi 3jgo; natsd md ettafa ldwamiame. Mdnye md e;t53.1a

E:

6 kdna rad fdtadele

f, eyaema ptpepe.

cis la 612

Gayi loga d4 md eneliff le wd nddusfm8

lA de, E:

Affsia wddo azfgba 0E12

K:

8, td affma via. M

E:

Anyo dkpd kakaka.

si dzd dma yome lad mita, yi dditutA.

Questions Based.on the Comprehension Artkra EdWard df bd ydayll

1. 2 .

.

Md .ka. woats6 ddo af tug?

la a

etelid ard

kda. ma?

3.

Ndkad

4.

Affka wdayi 3.8 md

5.

Mika Oti woatd eyi Slit& 14?

6.

Amekad do md ld nd Edward?

megb8?

gautions for the Class

11

1.

Amedzrddzej4 dde 18 affsta?.

2.

Aldke mAyi affm4?

3.

Affka pdsda.142.

4.

iflka matd dyl.niidgf62

5.

Afika mate dyl kdtekd VOA?

6.

Aftka matd 41 (Ado) donok4dzfa?

7.

Aldke madd sukd?

8.

81.nemd Ade

9.

GA nenig md 6inemA dzeng.

10.

Aldke madd enema tsd aftsfat

11.

Affka natd Ayf tembassyl.la?

ia t:±ifsfet2

dem? -145-

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1 Unit XXI

k22211221 Dialogue 1 A:

.

Bob

Ama

A:

Good morning.

Mdnt.

Be

Mont, mieft nyuida2

Good morning; how are you?

A:

the world, the weather

xdxeame

to.be cold1

fA

gt

Xfficeama gafd

Finet

4gbea wtoi

The weather is again very

cold todayS

(as was the pre-

vious day(s))

(Lit., do you see something

akpand nAma

for me) we agree on this, I think so too what (rel.)

nusi

happen

dza Yes.

Ikpand nAml? Ny8

2 sael

maya ndsi gdz

I do

not know what happened again.

a.

to make, to appear

WO abd 4..

We agree on this.

as

like, as

enL

to rain

dza

It seams to me as if it is going

iwo ndm abe tsi vfacle gale

to rain 4 little again.

dzadzagd ens. B:

the cloud

alflikpo

same (pl.)

(a)clewo

to germinate

mie

-146-

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2

m. E, Alflikpo adgwo la dea yat X, ngdza, mAnye aghlemenukuwo

Yes.

There are some clouds in

the 91cy.

Eht Let it rain,

isntt it the crops in the farms

kag atsi nydie aat

that will graw well?'

Nya ya mAyia ardma hifiA2

O.K.

I am going home before the

rain starts.

tsf4 adza egame. B:

to greet samebody

dogbe na ame O.K.

yad; ddgba n4 argAmatawo

Please give greetings to

the people of your

nam sia.

house on

my behalf. A:

Wdasa.e.

(Lit., they will hear it) I will.

NOtes adjective, as we know There are three main ways in which the

it in English, may be expressed in Ewe.

nodifier. When it is 1) attributively-;-that is, as a noun immediately follows the used attributively, the adjective noun. /xe clef,/

!red bird!

it modifies. Note-that the adjective follows the noun for the same If there are one or more other modifiers

noun, they will 'follow the adjec'tive: /at:f koko la/

ittg koko acle/

!the tall tree ! fa tall tree!

modifier of the noun If the noun is plural, only the last will take the plural marker:

/atf koko adewo/

!same tall trees!

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2) predicativelyas a predicate or predicate

adjective:

!the bird is red! a) Note first the use of /le/ with the predicative of the adjective.

/xe la le

dz:fe/

b) Adjectives ending in /e/, such as /deg !red!, !strong', /wive/

form

/ SEW

!important! are used both attributiveWhen they are used attributive-

ly and predicatively.

ly, often a second /e/ is added, and /-V; thus /dzf/, /ses5PV, /vevi/. /xe dza/ or

the /-ee/ becomes

tred birdt

/xe

When these forms are used predicatively, a further /e/ must be added:

/xe la le dzre/

!the bird is red!

! that is important! Adjectives ending in /oe/, which for phonetic reasons changes to /ui/, also add*an /e/ to the predicative

/Oct le vevie/

form.

/kpoe/ ) /kpui/ > /kpuie/

I short!

/ame kpui/

!short person?

/ele kpuie/

the is short!

The rest of the adjectives do not distinguish between the predicative and the attributive forms., 3) many English adjectives are expressed in Ewe by verbs:

/fa/

t be coolt

/xexeame fa/

tthe weather is cool!

-148-

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MAI/

!be long!

/mo la didli

'the road is longs

However, these verbs may also be made into real adjec-.. tives:

a) by reduplication !be high! .'

/ati la ko/

!the tree is high!

/koko/

!high! (adj.

/ati koko/

shigh trees

b) by suffixing an /eit /1170/

sbe good!

/enyo/

lit is good!

0

/nyoe/ > /nyui/ 'goods

/ame nyui/

!good person!

c) Verbs which are already a reduplication are used unchanged as adjectives:

/lolo/

sbe large, large!

/didi/

!be long, long!

1/1222.6222.

A: Am

B:

Bob A:

sunshine, noon, daylight,

Kido

noon heat 1465 6ot

'ggbe j

hard, strong zjdoa sgsa Oto.

Oht Todaysi sUn is very bright. (lit., today's sunshine is very strong).

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B:

exactly* lust

clako

ma nu

roast, to burn samething

dza

fire

seat Dako wale ame

am

Yes* indeedt

1

Itts burning lustl

like fire.

abe dzo and. fi

to scorch* burn

khkelj

campletely (Lit.* the crops in the farms)

Agblemendkuwo la fafiige

The crops will burn completely.1

kerikerj.

B:

nya

wash

ndnyald

washer* washmans cleaner

dzidzo

happiness Yes, but this is the cleanerst

E, gak4 dnye ndnyalawo ya X4

happiness.

dzfdzo. A:

1114ke nahawa2

Oh, (lit.* how would you do2) 2 what can one do2

du

town* city

dua qe

a town* a city

due. clewo

same towns* same cities

gbegbli

the bad, the misfortune

nyonyo

the good* happiness

Dakewo fd gbagbli Snye

(Same townst misfortune is same

twnst happiness.)

dAaddwo Xd nyanyd.

One mants

poison is another mants meat. Notes 1.

/See/--11.1;., hear it--has the same meaning as/EV bat adds

colour to the language* as is often the case in Ewe. -150-

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6 XXI. 2.

/alAke ndhetwa/ fwhat will you do then?? The /131/ which is placed after the personal pronoun and

the tense marker adds an overtone of impossibility to the

meaning of the main verb.

The implication of the expression.

/aldke nal4w6/ is that there is really nothing that you can do.

i.e.* is& t

/nuka netheidu/ !what can you eat then??

there anything that you can. eat?

DialoAue

Yawa

A:

Arna

7i

the wind

18

exclamatory particle The wind of today is particularly

EgbeXe y5 ya gas& WI'.

strong. A:

nyra

to be dark (verb)

7.1bo

black* dark (adjective)

nyro yibo

to be dark completely (emphatic)

blow Yes* look at the Wcyl

i sea, kpd dzime. 44.1

Alilikpoawo nyra.ylbo 478 ya hit le

The clouds

are completely dark* and the

wind is taowing SO hard&

XoraM-idsiei

I am sure that (lit.* I

mekd de ddzi. be

swear on it that)

water

tsi

fall Oa.

.dza -1 1-

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to rain

tst dzet

I am sure that it is going to

Make ad ddzi bd tsi la

rain.

dzadzagg. A:

4siatad

is this the reamn why

alea

like this

xd dzd

to,be hot

That is why the atmosphere is so

istelt44 yams xa dzo Alea.

hot. Y.

Sg sie ma

this year

tsidzadza

the rain

The rain of this year is very

Fg sia me i'd tsidzadza sds6

heavy. A:

re sivyi ma

last year.

Lake wano Se si v&yi le ma2

How was it last year2

gbagbe

much

lOcea gbagbe

so much

Last year it was not so

Fe si vgyi me la mAsesg alma gbagbe

much)

4W7,7*

.

A:

season

.

rainy season, rainy period

tsidzakio1i

Tsidzalplia.daye dsitt maf

Is this the rainy season then?

lk, Ayae le ggame dzam.

Yes, (it .is beginning already)

it has already begun.

DialoueJj K:

Kofi:

..John

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8

XXI. sd

to hear

avuvo

cold

(a)vuvoOli

the cold season

la mtade

in your country (place) I heard that the cold season is

Mese bd (a)vuvoOli da wd

very hard in your country.

sds8 le miade Oto.

to fall (from the sky,

dz

rains snow) to snow

Isnow11, dza

What is snows

Ndka &lye ?snow'? 3:

yie

white (adjective)

fd

to be white (verb)

tftiti

very white

flour

14'6

NA yfe dde wanyg. tftiti otto.

It is samething white.

Afdna

very white.

&a au wS

It is

It is like flour.

end..

K:

Nyaterda.

Really?

Aldke wadzana9

How does it fall?

J:

It falls from the dty.

gdzina ts6 dz1m4. K:

as

aldsi

Abd aldsi

as (introducing a clause)

And

As it rains?

Ibd algsi tst dzina andA?

(in the manner of

train) J:

i, (*mem, &eke au aldsi

Yes, thatts it.

it is not water.

megbloe elnd la, anye tot wdnye o.

But as I said, It is like

flour.

1l4 AbS 116 end.

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XXI.

K:

mfawo yd

as for us, we on the other

hand to be cool

fd

cool (adjective)

fdfe

north

dzfeha

(As for us, our cold is a cool

Mfawo yd mfArd dvuvoa, nyd

ya fife si Ilona tsda dzfehd.

wind which blows from the north) In our ease, our cold season is brought in by a cold wind from the north,

j:

sds6

to be strong strong (adjective)

sgsfe

Ya s4sTe wanydng?

Is it a strong wind? K:

a, gake 4fina vita.

No, but it is very cold.

J:

night

zg

Zm

Is it at night that it blaws

wOrona, Ald 0.. K:

4fana xido kpl4 zi.

It blows day and night.

Notes 1.

used sometimes for snow. /tsikpe/ 'hail! is The Ewe word

Comprehension

Avevorpli

claki kpld tsidza 1301i dvd 14 Tdgo.

end a. mddldi AU) avuvorjoli la Europa rifa,re avuvorjolia m

ld tsi adzAna a.

Tsidzkoli (1.75 11.

Le tsidzaljoli gi

yesidyi

ANevolplia

Eye !snow!. ml a.

Le

Ya ftie rana tso dz14110.

m la

tst t4uu dzana

adzana yesfaii a. Le tsidumoli vfa me la, tsi

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10 xxI.

Tap_api2aLatalasttunecomx AvaviSipli

1.

2.

.

nenfe la Tdell

Tsidzal3oli nenfe la T6g62

3.

Avevholl dldina la T6go abd Yovdwode en6a2

4.

'Snow' la T6goa?

5.

Tsi dzana le T6go vtiv4o1imela2

6.

Affka ya fdre Xona ts6n42

7.

Aldke x6xeam8 nana la vdvdr,loll

8.

Tsi dzana yesidyi la tsidzaKioli

m42 meal

Questions for the Class 1.

X4xeame t6tro la T6go la abd Amerika

2.

ISnowl la T6goa2

3.

ISnowl la Amerika?

enda2

Ndka dive !snow!? 5.

AvAv6 wana n6 tsikp6 le dzadzamg2

6.

Tsidzarjoli nenfe

7.

Tsidzalpli nenfe la imArika?

8.

Aleke x6xeame la 6gbea2

9.

Avuvo la wowoma2

krikat

10.1 ljdo la vuuuma:

11.

X6xeame fu litia?

12.

Alilikpawo 14 dzfat

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Unit XXII Causal Clauses

Compound Words

Dialogue l J:

John

Kodzo

K:

J:

dzrd

to sell

dzrdld

sellerl

ts

master, owner

arjutito (or, amutidzrala)

orange-owner, orange-seller

ArjutitS nonfe Awe audti 44kg2

2

Orange-owner, how much is one orange?

K:

money unit of five francs3

lpy/3

Two bityd, two for five francs.

Eve bly8.

worth

nu

Sell me two tbiyet worth.

Dzrg bi78 eve nu n4M.

(From)

what place is this orange?

Affka audti nyd es1A2

(Lit., it is

It is fram Kpalime.

Kalim4 arAtid.

a Kpalime orange)

.

iT:

Is it very sweet (delicious)?

Evfvi nyufea2 K: 46

to taste

kp3

Yes, it is very sweet.

f, evIvi Oto. A46e kp64.2

Do you

(Lit., would

want to taste it?

,

you taste it?) 3.: mit46e kp6.

nyaterd.

Es dvivi

Yes, let me taste it. is really sweet.

Enyo m4fle biya

Yes, it

Good, I will

buy three tbiyet worth.

et5 nu.

gblo

to tell

nd

in order that, to, ifs when

.-156-

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2

your fellaws, your friends

miatowo

wdano

nu flgm

they will always buy they will always come to

wdava na nu fl5m

buy4 le gbdnyd

at my place, fram ma

sia

emphatic exclamation Good.

Gb134 nEt miatZwo n4

they will be buying oranges

wdava na itioutf sizm la

gbZnye

Tell, your friends, so that

sta.

from me. to be afraid

raelgav5 d

do not be afraid (sg.)

asi

clientele, customers

Yap agav5 a.

Don't worry (be afraid).

O.K.

May6 asi

I will call customers

ndwa.

ior you.

(I will tell others of your

good products so they can buy fram you). K:

Good.

inyo, akp4 kakdka.

very

Thank you

much.

Notes 1.

/Dzrd14/ is a

noun.agent.

suffixing/3.a/

The

noun agent is

formed by

to the verb-root, and it indicates him who

commits the act(s) described by the verb.

With a

noun

agent 'we generally find an object preceding the verb, e.g. /avitidzrdlet/

tan orange-sellert

/nufiala/

the who teaches!

When the verb is intransitive, e.g./84/ !to flee!, then

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-------ay.

3

XXII.

it must be reduplicated, e.g. !he who flees! /st3f14/ 2.

Compounding is a very productive process in Ewe word formation. Substantives can be formed by adding /t6/ !master,

owner! to another noun, e.g.: /agble/ !farm! /agble to/ I f arni-ownert /alouti/ !orange! /ai3utit6/ orange-owner! /afe/ !house!. /ajleto/ !house master! /t6,/ also expresses the belonging to a community, order, place, tribe, and therefore forms patronymics, e.g. /Lometq la Lom4 man! /krIstat6/ !a Christian! We would also like to point out that in Ewe there are many words which consist of combinations of nominals and verbals. Grammatically they function

as

nouns.

