Nuer Field Project

Nouns Verbs Verb Book Expressions Pedagogical Grammar of Nuer Translation of Genesis in Nuer Others

Lesson 24

This lesson covers the 2nd Aspect negative and the particle [i̲] which is an introductory particle for noun clauses following certain types of verbs.

A conversation between you and the gardener.

You: Gat Kuɔth jï̲̩nwër, jiökni̲ Mu̲n i̲ ɤä̲n göörä puuhrän.
GatKuɔth , You go, tell Mu̲h that I want my hoe.
  Jɛn a jɛ. Cɛ jɛ ka̲̩n mëëpan kä̲ /ke̲nɛ iɛ lu̲ɔ̲hc ɤä̲.
It is with him. He took it yesterday but he did not return it to me.
Gat Kuɔth: Kä̲ Mu̲n a ni̲ tä̲ä̲mɛ? Ɣä̲n kua̲cä̲ gua̲a̲thkɛ.
But Mu̲h Is where now? I don't know his place.
You: Ɣɔ̲ɔ̲ ɛ jɛn, kui̲ci̲ gua̲a̲thdɛ u̲?
Of it is so, you don't know his place?
  Kä̲ dä̲maar, bä̲ ŋu̲ lɛl ŋɛ ɤöö ɤä̲n göörä̲ jɛ ni̲ ɛn tä̲ä̲mɛ pa̲̩ny?
But my brother what will I do because I want it right now really?
  ɤä̲n la̲tä̲ rɛy ji̲ne̲nä̲ kä̲ thïlɛ ɤä̲ pu̲u̲r.
I am working in the garden and I have no hoe.
Gat Kuɔth: Tä̲ä̲ dɔ̲ɔ̲ Mu̲n a thï̲n thoo yiëër, bi̲ ɤä̲n ɤ wä̲ gui̲l.
Now maybe Mu̲h is present at the River's mouth, I will go and see him.
You: Gɔaaɛ ɛlɔ̲ŋ, dä̲maar, kɛ yöö pu̲u̲r ɛmɔ göörä̲ jɛ ɛlɔŋ
It is very good, my brother because that hoe I want it very much,
  pa̲ny kä̲ lökä̲ jɛ kɛ ɤöö Mu̲n cɛ jɛ ka̲̩n kä̲ yke̲nɛ jɛ luɔ̲̩c ɤä̲.
really and I dislike it because Mu̲h took it and he has not returned it to me.

PHONETICS

-ië-

  1. -ië- is a difficult diphthong combination which requires daily practice. It is spoken forward in the mouth.

SYNTAX

2nd Aspect Negative -- The 2nd Aspect has its own negative particle [/ke̲n]. This particle can be conjugated with the personal pronoun endings like a verb, or it can stand alone as [/ke̲n] with the subject directly following it.
Note: Western Nuer forms differ slightly.

2nd Aspect Negative

Conjugated Particle Particle - Subject
  ɤä̲n /ka̲n bɛ̲n /Ke̲n ɤä̲n bɛ̲n
  Jï̲n /ke̲ni̲ bɛ̲n /Ke̲n jï̲n bɛ̲n
  Jɛn /ke̲nɛ be̲n /Ke̲n jɛn bɛ̲n

(in) Kɔn /ka̲nɛ bɛ̲n /Ke̲n kɔn bɛ̲n
(ex) Kɔn /ka̲nkɔ bɛ̲n /Ke̲n nɛy bɛ̲n, or kɔn
  Yɛn /ka̲nɛ bɛ̲n /Ke̲n yɛn bɛ̲n
  Kɛn /ke̲nkɛ bɛ̲n /Ke̲n kɛn bɛ̲n
Meaning: I did not come. etc.

The negative word order for verbs which take an object is the same as in the positive.

