Just like in English, some words can take on multiple meanings depending on how they're used. Below are a few key words that youll hear constantly in Fijian Conversation. Listen along with the audio for pronunciation then we'll look at some different sentences these words are used in. Oqo- This, Here, Now Oqorri-That (near listener) also means "Youve got it!," or "Thats it!" Koya- That away from both speaker and listener Ekeri-there (literally on the listener) (press play on above audio for pronunciation help) Example Usage Conversation #1 between two people: Malia and Stu Stu: Hey Malia Have you happened to seen my hat? "E Malia, Oiko Bau raica na noqu i sala?" Malia :That hat there? (said pointing toward a hat across the room) "Ko na sala ga koya?" Stu: No, its a different one "Sega, e dua tani. " Malia: Whos hat is this here? "Ocei na nona sala oqo" (said picking up a hat from behind the couch) Stu: Thats my hat! "Noqu sala Qorri!" Conversation # 2 Marieta calling her husband Jonasa at his office... (phone ringing) (Secretary Answers...) Same----- "hello thank you for calling office s upplys" Marieta Hi, is Jonasa there? Bula, O Jonasa tiko qorri? Secretary Shucks, he just left now! Who might this be? Isa, oKoya sa qai lako sara ga! Ocei beka qo? Marieta This is his wife, Malia. Did he say where hes going? Na Watina oqo, O Marieta. E tukuna beka na vanua e gole kina? Secretary oh hi Marieta! he said he was just going shopping then returning home. Oi Bula Marieta e tukuna sa lei volivoli ga qai lesu tale i vale. Marieta ok, thanks very much Sa donu, Vinaka valevu Secretary Thanks Naka Click Below to hear audio (Ps, these are not direct translations. "Moce toka" doesn't simply mean "Goodnight") these Fijian translations are without native speaker input and very may well be incomplete. If you are a Native speaker and you can think of a better way of saying these things in Fijian please share in the comment section below. Vinaka! Great Job! you finished this lesson! Click here to read Part two of this assigment
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There are 4 main ways of adding tense to Fijian sentences. Will use the the Verb Lako which means to go to illustrate the different tense markers. Sa is present tense--- the action described in the sentence is about or has already happened A is the past tense---the action has already happened Na is the future tense---the action has not yet taken place Se is an emphatic present tense---It is to say that the action is in motion while speaking. Tense markers typically always go just before the verb. The below sentences are three parts pronoun+tense marker+verb oiau sa lako-----------------I am going oiau a lako------------------I went oiau na lako----------------I will go oiau se lako qo-----------I am going right now (example---A Fijian could say "Au sa lako" "which really means, im getting ready to start leaving now once we've all said goodbye properly. Se is more commonly used when some one is inquring as to what you are doing in that moment. Someone might say on the telephone..."where are you" ("Ko sa tiko evei!") you would reply "im on my way" or in Fijian, "Au se lako yani qo". Se just gives a little more emphasis on the exact function of the verb being spoken. Exercise--- Get you journal and add the 4 different tense markers to these words below to make a sentence. Give the English translation as well. This is just an introduction to Tense markers so dont expect to feel overly enlightened by the end of the exercise. As you read Fijian text or interpret speech you will need to recognize this important lesson. Once we learn this step we can learn other important lessons like adding direction. (so instead of saying "we will run" period, we can say "we will run to the bus stand") will save that till next lesson. For now complete these combination below and give your English translation. Please post your work on either this blog comment section or on the L.T.S.F. Facebook page. Click Pronouns or Verbs to find the meaning of these words below before completing exercise Pronous--- Verbs--- Example keitou Cici Keitou na cici = We will run Oiau taubale oiko rika kemudrau solia orau mate Fiji Alphabet One of the best ways to get comfortable with speaking Fijian is learning how to read it. We've all seen it, people who are learning English cant understand if an English speaker is talking "to fast". When you read it, you have time to process each word to decipher its meaning. Youll find even as you study that you wont be able to understand Fijian conversations right away. This could be for many reasons, but most likely its because when Fijians talk amongst other Fijians all the words are connected into one stream of never ending gibberish (just how English sounds to non-native speakers)! Lets take it slow and start by learning how to read the phonetics of the Fijian Alphabet .
A (a) B (mb) C (õ) D (nd) E (e) F (f) G (g) I (i) J (j) K (k) L (l) M (m) N (n) O (o) P (p) Q (ng) R (r) S (s) T (t) U (u) V (v) W (w) Y (y) From the alphabet above you can see that the C, D, Q, and G all have a different pronunciation than the english counterparts. Heres a few examples:
--Ika Bulabula (fresh Fish) --Sa Donu (Ok) --Sara Qito (watching the game) --katakata na Siga (the sun is hot) --Moce Mada (good night) (Phonetically) IKA mBulambula Sa nDonu Sara nQito (Saran Geetoe) Katakata Na Singa Moce Manda (mo-they Monda) REMEMBER! C = Th Q = Ga sound CLICK the audio above in the side bard to hear these examples spoken. Practice saying them as well. |
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