(P. 11-3 ), the following combinations of

According to Ansre nominal and verbal

components are possible: 1) nominal

4- verbal

Ex. /ntinitnet/ !gift! (/nu/ !thing! + /and/ reduplicated form of /nal !give!). /filkp6kp6/ !suffering! (/fu/ !pain! + S.>

/kpekpe/ - from /k/34/ !meet!). 2) nominal + verbal + nominal Ex. /nufiala/ !teacher! (/nu/ !thing! + /fia/ !teach! + /la/ !agent!).

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1

/mozoti/ !walking stickt c/m4' !road! + /zo,/ !walk! + /(a)ti/ 'tree!).

3) verbal + nominal + nominal + verbal

Ex. Auametsatd/ !tarantulal (/40/ Ibitef + Ma/ !person! + /tsa/ !go about! +

/to/ !tell!). /cluamedzihlai/ !centipede! ((0/ !bite! + /ame/ !person! + /dzi/ !heaven! + /hlui/ ! thunder (v.)!).

4) verbal + nominal + verbal + nominal /mevimenoe/ !stinging insectl +(/ma/ !sting!

/vi/ fchildt + /mA/ 'sting' +

/no-a/ !mother!). /noarddedu/ !gossiper', also, !telephone! (,/n6" !stay! + /afe/ !home! + /del/ !went! + /d13/ "town!).

3.

/biylf !paper bill money unit of 5 African francs".

250

African francs are equivalent to 500 French francs and to an American dollar. !one franc!

/11-4/

/wdano nu flein/

'they will always buy!

/wdava no nu :len/

.

!they will always come to buy!

When two consecutive.verbs both express a future progressive idea (they will be coming and they will be buying), the

first one is in simple future, and the second one is only in future progressive. .

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R:

Rice Owner K:

rice

mdlu

Rice-seller, how much is the

(or Mdlu dzrdla)

Mdlutot

rice?

Nenfe nyd =qut ? R:

Twenty-five francs a kilo.

clekd kpdna. K:

t5gbi

kind, sort

ta

to rise, to swell

What kind of rice is it?

Mdlu ka t5gbi enye sia?

Does it rise well?

Etena nyuida2 R:

try tr

ta kpo

t, Ste na 4to.

Yes, it rises very much.

Flee nit ted

and try it.

MekEtae ddzi bd nay&

kp6.

see

Buy it

I am sure that you

will came back to thank me.

dd Akpd ndra. K:

Good, I will buy four kilos.

&yo, mane kile R:

YoiSt

yesidyi

always

nd

if, when

asime

market-place

kpla

to bring

ITC

here O.K.

Affsia ka mtnona

yesiayi.

Nd evd Asime navd

I stay only at this place

always.

When you came to the 1

kpdm ad, nakplo miatdwo

market, coma over to see ma,

hi vC.

bring also your fellawp along.

-.160-

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IC:

Yog t

sdse'

difficult

etz5

henceforth, from now on

Aya mesesE S.

O.K. Mat is not difficult.

Gb Owa

From now on, we will be buying

ka mfano mhu flem le Szad.

rice only at your place. 2

R:

go

hdde

gnyo,Weldwa do.

Hede nyufe.

Good.

Thank you. Goodbye

(Lit., go well). Yoa.

Iteagad6 e.

It:

O.K.

We will meet again.

Notes 1. /neivEt nitkplo/ t come bring, come and bring'.

This is another instance of the Ltanata construction, according to which verbs and with them sentences may freely be placed next to each other without being connected.

2.

or

/Gbewes mfana mdlu fle'm

iJ

'From now on we will buy rice from yout /Miano molu flgm la Rb6w6Y

tat your place' To emphasize the. wOrd /gbdwq we place it at the beginning of the sentence. However, the morpheme /1e1/, which functions here as a preposition, remains at the end of the sentence. This construction is equivalent to English sentences such as tWhat subiect are you interested in21 , where the noun and the preposition are separated.

/1a gbdwq

/21.A31 A:

Alia

Gali °wrier

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XXII. A: tikdme

face

ka

to be clear

wa sgvilo

it is fine (lit., it makes fine)

oo, gAlfio, galfwoa,r4 vklime

Ab4 gali owner, the face of your (Owner,

'gall' is very clear.

ko nyufe Oto.

your gali grains look clean). G:

Golf nyufe ka nyeyd medzrdna.

I sell only good 'gall'.

A:

measure of volume approxi-

foligoia

mately equivalent to an American cup in that manner, in suCh a

nenema

manner, in such a way

E, Adze mendma.

Neni4 nedda

Yes, it appears so.

How much do

you sell the cups

folfgoia2 G:

Oni Ibiyel (fisve francs) a cup.

Biya deka.

Af May I taste it2

Mattivu do4 kpda? G:

sure

in order to

nit

Oh, surei

xa nA Oki:sot. Aldke

to

Take to taste ito

How do you like it2

nekp6e2

(lit.,

how do. you taste its) *. A:

bty

dz

money unit equivalent to one hundred

franc's:

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8

XXII.

alisi (or, esi)

since, because, as among my friends I like it very much. I will buy

tal

le mfatowo dame

Enycl nEful Klut6.

Mane birt

one hundred francs (worth).

tsi gl woa

dz5 claktf.

!gallt is so sweet,

vfvi ta, may6 asi ndwa le

Since your

mfatowd dame.

I will let my friends know about it. (lit., I will call a market for you among my

friends). Yog, woiseof kdka loc. Hide nyuieL

Vo. Notes

1.

G:

Good, thank you very much. Good-bye.

A:

O.K.

ta/ is a causal clause and may be translated ras your gali is so sweet!, or Ton account of the sweetness of your gall'.

/alesi

Causal clauses are introduced by /esi/, /alesib etc., and they end in /ta/. When they precede the main clause,

the particle /la/ is added after /tsi ndcluclu min8 Apanda

/ta/.

sime a ta l,

midyf

Akare/

1Since there was no food at the Apanda market, we went to Akafet However, the sequence /ta la,/ is felt to be very heavy in ipoken Ewe today, and a single /a/ is considered sufficient to end a causal sertence when it precedes the main clause. The same sentence then will be: -163-

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XXII.

/Esi

nucluclu meno Apanda sime d'ax mieyi Aktkre/

When the causal clause follows th6 main clause, it is intro-

duced by /alesil, /elabe/, /elabenaf, and it ends in /ta./. Dialogue 14. Yao

Y:

YO:.

Yam 0-aner Y.

tri

big, thick

ida aid

exclamation sigh

eme

inside

like, so'

Te sia tri loo I

Eme nyd

Oh I

This yam is big 1,

Is the

inside gooci2

yA2 YO:

4me nyd rjtd. Atakparia

watss.

Y:

Ta ka fomevfa?

YO:

Labokoe.

V.

Yes, the inside is very good. It is from Atakpame. What kind of yam is it?

It is tlabokol (a variety

1.9

it is

cle ye .....)clge

it is that

agb16

to be

Eket 44

bad

Oh, yesi It is tlabokol (yams)

A

Ahat LAboko d wadzoa dzi nam bdtd.

of yam)

edzi be

milgblg cm?

that I like very much. Are yau sure (lit., do you swear on it)

that it is not bad? YO:

2, radgbiff a. bmke netkris. Ekpdeg.2

Erne m6gb10 a.

to cut*

Yes, it is not bad. Let me cut it so that yciu may see. Do you see?: The iniide is not bad.

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10

XXII. Y°:

How much are you selling it:

Henenre nele dazram?

n:

AtS bledza clakEt.kplS arks

Three (i.e., 'three yams) for a

hundred and fifty francs.

I will buy five hundred francs

Mae bfedza at6 (nu).

How will you do it

(worth).

Aleke nawoe nfim?

(asking for a special

for me? bargain). YO:

,

I will sell you twelve for five

Mawoe wufaves bedz

(Lit., I will

hundred francs. do it for you)..

Anyos meflee.

Goods I will buy it (I will take

Agbelia d,

it). What about the manioc?

nenid'nele gdzram2

:How,much are you selling it for? YD:

Four for

2ne biy4da.

a hundred. francs.

to be bad (used only to

.dzedze

describe maniocs tough and not very tasty) Anyo, nES mAnye agbeli dz8dz4

Goods if.it is not bad maniocs sell MB three hundred francs!

o las dzr/ biddz5 &VI nu

worth.

.nAm.,

YO:

lit., to put on (pleases

cid ddzi

present me with a few) znad

I will present you with, I

dzj ndw6 kpld

will give yau free O.K.

Efle nd nem 331.itot

MAdd 6dzi niWO kpld f4 cjOk.

Ybu bought a lotoof

from me.

things

(Lit., tor my benefit)

I will give you one yam free. a.

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11

XXII.

Y.

now, from now on

azU

inyo woeshd 160.

Mfagaddge.

Good.

We will meet

Thank you.

again.

Additional Vocabularx

Abdlamqe

bakery

Abdlo

bread

Ama

spinadh, edible green .leaves

tomato, or ttm4tY

tomato

sabdla

onions

ayi

beans

lgdzrdre

meat market

Adzalg

soap

sdkli

sugar

kdfi

coffee

ha

pull, drag

he Asi

bargain

gedewo

several

ammeAtagara Egbe &lye asigbe la KpglimA.

Nddzralawo tscc tete v8vovowd

kpl4 wd,re nddzradzrawo 474 wdle wddzram la Asime.

La affma nakp6

Galf 'dzrttlawo lt, no dzrdlawo

ndsiAnd si nedf la (nedi na

11, Atfkutsetse kpl4 bdbuawo dzrdlalao h l. Wire nddzadzrawo

nyd kpdna dye wdme Alai hi O. affma.

Am gedewo yina dalleA nd lA

Koff kpla John yi bd Wig aldsi-wdflena nd whrovawd.

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XXII8

laboko la, t8 mid()

Itae

wanyg. .John srd h b wdatenu ha Asi kpld nddzrdiawo dyd n

ee

gblo n b

gbe1i sig. j

13ktra

ka, 4y

afle nd saglaS la nddzra1a dcle si la, Ltdd ddzi nEtwa.

dzadzi nd John 131/to gyata wehu tarria 1:14 y4Eino ml

Asiama

flgm 1

aftraa

azo.

Sa22112112211.1112.2012&22REkaa 1.

2.

tgba dnye affkafd As1gba2 Affka nddzralawo ts62,

36

Ndka w6m wdla la Kpa11me2

4.

Ndka na kp

5.

Nddzadzrawo nyd42

6.

Ame

7.

Amdkae kpla John yi asiama2

8.

Ndka wätsd fig John?

9.

Nyaka wagblo ne tsd Agbeli 3311t12

10.

Ta ka fomevf. dny62

gedowo. :lea

Ntt bubu ka

12.. Mika 13.

la

nu la afima2

John erS?

nddzralawo wana, nd Afle nd gadse le w6st2

Asiam8 dzadzi nA JohnA2

.14. .A14ke wasdet2

qUettions for the.Class 1.

Afika wdflena nd ia la Teg62

24

Affka wdflana nd-le le Amerik42

3.

tfoteryti haa

I.

,Tgideil '.1Ardteou 1iasi 5. Wka nakp3 iaEtsimet

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13' xxII. 6.

.4si la Tdgda

7.

Wdatelou :la agbeli la Armriket2

8.

AfIka thidket tsdng2

9.

Asime :4 ittikutsetsewo dda xaxda2

10.

ikpda dzidzo la AtIkutsetsewo

11.

At/kutsetsewo xaa Etsi 1S imerikal

0a2

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Unit XXIII.

Cohortative

Dialogge 1 K:

Y:

Kofi

Yao K:

Yao, what are you doing todayl

Yao, ndka w5m n4le igbea?

samething

nine

I am going to buy1 something at

Meyina nind jaegg la fi4s4m8

the store this afternoon.

yetrd sia.

(After that?)

And afterwards2

Legbe 02

Y:

nya

to know

hadd a

not yet donit know.

Nye indnya

K:

dt tsa

to take a walk, to go, to

4

take a walk to sickness

c1-3

no

female

dano

sick person

ko

hill

va mtdi

letts go

2

let's go

na mft1

nv

'let's go3

mSacli

All right.

inyo vamlaqi tsi yi dano-

hospital.

kddzi.

Playa wo

Letts go to visit the

V.

ndka

To do what?

(Lit., we will go

to do what?)

Mae. ts4 571 ka.

just to take a walk there.

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2

XXIII.

Y.

dka

which one

df

to want

nedf you want to

nebd different, various

vavovowo

There are various departaents

Da vavovawo tArewo la kdadzi,

(sick places) at the hospital.

dka tdtata nebd ydAylo

Whlch one exactly do you want to go tog K:

kpd

to cough

.kp6kpela

he who coughs, he who*has tuberculosis

Medibe rn1a

I want to visit the tabermlosis

ts a. yi kpdkpelawo

section.

teSd.

direction (of)

loSo

Do yaa know where it is?

Nenyd affsi loro wald42 K:

v/

chlld

vfdzino

the woman who gives birth

vIdzinowd Se

the maternity ward

Yes, it is behind the 'maternity

t,,sla vfdzinowd Sd xo megbd.

ward. Y.

tny d. dano nenfe si la afm

.

Do you know how many sick persons (who) are

K:

to be numerous

sagbo 8;

O

rd meniS

e wosogbo.

ther.e'

No, Vat I know they are numerous.

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3 V.

Many& am dele la affraa.

I know somebody there.

NyatetreS32

Really?, Y:

once

kP6

with him

kplt (famm kpl6 a) nye 1:pli mfede suka kpe. Nye pi madze sl !nurset acIS affma. si wfla dd NydnuvfM.2

novfnye nyonuld x56. Ame ygyil wänyd 1.4 afbna?

Yes, he and I went to school (together) once.4 K:

there. Y:

Is it a Girl?

K:

Yes, she is my sisterts friend. Is she new there? long Unit), old No, she has be n there for a long time. when, if

Y: K:

xdx.oxo

0, 418 a.ffma xexoxo 0 Y:

nd

a

Layo n4 mgbo tsel fidsea ka la m/ayl.

And I know a nurse who works

O.K.

MB

When I come back from the

store, we will go. K:

Ye id.

O.K.

Notes

1.

Sles4/ II an going to buy' instead or /male Slegq. In the ingressive, (i.e., intentional) /le/ may be replaced by a verb of motion such as /va/, /gbo/

/mayfna

Ito comet

2.

/yi/ Ito got.

