Exercises For Lesson 24
Give attention to the word [i̲] by listening for it exclusively. Distinguish it from the personal pronoun 2nd person
objective case contracted form [i̲]. The 2nd person pronoun is not hi tone. Have your informant say these sentences
with you for tone practice.
- Ɛ jɛn i̲ gɔaaɛ.
- Ŋa̲cä̲ jɛ i̲ thïlɛ yɛ gua̲a̲th.
- Diɛwdä̲ i̲ bɛ̲ gɔaa.
- Ci̲ dä̲muɔɔr ɛ la̲r ɤä̲ i̲ bɛ bɛ̲n i̲yɔɔ.
- Ɛ ruacdu̲ i̲ /cɛ bi̲ wä̲ u̲?
- Translate and write in Nuer:
- I didn't tell him to come. (the infinitive is 3rd Aspect)
- They did not know that he stayed at Gambeila.
- We did not think that he would be gone for three days. (3rd Aspect)
- Didn't you know that we have no money?
- He isn't sleeping. He knows you're here.
- I heard that they liked it.
- I heard that they saw it.
- We heard that you helped him.
- He didn't tell me to do this.
- Did he tell you to do it?
- They told us to call them.
- It's their idea that we stay here.
- He thinks the path is bad.
- They say it isn't good.
- Is it your idea that this boy goes tomorrow?
- It's not my talk I have nothing to say about it.
- Written exercises
- Did he tell you he was coming?
No, he didn't tell me.
I suppose that he didn't tell you because he didn't know it.
- Is yours okay?
Yes, mine is okay, but that man's, is his okay?
I don't know. I will ask him.
He said it's okay.
- Does she like hers?
She didn't say.
Go and ask her.
- What does this belong to?
I don't know. I think it belongs to the clinic because I saw it there yesterday. It's not mine.
I saw it there yesterday. It's not mine.
- I told him to take her outside because it was your idea that all children should sit outside. (3rd Aspect)
- It has gone into my heart that you don't like it here, because there are no cows here. Is that right?
- Where did that little girl go?
Tell her to come right this minute.
I didn't know she had gone.
- We told you to come yesterday but you did not come. Now we have no place for you. What will I do?
I don't know. It's a problem really.
Read with informant for intonation then translate and explain all verb constructions.
You: |
Ga̲a̲c, bër. |
Ga̲a̲c from the kitchen: |
I̲ bër? |
You: |
Ɛ jɛn bër, göörä̲ ji̲. |
Ga̲a̲c: |
Ɛ jɛn, bä̲ bɛ̲n. |
You've eaten some dura in someone's home and you've had sufficient.
Hostess: |
Ja̲̩ŋ, cam namɛ. |
You: |
Ɣëc /cä̲ dɔdiɛn go̲r? |
Hostess: |
I̲ /ci̲ dɔdiɛn go̲r? |
Hostess: |
I̲ /ci̲ dɔdiɛn go̲r? |
You: |
Ɣɔ̲ɔ̲n, cä̲ riä̲ŋ tä̲ä̲mɛ. |
Hostess: |
Yɛn nɛy ti̲ bo̲o̲r, thïlɛ yɛ jic! |
You've been sent to tell someone that Gatkuɔth wants him but he refuses to come, so you go back with the word.
You: |
Gatkuɔth, ci̲ Dɛŋ ɛ lar i̲ /cɛ bi̲ bɛ̲n. |
Gatkuɔth: |
I̲ /cɛ bi̲ bɛ̲n? Waa! Ɛ ca̲p mi ŋu̲ ɛn nɛmɛ? (what kind of idea is this?) Kä̲ thïlɛ dɔdiɛn mi̲ cɛ lar? |
You: |
Ɣëc, cɛ biɛt. Thïlɛ dɔdiɛn mi̲ cɛ la̲r ɤä̲. |
Gatkuɔth: |
Ɣëë, ɛ jɛn. Thïlɛ mi̲ lɛlɛ. |
You are talking with someone whose whereabouts you haven't known for sure:
You: |
Di̲w ɤä̲n cä̲ wi̲cdä̲ car i̲ jï̲̩n ci̲ tɛ̲ thï̲n kä̲ Malakal. /Ka̲n ɤ ku̲ lɛ ŋa̲c pa̲ny i̲ ci̲ bɛ̲n wanɛmɛ. |
Di̲w: |
Ɣɔ̲ɔ̲n, ɤä̲n cä̲ bɛ̲n kɛ ɤöö tɛ̲ maar thï̲n wanamɛ, kä̲ jɛn tëë kɛ juc̲y. |
Question on the dialogues:
- In the sentence [Ci̲ Dɛŋ ɛ lar] why is the verb particle [ci̲] not [cɛ].
- In this same sentence, what does [ɛ] refer to?
- In the sentence [ɛ ca̲p mi ŋu̲ ɛn nɛmɛ? ] what is the construction of [ɛn nɛmɛ] and to what does it refer?
- What is the subject of the sentence [tɛ maar thï̲n] and what aspect is it?