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| Mother-tongue is the first step to education. |
Recalling issues in my first language keep me
smiling often. Specifically what they truly mean and how confusing it would be
to translate them in English. I am that kind of a person who involuntary
talks/smiles while walking on the road or sitting in a bus. When you meet me in
the act, don’t mind.
English courtesy words like please, thank you,
excuse me, success, sorry and others are so plainly said that an enemy would
use them before attacking. Sincerity can only be derived from the tone. Or else,
it betrays the motive. There are people whom when they want you to assist they
apply ‘please’ not really with an intimate purpose but a coercive one. A
certain ‘woiye’ plague is with us.
Are you getting? A smile. Language sometimes fails us. It fails our nature. For
instance, imagine asking your friend, ‘so what brought you here?’ This is
courtesy in English! I am sure this would be an insult. Could you have thought
of better words? Good language is key to our personal prosperity. And that
language is mother-tongue. A language that do not introduce endings with finally or lastly.
The way you dress your message and contribute to a
present talk can distinguish you among others. It can uplift your status.
Listening is the best part of conversation or else you will learn
nothing-Koontz. If people listen to your wisdom then you can be sure they won’t
get bored when you are around. They will believe you and your credibility will
equal your success. How a message is portrayed is more important than the
message itself because a different meaning can be got. Many people have ears,
few have judgment. Gain the heart of a person or you gain nothing- the eyes and
ears are the only roads to one’s heart.
Mother-tongue in Africa denotes to tribal identities
defined by different languages. It begot the name because mothers are the first
hand attendants to children. Or because women got a belonging in the land of
the husband and not in the land of their birth. My mother is from Kamba tribe.
She now talks Lulogoli as her second social language-English in school was for
official communication- which with the help of relatives in the rural area my
siblings and I can converse in.
German philosopher, Goeth said that ‘if you only
know one language, then you do not know the language.’
Knowing mother-tongue can easily aid in
understanding the dynamics of a second language without adverse accent effects.
Gideon
Lasu ba Nyo writes that
mother tongue is part of a child’s personal, social and cultural identity. It
is this identification we get from speaking our mother tongue that enforces
successful social patterns of acting and speaking. Our diverse social
backgrounds make us unique and appealing in society.It is an indispensable
instrument for the development of intellectual, physical and moral aspects of
education. Habits, conducts, values, virtues, customs and beliefs are all
shaped through the mother tongue. Needless to say, weakness in the mother
tongue means a paralysis of all thought and power of expression. Has it ever
occurred to you that ‘town’ children are not that smart as rural kids?
‘Among
the Ibo, the art of conversation is
(If I was to represent Ibo with my tongue) regarded very highly’- Achebe. Talking
was not just for the sake of. It was an art. A conversation of
conversationalists. Every time I hear Kisii folks in Argwing Kodhek Road bound
vehicles stuck to their tongue, I refer to this. Birds of the same feathers
flock together. It stopped hurting to hear kikuyu everywhere. It is a social
right that you can’t deny them at the job place. No wonder I slip to lulogoli everytime I spot
a kinsman. You cannot stop Luos from loud vernacular modes. That is where they
find an identity.
The purpose of this blog post was not to express any
expertise in how language is affected with globalization and why it is(was)
important to conserve. I am not a language expert. For sure, as time killed
great empires, it will consume what we hold dear now. Lulogoli will be a fable.
First grade English will follow suit. I still do not understand why my cousin
had to undergo all the pain of repeating classes because of his poor mastery in
English when he knew all the names of local birds, sentence structures in
Lulogoli and could play different endovondovo
tunes for us to dance.
As what we are struggling to keep gets worn, we are certain that what will come will not match the gone. English at now can only describe official stands like choreographing constitutions and sounding knowledged. Jokes and puns are limited. By-the-way dimensional stands are ignored. People are therefore guided to think and act in a similar manner. It is not so when vernacular gets chance. Words are sought like a delicacy. Only the lack of enough saliva to keep the lips going slows down a conversation. And so, I took to identifying a few head-on statements-
two word idioms- that do not only express what we think they literally mean but
dimensions of communication; understanding the messenger, the messenger
understanding you, implications of the message and relationships thereafter.