/no/ ?the femalet has also the meaning of tweak! as opposed to /atsu/ 'male, strong!. It is used in compound nouns, and it expresses that which is subject to, is ruled by, or -171Hosted for free on livelingua.com

L.

man suffers from, ex.: /do/

tsioknesst :sick man$ sick persont

/dono/

/fq

cifoetust

.

.

/ftino/

fa woraan in pregnancy, someone

who has miseries, suffers of ted 'blind man$ one who has bad eyes'

/rj.kuno/

3.

tdeafman$ etc.t /tdkano/ The cohortative &presses a polite command in varying degrees. The speaker includes hiuself in the command, and

therefore it is in the first persan plural.

- /na /ye. idyll I lett s go I /mrayi/ /nava rdayi/ There are some differences in the meaning of the above .

.

expressions.

/n4 mfyi/ literally means 'give that we gots and the speaker more or less asks the permission of the person he addresses that they go. However, it is not as strong as I allow .us to. go I .

/va rafyi/ literally means !come that ..we go!. The speaker now has more authority, and he urges the person(s) spoken to to go with him. /mfayi/$ which is the same as the future, .is more polite and more of an invitation. .

-172-

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5

XXIII.

/nava rdayi/ :is aiso a polite invitation s1ight34. stronger than /rafayi/... When the verb /kpb/ tto seet follows the main verb, it may

!never,

mean I sometime, ever, onc et , and in the negative:

With this meaning, if the main verb is in

never as yet!

.

the future, then /kpo/ may or may: ncit, take the future prefix. In all dther tenses.of the main verb iikpo/ remains invariable. !He and I went to school (together) once!. 'He a.nd.T. will go, to .school

/nye 401 mieda sdka kpoil Inye kplf .miava .stik-11

(together) scimetimel

:.(a)kpo/

,

Dingo!). 2 Kf:

Kofi

if6a, Yelo

Y:. : Yao Vet mfyi

Xs:

cla kp6

Kfi

Kosi

Lett s go to vi your friend. gate, door

Hi p Yao

xewoet dd.

.

ua

fence to open

kp6

Enyo.. G ketme wOutIna ula?

O.K.

What time do iliey open

the gate (fence)? They open it at about five thirty. .

vicludne ab4

4.0

kp14

etr g. end.

tu Gi. kima

to clo se wdttx

ne ?

What time do they

close itt

-173-

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6

4b4 g4 enyf end.

They close it about eight.

inyo, vg. mfdzo..

O.K.

Let's go.

(Came let us go)

to take (something) from

a

another

anyway

hl.

Hi, Kosi.

Kosi, aldke newo xa kpda?

How did you cateh the

tuberculosis? Es:

to take something fram some-

xaleamesf

body, contagious, conta..

gious disease I did 'h'isat know that it is a con-

Ny4m4nya b4 daxoleamesf

tagivas disease.

wtny4 a.

Is it then that you caught it

D5 n8xoe 18 ame Ade sid?

fram somebody? Ks:

E, xenye Etde gb6 mx6e tso4.

Yes, I caught it from a friend of mine.

How is it doing naw2

Aldke tututu wale ffrfA?

(i.e..

Haw does it feel, what are its effects?).

K. the chest

akdta

.ache

174

14.k6ta la viy:em

The chestis'aching a lot.

to.

Only your chest (is aehing)2

ildta koeat Ks:

.to breathe.

glp*&

Yes, when I breathe, my chest

n4-mAgba la aidta v4am.

ashes. -1714--

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XXIII. Ya

Aldke nawo xa doEl la amea

How did you manage to catch it from the man anyway?

gbd yit?

Ks: to. be close

-.ego

already, certainly

xdxo

If you are close to a sick man,

Nd &toad dano 1311 4y8 waSo

and ha talks into your face,

nd 44 33kdme awd l, axa

you will surely get it.

ld.

Y:

to get better, to improve

dze ame

Is it getting better anyway?

Ale ime dzim !I/two yR? Ks:

ka

to cobl doWn.

ame

Yas,' it is getting a little

gs Ala kakdm 44 Ame vie.

bettere

Kf: daytila. gbla?'

What did the dector sayf

Ks:

completely

ledtkev

ibe alai 0 &me am khkez)

He said that I would have recov-;

la abt Diasfda, ave mai

ered completely in about two weeks..

Good, we will come back to iee

'Enyo, miagaca tsit vitkpo

yoU.:

.wd

Ks: -0.K.

'rad, miawde seijd kdkaka.

Thank you very much.

Dialoizue 3 Y:

Yao

X:

Komlif

Y:

Afika6 la vdwaa,

What is the Matter with yOu, Komlg?

(Li.t., what is hurting

youi ) :

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K:

fever to bother sr g4.

(Lit., fever

I have a fevei.

la fusom ngxa.

bothering me) Y. nes

to*drink

ittka (or amatsi)

medicine Did you. take (have you taken)

Pino Atfke 44i?

any medicine? K:

tAblet

kdi :

.

YeS, ItoOk two aspirin tablets.

Es'a4u'faspirint kdi eve. V.

Is ths..t all?

Evik? IC:

to be Plenty, be enough

sogbo 2, nejcostib4 4sogbó.

Yes, I think that it is enough. V.

anye

frit It'the case, if

v4vi

serious

rather, hetter "-...

N4nye isrl.v4vie wdny4 la mgyi

It the fever is serious, hadnit you better go to the hospital?

ladzi bck da2 Ki

Yes; it is the doctor who told ne

2, dayolge.gblo nam b4

to take aspirin.

Mika 'aspirin'. tigbe

green grass used for tea

kplt

in addition

Mao tfgb4 vfacle kplt.kpi.aat

why donit yau take same grass tea with it for a trial?

K:

Nexob4 *two ndne !Ana?

Do you think it will help? (Lit., do you think it will do

-176-

anything for me?)

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9

XXIII.

Y: to finish

vo

it will give that it finish,

wdavo

ana

it will make it go

fast

kaba

Yee, I am sure that it will make'

2, mekke ddzi b4 dna

it go fast.

wedv4 ndwd kdba. gnyo mdno4 kpc5.

k: O.K.

.

I will try ito

(Lit.,

I will take it to see).

Dialogue 4 J:

John

D:

Doctor J:

,Excuse me, doctor, how many

Kdfla doyold, kpdkpela

patients with tuberculosis are

nenid le kadde?

there in the hospitalt D:

ibd alafd ddre end.

j:

DI wOxaa kpdkpelawo kiti d4 k

o

About seven hundred. Are.all tuberculosis patients hospitalized herel

dzfel2

(Litii is.

it that .they

in.the.hospi'412) D:

sies, if there is roam, they take

lia, w4Xad wd

E, ng

kate cle kOddzi.

!0

them all in the hospital.

sT:

Why2

Wkatal D:

ame dame

among,people

d4 ....cdti

to trosfer onto

Alelb4na n4 wad ame dame la-,

Because if they are among people,

Wadi da ame mgmlaAwd.

they will transfer the disease

kitg

onto the other people.

X.

-177-

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10

XXIII.

J:

to look after somebody

kp6 amegb6

How many doctors are here to look

Ddyold nenfe 18 affsia dkpo

after them?

wdgbel D:

We are two.

NI slime 8v5.

J:

Nurse nenf4 kpdna de mlatdt

How man* nurses to help 7ou?

D:

ibd blive en4!

J;

Afika wdawo 711 srOna d5a

Approximately twenty.

Where do they 'leain the joil

la? The school is.here: ia. the

Bukda 18 kdadzi

to pay

xd .

Ha nenfe wdxena

How much do people pai in the

1 8 kadzi

440

hospital each day? fee--

fe .ddke 18 affsfEt 6.

Wdmexeni.

-GElkd nd imeadd

xo ma

la, aibd

The*

do riot pay anything &ire.

iraddéka

But if.ya4"areiin a single room,

alard at6

you pay about five hundred francs p. daT.

.ake 0161.

Wheiseli thii plaie?

Attka...tArd.zfEl '18a?

D:

It is 'straight ahead.'.

18 .Dgogbd. J:

inyo, wOese vd kdkaka.

Good, thank you very.much.

D:

Yed, 111481.1 akpd.

You are welcoie. .

r-

,Additional Vocabular* moon, ionth

vide(

newly born -178-

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11

222102Attralaa

Al8 Tdkoe.

Danokddzi gi dde 18 Lame. vovovowo d8.

Dayold kpld nurse

gddewd ii.

Affma wdxoa dano

Dayoldwo dometâa

dewo tsd Europa ild Amerika; maiaewo nyd Tdgoiatio John kpld Koff

71 danokddzi 4gbea be; yewoadd gha nk Kotfx5 xdxo de si le kpe do 1dm.' Egbla ndwo hd yexa da 11 ia ame bdbd gbd. dyf danok6dzi dnumake, *eye wdna &tikes

Dz8gbenydit84

Dayold gb16 ne bd

akd de &me nt kpuie dir8 wdate bu tr6 yt awqre le yletf daka

m.

John kpld Koff di tsa 7.1 vIdztrif

M8.kpdkpe1aw6.te4.m'egbd Ia.

4y8 wdkpo vXdzewd.:ibff kpld nursø de do dzd haff Koff kpld

ahn gAtrd dzd.':

WAlicoalasecion the Campreheneion 1.

Danokddzi dde la Lamea?

2.

Aldke wdyo nt?

3.

Dario

tagbui kawod Wdxaet dd affma2

Affka dayo1dwots82 5.

Imekawod yi danoksIdzi dgbaa2

6.

Ndkata wdyi Affmftt

7.

Da kae w6x6a la 181em2

8.

Aldke wdxoa da szit2

9.

Ayf ktiadzi kaa2

10.

Ndka Writ 18 affma2

11.

Nya kae Okta gb18 nt?

12.

Yekayf wdagatd 1311 yf

13.

La kpdkpelawo tgrd megbd dd affka John kpld Koff woyf?

14.

AmAka Koff fo nu nd hdfi wddz62

awofef

-179-

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12

XXIII.

gmations for the

C1aess

1.

Danokdd;; d4e 14 alisia *dal

2.

tr:i.

3.

Kpdkpeiawo la affMtt

4.

litatiliti;o terd OA 1i.afimti

5.

Gi anfe m4 atiquitsa yi akpo danowo ld affmt/

6.

Ndkit ndWona ri d 414asr12.

7.

Ndka Tdgotot'ao Wariakpid tt6eir

8.

tle zirifeat

ahvkadziati.

Ijotfilie x4 ndwd le

ittrumnai sfi Mat

10.

Ta 14 da wa m,114

11.

13otix6name 44 d6xol4amesf wanydi:

12.

Kpdkpekpe 44 daxo1eamesf wanydiW

.

No

.

:

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Unit XXIV

The Conparative and Su erlative De reee of the Adiective Dialoctue 1

B:

K:

Bob

Kosf

A:

Areno B:

nu

building, room to look for something

ya

to rent, to let

xa

di

Kcal, mole

Hi, Mud, I am looking

xo dfm b4 mAhaya.

room to Ki

Hanenfe nedf biS y4eix42

B:

Abi 1kp6 dye 'end.

Enio, mêny af4noce si

K:

ta 44 affsia gbd$ x6 ...kokoe nyuid

etowo

rent.

How much do you want to pay?

About two thousand. Good, I know a lady close by; she has some good,. clean rooms.

le deli,

B:

mfyt. eifeCni.

a

for

Xo Ike la

Let's go

..

.

Good morning, madam. Do you have

isfwo

a room to rent/ (Lit. would rent) ups high

nahlyel A.

dzi

*you

dzOcf

sky

dzkroxo

building with several

2, Ik l &pod 41?

stories Yea, there is one; would you like

Eli dzfirdxo'evdlii

to

see it?, It is on

tlie

second floor: ,

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2

XXIV. A:

mikpUl

chaii

-

This one.

Xd nyu/e wdonyd kplg

isia.

zfkpui

It is'a nice room with

good Chairs.

nyuiewo. B:

little, small to be big (verb), big (adj.)

bigger than isoe otto.$ bubu add le Asfmc

1

It is yery amallVdo'you.have any bigger than this one?

si lolo wd esig? A.

vd

to be free (vèrb) , empty

vdvo

free (adj;)

There is.a bigger one.

Dekit lt lolo wd dsfg. akS

Nd atdvi lala

..ame le &me.

is a man in it.

But there

If.you can

wait, it will be free tomorrow.

ld, dmê dvd etso. B:

I will come toMoricw.

O.K.

Anyo, mavEt etso. A:

dame.

la

Anyo mekelde dzi:b6.4ma

ddze olwo

Eyae nydwu

among ? in the

iniidst.

Good, I am sure thati.ou will It is bigger

like that one.

7

dye we. lolo_wd le.ny5 xowd-

(lit., the one which is bigger)

kettl dame.

and better among,all my rooms,

i.e.,

r.

it is

the best.

the biggest and

2

..Notes

1.

The comparative of adjectivep.is expressed 14y.the'verb /w4/ Ito surpass' following the adjective.

/xosia lolo wd dma/

!this roam is bigger than that one'

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3

may.

2.

Ihe knows more thah ries /diva nd wen/ /wd/ .is arso used without an. object's. Ithis is bigginir. Jr ; /Gelid lolowq: The superlative. of adjec tives is also expressée* /wd/ with the addition of an expression Me wd/ iheaning lof

qll of them?, 'Among

ant, etc, s it is the be'st. and bigge:st

/47eie hyd wit dye wd

among all my r0 01U81

Iola' wd ie ny3 xowd kettif .ddine/

, e.g. 4neii IA3 Equality* is ..expressed bl /dbe /fadlo tbe.t. lea dne/ I it is as large...als 'that one s Dialogue 2

:. Bob Alek8

.Aireno EV 4nd ,

xo.

^iolowd

B:

the bigger How is it, madait, room (lit.;, the room which is

la veal

big) .emptit

A.

Wb_clin go to

te, 4v8. Idate'vx.'ayt akpoe fffia.

see it. now. bed,

tb a t

Yes, this is bigger,d but the bed

g, 6sfet,lolowl, &tat abatis

-

.

is.tOo .shOist...fâr mer

kirsuie ittra

A: t

..sa

4.

- nya

Mid kuiè kpa.â.

tail, to' 'be word

No, it. isnbt

ladtsti. !'

t

sr na aftsta:tsi lit k5 wii wa Old m8gblo ny& cleke d.

485-

Uso.:41511.0rtoThe

heremfore was taller than yinCbut said

man who was

nothing.

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.4

in additiOn to There is only one bhair,in this

Zflcpdi 4.akg kad la xoa xii,

Could you give me one

ittku natblibum kpd cid esia

rooms

Tdeat

more (in .addi tion:, to A:

to take to bring along,

ts6 ts6 ve -metts6 ii4kd b.bum vd awe,.

this one)?

