UNIT 1: ɯ̀r “Spring”, Lesson 1: Uk i: bila?

Aim: By the end of the lesson, students should be able to ask and answer “what is your/his/her name?” and introduce themselves.  Additionally, they should be able ask and answer “kire/ture/qare akus?” for a few simple neuter nouns.

Story: Imagine you have been taken back in time to before the 20^th century, when Ket was used as a primary means of communication along the middle Yenisei river and its tributaries.  As you reflect on the coolness of the Ket language and culture, you float down the river in a small boat made of birchbark.  The Yenisei river has just begun to flow after its winter freeze, and there are still pieces of ice floating in the water.  The weather is sunny but cold, and there is still snow on the ground.  As you travel down the river you meet a friendly man on the shore.  He is putting up some sort of structure on the riverside.  He greets you in Ket. 

Dialog: ????: Bǝ’j-o:! (addressing a man) Kǝla-a:! (addressing a woman)

You: Bǝ’j-o:!  Uk i: bila?

????: Ap i: Dahaniŋ.  Uk i: bila?

You: A:p i: __________________.   Ture akus?

Dahaniŋ: Kire ap qu’s.  Ture uk qa’p?

You: E’!

Grammar

1.      VOCATIVE POSTPOSITION: We can call out to our friends by saying their name + o:! (masculine) or a:! (feminine).  If you are calling to a woman who is not in view, you change vocative particle to ə:!

a.       Since Ket has no direct translation to “hello”, we can make a friendly greeting to someone we don’t know by saying bu’j- o:! or kǝla-a:!.  This translates literally to “hey friend!”

2.      INTRODUCTIONS: We can ask someone’s name with U:k i: bila? Or literally, “Your name how?”

3.      DEMONSTRATIVES: We can ask what something is by saying Kire/ture akus? Or literally “This/that what?”

Vocabulary:

Nouns
Bǝ’j m.		Friend (male)
Kǝla f.		Friend (female)
I:		Name
Qu’s		Birchbark teepee
Qa’p		Birchbark boat
Hɯssej		Forest
Se:s		River
Ke’t		Person, man
Pronouns
A:t	I	Ap	My
U:	You	Uk	Your
Bu:	S/he	Bud	His/her
Other
Kire		This
Ture		That (nearby)
Qare		That (far away)
Akus		What
E’		Yes
Bə:n		No

Exercise

Translate:

1.      Uk i: bila? ______________________

2.      Bud i: bila? ______________________

3.      Kire uk qa’b? _________________________

4.      Ture ap qu’s? ________________________________

5.      Kire se:s? ______________________________

6.      Ture hɯssej? ______________________________

7.      How do you greet a woman whose name you don’t know (assuming you can see her)?

8.      How do you greet a man whose name you don’t know?