Nuer Field Project

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

Lesson 35

The following lesson will include the negative forms with the habitual particle [la]. They follow the regular negative forms except when contracted.

Ki̲i̲m: Jï̲n, laa bi̲i̲ duɛ̲ɛ̲l wal ni̲ ciɛŋ?
You, do you always come to the clinic very day? i.e. consistently
Patient: Ɣëc, /ca̲a̲ ba̲a̲ ni̲ ciaŋ.
No, I don't come consistently every day.
Ki̲i̲m: Kä̲ mi̲ /ci̲ a bi̲i̲, bi̲ tëk i̲ di̲? Lo̲ki̲ wä̲l jɔɔ?
But if you don't come consistently how will you live? i.e. how do you expect to live? You dislike medicine presumably?
Patient: Ɣɔ̲ɔ̲, cä̲ duɛ̲r, kuä̲ä̲r. Ɣä̲n, bi̲ ɤä̲n a bä̲ ni̲ ciaŋ.
Oh, I've made a mistake, chief. I, I will begin to come consistently every day.
Ki̲i̲m: Guic nɛy ti̲ti̲. Laa bä̲kɛ ni̲ ciɛŋ. Kä̲ ɛ jï̲n wu̲t bä̲!
Look at these people. They come consistently every day. And you are a man too!
  Gɔaa ni̲ ɤöö bi̲ wi̲cdu̲ car ɛpu̲c. Puɔ̲nydu̲ /cɛ bi̲ gɔaa
You better really think (about this). Your body won't get better.
  Mi̲ /ci̲ bi̲ a bi̲i̲ wanɛmɛ ni̲ ciaŋ pa̲ny. Ci̲ ɛ liŋ?
if you won't keep coming here really every day. Did you hear it?
Patient: Ɣɔ̲ɔ̲n, cä̲ jɛ liŋ, kuä̲ä̲r.
Yes, I heard it, chief.

PHONETICS

  1. Read this carefully with informant for the negative tone and intonation. Continue on drills.

SYNTAX

  1. The 1st Aspect Habitual negative differs from the 2nd Aspect Habitual positive in tone only.
  2. As in all verb aspects there is the full pronoun from and the verb particle, or the assimilated verb particle and the conjugated verb. A contraction occurs in the assimilated forms which will be given here.
  3. There is no 2nd Aspect Habitual negative in use.

    1st Aspect Habitual
    Negative
    Contracted Forms

      /Cä̲́ à miɛ̲́thä̲̀ becomes /Cá̲a̲ miɛ̲́thnɛ̀
      /Cí̲ à mí̲thï̲. becomes /Cíá̲ mí̲thì̲.
      /Cɛ́ à mí̲thɛ̀. becomes /Câa miɛ̲́thɛ̀.

    (in) /Cánɛ́ à miɛ̲́thnɛ̀ becomes /Cánàa miɛ̲́thnɛ̀
    (ex) /Cá̲kɔ̀ à miɛ̲́thkɔ̀ becomes /Cá̲kɔ̑a miɛ̲́thkɔ̀
      /Cía à miɛ̲́thɛ̀ becomes /Ciȃa miɛ̲́thɛ̀
      /Cíkɛ̀ à mí̲thkɛ̀ becomes /Cíkàa mí̲thkɛ̀
    Meaning: I don't ever eat.
  4. The 3rd Aspect Habitual negative has no contracted form so the assimilated and unassimilated forms are given here.

    3rd Aspect Habitual
    Negative

      /Cí̲ ɤä̲́n bī̲ à mī̲th. /Cä̲́ bí̲ à miɛ̲́thä̲̀.
      /Cí̲ jï̲n bī̲ à mī̲th. /Cí̲ jɛn bī̲ à mī̲th.
      Cí̲ bí̲ à mí̲thì̲. /Cɛ́ bí̲ à mí̲thɛ̀.

    (in) /Cí̲ kɔ́n bí̲ à mī̲th. /Cánɛ́ bi̲ à miɛ̲́thnɛ̀.
    (ex) /Cí̲ kɔ̩n bí̲ à mī̲th or nɛy. /Cá̲kɔ̀ bí̲ à miɛ̲́thkɔ̀.
      /Cí̲ yɛ̄n bí̲ à mī̲th. /Cȋa bí̲ à miɛ̲́thɛ̀.
      /Cí̲ kɛ̄n bí̲ à nī̲th. /Cíkɛ́ bí̲ à miɛ̲́thkɛ̀.
    Meaning: I will not ever eat.
  5. 1st Aps. Habitual Imperative: Sing. [Cú̲ a bi̲i̲!] -- Don't keep on coming here!
    Plural [/cuáyɛ̀ a biɛ̈ɛ̈!] -- Don't keep on coming here!
    3rd Asp. Habitual Imperative: Sing. [/Cú̲ bi̲ a bi̲i̲!] -- Don't keep on coming here! i.e. don't begin to keep coming here.
    [/Cuáyɛ̀ bi̲ a biɛ̈ɛ̈.] -same.
  6. Word order for Transitive verbs is the same as 2nd and 3rd Aspect.
Nuer Field Project Nouns Verbs Verb Book Expressions Grammar Genesis Others