Yes,' I will-.bring you one more. sOft

;bobo

Asi lé swâ bobo wd .4sfet? sg nth ttkpa.

Do .you".have a- softer

one? This one7is too hard for mB. just one, only one

tlek4.

awu

the table c lo th, dress, apparel e to.

'dzrad,6

to 'keep

kp1 5

.

the closet No, they are all the same. Do you like the table ahd. the closet? to take a shower, to bathe bathropm

awudzragte s. 6, w6katit clektte.c .1cpl4

kpli

awudzradjeadz

33uwea2

la.tsi .,tailefe

They are gooct. .Thergv,.is lots of

la...awudzragrea nyd1.0 .n& ,ny5;, n4wo.: Affka

room in the closet,for my .thingS. Where ifir the bathroom?

tsilefda len

door to your rtght. *to ise-hot .'hôt (adj.)

The. second

-43.1sfma.

-dtd dz6dt& §47

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5

=V.

fad Kpld tsidzddze kpl6 tid2. Le Tdgo iiihi tsidzddz6 d.

to be cold -cold (adj..) With hot and cold water2 In Togo you do not need hot Vetter e

Dialofinue ,3 B.:

Afeno

.._Bob

:fa fa, ft..

B:

to move

vet

Medi. be ygtfa nye ndwo v xpame:.4gbea

afisia) Ter(i 8, feta, *la= fowd v gbea. B:

So nu. tsc5

ti

poday.

to: ..?p,.7 .soirtxtin., to speak

about

'

AllYek 4.00. &ye= , tikpi ate

404 afg. 1174 Ove Ads nykm.14enil, hity,itixosp A.t

A:

ettku_34.4111-..p4

I would like to talk about the price.

The room i a three and a half thousand. B # I can only. pay .two:. thousand. A.

O.K.

No, I cannot 'rent this room tor two thousand.

f

H6nenfe nAtekr4=

011/4. °e'fb

I want to move my things into the room today.. here Oh, sure, you can move them here

ntiti

Meg be,-!mii.r.o,nu..3,4 Asia

F)

to .gather, collect

A.

How much can you., take?.

cif you can pay three thousaids -

.

.

take it ,.= .

,V1N

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,

6

XXIV. B:

A nye ticle h4ya xo 4de nyd

-A friend of mine rented an apart-

ment (room) better

kpd die kpid

wd s

than this

one for two .and a. half thousarid. A:

in the range 6, xo 4deke mdla affsla nydwu

No* there is no apartment here

better than this which costs

(Sei h6x6 ikpd eve kpld

(lit., and tdkes) two and a

La akpd et5 fd =46

d.

In .the range of

half thousand.

dame 14 dslite nydwu.

of three thousand

apartments

thid one is :the befit. This roam is a little expensive*

Xo sf4 xalsi vie gakd

but I will tdke it:

matsoe. Dialogue L. J:

A:

John

Afeno J:

affka matdnu dund

Excuse me (please), where can I eat?

la?

A:

aorner (fram the Englidh

k6na

vicinity, neighborhood )

4

,

ahead, further, farther

lagogbe

Nddurd Adetla kdname la 'mfaxa,

There is a restaUrant on the corner near us* and another one

4 y8 bdbu hi la tgogb4 yid.

a little further.' J:

Akad xo asi410.1

Which one issiore expensive? stew,:soup

datst bea mfagbo 14 xo asi wd 5

gake wee ndaudui nydwu. Ikpo datsf nydie la affma.. -186-

The one near us is 'more expensive,

but they have betterifood. There you can find good stew.

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my. to.wash

nyi Wodsiou.

Thank you.

Affka mAtdou nyi

things/

nyS ndwo 18.

Where can I wash my (i.e., clothes)

A.

I can wash them for you.

Mateod nyawd ndwd.

rent

xofe

ikema nsnfd anyd nyd xofdif

A:

Abd alafd atd (enf) yletf

Olaf.

how much is my. rent fowl About .five hundred francs a Then

J:

gnyos dnyo netm wd.

month. Good,At will be better

for me.'

Additional Vocabulary

often

enuenu

often, most of the time,

ddziddzi

frequently easily, soft

bobo

Coxprehension Xo kpdkpo la Ldme m6ses5 a. xm 18 boboe

d.

GAkd minye Affsiafi ko nikpd

last nikpde iA boboe wd l

bd 46 affma..wii telf6 bdbuawd.

dldbe =46 nyd kpdfna 14 afima

lye Tdkoe.

/Cowl

idtdi vid tsd LQMO Je ttttn wit.

gb6,

At4ou kpd z8 ibd,ikpd atd one

domez,la, dx6 ibd sake nA edi bd wdalolo nydie 4y6 ndeian4,ndn0 kpld dtowd npa =same, ikpd Adri tsd yt. Yeaddwoyi la zikpdf 0. Xohdyala odtoe gake ime skewo m4tle/21a ndwo dda xoawo me anyf nd Ardametowo flea dre ndwo. Anudnu la tsilted 8ve noa

kiti; 4k ni nydnuawd, eye Okd nd outsdAwd.

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8

MCIV

uestions Based 'on the Comrehension

:

Xo kp6kp6 la L8me 843512

2.

Atha xo kp31Po baio 12.

3

Mikata x6'. ki;Skpo bab;-- 1.a ,a,.finia vet?

.4

Iftenie ruburni xa dam Zkui kpld 'et6vi6'nati xoame ddzieaiia2 Ara6kad118a ndwd dda xoame ddziedztt 7.

Tsilete5 nenfe*Ii net elf6ai4p,t6wo

8.

kilefi

18

4. Y.

4

kiith

Ciatikicie 1.

4

.

qt.!)

Questions..for'-the Clatis 1. Affka nanona. Fcifowa :dm 3.60 id xohdya m6a2 iö .waa? 2.t ^.14nenfe naxtina 3

Xo kp6Irpo tio la 'el.fisiti2

14-

Affica xoki;iipo'18 ba.boe mei, *

Sn.

6.

Nr ;

Xowoa lolowd xosigg .

7. 8.

A

,

.,-

.

Nd4uJe ka4 !t4

100

.#4.r.

4

cic'Entala gWu ?'

4. ,

7 ';`

.44

.

4.

. -

Iti4u,re'lia4

9.

.

;

.

4#

-

*4

I.

.

Xowea 16 istikU gbdi2

-

k

l

4%

ddisbnav 44

11

4L.

Nticluire kag nyd vn.t 18.clitimet tio

:.

;

:

4

.

14

Z±kiiiIi.kpit staling noeXp&a4.i6 &IBM *

4

le Lome j*6 ttin lo i4 itadi

18 tftind gbda2 4.

.

4.

.

r

.

3

'

.

,e3

OH 4.

,

.4

"

1,

;

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Unit

XXV

VerbalAdiectives and Their Negation

Verbal Nowle Dialogue 1 J:

Koff

John

YEto

71:

J':

to kill

MI 18 wuyem

I am hurigry

pdtra

the party (from the English)

dd nd

to eat samething

ridCladu

the eating, the foOdl %

non-eating, not having

ndrindumadu

eaten, withOut eating

2

, k

Da la wuyea 231to.

Nyamateuu

I am very hungry.

I cannot go

yi pitTa ridaciumadAll.

to :the party without eating.

Enyd tafd nyufe dde middu

Do you h.now-a got:id place to

nd 18a2

eats(at)i K:

2, MAnyA rid4Vd nyufe dcle

Yes, I know .a,good place, but it is a little iar.

gike dedi vfe. hra

to need

mdhra o

it has no need:, it does not

matter zo azoli

to walk

Azoii ztzo

the walking

Mdhra kdra a.

It does not matter.

AzOli Ozo

I like

walking.

dzdddzi ndit.

r

to cook, to prepare (a meal)

da

Wyone be ITarzant.

Iddclanet.

It is called ITarzant.

They

prepare very good food (there).

nd nyuid cdto. -189-

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2 1

MCV

3. .C.DUdol

to employ., 'use_

.

.

not rotten, kleulspoiled_ (i.e., fresli)3t 'Do they use spoiled.meat like they did at the place we ate

mgvdmgvd

Wdwonet lg v6vo .01d6 la affma Elba elffsA 14eda atst andel? K:

op lg mgvcfmavd ka video

wdwona la .!Tarzant owcS dzrdnet cluw '1?

la affillal. asi la mdbabo .

W.

yesterday? No , they use only unspoiled meat at I Tarzanl Do they have only Togolese

food there?

the price is nott easy, it is .not cheap

.

them there? have been there twice.

Dp you _know

Anyd wd la affma.2 -

to made affma z,f ave.

Yes, I

I.

k

O.K.

Any() ,..za 2mfyf.. .t 1.

I.

j. si nedi ka las

fafu

.

:

;

John, etclu rafts..?

ft?

Yao, what do you have? ' Anything you want at all we will prelpare for. yotio K:

L.

.

t

yaa, ndkad la Astwat mfaa netwd

_Let! .

J':

.0

Ifufut John, would you eat. starlit?

to be light ,

.

dza

to fall

dz5 dm5

to get digested

Aaciza..6m5 nyufei.? t "

4

Is it

-

.

lightl and will it digest (easily) ., k

0

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3

XV.

Y:

kdra d

not at all to be heavy.

kpd..

mdkpe kOra d.

K:

gnyo mfadometo cldsfiae etx3

fu kpcIna cldkd kpld 11

4dlla Oka. V.

sagbe

fffila Asagbe ffr,i1a.

Yes, it is not heavy at all. O.K. Each of us (Lit., every one of us) will take 25 francs worth of fufu and 25 francs worth of meat. to be ready right away It will b.e ready right away.

Notes

1.

The verbal noun is formed by reduplication of the verb form, 8

Ito go!

intransitive

!the act of going! transi tive

dp/

Ito work!

/dcwowo/

!the act of working!

/clAndi

Ito eat! !the act.of eating! (also,

/n4clAc3.u/

!the food!) The verbal noun .is used as a substantive. In constructions where anotheR substantive is used with a verbal noun we should ,distinsuish two types:. r a. the verbal noun with a subject possessive b. the verbal noun with an object possessive

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14r

seliiraied rrbm, the verbal The subject 'possessive is always noun by' the pbssessive particle /XV, e.g. lone love or mirii ite's itho /ame 4 lciltSt love ;hi.ch MA haat Precedes po see sói ve on the 'to iher' 1814, Ddirec I.

11

The ob Jac

r

word unit' with 'it,- e.g. the verbill noun', and it forms a . 'the love towards a mant famelolg meaning of an ab-, used with the noirn is often The vitsba3: ,

strato t sub s tanti-ve e .g. td *wane

, ,r

to rover **

/lag

/zozo/ twalkt

.Negative Of *Verbal nounis

'

.

4

lo ve

ridgdtive particle To form the negative of a verbal noun, the .. this combina- 1 /ns/ is added in front of the vi4b'form, and 1

r, tion

..,

i

ii then reduplicated; e:g: ,

eto do t

/wo/ ,.,

.

e

/wo4

:

, t, : 1

1:

/mal:orgaWat

:

of doing! t the act of not doing!

'the act 1.

*'

ttacit. eatt

/nticludu/

hidrttunacW -r1-011

!the act of eating' '-htthe aCi*Of ndi

eating, without

!.;4

r e du plio a te b i4 fa 1Ô idea is4iormed If the verb r negaravé 'particle /ros/ and the tiOri &els not take 'plexce s used only once, e.g.: -

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3.

/xo nye dzfse/

!to believe in something!

/nya dzf maxose/

!the lack of belief in something'

of the verb( The verbal adjective is formid by reduplication

form. ! to eat!

API

!edible!

/4Xi44/

two/

Ito do!

/wow5/

!done!

adjective is formed in the same The negative of the verbal If the verb is way as the negative of the verbal noun. reduplicatfollowed by an object or another verb, it is nest

ad,

and the negative /ma/ is used only once.

/15 ame/

Ito like a person!

/time leame/

la likeable

/ame mal5ame/

!an unlikeable, disagreeable

.perso.nt

person!,

The vimbal adjectives are used only attributively.

Pialogue 2 J:

John

Yao

Kofi .7:

teko

thirst

tako 16 wuyAm

I am thirsty

'Tana 16 wuygm.

Ndka mfandt

I am thirsty.. What shall we drink?

K:

!wine!

wine

!beer

beer

kofi

coffee

4-193-

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nano ,

Wine, beer kple k6ft 13 wSsi,

-

.1),ut -.their beer .is undri.nkable.i

00 wee tteer.indnye nano a.

J.

Wine kg. t5gbute la Netted?

old (adj.). .

.

mittsimatsi P4E4 .wine ityuie

unaged

...

matsimatei '

44:10111wdei.,

t.

They 'have some good unaged Frenolii

:F

aq.a.wine kg4 Idft.

la

What kind of wine do they have:

to be 'old

tsi tsitsi :

thinkable. They;.have wine, beer, and coffee,

We'wt11$4ri#k,10.ne and

.

co.ffee after. the...dinner. Oh,

ptax-kigitriggiitt 6,

here ia thirlood.,

mid:gaud nyeest.

.

not .yet I have. not tasted

mekriti i

it yet, but I know that I will like it.

-ritlyt1,1rie4 sSi kp6

7

be ddzadzi neat.

to send. to send to me

46 clodam

tso

clociam

,

:

:-pass me

;.

dz3a

the salt

itetdia

the 'red pepper

3,

To4 dz3a. kpld Eltddia ci,d4arl. V9

Epd nyuie Atetdia ve ;luta.

Pass me the salt and 1

4

red

the )

,

T

pepper.

to be hot

t

I

ititoh out (lit., look well). The pepper is very hot.

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metal

with holes .tork

gap.a.

tsf

spoon

the spoon

gItsii

We are missing (lit.,.we need)

ddlcd. AlEtku

Mfehiff

we gdtsta

a fork.

vdddelf

K:

ak, Ya, tsd elfld

Oki

Yeo, bring us one. for:.1

No.

044 mf

Can I use the spoon:

J:

sweet), and the wine, is very

ld.hd nyd Oto.

good., K:

.4gaxgh.ndn442

0, nyd midi be milalo

Mina

.

very tasty. (lit.,

The food is

Ndcludua vfvi Ott) 40 wine

a.

Would you ts4e a little morel

J:

No. K:,

lalona o.

.

I do not want to get fat.

It is not fattening (Lit., it does not people to fitien).

IT

to owe

Ylo, händntd mi4l

jd 1462

Bty4 t!Wd, Am, 4alcd.

Yao, how much do we owe yoUli' Fifty francs each.

