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Lesson 20 – Conversation


Ugandan: Oli otya nno, Nnyabo? (How are you, Miss/Madame)
Visitor: Bulungi, ate ggwe? Ab’eka bali batya? (I’m fine, and you? And how are those at home?)
Ugandan: Bali bulungi. (They are fine)
Visitor: Mmm. ( - sound acknowledging the reply)
Ugandan: Mmm. Ova wa? (Where do you come from?)
Visitor: Nva mu Amerika. (I am from America)
Ugandan: Ooo! Bwe kiri? (Oh! Is that so?)

Naki speaking to her mother at a distance: Maama, ŋŋenze! (I’m going out.)
Maama: Wangi? (What is it?)
Naki (now louder): Ŋŋenda kugula ssukaali. (I’m going [out] to buy sugar)
Maama: Wattu, togula ssukaali. Nina ssukaali mu fumbiro. Twetaaga munnyo. (My dear, don’t buy sugar. I have sugar in the kitchen. We need salt.)

Tuning the Ear to Tonality
Olubuto lunnuma. (The stomach is aching me.), Obuwunga bwa laala (The flour is stale/gone off.), Obulamu buli butya? (How’s your life?), Obulamu bulungi. (Life is good.)

Building Vocabulary
eddagala (medicine), omusujja gw’ensiri (malaria), ssennyiga (a head cold), ekiwundu (a wound), ebbavu ddene (a big hand/foot blister), ebbwa tono (a small sore)