Conversational Abakwi

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Qe Bakwi Qabakwi!

Olika sh'enwa. Lesson One.

Ojinda : A Meeting.

Umboke:	Ufune, nd'ugu-sa?	Ufune, How are you?	a
Ufune:	Umboke. J'ubara-du, kam-angg-as'amu?	Umboke. Is all going well with your mother?	b
Umboke:	Kam-angg. J'utala, kam-azh-as'e?	Yes. And Uncle, is he the same?	c
Ufune:	Bang. E, tak-ingg'i q'e, sh'obombe j'a.	No. Well, I think he has yaws.	d
Umboke:	Yaye. J-ang-angg-und-ej-enj-ul'a q'i.	Ouch. He should stay well away from me.	e
	Nik-umb'u, Sh'Ukapalazu. Babwah-ezh'a bak-ang-ul'a q'wi.	Look, there's Ukapa. He's probably too busy to talk with us.	f
	Gh'Ukabandu! Bik-ab'i q'e, q'Ubandura-du bwat-anj'anggawa. Nd-as'ubu-ja zomb-ungg-ul'ubara-du?	Hey Ukabandu! Heard your grand-mother was impregnated by a cassowary. Is that why your mother is so beautiful?.	g
Ukapa:	D'u q'ugwaga nggab'e, gh'Umboke..	You have a soft stomach, Umboke.	h

(Kum'Ukapa : Ukapa leaves)

Sh-wik'ojinda : The meeting ends.

Ufune:	Ghe, Tak-ingg'u q'Unganju?	Say, do you know Unganju?	a
Umboke:	Tak-ang'i tak-angg'i q'abwanja-da. Tokingwara sh'a.	No, but I know her family. She's white-eye woman.	b
Ufune:	Kwi. J-ond'i q'a. Chabanj'a.	Good. I like her. She's hot.	c
Umboke:	Rokokab-enj'a sh'a. Nj-wal-ang'u q'e.	But she's red-bone. You can't marry her.	d
Ufune:	Sh-unj'a q'e him-angg'a. Haket-ungg'a q-ond'i.	She looks young enough. I'd like her to bake me good.	e
Umboke:	Q'a. Nj-and-wah'ubandura. Chabanj-azh'a, bak-wam-enj'a.	Yeah. But her mother married too early. She was hot too, or so they say.	f
	Kik-wej-enj'i q'abala kol-ij'Ulenju q'okolo. Mob'ay q'ebi nd'ashonga-ji.	But I must get home before Ulenju spins her web. We are having tree-kangaroo tonight.	g
Ufune:	Mob-wik-eng'u nd'i nik-ul'u q'i nd'ashombe.	Save me some, and you will see me tomorrow.	h
Umboke:	Duk-aj'u q'abako.	Give me a cigarette.	i
Ufune:	Bul.	Here.	j

Notes for Lesson One

*a. nd'ugu-sa where to, where are you going?
*b. kam-angg or sh-angg, to go well or to be well, are interchangeable.
*c. "Yes" is normally expressed by repeating the verb.
*d. sh'obombe j'a there are yaws with him. q'obombe d'a "he has yaws" would imply a permanent condition and should not be used when referring to diseases.
*e. The "long" verb, Janganggundejenjul, is used here somewhat humorously.
*f. Ukapalazu The venerated Ukapa-man, a typical wabeche formation using -la (see kinship terms).
*g. bwat, to impregnate, is somewhat crude.
*h. D'u q'ugwaga nggab'e, a mild threat, "watch your back".

Notes for Lesson Two

*a. tak-ingg to be acquainted with
*b. tak-angg to be familiar with.
*c. j-ond to like a person or thing.
*d. rokokaba "red-bone woman" is a generational level.
*e. haket, literally to bake, is the common term for sexual relations.
*f. bak-wam-enj-a is often thrown in at the end of a statement.
*g. According to Ndake myth, the stars are dewdrops on the web of Ulenju, the great spider. She respins her web each night, after it is burned by the torch-bearer who searches the earth each day for his wife who was taken into the forest by an Ulugu.
*h. nd'ashombe next day. kim'asho tomorrow morning.
*i. Among the Ndake, an agreement is usually sealed by the giving of a cigarette.
*j. Bul, bula here, take it.