J:

Pay it

x$ (from xe4)

we both, both of ui

mfamd,dvea kdtE

times

maxa n ratama

I will pay (it) for both of

evea

Wye Owdterd eve, 4'4 blyd

dz 4k4.

Fifty francs by two nskes one hundred francs.

Ayad ny4 isf.

U13.1

Here it ie.

-195-

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m. Notes

1.

The

multiplicative numerals are expressed by ineins of /tety,

e.g. /eve tet6 etff/ !two to three places, 1.4eii two times

=

three'. %

12L.s2.2.0L2 "*.

e

e

IC:

fjObn

T

Koff.

J':

I would l.ke to taseesonie. good

vior

Togolese food. 1;140ii,ll no.t

nyuie Etae k.po, tcsi mixa 4

.

4

midyla?

ii443enio.

fnyt teftke I.

lik'Pir 61

V.

2, tf nrate

.know

a place . wei4r ccplurd 106

4,

4r

friw

to 'baste.

kpd

Yes, there is

1

.

a..good.. place

in -

.t

the market 14ther#0'.theriAll

'.tiam: afflinfcizrana*

.

.

.

OF.

4

,

.o

r

U.

to lihke*-4),i:

Ne

: . 4

rt.

p.

i;t10 WO

(lite., to. take:

.

.

-N.,

wanel ;

.

I t.1

-bo

.

category, type, volley,

.

corn, maize. -

* t...

;St"'

bifIrto

!

r A

t-)

noti

r

-

.

kplis

.

.

LI ea rn

.1kpit, harik ,

.

*.

,*

Ast,,b4Tua .6nye bgwo

et

common, poptIkar.

bl - .

ifiat is. it

What is litkp151.!

Nita wdtso.

NtikR 6nye

to ,make).

takplet one 74 s

,.

.

itOieties ..of

.the.,.most comon

corn-flour akplel..

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XXV.

MAse w5 detsfa 4ko.

I have heard about yotir stew.

NdkE

What is it made Oil

netsd'wele2

K:

river, lake th'e inside 6f 'the 'river,

tome

fish meat'

1R

fish, water animal

akpa, (toment)

blood

int

animal, meat, blood animal,

111, (1,1116)

meat of a blood animal spinach, any edible green

gina

leaf

There are also many kinds of

Detst vavovowo hg lt:

kpa

(tamel)

stew:

delts:f Ald

(utt)lit datsf 41d Rma

or spinach stew and others.

datsi

But letts gO to try some

kpli taWcf. va ra'tt akpli kpl4 delts1 kpd, mftdde 4dzi

be'Rdza Owb. Enyo

na

J:

ratadd kp1

blya

fieh:stew or meat stew,

lakplal with stew.

I am sure

that you will like

it.

0 Z. Let I§ go

and ha:ie 10

francs -of lakplat each.

eva net iMe dAkits,

1galasat.4 If:

Kofi

John

Yawa

Y: X:

gbito

gbit3 mfti affsia, .ikpldwaa dza Onyel Ott), 4yata mekplo xenyga vi.

first lama, the first time I-came here I liked your.lakpl5l very much, and so I have brought my friend along.

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XXV.

Very isood..i Will you havo meat?

Miaxo

Anyo

Yes, bring biiirityt4ye4ranca worth for both of us. John, do you like the,..lakplat here? to be different It is very different and very

E*.dzr l. kpciiia. 44 a raf Arne eve0.

ITo4n, Elkplda

dz .3311wo. 1. .aer.41 IT :

td 'yaw Eto veivo rjetto eyd wanyd ulto.

lgittz va

good.. Will you have some more?

It:

Ott

3:

to cut big much (adverb).

to be satisfied with food* to' have. had, ono! still wc510 ndmi

Noy.tkey-- gave

gi.de pito.

full.

M8cli

YOE hgnenle kpi

Yawa, hOW muckdo..-we-..owe you ?

awe2

to'add take add ono:i.e.*, plus tbiyei) worth Ten fra4o.s,

tet5 -kpd( de)

blye aye ime delkft*i 4w15.- biky0. axle na idame, Svea, pL

.

us:a.lots:I am

7

of takp15!. each one .makes

twenty francs for both of you, aria twentrlive franca ,cor the

tap kpd cld 1/1 kpdno, dwa bi'ya

forty-five francs .altogether. Here it is: Your food wato very meat makes

as .4. = vdto

W5 ridliclua nyc

.

Mfagatr6 -vg Aft sfa

.

good. lie will come back.

-198-

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11 XXV.

J:

Are we going to give her a

Mfana g& vfa 48 8&2

i

little money (i.e., arehl.t

we going to leave a a, miena na

tip)'4

Nos we do not give money liars.

get 14

(i.e., we do not

affsia 8.

tiV here).

Commiehension dfm nile Ia. Le Togo las atecu kpd nddalu 46sfa45 si 431

akplê,

ftlfu

kpli

mid is isime.

Atftu

Net ale yilvd. ratilkbi eln la

8134 y6d4a atkpld la,* nddAr4 nyuf ddiewo lf sf nakpd boboeit.Nd blfwd kp14. Pafu If. Asi b wd ld 4nye

hi

&kplel vdvovowd

lf hm alma; athu kp6 t Deltsf v8vovowd

hi 1±

d4te ild 11 Mite.

tafus &la agbeli ftlfus'kpl4 tawd.

wdtso dana kpl4 fafua.

Atha kpd akpa

'Aid 11mdma Diltsfa atilvu nyd Rma ditsT

nithu kpd

16 Tdgeil

1.

Nddadu kit St5inevf

2.

atduu kpo y8vd nddadu

3.

NdkRwd dnye Tdgo naddda baba 6ve2

44

Ndka &nye fikpl8?

5.

NdkR 4nye fdfu?

6.

Akpl4

7.

Dêtsf hibud Ovovowd lfa?

8.

NdkR wdtso wana dftsf?

la

data.

affma?

kit fenievf btivd?

Questions for the Class 1.

tdu Tdgo nddudu kpoa?

2.

Edu aka dEtsfal

3.

gdu 11 detsf? -194-

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1.

xxv.

4.

- 5.

6. 7.

8. 9. .

La

deter

Oimerika miduclu 14181)74112.

Atku kp Vdia ndclaclu 18. Amerika? Atku kp6 Prase miailau le Amerikit?

Prise twiner dzaadzi tWinet. tartsi 416 twine! mataimatsie dzaadg7 nalwo0 Mika nanona 1 ndcliVe?

t,;10. anenfe *netzEi.".nd gbd delcitt' rillmegiviacitut2 11. .4440.titozttnif *eke

t 12.

Ndkor &lye IMerika micludul361f4td?

Ndka

tso 346`riell

Ilea() n, `Nenief'413

tU tepg 8ne./

,,

.

.. ,

tete 81742

herife i tdolla*t clelta me?

41.

P.

4.

-200-

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1

Unit XXVI

The Conditional

Dialvue 1 SA:

Sewa

Ama

Senya

S: A.

to buy

dress, shirt (or a

itwu

3;idi naw8, Senya, =Wei milyi ffitse m8 ad? Medi be 'Mijad awua clewo

N4 get la asinye la, nye

S.

manta

clothes) (any form of nonindigenous clothing that has already been sewn into its required form) Good morning, Ser4a, won't you come that we may go to the

store? I want to buy some dresses. (Lit., I want 'that I will buy some dresses): If I have money, I also will buy some

hit mane d,ewo.

A:

mami

and (or probably Madam). IMElmil is the general name used *for the Ghana women

actively involved in trading. cloth debt (or price on commodity) another day, another time

avo

fa gbebubugbe

gbebugbe)

-201-

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2 XXVI.

Ga male nye hE si o. Mese be maid adzra avoawo nawa eye naxe fea gbebubugbe.'

3:

Mena va xuyi clakpo aid cbt.

I dont t have' the money either. I heard that mati.11M. 'sell you the aoth, 'and yoUl will pay the debt some other day (another time). Then let us go (come we go to

see) to see =mi. In, whieh store is she?

P.iase %a me wale? A:

*.

asi le asia xa la:

.

market (the open market) (open) ,The one beside the t market. ,

vko clef

Ehmi

A.

'

.

.41

What is Maid is name?

Afeno Yawa .3ewa.

Mrs. (Madam) Yaws Sews.

Enya via Senyoa?

Do you know the son Senyo?

.4

,

chief is that he

dufia .

.

,

nye cte wa

I.

is not that he went

.*.enye cle woyl.

(IS

gone) "A.

".

.i.11-1.4e

4

I

4

Z..

o cli; wciyi Amerika Ne merge ." .1, r rAre enye la, anye ne eyae .

.

.,

,

,

If he had not gone to America,

,

he would have become our chief.

.

.

dufia firia. enstooled2 a chigf Nyav5 is being Ifia*5 Om fiat). Eya tellee wale

as a substitute. (It is at they are enhis .place that , stooling Nyav5 as the chief).

_-202-

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3 1XVI. S.

lgkle

leopard

dzogolo

civet-cat

Lgkle mole are 0

(If/when) the leopard ia not at;

dzogolo

home, (then) the civet-cat

du fia.

becomes king.

Notes

1.

idea' The conditional sentence in Ewe is used to express an

Either it is unreal, that-is,

which has not happened.

is; contrary to fact.and cannot happen, or it.is real, that

there is a possibility that it may happen but has not happened.yet. The conditional sentence consists of two clauses: the The first clause, is the condition, and the second is

result or consequence of the result.

/ne/ inenye/

is_introduced by

The conditional clause

tif, whent and ends with the

Re/ .particle/la/9 The result clause begins with /ekema/

ther41.

The use of this word is optional, and it,is'often omitted.

.

/Ne ga le asinye la Os

ekema mgfle clewq

/Ne ga le asinye la,

tIf I haye Money, then I

will buy some! 'If I have money, I- will buy somet

marleAgwa/

PlAny proverbs are normally in the conditiohil, althaugh tha

/no

9.. ekema

etct( are often omitted:

/Lakle mele area o,

Coritrast:

'The leotard is not at home, the civet-cat becomes kingt

dzogple du fia/

-203-

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'When (if) the 'leopard is not at hinre .(present),

/Ne lakle prole ajlea o, ekema dzogolo

dua filar

then' the civetnadaiLbecomegi

king (1ord)1

When t.' the conditional is used, there are three possible combinations of verb tenses: *

.

*

OesTiftit /NO ga le asinye 41a, map.e cliewo/

iIf

fut-fut.

haNha money; i will buy some,

/Ne ga ano as1ne Ia, ekmá marle crew/

tIf r will have the 'money, Iwf U. bUy some! past-fut.perf /Ne ga no asinte ne nye hiI metle 01;6/ Lrie' inetie clew27

!If I4had the`money I would have

boughi dome (it ztll be that I ...)

thit I )1 2.

The power of the chief (king) .rests in the stool (throne), , which links his powias with that of the sods and ancestors. During the cOronation, the chief (king) is not presented with 'a crown as in Westbrn traditiOn. (The crown is only a inatter of. dcor). *The*chief is held *and thrice seated 'and raised frOinl the StOoi. (The.*siool is .too small to sit

on). 'Thie ritual is the heart of the enstooling

ceremony.

To' deStool the chief':(i.e., remove him front liowiir),. he is seated' 644. the, stoOl, and then the stOol i retdved fiiam undeis

;0"-

-20

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5 XXVI. +6

Dialogue 2 SA:

A:

Sewa

Senya

S:

Ana

SA:

to help, to assist

.kpede

to help (someone or

ou

kpecle

s'amething)

shall I

Ina

shall I help

nakpeole

morning,Ima, shall I 4Idi and, Amas akpede mtaoda Good help you (pl.)? (could Good morning, Madame Sawa; this

)01dis areno Sewa, esiae nye actinye

is my friend4Unma..

Afua.

We are looking for a cloth to

Miele avo dim

buy.

to sew

to

one who sews, dressmdker,

ndtBld

tailor

specifically means sewer of

awutold

apparel; dressmaker, tailor

to get; to take from

XO

Awu nyufea ddwo la i$ inya.

I have same beautiful dresses.

Mexo wd tso ndtola gbo etsa.

I got them

from

the dressmaker

yesterday.

S:

boo

rather to measure up to, to be

SO

equal., to fit

-205-

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6 XXVI.

If you have the 4101,04 .ws would

Ne avowd 18 asfw8

rather buy them.

1)Lf8r15 wd bav.

We will make (sew): our dresses

Mfata mfare ftwaWd be wdaso A

mf nyuie.

so that they would fit UA well.

.

t.

What type of cloth do you, want?

tZgbuidfm :dale?

Avo ka

green

mdmd'

Ny8 anya tiltutu O. °let

(Lit., I dohlt

I am not sure.

Nd avo

If you have

know exactly.)

raid le astwdlit, &emit go.

.4

green cloth, then I will make

m1t8 &Wu mdite. '

(sew) a green dress. A.

t

411.

enstooling (n.), i.e., the

fiadOdd

%.

crowning of a chief or

A

.

king vkeke nyu e

a good day, a ceremonial day;

I.

any public ,ar religious, ;

etc., holiday (e.g.,

Christmas, Independence .:

.

Day, etc.).

The reasoning

is that such days coincide

with good days only.

On

days considaredevil, the t

".

African:will not perform' ;

any rites or ceremonies.

white

yie

.

If we are going to the enstooling

.N4 mfele fiaade.vkeke :

nyuie ma yim la; ekema anyo

ceremonies, then it would be

ne 'dens) avo yfe bov.

better

,

if we buy white cloths.

-206-

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7 XXVI.

....

S.

kenta (the! Ghanaian nation-

kente

a). cloth)1. ., kente-clo ths to wear We will wear our, Kente cloths. They will become us much more

.

Isentevowo

ta

..

.

.

MfatEl mf,afe kentevowo.

4.

Wdadd mgada wu awuwo.

than dresses. (i.e., they will look better on us. than dresses, in theni , or we -will look better than we would, in dresses).

liglo_gue 3 A:

Ama

,

8: .:Senya

ard

A.

to let (that you give)

,

Afeno Sewa, waewo do kekeke. Ne avo .yeyowo

Madame Sewa, thank you very much.

If (when) new cloths come in,

a ko la,,

2.et us know 3:mme4ately.

nita mfanyg kaba.

1.

4

,

(As

come in, soon as new cloths 4 immediattely).. inform , us s

S:

it is

41111:44

(necessarl) that

I have to go$,,I. must go,

4l5b4 mdyi

1. ought. to go

If we want good, quality cloths, then we have to go to a big

.ieIrzed. ayo, Ayuiewo la, ekema 415b6 mfayf. flasegg

ma la d.,ugg

ni146 --

.. ... i",

...

*

xad.