The power of the two word messages function to briefly say what the whole context is like, the reaction of a person to the message, the surety of being part of the message, hidden attitude though it doesn't limit the aura conversation, frank talks that do not exhibit jealous or hidden purposes and the value of compromising on what is above one’s understanding. These words prompt thinking and intensive consideration of things that may otherwise be watered through many words. They may also aid in understanding cultural dimension of the community. By limited humanity,I will not compile the whole language terms nor be specific and to the latter in translation. Of course true meanings will be lost in translation.
The following are two worded words that are in
Lulogoli (Maragoli)- translated to aid in understanding. Some are idiomatic
while some metaphoric. Do not restrain from laughing when you internalize the
meaning. The meaning is not in the translation. Others are plain but artfully
fit to bring in the palatability from which messages are derived. I thank
Gwuma, Karani and Kedeng’e for assisting me in the brainstorming session. Language
is a rich resource that one can draw satisfaction from. An honest mouth and a
clean hand can take a man to any land. In here, they do not serve a
professional purpose but a social one- facilitating interaction, the reason why
a society exist. So, corrections are welcomed.
The words include:
·
Uviruki orete (Grow up and you will be free to marry)
·
wiyame uturiku (agree and get over)
·
Ngohereke ngwanguhizi (let me assist you take
off)
·
Akudwichi Akuturi (the one who helped you put on the luggage should help you put down)
·
Wivuri urihizi (as you sire, feed your children)
·
Keveho Kurie (what is present should be eaten
together)
·
wiyame osose(agree and be relieved)
·
Wisingi urave(take a bath and you will be clean)
·
Avamonyi mmonye (the gossipers are allowed)
·
Wisave uragiri (wash your hands and eat Ugali)
·
Urizaza wenyine(you only eat solo)
·
ohenze otege (search carefully and set the trap)
·
Nutamanyi nagogo(if you do not know, then its
upon you)
·
Uhuli Vurahi (listen with much attention)
·
usakuri uvakuri(get old and sight will disapper)
·
Uyanze usuri(like it or not)
·
Okore kuzie (finish your tasks then we go)
·
Reka ave (let him be)
·
ndekani naye (I’ve cut association with him)
·
Ku chavura (its pathetic)
·
Yayinga rwafwa (done with his foolishness)
·
yazia niyirana (she went and came back)
·
Wayekora mgeri (you pretend to be clever)
·
Ndarinda manikivura (I waited for nothing)
·
vahenza viruka (they observed before fleeing)
·
wadeka nukuviza (You half-cooked)
·
Ndatanga manengoyana (I started before confusion
set in)
·
ndamaliza nivigasa (I stepped in and things were
well)
·
Ndaganagania maninduraku (I thought about it
before declining)
·
Ohenze, nogoyane (be careful not to be confused)
·
ndahenzaku gandama (I looked at the condition
and it was beyond my comprehension)
·
nokoreki chavura (What will you do? Its
pathetic)
·
yagagana nararuka (he overthought and became
mad)
·
yareta nakunga (he married and chased her)
·
yisava nagoni (he washed his hands in sleep)
·
yarota nahenzaa (he day dreamed)
·
yikuzira natamwa (She perservered and got could
not any longer)
·
yiruka nanyorwa (he ran away but was found)
·
Yahuliza maniyikana (he listened before
clicking)
·
Onyore uyanzizwi! (get and be satisfied)
·
yahenzaku nasura (he looked at it before
refusing)
·
oyogi mbuli (you have talked and I’ve heard)
·
Nukuzi ninyanze (You’ll die and al be happy)
·
ngoretere oseme (I bring to you before you
insult)
·
yavakura nasosa(she became blind and was
relieved)
·
Ngore nokoraki (What will you be doing as I am
working)
·
Utumanaa wikaye (You authorizing others as you
are sitting)
·
uvudamanu vwivwe! (his own misdoings)
·
nunzivira ndakuita (If you steal from me, you
want death)
·
umwanitu yahenzahenza! (our kin was wandering)
·
Yavora manamara! (He said and concluded)
·
Izisoni ziamutura! (Shame is no longer part of
her)
·
ndamuvola siyambula! (I told him but did he even
hear?)
