Setswana Greetings: A Friendly Start

Question: THUTO YA / LEARNING UNIT: Go dumedisa /“Greeting" 0% LEARNIN G OU TCOMES greet and say goodbye in Setswana introduce yourself use the question tag “A” (is it?) in front of a statement to change it into a question use the words “Êê” (Yes) and “Nnyaya/Nnyaa/Ê-ê” (No) appropriately 1.1 Introduction The aim of this learning unit is to teach you how to greet people in Setswana. There are various ways of how this can be done, but we are only going to focus on forms that are used most frequently. If you want to succeed in your quest to speak the language, you need to be brave by interacting with mother tongue speakers, using your newly acquired knowledge 1.2 New words and expressions A variety of words and expressions (with their English translations) that you will come across in this and other learning units are listed below. New vocabulary 1.3 Examples The following are examples of the basic form of greeting for the singular and the plural. Greeting (singular) A (Person arriving) B Dumêla! O kae? Ke têng. Dumêla! Ke têng. Wêna o kae? Ke a leboga. A (Person leaving) B Sala sentlê. Tsamaya sentlê. Greeting (plural) A (Person arriving) B Dumêlang! Le kae? Re têng. Dumêlang! Re têng. Lona le kae? Re a leboga. A (Person leaving) B Salang sentlê. Tsamayang sentlê. Introducing yourself The following is an example of one introducing oneself. A (Oneself) B Nna ke mmê/rrê ... Wêna o mang? Nna ke mmê/rrê … Song: Dumêlang ditsala tsa rona Re a le dumêdisa (x2) Re a tsêna rona ba Setswana Re kgôna puô ya Setswana (x2) Read “Comment” as well as “Changing a statement into a question when introducing yourself” below and go to five or more people you think may greet you in Setswana. Ask each person to react to your greeting: “Dumêla” or “Dumêlang”. Ask them to assist you to write the greeting down in a table as given above. Post it in the Discussion Forum on the myUnisa site for this module in the forum created for Activity 1–Greeting. You can also record the different forms of greeting you encounter on your phone and use it to greet people in Setswana. Go back to your TSW1507 site and to the Discussion Forum on myUnisa go to Reply in your own post. Answer the following questions: Whom did you greet? Did you encounter other forms of greeting than the ones given above? How did the people react? Look at the posts of other students and react on their posts by going to Reply for their posts. 1.4 Explanation The most important and effective way to reach out to people is to greet them in their own language. In true Setswana tradition, greeting is a very important procedure. It is a structured encounter and it is considered ill-mannered not to greet either a friend or a stranger in passing. When greeting someone in Setswana, you should remember the following: The person who arrives somewhere is supposed to greet those present first– status or seniority does not play a role. Should it happen that two people arrive at the same place simultaneously, for example, if they meet in town, it does not matter who greets first. When greeting one person, one would say Dumêla! and for more than one person, you would use Dumêlang! However, it is more polite to use the plural form. This is an indication of courtesy and mutual respect, especially if you greet someone that you do not know very well. Re a dumêdisa! or Dumêlang! is used irrespective of whether you greet one person or more than one person. When greeting a person older than yourself (more or less your parents’ age), rra/rrê/ntatê “father/sir/mister” is used for a male and mma/mmê “mother/madam/miss/missus” for a female. When greeting people of your grandparents’ age, rramogolo/rrêmogolo/ntatêmogolo, “grandfather” and nkoko/mmamogolo/mmêmogolo “grandmother” are used as forms of address. Remember that rra and rrê and also mma and mmê are used depending on personal preference. When greeting someone of your own age, you would address them as mma/mmê, “madam/missus/miss” and rra/rrê, “sir/mister” for the male counterpart. Having greeted, one then normally enquires about the person’s well-being by asking the question “How are you?” (Lit. “Where are you?”) and this is done by saying: Remarks: (O “you” is the singular form, while Le “you” (plural) refers to more than one person.) When a person is asked about their well-being, the answer often includes Nnyaya, “no”, before saying they are well, for instance: “Nnyaya, ke sa ntse ke phela sentlê.” “No, I am fine.” (Lit. “No, I am still alive and well.”) When enquiring about the other person’s well-being, the plural form is often used, which implies that all family members not present are included in the concern for their well-being. It is also an indication of respect. The person leaving (first), should be the first to say goodbye. It would be impolite of the other person(s) to terminate the conversation first. When saying goodbye to one person, you would say: Tsamaya sentlê. “Go well.” or Sala sentlê. “Stay/remain well.” When saying goodbye to more than one person, Tsamayang sentlê. or Salang sentlê. would be used. You can also end the conversation by merely saying Salang! Subsequently, some different ways of greeting in Setswana are introduced to you in various contact situations. Compare these examples with the examples you gathered for Activity 1 above. Singular/Informal This form of greeting is used by people of more or less the same age. Example 1: A male and a female greeting each other: (Conversation) Remarks: Dumêlang! can be used at any time of the day or night. It is literally a command, which is given to someone to “agree”, for example to answer the greeting. Traditionally the Motswana woman was seen as a minor and originally a man greeting a woman used this form of greeting, in other words, a woman was as it were, compelled to answer a man’s greeting. Today, however, it is used more generally, also when addressing a man. The