..

e..

.

A.

st4re .141 4-,

,

.

:

,to permit, ..to grant permitssion tp, (,)4,t.,, to give .

.

.

.

way)

,..,,

r.

.1Q07-

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8 XXVI.

riiiit;on0162$*mgayi

tie

KpalimesicitSie gemlegagbe.

If Mr. So-and-So -(iiefèrring to the husband) permits me, we

will go to the'ltgalime market on Saturday. r

-rodtw ei'az re-J

,

Me r

Adko

pc)*

Abitó.Mlóátokpá4io ha

only That would be good. .1 need to

buy a pair of shoes also. If only I could get a pair here

makpo

" dimb4 itatle

*;

deka .pe:

fitiiti...(She

that would s iolneritizie . to mourn ( to nbvii;:7-inournful),

afo nam

Ut

A. '

;tb

'Vtaiisiy

61364 Eilióttly'.

'Don't be

Mimilectar ibina

Mtifka

edVaaiuiday will

soon be heroes

,

Do you havo something (anything) jp:';.-

to sell in the1,*.e2Wett

8:

I

rice r to be .unfortunate everythingThelit c

gCv4iiti:ktitrolig with* c

.

Neiti

"'of tome rice. If I should be*thfOrtunate$ I will sell it and buy something

I have

mon znaegoe dzra

kfikCiaA4 44'hifi* tro va

sire.

to eat before returning

home.

--208-

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9 XXVI.

Notes

1.

manner other than obligation in a necessity or Tol exPress plus comand one uses /elebef fit is (necessary) thatt a.

the subject and future tense of the verb II must go, I ought to got /elebe mayi/ tyou must go, you ought to got /elebe nayi/ the (she, it) must go, he (she, /elebe wsiayi/ it) ought to go Twe ought to got 'you ought to go!

felebe rolayif /elebe ratayi/ /elebe wdayi/

!they ought to go'.

,Dialogue' Ama

S: *Senya

SA:

Sewa

A.

seller cloth-seller

dzrdla avodzrala

cloth-seller, how this cloth?

Mard

Mare Avodzrdla, nenid nye avo sia2

SA:

ctSdi

claktt kple

C&t y

'W

Ghanaian unii of money One cedi (1A 1'41.40) 100p =

pdsewa

abo

much is

yard (a yard). (abo deka).* .0ne and a half cocas

N. girlee la, ma.is68 raw blava oecli 46ka kple pdsvia If

.1

va Ate.

If you will

buy

it, t will give

it to yau at" one and . a quarter 'peiewas oedis'(one eedi and 25

.-209-

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10 XXVI.

A.

market, price

isi

a bargain (approx. trans-

lates Ithatls a price') .

It is a term to begin the

bargaining process; or if said daring bargaining, simply means that we have

not yet despaired; bargaining is still in good

on it, oh top of it to take fram, sup:traet

take fram on top*of4t.t.(in

bargaining, reduce the price).

=Aga

o

do not

=Alga

oa2

did yoU not ,

maga

will you not ...I

oal

Ast0 agade la 4dzi oa2

A bargain, wonft you reduce the price?

(It is the polite way

to make the request in bargaining). -

go bankrupt, to undersell,

du agba de.

to realize no profit 1

Ni mede la 4dzi la igba.

mitt

If I reduce the price, I will go bankrupt.

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13.

1CCVI.

Do you have the green (one) of

Avo sia j'S mdmato 18 asiwcIal

this cloth?

(Do you have this

cloth in green?) SA:

I will see one (I will

makpd

obtain one)

last

nAmlai

I sold the last one this nor:ling.

Medzrd mAnlad (pronounced

anVor written namle) Of silt.

If you would wait until the eve-

Ne alala vasidd fii no la,

ning, I will (could) obtain one

nakpo de n4wd.

for you. This is the Shoe (pair of shoes)

Ifokpa sia4 di'm'mdle.

for which / am looking.

How much does it cost?

Ndn$6 wdx,o2 SA:

Ode 4t5 kpl4 Afi.

Three and a half aegis (about

)15)

S:

3.6

like, love, admire

xd

to pay

N6 el5 let maxd cddt at?' niwa.

If you like, I will pay (give) you 3 cedis (about Ak.2$)

SA:

Whoa ndwd.

I will give

it to you (you may

have it). ikpd nawde

Thank you.

Mfigadd gd.

We will meet again.

YooI WcItiwd do.

Agreed I

(O.K. t)

(See you).

Thank you.

-211-

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12

XXVI.

Notes I

A

Except in the deimrtment stores, bookstores, and a few

1.

,

other exceptiOni, bargaining is a normal and somehow expecti. ed proceis in the buying-and-selling trade7.in West Africa. The iseller' normally prices the goods a little above the

selling price', and it is up to the buyer tO bargain the price dawn..

The'profit the seller

realiiói dependi on bow

well or badly the buyer bargain's:Comprehension,

Ama kple Senya yf MAna Sewa gbbe yewal:1 8 AVo nthwutoto. .

,

Nd g ladle wo Elf o li; Mami ddzrd gbdblibdgbel.

aye la ndiro eye woiltb-fe ld

Afia iiiya avo ka togbui tiftutu si dim wile la o.

*WomAkpavo

Ne avo'nufinil 1Maiii1 ei-laf dkema dt8 awu uumu.

:le le mimi idlia 06 o las w6dyt Kpdlfmasime le Memleda gbe.

dw8lóiae Ama

Sonya:41A afokpa ydye si

Ne

kple Senya (w0)40 be trewdiy; fihdddo lokeke'niufe Oa. 'Nd-woyi

ld, Wdta wOfe'kentdvo nyuiewo. ;

Babiawo .0.

*"*'

4

1.

Nuka:Ain& kple Senyi di 'be yeiroelie

2.

iftimi Ica gbo iWo.112

3.

Ne ga Miele *wo'si O. de, Mhmi adzra avo nawoii

144

Senya nya ave Bi tiiibui dim wdlea?

5.

Ne Mkmi le awuwO azrai de wohrle woal f

e

e

6.

Ne wamekpo eve Ji'1eMami gbo o de nuka, wohOo

t.

Gbekagbe wOii ipaliMet

8.

Ne woyi kpalime la, nukawo wohrlet -212-

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13 XXVI. 9.

Ne woyi Kpalime las woadzra nanea2

10.

Ama kple Senya le fiad040 okeke nyuie ma yigeat

11.

Ne woyi la, nuka woata?

Babiawo na sukuviawo 1.

gfle awu kwasida sia meal

2.

Ida kple xowele de fiasea mea?

3.

Ga no asiwa yemayi maa?

Ne ga male astwd o 4e, awudzrala adzra awua nawda? 5.

gflea wd awuwo katg le afisial

6.

Ne mekpo awu si dim nele le afisia o la, edea duga fiasewo

maa? e, eflea awu geaewoal

7.

Ne wole awuwo dzram asi boboe

8.

Ne wa awu vu las eflena bubusl

9.

Ne wes awu vu la, sine bubua?

10.

Ne eyi saleme la, awuka (nadona) nad82

11.

Ne eyi srUdefe 4e, awuka nad81

AMAIlanal_asakalm asi boboe

low price, at bargain price, i.e.,

marchandise on sale to tear, to be torn

vu s

eme

srtklete

church ( i a.

the worship)

wedding

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.

1

*

- Unit XXVII The Ueciprócal and the Reflexive PronoUn

Dialogue 1

Al

B:

AkIku

Bibd

tsf

to remain

ducdzodzoe

restive, uneasy, worried

&WA

like this, in *this manner

Leke nUtsf dzddzodzoe 0.441

Why do you look so worried2

Afika yim neler

Where are you going2 B:

ny6nIr

woman

nvSnata

about a woman

bfa

to ask

Meyina niSnata bfage la stskods. I am going to Sokode to ask for the hand of a woman in marriage. Al

aht

Ooi Powecat6 kas nele eta

(or I see!: )

For which

relative are you going to make

biam

the proposal2

(i.e., on behalf

of which relative

)

B:

oneself lk myself

Okai dAkdinya

For myself. (On behalf of myself).

Nd dOkilinygo A: 4.

aft

here

'

AffsIa

here at this:. :place

(3hd

.fl exôlamatión. equivalent

.

to !wait a minute., !Just a second!, eti.4 denoting a surpiise vi'thr htimour. -2314.-

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2 Oho t

Ohot Ameacjeke megbloe now() oil? Le miade

Here i t,. our country, a berson

.1a,

(himself) does" not propose

:hue mibfa erfita no

0.

Has& t anybodir tad you?

marriage tO a girl by himself. B:

ffruthful47 Is that sot

Nyateiria? Nuki wale be mawo

fifia?

What Should I do*now (than)?

A.

to drink alcoholic drinks a bar, a place for drinking each other, between or

na aha ailan461,4

ntewd

amongst

Eig we to eac-h other2 lit') (to) .put stone (on something) (idiomatic

mfa nUewd

ka

.exTmession).

to' come to

a conolusiOn, a compromise

and/or a decision (over an issue). tO *the bar. Come, let us go 'Le mfa naewd ettanote Va nityt Between us, we shall soon raficie:kpil aria dome la,

(iie :shall soon decide on something).

hammer out tv

dzi kpuie.

awrehension After Dialogue 1 Additional Vocal5uinisr

azre do adali 40 kpe

'dzi

a quarrel hold a tate-i-tate, to whisper agree on, compromise, emphasize 415"'

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3

Le ahanore la, wokpo ame geclewo no aha nom. Dekakpui evea :le aha na wo cl,ewo no dzre worn kple wo nfleWO tu3ku kple Baba clokuiwo eye wodo

adali. Woclo kpe edzi be ye

woayi

areto

gbo eye Axiku akia nyonuata na Baba.

Notes

1.

The reflexive pronoun is formed by adding /clokui/ 'oneself' to the possessive pronoun. With the firet and second person singular, it is placed before the possessive pronoun.

Otherwise it is placed

after it.

dokuinye

'myself

dokuiwa.

:yourself'

edoktii,

t himself t

Ida clokuiwON,

ourselvest

mia rata

t yourselves'

ida sadkui wd cldkui

I themselves

wo dokuiwo

the reflexive may also be strengthened by Auto/. In this and case /clokui/ always follows the possessive pronoun

Auto/. Em nye:33uto, dokui

II, myself'

'you, your self t the, himself I eya orto clokui mfa kiirto mia clokuiwo !ourselves, we/us ourselvest luta /3uto mia clokuiwo 'yourselves, you yourselves'

wo uuto clokui

-.216-

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L.

XXVII.

-wcfawo auto wo clokui

tb.ey

woawo auto wo clokuiwo

theiselves

. The reciiprocal pronoun .is formed by .the poellessive :pronoun /noewo/ teach Other. between, Among'. , Iwe to each other' /Ida noewo/ !you to. each Othert noewo/ ithey'.-to each other? /wd noewo/

2.

A:

".

Aaku

Babd

B:

DO'

B:

Agoo nami t Agoo :Ana alma ne ame

D:

ndva

Knocks knock I

Let the agoo stay out there, but let the man onter. ',This is a .dignified way for the elderly man *to say 1.come

A& B:

rtldi nami

D:

33di, afeametowo2

A& B:

Wodo.

I

D:

ing.

Good mornipg to you all t Goad **ming, how is homes

Things are fine. wet, cools cold, without incident or happenings, .

.

.

etc. (adj.

or,

verb)

(i.e., We are wiihOutany incidents).

Ouz .p4.ace l.'s cool.

Mgagbd f4.

1

.

Li

(It is the'

;

waT the Ewe flake

his visitor jwhat can I do for

a. %

*.

t t

youV)

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XXVII.

A.

wordp.a.happening, an

nyEl

.ineident

abad word, an unfortunate.

nylvel

incident, a

sad.tale or

story, etc.

a stranger,..an alien

simdzrd Niagbo hR nylviEt Oke mAlf 0.

And we bring no bad news with us. My friend MA here, wbo is an

XASnye BAbd si nye amadzrd

alien friend among us, says be

le nia dame la b'e yakp6 viwd

has seen your daughter Adzoa

Ida:rive dife nd dza

He brings with

:

and likes her.

ltsoitha. vfa de ve bd pland .

him here same drinks to let you

mianya..

know (of his feelings). D:

O.K., agreedA p etc.

yZO

O.K., thank you very much.

100 miawoe wodo. Crimprehension After Dialogue 2

Verbs to agree, to respond

.15.'

be

to exchange greetings., to

respond to a greeting.

t.,

gee

few, small, etc..

a few, eome few

ueadewo

to prespnt, (i.e., meet 801/190rie

4e ..e fia

for the- first time) p.

-218-

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6

XXVII.

Comprehsnsion Esi Avku kple Baba yi de afea MO eye woawo kple afeametowo lff gbe na wonoe MD 170 la, Aloku kple Baba de wo dakuiwo fia afeto

Do. Le 33keke oeadewo msgbe lap Axiku kple Baba gatro yi Afeto

Do gbo be yewoa bia Adaoa ta.

Afeto.Do tso via na Baba be Wade.

Dialogue3 A:

Babd

Amku

A:

mawa

god

mawuewodo

L1.1t.$ god has workeA7

Congratulations,' your ludky star. has (came)

come through, etc. .

.

to lead (away), to take

kplo

(Aamebody or something

animated) away by leading

we mawue wodo.

Congratulations. 'When are you

Yekaiie

taking your wife (bride) homes

nakplo srowea yi afemet B: gbg:

first

gbl ls

first, firstly, first of all

tu

build before

hafi n'

Nyemenya o.

I donft know.

Gba la, elebe

First.of all,

I must build myself a house.

matu xo na ddkuinye hafi. A:

hra

to need, to require, ete.

vasecle

until -219-

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XXVII.

I.

eat, rule , reign, lord it

clu

ciVers, etc.. government

dzicludu.

Mehra be nattr xo pa dokuiwa 0, You dont t need to build yotrself a house, you can star, ;..p public atevu no dziducbrfe xowo me riovernmeng housing until you vasede esime natevu tu Ito

could (can) build a house for : yourself.

na dokuiwcl. B:

dame

stomach, abdomen, bosom,

.nyo dome

idiom:

dome- nyo

(is) kind

to be kind

Your government is very .4ind. At home, teac)a.ers themselves

Miafe dzidudua re dome nyo

Le miade Ia, nufialawo vuto tua xo na 33uto.

wo. dokuiwo.

etc.

build their-own: houses A:

Dziductu xeafe na nutialawoal

Does. the government .pay. -the

teacherta ao

AO

33usei

powers might 8. ;strength

to have power. over

dzi kpo vus1 Ao, eye dzidudu mekpo .1ause de, nufial.awo dzi hU o.

