This lesson is brought to you courtesy of Banesh, one of Scotty’s students. He accompanies Scotty, Greg, Jacinto, and I on our walk to the agrarian school.
i•ha•li – how are you?
sa•lam•a – good
va•ca•ni va•ca•ni – been better [literally, “little by little”]
ka•hi i•ha•li – and you?
ku•shu•ku•ru – thank you
ku•shu•ku•re•la – thank you very much
mun•ro•wa va•yee – where are you going?
kin ro•wa o•tu•mah e•yol•ya – I am going to buy food
in see•na nan•yo ta•ni – what is your name?
mu•kun•ya – white person [this is what people shout at Scotty and I]
no•ri•pe – black African [this is what Scotty shouts back]
ki•no ve•ka… – I am asking for…
nhu o•ve•ka van•che•ne – you ask too much
mu•no ki wo•ka – you’re a liar
em•pa•ka me•la – see you tomorrow
em•pa•ka i•wor•a i•kee•na – see you another time
em•pa•ka mo•ro•tu – see you after tomorrow
I start saying ihali to everyone. Most people seem thoroughly delighted at the thought of a makunha speaking emacua. The kids who were afraid of me now giggle.
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