Learn Bambara with Jeff Frazee

Bambara Day 5

frazjef@my.brooks.edu (Jeff Frazee) — Mon, 16 May 2011 22:42:00 +0000

Phrases Our Kids Asked to Learn

Get off the wall.
Jigi koko kan.
Literally: Jigi koko kan.
Decend wall on.
Do you have a bike?
I be negeso bolo
Literally: I be negeso bolo?
You are bike arm?
(Maybe like, "Have you got a bike on you? Possession is strongly emphasized over ownership.)
Pet a chicken.
Shaé momo.
Literally: Shaé momo.
Chicken pet.
It is done.
A bana.
Literally: A bana.
It done (finished).

Bambara Day 4

frazjef@my.brooks.edu (Jeff Frazee) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 01:20:00 +0000

A common conversation that can be used to learn many things in Bambara.

What's your name?

I togo be di?

My name is Jacob.

Ne togo ye Yacouba.

What's this (that)?

Ni yé mun yé?

A chair.

Sigilan.

A chair?

Sigilan wa?

Yes.

Awo.

What's a chair?

Sigilan ye mun yé?

People sit on it.

Mogo be sigi a kan.

What's he doing?

A bé mun kera?

He's planting corn.

A be kaba dan.

Why?

Mun koson?

The rain is coming and he is a cultivator.

Sanji nana ani a le ye senekéla ye.

Thanks.

I ni cé.

You're welcome. Where are you going?

M'ba. I be ta min?

I'm going home.

Ne be ta so.

Greet your people.

K'an b'u fo.

They'll here it.

U na men.

See you later.

K'an ben kofé.

Okay.

M'ba.

Day 3

frazjef@my.brooks.edu (Jeff Frazee) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 01:18:00 +0000

Typical morning greetings

Good morning.

I ni sogoma.

Hey, did you have a peaceful night?

M'ba (male response to a greeting.) Here sira wa?

Peace only.

Here doron.

How's your family?

Somogo dun?

No trouble.

Torro té.

Is your wife healthy?

Muso ka kené?

She's healthy.

A ka kené.

How are your children?

Denmiewsen don?

U be di.

They're good.

Good. God give you a peaceful day.

M'ba. Ala ka tilé heré.

Amen (I agree)

Amina

Bambara Day 2

frazjef@my.brooks.edu (Jeff Frazee) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 14:25:00 +0000

I am from the United States.
Ne bora États Unis.

Now, I live in Kadiolo Koko.
Sisan, ne be Kadiolo Koko.

I want to learn your language and your culture.
Ne b'a fe ka aw ka kan ani aw ka ladalako kalan.

I left here in the year 2000.
Ne bora ya san ba fila.

I really like Malians, so I decided to spend some time here.
Mali mogow djiara ne ye, o koson ne ya mirri ka na watti ke ya.

Break down:

Ne bora États Unis.
I came from USA (derived from french)
('bo' to go out)('ra' puts the action in the past)

Sisan, ne be Kadiolo Koko.
Now, I am (city) (neighborhood)

Ne b'a      fe ka aw ka kan ani aw ka ladalako kalan.
I would like to you-r language and your      culture learn.
      (plural)('ka' shows posession)

Ne bora yan san ba fila. ('yan' = here; 'yen' = there)
I left here year 1000 2

Mali mogow djiara ne ye, o koson ne
Mali people please me to, that because I

ya    mirri ka na    watti ke ya.
(past) decided to come time    do here.

Bambara Day 1

frazjef@my.brooks.edu (Jeff Frazee) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 14:21:00 +0000

I want to learn Bambara.
Ne b'a fe ka Bamanakan kalan.

I don't understand Bambara yet.
Ne te Bamanakan men folo.

Give me the road. (Meaning: I would like to go now.)
Sira di.

I want to be going.
Ne be fe ka taga.

See you later.
K'an ben kofé. (kofé also means behind)

God give you a peaceful day.
Ala ka tilé heré

I agree. (Response to a blessing)
Amina.

May God answer your request. (Blessing in response to a blessing)
Ala kaw ke.