No, and the-goyexbnment doegi.not have... the 'power over- the.

teachersi ..

s

Comprehensibr Atter

Dialogae .

Vocabulary

yleti fia

etc

.

moon, month

chief -220Hosted for free on livelingua.com

8

XXVII.

chief (du = village, town or city)

Avila afeto Nyaglo

Afeto Nyaglo (who is the chief)Is

re afeme

house (in the home of Afeto Nyaglo, the chief) ta gather, to invite

kpd

whole, all

blibo

-

take a wife

.de.sro sredede (n.)

.

marrying, i.e., taking a wife (the> place where the marriage

stOdere*

ceremony is held or being bold (or going to be hold). (to dance),

.du ye

:

dancingc

yedudu (n.)

Comprehension kple Adzoa de wo noewo le J.Le yletia dewo mogbe la, Anku

Wokpd du blibo la, at-etc Nlaglo si nye dufiaja,fe artme. eye ame gedewo vet sr6defe la. *

JOutsuawo no aha eye nyonuawo

Am. ye lOkeke lajkatal,

Dialogue 4.

A:

Aljka

Bibet

kindness

domtnyonyo Nye kpl,e sronye mieva be

miada akpe nawd le

I and my

wd.:

came

to

.domenyonyowo kat6 ta.

wife LE y

to

wife .and

express our gratitude

you for all your

kindness.

expression denoting !not at

icara

all, never, -.221-

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XXVII.

ta bother.,

fu

to trouble,

towdrpy

like that., 41, that manner

nenema

Not at all (i.e., /thank you' .not in order), you must .not

Akpe mele eme kura o. Kele

be nae Lu na

dokuiwes.

worry

nenema o.

is

(bother) yourself in that

manner. B:

over me,

dzinye

for my

affairs to see

1RP

seer over'msi one who will

dzinyekpola

.look o'ver me, my guardian

to suffer, to be in trouble,

,to be in diffulties worries, difficulties,

fukpekpewo

troubles, wbe

hAhia

to need need (noun)

49 adacu

to counsel, to give advice. to become Ad.zoa has, told me that you have

A,dzoa gblonam be ezu

that I

pinyekpola ale be matevu

become my guardian so

atso,. nye fukpekpewo =.!

could br3ng my warries. and

.

hahiawo

4

va gbowd be nado

adaua nam*

Esia dze 13unye

uuto*

:222-

,needs to your attention, so that you may advise me. I appreciate this very much. (lit. I like this very much).

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+IP

10 A:

I will help you Whenever I can.

Makpeie biota yesiayi si matevui la. 'Mexose be we titteiot

I believe that you also can

tiine.

advise me

4o aciaw nam

- .1'

inligutr

ibettel

-items' vie.

A:

I

must be tekiiii now. Lilt., we will' rretiiiih'home for a whike

Weli;.w:e1

never 1$

fire

dze

fireplace, kite-hen a4tay and have Never I Yoil dinner with us. Adzoa can help

dzodoje

..

ne miadu

abode t

idZoa atevu

flu kple iÜ1

kepede srotwe vu- le .dzodafe.

my wife in thie- kitohen.

'I diiii4renension Arter Dialogue h. I;

oclr zi

to force, to enforce, to compel,

do dze

etc. (someone or- something) (to) engage in a .kionversation, converse

$.

Comprehension

Le srodediti megbe la, Adzoa kple Baba yi c1e afeto Uku gbo be woada akpe ne. Afeto Avini kpo dzilizo le witi.iiito eyata wezi wOd'zi (he compeiiea 'them, he inted) be wcaii;')/ai aail nu kple tkreameiowo.

Es1*4e'bouti Baba'kple Akik-u no die' d'oni( lap Adzoa

kieicie sireni:Ettba'-;jti le dzodore6"

r:

4O't. 4111.2230D

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DICTIONARY The following dictionary is for use by the student with this manual.

It does not purport to be a complete dictionary

of the Ewe language.

It has been set up in accordance with the

way material has been presented in this book.

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Awl (Tone i*the'same as tons of preceding syllable). (Only in context).

!that

!future indicator! ..(The tone depends on context). Exampler /tut/ lyou will camel

a-

/SW the will comet :

tyes-no question markert

eta

aha, oh yes&

bed

abatf

as, about, like, as approximately

en4

ab4

.04 ildst

as (introducing a clause)

end

ibi

wound

iblandd

pineapple

413616

bread

abdlem4f4.

bakery

ads, and4

six

id5

saiva

adr4,"andr4

seven

adzall.

soap

agabsfoto

minute a certain one, a (indef. article)

dde

e.g., /4evi a41/ la Child, a

certain child some; certain (ones)

i44w6

tongue' ..,...

ifit

half

-aft,

here

affsfi

here, this place (i.e., being

S

specific)

everywhere, every place

iffsfaff

a4--

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what place? where? everywhere, every place

1- xi:

:;

1

.,J.2 J.

affsfiff

foo t

;

pair of shoes, sandals, footwear

s

home, household, in the Aouse home (i.e., to my house) home (i.e., to my town/ or. village, or country)

Etar0.(#4-

allmiel

afg steno

2

ot

t

Mrs., Madam

.

44

onsio

.

.

.

4

house)

14

. (lit.:

mothNtlis. of the

Aar of .21:iet:liae) (lit., f mister, sir, Mr.

am*

.0%

an African

AfrikEt6 Afrikatowo

.cop,A,d be (lit., Africans, but tf3-M.an an

used colloquially

ago, agond, n4 agute

117.

C-4

Pt 4. 101.0.47i

African) coconut potato

:

A

platel, record i.e., gramophone

olgba

t

kk.:451,f1;

record or al

-4

agbale

book

agbe

life

er.

lead

.14".

manioc, cassava

Pgr ta

manioc) farm

" ibtAgble etgble

farm

agbledeld

farmer farming machina crop (/nliku/ by itselftVilauld also mean tcroplil)teRcet, /agblemendkuwoif or.1-tnikiiwo/ a crops, /agblementikuawo/ or /ndkuawo/ = the erckps)

`'

agbledemo

agblamendkd 4,44 :"

1

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A-3 aha$ oh, yes:

ahi

that reminds me

alcoholic drinks

iha

bar, place for drinking

ahanogre

banana

ikadd

mathematics, arithietio

akt5nta

chest (body)

akdtu

orange

akpa

fish (also/U=61V !fish, water animal') very much, too .much

dkpd

,

applause, thanks, gratitude

Akpa

a form of porridge

ikplg

*

alifd

hundred

alafd 4eka

one hundred

alafd ene

four hundred like, so, thus

did

so that, in order that

dlebe

like this, in this manner'

dldi

and so, so that

dlebe

how is

dleke

as

dltist

obi dlest

as

,

dlesi (or esi).

ta

since, because of, on account of

alflikpa

cloud

ild

or

Ebai (aim) AmA

spinach, edible green leaves

Ama, girl born on Saturday

-226-

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A44.

medicine (also /Ittike/

"hater

gme\

man, human being, persan

amedzrd

stranger, alien

4

hotel

amedzrddnef4 111

NintikE

1.'.'

what person, who, which(.question pronoun)

American

Amerikfft6

P

Americans; (colloq. only: American)

Amerikatowlo-. .

Ana

,

abaut

ab4

everybody, every person

amesave ..."

.

down, earth

/nd anyft/ 'sit damp* gnyfgh8

south

anyfgbi

earth, country, lend

acutf

lemon

asf

hand

gsi

clientele, custamers

ger

market, price (the open market)

egad

(lit., that is a price),:bergain. (It is a term to begin the bar-

gaining process, or,g'said during bargaining, it means bargaining is 1411.1 441 good

faith). th

.,

asi boboe

,

44f*.

low price, bargain, price, merchandise on sale.5.1

aidmisf, asfgmasf

#11'r

'Mr. So-and-So (someone v!4ose name one does not want to mention)

(borrowing fram.Twi).*. nine

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Ait5 asime siert

itldf

atf

market place, market

fever Pepper tree

orica

root; medicine

atfkawold'

doctor, herbalist

atfkutsetse

ati atdto .ava

avo

avodzrdla aca

awu awudzrad4re

awutold ayi

azg azi

fruit five pineapple

granary

cloth cloth-seller

war cloth, dress, apparel (any form of non-African apparel)

closet dressmakers.tailor, (lit., sewer of apparel)

beans feast, party, get-togither

peanut henceforth, fram now on

dz6

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4-1 ba

mud

bd

a's, that (conj., introduces subordinate clause)

bd

bide (v.)

beer

beer

bfa

ask, question (v.)

bfye

money unit of 5.tranals

bfye

dz

bliavd

blaavavo

unit of money equal to 100 francs tdenty twenty-(one through nine)

blaadd

sixty

blaadrd

seventy

blaasfeke

ninety

fifty Tuesday bladne

forty

biaenyf

eighty

bladt5

thirty

bleeve

.

twenty

blt

corn

blfd.

the corn (sg.)

blfiwd

the corn (pl.)

magic rather, better

bd

gather

bd

common, popular, (to) be in abundance

soft, easily

babe

-229-

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babobo

softly

bos

bus

bostd,r6

bus stop

brfkei

mason

bd bit

be lost (v.) calculate, figure (out) (v.)

bdbil

others another

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r

f-

,

D-1

.

dd

,

throw

dit

mother

d4

put (in)

dot

(go to), have been to

d4

transfer onto; disease)

igtf

...,

spread' Cat a

d4

native land, country

danyfgba

native land, fatherland

delta

soup, stew

dl

want, search (for), look (for) (be) long, far (Examples: /didi/ as verb: /ere afoawo didi/ this feet are longt; /didi/ as adjective: Jets afo didiawo fu du sesifif this long feet run fast!).

d di

dd

plant (v.)

dd

lend

dd

say

dd gbe

say tgood dayt

dd gb6, dd

Example: /Kofi dda twegbe/ !Kai speaks Ewes.

speak a language.

gb8

dd

test (v.)

doddkpo

test, examination

dd

come out of, fram

ddgd

meet (v.)

ddme

among, between, in between

(n..)

send

cid

1231

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work (n.)

da

incubate, sleep cus

do ale,

sleep, fall aqleep (Example: /tbfi 46 ale le miuku0Kofi slept in school!).

.

a

co, 481414 14 da

illness, sickness.

be ill, be sick (Exaftple: /1016 da (Aso vo" II became ill yeeterd'aymorningq.

hunger

.416

dB kpd:tufkpatufwo dome'

nyo:dome domenyonyo

danó ,danokddzf

dowor4 dayold

menial jobs, all kinds of work stomach, abdamen, bosom

be kind (idiom) kindness sick person

hospital

workshop doctor (healer of.disease) town, race

%414.

dd

Wad thtfia

degi dzi

tedzadza

to run running chief city (big or large,town) (to) rain, (to) fall (flora the sky, as rain, snow, etc.)

rainwater spoil (v.)

dze dza

lodge, put up (v.) salt

dz4

(n.)

-232-

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D-3 fall

dza

(to) fall down

dza Enyf

land (v.) (e.g., bird or aeror plane)

dza. r

split, turn away fram

dza

become ill, became siok

dza.da )1zel dgame

dze :its game)

start, begin (v.)

dz6 4m4

get digested

dze dma

get better, Improve, reauperdte

Ca 62

(to) please, (to).satiSfy

dza

om4

dzeldze

follow (in order of sequenCe4 e.g., numbers, peoplei.etc.) (be) bad (used only to describe manioc, taugh and not very tasty)

dz6rd

landing place, e.g. himlvddz4f4/ 'airport (aeroplane landing place)1.

dzfkOola

guardian

dzinyekOla

my guardian, one who will see

dzasf dzf

over me recognize .

on, on top (of), on the surface (of)

dzi (v 1

to give birth to

dif (n.)

heart

dzr

up, high, sky (postposition

delT6

heaven, sky

dzfdzo

happiness

kpd dzidzo

be happy

dectuctu

.

government, reign (n.)

-233-.

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D-4 dedudua

the government

dedadm Ia

the government

dzIehi

north

dziir8

Sky, heaven

dztrdx5

$tory-building

dzd

leave, go away (v.)

did

fire

dzddza

hot (adj.)

x.8 dze

(to) be hot

dzadee

fireplace, kitchen

dzddzodzoe

restive, uneasy, worried

Deddgba

Monday

dzegolo

civet cat

dza

be straight, be right,

tawo dz8

you are right

dz8

happen, occur, exist

dzÔ dzi

be happy

dagbe

birthday, birthstar

dzkgbevt

bad birthday, unlucky star, unlucky

dzra

prepare

dzra dd

get ready

dzrd

(to) sell

dzrdld

seller, merchant

dzra old

arrange, (to) save, keep.

,

-234Hosted for free on livelingua.com

D-1 particle used to point to remote things

cid

looki

kp6 dd

(to) cook, prepare a meal det

cook something (v.)

da(nd)

(to) go to meet, keep a rendezvous

4a kpe

how about? (used at end of sentence or phrase to ask a question) to, tawards (Example: /Kofi yi dd sukA/ tKofi has gone to school:). take off it is

40

04 (de ye)

it is that, is it.that

da fe

(to) owe, (to) fall into debt (tee/ 'debt')

da fu

clAk

7

one .

zi 464 clakdpftf

46ke 4esfet4e

4atf

datdgbef Otaginif siawd davf

bother, worry (others, for example) Example: /Kofi daa fu ng gam/ IKofi bothers people'

once

(d/gbit5/ 'first')

young man

any, one, none, not one (used only in negative sentences) every, all

cotton young woman, girl

these young women

child the children

481/fAwd

-235-

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D-2 4Elvfm8

childhood

18 ny4-Ovima 14

in my childhood .0.

cl$

alight, go down, coma downs to bury (to) be satisfied (esp. with food), (to) have one's fill

ra

arrive, enter (e.g., into a oar)

c14

arrive

vd dd ..,,

send

converse

dza4644

conversation

go adalziu

counsel (v.), give advice

46

send (away)

48 kpé

come to a conclusion, compromise or decision on something (lit., put stone on something).

d$ x)ku (nu)

remember (something)

dokui

oneself, self

describe, give directions net (n.)

