A Rough Guide to IciBemba

Volume 1 of the hopefully soon-to-exist, volunteer/co-worker produced:

EWB Language Guide Series

Written by: Owen Scott, Elias Mutwale

Table of Contents Section Page Disclaimer 1 Preface 2 On the Importance of Language 3 Pronunciation 4 Greetings 5 Verbs (conjugation) 6 Verbs (list) 11 Feelings 12 Times 13 Some Nouns 14 Connecting Words 15 Other Useful Things 16 Sentences 17

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Disclaimer It is almost certain that not everything in this guide is correct. However, much of it is. Thereits been said.

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Preface I developed this guide during my last few weeks in Zambia as a way to help future EWB

volunteers (and volunteers with other organizations) to learn Bemba prior to leaving for

overseas. The impetus for the guide came from the many nights I spent sitting alone by

candlelight studying verb conjugation by written practice; I simply felt like much of the

study I did while in Zambia could have been done more effectively prior to leaving (and

with less opportunity cost related to other cool stuff).

I am by no means fluent in Bemba; in fact, I can barely speak the language at all, and

have never held down anything close to a conversation. However, I did learn a lot in my

time overseas, and feel that that knowledge is valuable and worth sharing.

This guide was written by me (Owen), and then edited and contributed to heavily by my

friend, co-worker, and primary Bemba teacher Elias Mutwale. He even edited some of

my English. I cant express in words how grateful I was for his help, and hope that many

future volunteers from EWB can participate in collaborative efforts such as this to take

our organizational language learning capacity to another level.

This guide is not a how-to guide, nor is it an exercise book, nor is it divided into bite-

size lessons. Rather, it is simply an organized presentation of information. It is up to the

reader to decide how this information is to be used/learned. I trust you to figure this one

out for yourself

(also, any questions about this guide, contact: owenscott@ewb.ca)

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On the Importance of Language

Understanding and speaking the local language while overseas can bring you many

things. It can gain you added trust, it can bring you added comprehension of your

surroundings, and it can allow you to interact more enjoyably with other people.

However, there are more important reasons to learn language as well.

In Zambia, as in many countries, English is the official language but it is no ones first

language. English is learned in school, and, in most cases, school is not free. Thus, I

might posit that English language ability and socio-economic status correlate fairly

closely.

For this reason, as a volunteer, by limiting yourself to effective communication only in

English, you are also severely reducing your ability to even interact with the poorest of

the poor; the people whose lives and opportunities you are ostensibly overseas to help

improve. For me, this is the most important of many good reasons why language learning

should continue to be a core organization value of EWB, and why we desperately need to

work as an organization to make sure that resources and techniques are available to help

our volunteers turn ambition into action with regards to language. Hopefully this guide

can be a start.

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Pronunciation Dont worry about being perfect. Just be close. You will learn more once you get there. Everything in this guide is written very phonetically, so follow this outline and you will be fine. Vowels: a like the a in cat e like the a in mate i like the i in ski o like the oa sound in coat u like the oo sound in cool Most consonants are pronounced the same as in English. There are a few exceptions: Consonants: c like the ch in chair b like a mix of b, w, and v (try saying all three at once) ng like the ng in singing

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Greetings During your time in Zambia you will be constantly greeting people. Exchanging greetings and enquiring as to other peoples well-being is an integral part of the Zambian culture. Usually, when first meeting someone (even if you know them already) you should start with a hello. Depending on the context and time of day, what hello you use will vary. Following this initial greeting, you should move on to ask how they are. There is essentially no limit to the number of enquiries you can make (although there kind of itits situation dependentnot that I really ever understood anything that well), so feel free to use more than one in succession. The list that follows is a list of some of the basic greetings to get you started. You will learn more as you travel. Hellos iciBemba English When to Use Greeting: Mwashibukeni? Good morning? Response: Eya mukwai. Yes mukwai. Morning

Greeting: Mwaikaleni? Youve been good? Response: Eya mukwai. Yes mukwai. Afternoon

Greeting: Cungulo mukwai. Good evening mukwai? Response: Eya mukwai. Yes mukwai.

Evening

Greeting: Mwapoleeni? Hello? Reponse: Eya mukwai. Yes mukwai. Anytime

Greeting: Mwabombeni? Works good? Response: Eya mukwai. Yes mukwai.

When someones working.

