Julius
Ezekiel 3:6 says,
“….of an hard language, whose words thou canst
not understand…..”
(Yes, I
know I completely took this verse out of context.)
Even before leaving the states, I was
attempting to learn the languages of Sierra Leone. One thing I have learned on
each mission’s trip I have taken, it is much easier for me to learn the language
when I am in country, surrounded by the language. So, I would like to tell a
little about the languages in Sierra Leone, because some of them are hard, and
there are many words that I “Canst not understand!”
There are roughly twenty tribal groups
dispersed throughout Sierra Leone and each has their own language. The Northern
most part of the country is the Temne stronghold, while the South is Mende land.
Kind of like the Mason-Dixon Line in the states, things really change once you
cross over that line into either section.
While the “official” language of Sierra
Leone, the main language is Krio (Sometimes spelled Creole) which is just a
hodgepodge of words from throughout Africa.
Words from each of the tribes in the country have been incorporated into
the Krio language. There are words from several different European languages
also represented.
Because of the many years of British
control, a great number of the words have a British slant as to their meaning.
Some of the words I have picked up on that are very British are “Padi” for
friend, “Petrol” for gasoline, “Yonder” for over there, any vehicle is called a
“motor car” and so forth.
There were
some Portuguese words carried here by returned slaves such as “Pekin”, for
child. Then there is “Yabas” Arabic for Onion and the French word “buku” for
Many. I am sure there are more, but that is all I can think of at the
moment.
Now for Mende there are four types or dialects of Mende, that each differ
slightly in word meaning or sounds. Kind of like American English, in different
parts of the country a can of Mountain Dew can be called Pop, coke, soda, etc.
In Bo District, where
Baomahun is located “Bah Mende” (Anything in quotations marks is very likely to
be spelled wrong!!) is spoken. Then
there is “Sayway Mende”, “Ko Mende” (This one is in Kenema) and “Wanjahmah
Mende”. The “Bah Mende” is the pure form of Mende and is the type you would find
used to print books in Mende.
Then for the Temne people
there are three dialects of Temne, once again depending on what district you are
traveling through. My informant only recalled two of the types, but is working
on the third name. So, there is “Konofe Temne” and “Yoni
Temne”.
One of the main
differences culturally between the Temne and the Mende is that Temne people are
often smarter in business and they place a higher value on education. Of course,
there are exceptions to every rule, but the Northern part of the country is more
developed than the south.
It is amazing how some
words can have different meanings, or be used in such a different ways! One
example that comes to mind is when you hear someone say, “I am coming” you think
that they are coming right then. Well when a Leonean says “I dey come” he means
that he will be coming at some point, not necessarily at that moment, more along
the lines of “I am returning”!
Some other word
differences are words like Cookie. These are all called “biscuits.” Actually
even a cracker is called a “Biscuit” so you must specify if you want a salt or
sweet biscuit!
Girls braid their hair; here it is called “planting.”
We use the word happy;
here it is “Gladi” which I actually like!
To ask if someone knows
something, or understands you, you ask if they “Sabi?”
Peanuts, are called “groundnuts.”
To tell the kids to stand, you can either say “Greap” which is a
run together form of “Get up” or you can say “Timap.”
To tell the pekin to stop
playing you would say “Lef for play.”
To end here is just a
sampling of Krio from John 11:25-27!
Jesus say to ram, I am de resurrection en de life: who da believe
in me, even do E be don die, E go get life: En anybody so for get life an
believe in me E no day die. You believe dis? E say to ram, yea Lord: I believe
dat thou art De Christ, God En pekin, way for come na de world.
Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for
praying!!
Aimée
(Nyadavo)
1 Corinthians 13:1
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of
angels,
and have not charity,
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