46

kp6

taste (lit., taste, see)

cid

eat, celebrate (e.g., an anniversary)

dd

gunpowder agbi

du dzI

go bankrupt, undersell, make no profit

reign, rule, rule over rule

dzi

(postposition) over

due

intentional tense of /411/ eatt$ (to) celebrate

I (to)

-236-

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Eu.1

'nominal prefix'

4 41,

a-

you (sip)

-.

heA she, it

:g.

his, her, its67eLatives and parts of the bode. (poss.) his, her, its (tt.re

yes 4dzi6dzi

often, most of the time, frequently

which one?

dka2

today

ggbe

gb&sfagbe

every day that one; in that case; then

41cOme

ought to, have to

eleb

later, afterwards; behind him, byr, it

4magbd

behind

megbd

four

.

ene 4n114n11

often, continually

eight

enyf enyi4e

nine

:

t

three

ata

yesterday, tamorrow

etso

etwei vayi

yesterday

etso si gbona

tomorrow

.,

two

eve

second, the second

evelia

twice

ye

ten

ew6 -257-

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E -2

dyata eyameto

hence therefore, and therefore,

the one born immediately after him, her, it, the one following

it

-238-

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F-1 cold, be cold, cool

fitt

tàa

surely, certainly,Af course

fi gv/

(to) cry

fife

cool (adj.)

114

(to) plays (to) split

fa

debt, price

ff

blow

ffa

dhow (v.), (to) teach, (to) direct, e.g., /ffa DIV Ito show or direct (someone to) a road'.

ndfiala

teacher

rfa

scorch, burn

ffa

chief

fiadd46

enstooling (n.), i.e., the crowning of a chief or king

ffase

store (gbd)

(onels nose)

Friday

Koff

boy born on a Friday

Afda

girl born on a Friday

fffia

now, at the present, at this moment

fffflaa

right sway, now

fid

evening

fie niwa

good evening (greeting)

fofd

father

fofdgl

great uncle (patrilineal)

fofddt

uncle (patrilineal)

foligoia

measure of volume approximately equal to one cup

-239-

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F-2

foloo

be light (not heavy) (v.)

fdtdaeld

photographer

ft5

fa

to get up (i.e., from bed or lying position)

gather, collect, find, discover:

116

palm branch

frgse gbe

Fritndh (language)

fd

feather

fd

foetus, pregnancy

fi

be white

funo

pregnant woman; one who has miseries, suffers constantly

fukpekpe

worry (n.), difficUlty, trouble (n.)

-240-

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F-1 (to) plant place, e.g. /dtwordt 'work place'

'possessive indicator

year

buy strike, beat (v.), play (e.g.,

records), ringle.g:is bellii blow (e.g., the wind) fa (nu)

say (something), speak, talk

Some

relative, (impersonal) kind, samething of a kind, species

fometo

relative, kinsman .

fomert .vovovowo

different kinds, ofall sorts

44efometo

his relative

Pt

(be) dry, ripe (v.), bone, (to) swim

fd dd

(to) run

d'Aflfd

(v.n.) running (to) swim

fd tsi

(to) swim sea

futa

beach, the coast

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-

'

-

G-1 ga

money (lit., metal)

ga

again (placed between pronoun ahd verb to express repetition of an action)

ga

time, o'clock, hoUr v

git .negnfe gif

what is the time? big, large

r

.gaflo

fork

etata

hour, period of one hour

gikd

but (and)

glf

manioc meal

.134

'intentional indicator'.

gedewo

several

Ghanatd

Ghanaieui

Ghanatdwd

Ghanai

sg011. on2

.0hanaiagr

tale

glt .

;

in the direction (9,).

gddzf

e close to, near

gdgo r

'respect form'

gda

bottam, beginning, tnder

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GB-1

gbg

bowl, a load

agba

a bowl, a load

gba

break (v.)

first (see /lia/ for formation Of other ordinal numbers)

ghlto gbd

refuse (v.)

gba

pick, harvest; 'voice (219), language

ivegbe

Epe language

gbagbogb16

spoken language

gbg

day

dgba

today

gbels/agba

every day

Egbel finye ffda(gba)

Today is Friday.

gbabdgba

another day

gbabilbeigba

another day

blacksmith gbede

never

gbegbe

much

gb4gbla

(the) bad (nip), misfortune

gbasfaghe

every day

gblg

spoil (v.)

gbla

(to) say, speak, mention something

gbd

unripe

gb6

arrive, come (came), breathe

ggbona?

Is he (she) comings

tr6 gba

COMB back

gb6

side, vicinity,(postposition) at

gbi

(to) roof (v.)

-243Hosted for free on livelingua.com

scratch (v.)

Y4 ye

0 ye yeado

dance (n.) (to) dance

dancing (v.n.) borrow (v.)

Yog

sun

Yd ydd44woyi yebdyT (yebdbeyi) yeklyf

yesfiyi yetra

sometimes

another time

It

when, at what time? every time, every day, always

late afternoon time

YeyfYr yi4 yld yletf ylf

white hide (v.)

I. .

.

moon noise, shout (n.)

-2144-

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H-1 saatdh

also, even

he hd ya

broad

hia

before (adv.)

hdfi

type, category, variety, kind

hame

pull, drag

hd hd nya,

nyftehe

ha

rent, let, leases (to) anploy (e.g., for wages)

isi

ha

hgna

hi

Mha

(to) argue

argument bargain (v.) educate

until need (v.) need (nil)

hiahfai hlidzia

wide spreading

money 1105

hdtsuf

he anid

money how much

-245-

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Xml broom nu)

mourn, be mournful, worry vicinity, neighborhood (to) pay; to mend, (to) close' cover, mend, pateh

bud (n.), bird

weather, world surround xdxo

dd xaxd xdxoxo

already, certainly; pld,.(to) age (to) have aged, (to) aka

long time, old

xa

take (something) from another; cateh (as a disease); get

x5

friend

xd18

friend

xa dza

hot, be hot I

xgre

rent (n.) (refers Ekp'eáifically to room, apartment or houss rent)

xoleamesf

contagious, contagious disease (taking something from somebodl)

xase

(to) believe; faith (n.), belief

**

-246-

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scratch, break (a piece off)

kd

a measure of about two sq. meters used to measure farm land (/kpe/ !stone' is used to measure linear distance).

ki

rope

what, whicbl

kat

early; fast (adj.), immediately, quickly

kiba

excuse me, pardon (me) (coll.)

kdfla

very

kikdki

entirely, all

kdti

as much as

kitg

'emphatic particle'

-ki

very much

kekeke

kent4

(the Ghanaian national cloth) .

kftkeiv

k4t4kel

kloe

completely A

train -almost

ka

laugh

ka nu

1Sugh

ndkelko

laughter

kd

only

044ka

only

kaima (ka dnye dma)

(was) just that, that is all (nothing else)

kaki!,

ktitokd

gikotokd

cocoa

bag thousand (francs), 100 pounds sterling (i.e., 0280)

-214-7-

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k6

tall, be tall

4"

(be) clear

money, half pence

,

,

k6bi

WI

coffee

...kola

village, hamletveattiadel

,. ,... .

:

..

.f

.

clean

koko ,.

.

corner'

Ida 4pifdd( 641).. ..

Sunday

=

.

Kwasida(6) kwasfdaN, 7

week

kosfda kwas144 si-VAyf ei:gb#oini

next week die

,

kd

hang, depend'

ka

fA

last week

I.

ku di gbaw.o -

that depends on you

Wednesday

Eddd(gb8)

tablet

kdi

hat

kdid.

(to) apologize, beg for pardon, (to) atik for forgiveness

c1,4

.

;

expression denoting InotAt all,

kura%

'never'.

week

kwasfdd .

:

Kwisi4o.,(04

Sunday

Kosida (gbe)

-248-

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KP-1

kpd

fade

kpd

plate, tablet, stone, slate

kp4

meet, get acquainted with,

kpd

add (n)

ts6 kpd (4#)

take add on, i.e., pluslin addition to (be) heavy

kptl

kp64e

help (v.)

cd

Example:

/Kofi kpdaati..ferda

.

!Koff helps his fatherf.

kpakpidemu

help (n.)

kpi

(to) cough

kpdkpela

tuberculosis'patient (lite, one who coughql

kpti fu

suffer, be-in troubleidifficulties

kpd ta

(bring heads together) (to) meet

takpikpd

a meeting

kpld

and (between tWo wards ), with

kpll

in addition

kpla

bring, lead

kplA

weep table, desk

44,15

money unit of 5 biye, 25 francs

.kpdnd

baton, club

kpd

kpovito kpotuikpotuiw6

,.

policeman menial, all kind's of

kp6

fence

kp6

never

1./. neg.

Nierb)4 ever

(w. positive verb)

-249-

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XP-2

onces ever (or 'never, in . negative sentence) I

kpd ipd

see

t.,

44.

(be) cheap

kpd

visit

kpd

hope.(v.)

kpamo

.

hope. (n.)

mdkpdkpd

diort, soon, shortly

kpul (4)

4-D

1

o:

4

f

I I--

...I..1i

4. I

o

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L-1

lt

4 t

14'

.0

,f;

.Av ..

lal

(1)14ke (4)1ike (&)likg le

the (def. art.)

labbko, a variety:of yaft.7

leopard rrAel

wait (v.) ,a o

lg

4..

meat marketl.

ledzr4fe 11kle

A A

animal, meat, blood animal, meat bv: of a blood anital.

11 laboko

'

rJirr

cat6h, catch.up withl 114714 to bei 'isl; to exist (cannot take a predicate noun)

howl well finally elsewhere

bridge to be there, to exist (the same

as /lab except

lt

/1i/

is

dialectal)

suffix used to form all ordinal numerals, with the exception of 'first', ex. /evelia/ 'second' but /gbat5/ 'first'.

-1fa

take from the stove

be large like, love, admire

about, in the environment of, in the direction of to be big, to be large

1cIld

1de

interjecbion for calling =meg. one's attention

ii

(to) shave

Ir2 1

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M-1 me

-34

!progressive indicatorl progressive indicator before pronoun (opl. except In 1 and} 3 sis.) progressive indicator eliewhere

-md

,

that (pronoun) those

mEtwd

grandmother

ma'amd

f

mami, madam, the gerieral name used for the Ghana women

-e

,

mgmlite

mibuldiud

,.

a.

actively involved intrading the last one the others, the last ones, the

rest

(a tropical Mat) not rotten, i.e., freish

mango

mdrigo

milvdmtvd

i

God

nawu

God has worked,. congratUlations

mawue wodo. mit

inside

mi megbd

(to) roast (something) after, afterwards

ld Asia mligbi .1d emegbi la

after this, afterwards after that, atteryardp

mi (nu)

ram154,4(gb4)

141. wc

1

Saturday not

..mst

you

..mf

us

(pl.) (obj.)

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14-2

idawo

your (pl.) your (pl.) (used rarely)

luta

our

mfawo

iitm

our (used rarely). lef t

aims

(to) left, leftwards

miawd

you (pl.) independent you (pl.) Examples: /Mienye nufialawo/ 'you are

mata

L

I/

::Veachers /Mtawo enye nufialawo/

'You (emphasis) are the teachers' we, us we (see example of preceding

mfitwd

pronoun)

you (pl.) (subj. we

YikUMe

(to) germinate (from English) minute face face

md

way, street, road, pkth, room,

rt,

mo

mc

space

machine

t.:

f arming machine

(a) crossroad main street, main ( trunk)* road hope (n.)

mddz5jI4

.

mdgif

mdkpdkp6

tr

-253-

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14-3

kp6 m6

(to) hope, (to) expect (e.g.,

a visit)

Example: /141ele m6 kp6m nEt Kofi ggbil/

tWe are expecting Kofi today (He is coming today)t.

alu ant

rice morning morning

green

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N-1 na

give (v.), for, to (prep.)

net mo

permit (lit., give way)

-na

'habitual indicator'

-(n)a

habitual indicator before a d.o4 except -a

-na

habitual indicator elsewhere habitual indicator after /ow tone

habitual indicator after high tone

nine

something

ninek4

anything, nothing (w. neg.)

in order that, to, if, when (introduces dependent clauses) for

nS

nut, coconut

(Ago, agond)

ne

when, if

(l)a

you (singular)

and, anid

how much, how many

hd n4nIe

how much? i.e., how much does it cost:

nendma

such, such a way, that way, in such a manner

nd

drink (v.)

ndno

drinkable

no

female

na

mother, prefix to a noun to indicate feminine

na

sit, stay in a place, live

nd anyf

stay, sit dawn

noewo

each other, between, amongst

-255k-

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N-2 brother, sister, cousin

brother

noviouteu(vi)\ (more explicit)

novinyonu(vi)/

novfwd novfwdwd

nd

sister

your brother (sisters cousin)

your brothers (sisters, cousins) thing

nouth ndsianu (nd)cillsf

(nd)c1.dsfm8

nddzadzrawo ndmaclunadu ndclactu

nddqr4

ndffdld ndki

ndkatl ndku nukuwd igblemendkuwo

nunola

ndnyAli ndvlokp4

ndattf

i

everything

right in the direction of thO right, rightward

merchandise non-eating, without eating food, victuals (lit.: eating) restaurant teacher

what thing, whatt

why crop (n.) crops (farm) crops

overseer, one who has others under his care or direction washer, washman, cleaner

blackboard, or any slate on which to write pen, pencil (writing stick)

everything

ndsfand

tailor, seamstress

ndttld

-256-

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NY-1 nyd

(to) know, be acquainted

n*a

word

ny4

pursue

nyatelf4

truth, really

nyateirea

is :Phat.true2

tyava

.1

(to) wash

(14 that sot)

a bad word, unfortunate incident, sad tale, story, etc.'

ny4

is

nya

I, ma (independent)

-nya/ny5

my

tny

mine, it is mine

nyttso

day before yesterday,.the other day

nyd

to be good, nice

nydny'Os

4the) good (n.), happiness

nya

wake up

nydnu

woman

nydnavf

(small woman), girl, young woman

O.K.

nydf4

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morning

tdf

na udo

good morning (to you) .

sunshine, noon, daylight, afternoon, good afternoon (greetin0

break, reap uga ugogbe

ukeke ukeke nyuie 4kd

ukdma ukdriB

ulfsinwd ulfsigbe ula

uudzo

uusa cdti 33(d)ta

cdto

front, in front of ahead, further, farther, front part (i.e., frontwards), straight ahead

day

a good day, a ceremonial day, any public or religioua holiday name

face, in the eye blind man, one who has bad eyes the English

English (language) (to) write

keeping awake,

rea (be) alert, (be

power, might, strength

by, on (e.g., (hang) on a wall) very self (attached to noun or pronoun for emphasis) Example: ficofi uutoe yi/ !Kofi himself went! (Kofi went himself).

udtsa

man

uutsuvi

boy

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0-1 no

exclamation denoting sarprise. with humor, equivalent to !wait a ninutet, just a second,

oho

etc.!

oh

dd

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P-1

parti

pettia

Ghanain unit of moneys g1.0 100 p. a 1 04di

pi seiti

chisel (n.)

,p4

post office

posu

.

.4,

1

"

,

I

z

rr

.