·
Yaza nageli (he came rained on)
·
yanywa yiyivila (he drank to irrecognition)
·
Nuvuyanzi vwavo (It is their want)
·
adeki yinura (She cooked and served)
·
Mkore gamunyariza (do what you want)
·
yikani natsia (he clicked and went away)
·
Chuvwivwi chanura! (stolen one is sweet)
·
ambenzi nagoyana (He lloked at me and got
confused)
·
asu mang'ana (He does not wan’t words)
·
Shezaa murungi (I am taking a kilo to the mill)
·
ngotwa genago (I do not know about that)
·
yifaa kisero (he is putting on raw lether)
·
unyaguri utacherevamba (Run and don’t be late)
·
yimigi kumsara (he hanged himself on a tree)
·
Amarii gege (he has done his part)
·
uruswa rumumari (evil has occupied him)
·
ivirato vihaji (shoes cannot fit his legs)
·
asu kwiganira (he refused to repent)
·
Yakurama yakuza! (He who cursed you died)
·
amboriza vvi (He does not know how to seduce)
·
yenya vyosi (He wants all)
·
Yakira zimbemba! (full of gossips)
·
Shira zimbemba (carry gossips)
·
ikiramo chahanda (the curse attached)
·
Mwoyo gwaturaku (My heart is no longer there)
·
ndasura vusiru (I dislike foolishness)
·
Vamwuhira vuhindi (They cast evil hindi disease
on him)
·
wagwa rigerera (you failed the test)
·
si yakutama (Did he not send you?)
·
mbee kumba (I am not concerned)
·
yehozirizi onyore (Keep yourself calm and you
will get)
·
Eng'ombe yakwuha (The cow wants to mate)
·
ovee idimbidi (You refuse to hear intentionally)
·
vageni vasinyi (Too many boring visitors)
·
mbee mchamugizi ( I am in the front part of the
compound)
·
ngohe garahagaraha (let me give you in slow
bits)
·
Yatandiza magovi! (he has debts everywhere)
·
weteve kaviri (ask yourself twice)
·
onyo wiruchi(You got and ran away)
·
Hamba kwagane. (Come we meet)
·
Ngorore mmogongo! (I want to see your back)
·
Ahenzaa saba (His has greedy eyes)
·
wivili ole (If you forget, I will not
understand)
·
ndakuha vikutame (I’ll give you and you will be
defeated)
·
usingiri hamsunzu (Stand by the Msunzu tree)
·
Ukubi rukwiri (communicate with a wail)
·
okore vurahi (do best)
·
Yingila mbwasi! (he entered by the back door)
·
unyaguri vatakonyora (run not to be found)
·
chamugizi charami (the front door is open)
·
ivuli ichafuchi (the bedroom has been
compromised)
·
avana variraa (the children are crying)
·
umulu guhambi (the fire is on)
·
Mazi gakusarama (the water has boiled)
·
Wayanza kosekaseka (you like laughing…)
·
Yahirwaa rogedi (tethered by a long fiddle)
·
osembele amakuvvi (weed the cow peas field)
·
igasi ifwee (the work is over)
·
unywi mukafu (take tea without sugar)
·
usuyi nyo (even if you denied, I got it)
·
uvugili mang'ana (agree to the words)
·
Nembora novora!(As I say, you are saying other
things)
·
ngushiri musogoni (‘ll take you to the market)
·
wiranira gamboye (repeat what I said)
·
Vyurizaa nivikuturi (What you are eating will
get out severely)
·
wamanya kumbita (you think you know more than
me)
·
Onyenyaa mang’ana (You are insinuating)
·
Yamanya gosi (He is all knowing)
·
ove tsimbiru (You are too quick)
·
Sembeye mwana (I am not a child)
·
tsia garaha (Go slow)
·
Mbeku mwoyo (Tell me a nice story)
·
Yayanza zimbaka ( He likes by-the-way
tell-tells)
·
wivuyi mwene (You have betrayed yourself)
·
rimenya riagirigari (living honestly)
·
mari gosi (I am done with all)
·
Ndamanya ndachiring'ana! (I know I am quiet)
·
yizominyi mwene (be glorious in person)
·
Nimuhere mwosi! (you will die all)
·
Otege matui (keep your ears alert)
·
Tivira mukunzakari (don’t steal for an old
widow)
·
Wirane wuturi (go back to where you were)
·
Gavore Agamanya (tell, he who knows!)