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How are you?s iciBemba English When to Use Greeting: Muli Shaani? How are you? Response: Bwino. Well. Anytime

Greeting: Mwashibukashaani? How did you sleep? Response: Bwino. Well. Morning

Greeting: Mwaikalashaani Response: Bwino. Well. Afternoon

Greeting: Mwabombashaani? How has work been? Reponse: Bwino. Well At/after work.

Greeting: Kunganda Kulishaani? Hows home? Response: Kunganda Kuliye Bwino Home is well. Anytime.

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Verbs (conjugation) Verb conjugation can be one of the most beneficial things to study before going overseas. If you intend to learn the language beyond simple greetings, there is no getting around learning the grammar rules surrounding verbs. The following section lists some of the most important verb tenses you will use while speaking Bemba. (Note: in Bemba, the very itself never changes based on conjugation; only the words that precede it do). Past Tense (yesterday or before) English iciBemba I verbed Nali verb You verbed Wali verb He/She verbed Ali verb We verbed Twali verb They verbed Bali verb You (plural) verbed Mwali verb English iciBemba I didnt verb Nsha verb You didnt verb Tawa verb He/She didnt verb Ta verb We didnt verb Tatwa verb They didnt verb Taba verb You (plural) didnt verb Tamwa verb Past Tense (earlier today) English iciBemba I verbed Naci verb You verbed Waci verb He/She verbed Aci verb We verbed Twaci verb They verbed Baci verb You (plural) verbed Mwaci verb English iciBemba I didnt verb Nshaci verb You didnt verb Tawaci verb He/She didnt verb Taci verb We didnt verb Tatwaci verb They didnt verb Tabaci verb You (plural) didnt verb Tamwaci verb

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Past Tense (very recentalmost present) English iciBemba Ive verbed Na verb Youve verbed Wa verb He/She has verbed A verb We have verbed Twa verb They have verbed Ba verb You (plural) have verbed Mwa verb English iciBemba I havent verbed Nshi verb You havent verbed Tau verb He/She hasnt verbed Ta verb We havent verbed Tatu verb They havent verbed Taba verb You (plural) havent verbed Tamu verb Present Tense English iciBemba Im verbing Nde verb Youre verbing Ule verb He/She is verbing Ale verb Were verbing Twale verb Theyre verbed Bale verb Youre (plural) verbed Mule verb English iciBemba Im not verbing Nshile verb Youre not verbing Taule verb He/She isnt verbing Tale verb Were not verbing Tatule verb Theyre not verbing Tabale verb Youre (plural) not verbing Ta-mule verb

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Present Tense (youre physically on your way to do it) English iciBemba Im going to verb Naya muku verb Youre going to verb Waya muku verb He/She is going to verb Aya muku verb Were going to verb Twaya muku verb Theyre going to verb Baya muku verb Youre (plural) going to verb Mwaya muku verb *Note: you can also go to place, e.g. Naya muku Zambia (Im going to Zambia) English iciBemba Im not going to verb Nshilaya muku verb Youre not going to verb Tauleya muku verb He/She is not going to verb Taleya muku verb Were not going to verb Tatuleya muku verb Theyre not going to verb Tabaleya muku verb Youre (plural) not going to verb Tamuleya muku verb Future Tense (later today) English iciBemba Ill verb Nala verb Youll verb Wala verb He/She will verb Ala verb Well verb Twala verb Theyll verb Bala verb Youll (plural) verb Mwala verb English iciBemba I wont verb Nsha verb You wont verb Tawa verb He/She wont verb Ta verb We wont verb Tatusa verb They wont verb Taba verb You (plural) wont verb Tamwa verb

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Future Tense (tomorrow or later) English iciBemba Ill verb Nka verb Youll verb Uka verb He/She will verb Aka verb Well verb Tuka verb Theyll verb Baka verb Youll (plural) verb Muka verb English iciBemba I wont verb Nshaka verb You wont verb Tawaka verb He/She wont verb Taka verb We wont verb Tatwaka verb They wont verb Tabaka verb You (plural) wont verb Tamwaka verb Something you always do English iciBemba I verb Nda verb You verb Ula verb He/She verbs Ala verb We verb Tula verb They verb Bala verb You (plural) verb Mula verb English iciBemba I dont verb Nshi verb You dont verb Tau verb He/She doesnt verb Ta verb We dont verb Tatu verb They dont verb Taba verb You (plural) dont verb Tamu verb