The Clausal Particle [i̲]

  1. Notice in the first sentence of the dialogue the particle [i̲]. This word is an introductory word for noun clauses which can be translated in most instances as "that", but its full meaning encompasses a much larger area of thought. Its influence is such that the main clause preceding it need not be spoken in certain situations. This is because the word [i̲] is sufficiently explanatory to eliminate an initial explanatory clause.
  2. The function if [i̲] is to introduce an independent clause following a main verb or verb phrase (spoken or understood) of speaking, hearing, feeling, smelling, seeing, (perceiving) thinking, knowing, doubting, understanding, believing or any such words explaining some mental process or activity of the senses.
    It is always hi tone. It has no influence, grammatically, on other words in the sentence.

    EXAMPLES

    Think -- Cä̲ wi̲cdä̲ ca̲r i̲ ci̲ jiɛɛn. -- I thought that you had gone.

    Hear -- Ci̲ ɤä̲n ɛ liŋ i̲ tëë kɛ jue̲̲y. -- I heard it that he is ill.

    Know -- Ca̲kɔ jɛ ŋa̲c i̲ thïlɛ jɛ dä̲man. -- We knew it that he has no brother.

    Doubt -- Ta̲a̲ kɛ diɛw i̲ thïlɛ kɛ mi̲th. -- I doubt that they have food.

    Understand -- Cɛ wä̲ lɔɔcdä̲ i̲ ɛ jï̲n gua̲n. -- I understand that you are his father. Literally: It went into my heart that.

    Believe -- ŋa̲a̲thä̲ jɛ pa̲ny i̲ Jidhɛth tëkɛ të̲ë̲mɛ. -- I really believe that Jesus lives now.

    See (preceive) -- Cä̲ jɛ nɛn i̲ du̲ŋdɛ bɛcɛ. -- I perceived it that his hurts.

    Tell -- Cɛ ɤä̲ jiök i̲ wër. -- He told me go. or he told me to go.

    Say -- Ci̲ kɛn ɛ la̲r ɤä̲ i̲ bikɛ bɛ̲n i̲ru̲u̲n. -- They said it to me that they will come tomorrow.

    To have an idea, suggestion, opinion -- Ɛ ruacdä̲ i̲ /cɛ gɔaa. -- To me this is no good.

    To have an opinion, conviction, to give an ultimatum-- Ɛ ruacdä̲ i̲ /cɛ bi̲ wä̲. -- It's my talk that he will not go.

    To have a conviction -- Ɛ lɔcdä̲ i̲ /ci̲ ɛ jɛn. -- As for as I'm concerned no.

  3. The expressions [ɛ ɤä̲n i̲], [ɛ ruacdä̲ i̲], [ɛ lɔcdä̲ i̲] are all expressions of the mental and spiritual attitudes of a person. The words [ɤä̲n], [ruac] or [lɔc], to be understood, must be taken out of the concrete into the abstract and there they take on meaning proceeding from the spiritual realm. They find their meaning from one idea, the ego. Basically the 3 expressions mean "I think so and so", or "it's my idea" or "if I were doing it ... " etc., but the different shades of meaning might be explained thusly:
    The presence of the verb [ɛ] indicates an equating element so that in each of the 3 instances there is an equation a) of the self (i.e. the commitment of self - ɤä̲n), b) of talk (i.e. my opinion - ruac) and c) of heart (i.e. my sentiments - lɔc) with the forthcoming statement.
    Each of these expressing occurs in all person. And needless to say they are in constant use.
  4. The impersonal expression "they say" meaning "it is said" is rendered [Ɛ waa i̲...] in Nuer.
  5. It needs to be stressed that [i̲] can initiate a sentence or clause and need not have any qualifying clause accompanying it. This is because [i̲] itself indicates some expression of the senses or speech. It is common in Nuer when a person is retelling what someone has said, or is repeating what he has just heard, instead of explaining first that he said so and so or "you said so and so", to begin his sentence with the word [i̲]. Thereby implying that what he is saying is what someone else has said.
  6. In indirect speech [i̲] is always used, but it may be omitted in direct speech.
Nuer Field Project Nouns Verbs Verb Book Expressions Grammar Genesis Others