·
Taza kisai (commit murder or shed blood)
·
Tambika mmatava(do not involve me in conflicts)
·
Ninduka ndakovola (when I get back I will inform
you)
·
Nuvarora uvacherizi (if you see them, greet them
for me)
·
Wenyaa rong'ele (you want to be cained)
·
Ichova iravi (its already day time!)
·
Zingungu ziakwirana (the snake-like locusts are
back)
·
Yagenda hadamanu (he walked on the wrong land)
·
Yakora yichiko (he committed incest)
·
wetegeke ugahuli (prepare to hear)
·
reka ngutiguli (let me say how it was)
·
indio gavetsa (that is how it has always been)
·
wanyara vyosi (you defeat all things)
·
Mwoyo gwariduha (my heart is heavy)
·
Yambira Kurusha (he took me to the council)
·
Kareke gave ( let it end there)
·
Yago gaduchi (that is enough)
·
Uvuki mmavweve (rise very early)
·
Gaveye kunzira (words are on the road coming)
·
tatinguha mba (do not refuse to)
·
ndakurira ki? (what yours did I eat)
·
Reka muvayo (stop the flatter)
·
ivugizi ucherizwi (respond, you have been
greeted)
·
Ku ndaivura! (I really gave birth)
·
Utamba ziseko (do not make me laugh)
·
Mureke kifwavi (stop the bad behaviour)
·
Reka ekehenyehenye (stop the scorn)
·
Wivichi madaridari (you are clothed in tatters)
·
Korombe rivugana (let us make a point to meet)
·
Wizurizi mgamba (remember tomorrow)
·
amashiga gakwuma (the fireplace is dry)
·
mbura isirinji (I do not have a coin)
·
wamanya nogeriha (you did good to become clever)
·
Yigame kurusimbu (shelter at the balcon)
·
kivi chakira (evil is in excess)
·
hango hachiring'ana (the household is silent)
·
yachama virenge (he has crooked legs)
·
ungaragaraa mwoyo! (you scratch my heart)
·
yaga namarungi? (is this righteous?)