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Verbs (list) Once youve got a grip on verb tenses, it can be useful to study some verbs to go along with them. The following section lists some of the most important verbs you may need to know when speaking Bemba in your community. You will probably learn more as you travel. English iciBemba English iciBemba to learn uku-sambilila to play (a game/sport) uku-teya to teach uku-sambilisha to play (an instrument) uku-lisha to eat uku-lia to understand/listen uku-umfwa to drink uku-nwa to try uku-esha to feel ukw-umfwa to roast/fry uku-salula to go uku-ya to like uku-temwa to sleep uku-lala to run uku-butuka to read uku-belenga to wash uku-washa to write uku-lemba to see uku-mona to bath uku-samba to think uku-totonkanya to take uku-senda to buy uku-shita to fetch (water) uku-tapa to work uku-bomba to meet uku-monana to dance uku-shana to cook ukw-ipika to watch uku-tamba to sit ukw-icala to make uku-panga to walk (to travel) ukw-enda to pack uku-longa

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Feelings Expressing feelings is a very important thing to be able to do while interacting with people. The verb uku-umfwa is to feel (see previous section). The following section will show you how to express in Bemba some of the things you may be feeling while travelling. English iciBemba Hungry Insala Thirsty Icilaka Tired Ukunaka Sleepy Utulo Awake Buka Happiness Insansa Sad Ubulanda Lonely Fuluka Sick Ukulwala Examples: Nde umfwa utulo. Im feeling sleepy. Na umfwa nsala. Ive felt hungry. Nala umfwa insansa. I will feel happy. uku-umfwa sana feeling - to feel very feeling Examples: Nde umfwa sana icilaka. Im feeling very thirsty. Nali umfwa sana ukunaka. I felt very tired. Nala umfwa insansa. I will feel very happy. uku-umfwa panono feeling - to feel a little feeling Examples: Nde umfwa panono insala Im feeling a little hungry Na umfwa ukunaka panono Ive felt a bit tired Nali umfwa panono ubulanda I felt a bit ubulanda Note: uku-umfwa should be pronounced uk-umfwa

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Times As you will see later in this guide, being able to mention various times of the day will be very helpful once you start trying to form simple sentences. English Bemba Today Lelo Yesterday/Tommorow (determined by context) Mailo At a certain point in the future Panshita imo Morning Ulu cello Afternoon Akasuba Evening Icungulo This morning Luno ulu celo This afternoon Kano akasuba This evening Cino icungulo Yesterday/Tommorow morning Mailo ulu celo Yesterday/Tommorow afternoon Mailo acasuva Yesterday/Tommorow evening Maielo icungulo Pa day of the week On day of the week (in English)

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Some Nouns Better learnt on the ground, but I figured Id include a few just for fun (if I were trying to learn the language before going overseas my main focus would be on verb conjugation, not noun memorization; in my opinion memorization is easier done through practice than study). English Bemba English Bemba fire umulilo road umusebo nshima (staple food) ubwali bicycle incinga house inganda water amenshi banana inkonde toilet icimbusu mushroom ubowa bag icola beans cilemba stomach ulufumo rice umupunga chicken inkoko groundnuts (peanuts) imbalala fish isabi pen/pencil icilembelo guitar banjo

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Connecting Words Youll need a few of these to get going, but I dont know that many. This is a start English Bemba and/with na and then elyo pantu because pali about to ku at/on pa

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Other Useful Things These dont necessarily fit nicely into the structure of this document, but they are good to know. English Bemba Give me (completely polite to say) Peniko Where? Kwisa? Shinga? How much for? Ishina lyandi nine My name is Nimwebo banana ishina? What is your name? Muleya kwisa? You are going where? Mwafuma kwisa? You have come from where? Mwende bwino. Go well. Amenshi ayakunwa Water to drink. Kuti na Can I/I can Ndefwaya Im wanting

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Sentences This final section will show you how to combine some of the basic things in this guide to form more complex sentences. As you will see, the simple tools provided in this document will allow you to begin to say relatively complex things. These are just a few examples. Nde fwaya uku-samba cino icungulo. I want to bath this evening. Na umfwa sana icilaka, peniko amenshi ayakundwa. I feel very thirsty, give me water to drink. Nde fwaya uku-afwa uku-lima uku-sambilisha pali Zambia. I want to help to farm to learn about Zambia. Shinga ubwali na inkoko? How much for nshima with chicken? Mailo akasuba nka afwa uku-salula imbalala. Tomorrow afternoon I will want to help to roast groundnuts. Nde umfwa sana utulo, nka samba mailo ulucelo. Im feeling very tired, I will bath tomorrow morning.