·
unduchi mmadundu (you have bored me to the neck)
·
Yaheriza manaturiza (she was pregnant but no
longer)
·
Yavahira niyirana (she married and came back)
·
Yareta Esetwe! (he married a talking bird)
·
Yita kizienzie! (He killed an illegal bird)
·
Umbunaji Izimbaru ( you have broken my ribs)
·
romba vwinamiru (start digging)
·
Wari nunziti (you had killed me)
·
Mwanaamundu yive ( I am concerned of you,
whoever)
·
Amuriodo Ogosaa( hey you are not doing it right)
·
tinyura kitinya!(uproot the base of the shrub)
·
Indio dave (not that way)
·
ndamuha matui (I gave my ears)
·
Utahuyuya umurimi (do not make the soil so
loose)
·
vuhutila vunumi (the black tree insects have
stung him)
·
Reka kombenza (stop looking at me)
·
Tasinya mba (do not bore me)
·
Kuba endovondovo (play the traditional one
string guitar)
·
mukana wisang'aru (the girl with a space between
her two front upper jaw teeth)
·
Reka embodoka!(don’t be jealous)
·
kukarani imondo (we have shared the gizzard)
·
Ngorolee zimbavasi (I have been gracious to you)
·
mbeye machili (I am woedless)
·
ufunyaa kevove! (you got an oduor smell)
·
reka uvuoni (stop sinning)
·
Suvira urasosa (I trust you will be healed)
·
Yareta mwiko (he married a relative)
·
Yahaga mutwi (he has a hard head)
·
Isiongo yayadika (the pot broke)
·
Mukari yamuvika (the wife has kept him)
·
ove kifuria (you are the cooking sufuria)
·
Winiki vosera! (soak flour for fermrntation)
·
Ononele zinguza (mind about the little
vegetables)
·
Ragira ndakuvata (Eat or I’ll finish the meal
before you eat)
·
unyagulaa ki? (what are you hurrying for?)
·
Uryi nuwitula (Eat as you take a rest)
·
Ovore chumanyi (Say what you know)
·
Yagwa indurumi (He is epileptic)
·
Yimila ngoronde (be in the front and I will
follow)
·
Kituli mwidiji (let it come from the wall)
·
uranzuhira vusura (You will cast on me a
disease)
·
hadi vuza (just for a small moment)
·
Udzi garaha (proceed with caution)
·
ave nuvudinyu (he is problematic)
·
chahango nicho (what is for the home is for the
home)
·
Uwinyu ni winyu (Home is the best)
·
Usheni mmavaru (You stepped on red ants)
·
Oreke kunzikuma (Stop calling my name with no
good reason)
·
Mbee mwere (I am poor)
·
Ndeka mbe (leave me alone)
·
uhula nivuche (you understand when it is
morning)
·
mbasu ku gwavara (the sun is too much)
·
wingiraa nezingoko (You come in like the
hens-early)
·
yayaza viavuzwa (he likes free things)
·
akwimili morogende (let Him lead you on the way)
·
mwana mung'ele (a fine young person)
·
ingoko inyavuri (a female hen)
·
wiyagiri kesogoto (scratch yourself with a
maizecob)
·
aveye imbuku (he is a mole)
·
mima jafunya (unacceptable behaviour)
·
kivara chachama(the world is bent)
·
yatuga engo(he lives with a leopard)
·
Tinyara mmuyaga (do not urinate in already dirty
water)
·
mwana muderwa (a loved child)
·
Miyinzi migasu (good developments)
·
Ndoye kunzira (I found it on the road)
·
wagema muno (You helped to start the conflict)
·
mbeye nuvutima (I am angry)
·
mwana Mama (mama’s child)
·
Yanzala manda (carry some hot charcoal from one
fireplace to another)
·
kivara kichiring'ani (the world is silent)
·
hachi newesoheriza (please calm and mind about
yourself)
·
Yahenda mwoyo (she got worried)
·
nikivuni mba (I have no otherwise)
·
Nindaa asose (I am waiting his recovery)
·
kukini chavana (lets play the pretend game)
·
nwezaa kihaya (I am drinking unsavoury porridge)
·
Kida chayarama (An always empty stomach)
·
mkoma nguva ( a cain that directs children)
·
chakuvunana kivura (what we are contesting about
is negligible)
·
ku yazangarara (it has no taste)
·
ohenze sana (be very open eyed)
·
ku ndayikubira (I have perserverd)
·
keheri chaduka (end times are with us)
·
yakutumba chukuria (he has refused to eat)
·
Mangodore nutahenzi (I will get rough on you if
you do not take care)
·
unduraa vuza (you are blaming me for no reason)
How to prevent vuindi
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