singular form, namely, Dumêla! is nowadays regarded as too commanding and impolite, and therefore the plural form Dumêlang! is preferred even when one person is addressed. Rra/ntatê “father” and mma “mother” is not used for addressing parents only, but as a polite form for any man or woman you respect. Ahêê is mainly used by women in this and similar situations. The reply Ke têng “I am here”, means “I am fine”. Le nna means “me too”. Example 2: Two female friends greeting each other: (Conversation) Remarks: Tsala means “friend”. O phela jang? literally means “how are you living?” The reply Ke phela sentlê means “I am living well." Example 3: A young male and a young female (Conversation) Remarks: Mohumagatsana is the form of address used for an unmarried female. Go jang? means “how are things?” and go siame means “it’s all right/fine.” Plural and polite /formal form This form would be used by people who are not well acquainted, and as an indication of respect when greeting superiors. Example 4: Two males greeting each other at work: (Conversation) Remarks: The two men address one another as rra, which means “sir” or “mister”. Le means “you” (plural), while re means “we”. “Le kae? ” literally means “Where are you?” to which the response is “Re têng.” “We are here.” The plural form is used to indicate respect and politeness, since it means that the speaker is not only enquiring about the well-being of the addressee, but that the enquiry is also extended to the well-being of his next of kin. In saying goodbye, both speakers use the plural form as an indication of politeness. Example 5: A female and children: Remarks: The children use the plural as a form of respect and submission. While the woman also uses the plural form, it is because she is speaking to more than one child. Example 6: A senior male and a young male: Remarks: The terms ntatêmogolo and ngwanaka do not necessarily indicate any relationship, but rather some kind of affection in the greeting situation. Above all, mutual respect and courtesy are expressed by means of these terms. Ngwanangwanaka “grandchild” and ngwanaka “my child” can be used to address anyone who is younger than the speaker. O ba dumêdise kwa gae means “send my regards (to the people) at home.” If you are not sure of the correct pronunciation of any of the words in the greetings given above, please ask a Motswana to assist you in this regard. The secret to acquiring this or any other language is to practise a greeting or a simple phrase each day with a mother-tongue speaker. You will find that with practice (as with everything) comes greater confidence, and you will find that your willingness to communicate is so appreciated that your efforts are rewarded. Changing a statement into a question when introducing yourself A question in Setswana can be generated by changing the intonation of a statement to that of a question. In written text we simply put a question mark at the end of a statement, for example, “Nna ke Mphô.” > Nna ke Mphô? “I am Mphô.” > “Am I Mphô?” Usually the question tag “A” is used before a statement to change that statement into a question. In written text, a question mark is also added at the end of the statement to indicate that it is a question, for example: “Nna ke Mphô.” > “A nna ke Mphô?” “I am Mphô.” > “Am I Mphô?” When, during introducing yourself, your identity/name is questioned, the use of the affirmative “êê” (yes) or the negation “nnyaya/nnyaa/ê-ê” is used, for example, “A wêna o Mphô?” “Are you Mphô?” > Êê, nna ke Mphô “Yes, I am Mphô” or Ê-ê, nna ga ke Mphô “No, I am not Mphô”. Note that the variant forms for “no” can be used as the speaker wishes, for example, “Nnyaya ga ke Mphô.” “No, I am not Mphô.” “Nnyaa ga ke Mphô.” “No, I am not Mphô.” The formation of negative with the negative “ga” will be discussed in the next learning unit. 1.5 Self-assessment (a) Complete the following table as the person arriving and greeting B (c) Write down how you would introduce yourself to someone you do not know. (d) Give a short explanation in terms of people meeting each other and greeting each other in Setswana: – Who is supposed to greet first? – Does status or seniority play a role? – What happens when two people arrive at the same place simultaneously? (e) Explain the difference between greeting one person and greeting more than one person. (f) What is the more polite way of greeting a person in Setswana? (g) Which forms of address would you use when greeting a person older than yourself (more or less your parents’ age)? heart For greeting people of your grandparents’ age, which forms of address would be used? (i) Having greeted, one then normally enquires about the person’s well-being by asking the question “How are you”? (Lit. “Where are you”?) Give the different forms of these enquires. (j) Give an example of the use of nnyaya, “no”, before saying you are well. (k) Explain what the use of the plural form imply when enquiring about another person’s well-being. (l) Describe what happens when a conversation is terminated and one person is leaving the scene.(m) When is ahêê used during the process of greeting? Give an example. No Give a discussion of when the plural form is used when greeting. (m) Give examples to illustrate every statement you make in terms of its use. (o) Describe the formation of a question questioning your name/identity by referring to appropriate examples. (p) Give five examples of questions and positive answers when your name/ identity is confirmed. (q) Give three examples of questions and negative answers when your name/ identity is negated – use the three different words that can be used to express “no”. 1.6 Conclusion In this learning unit, you have been introduced to how to greet and say goodbye in Setswana. You have also learned how to introduce yourself and use the question tag “a” (is it?) in front of a statement to change it into a question. In addition, you were shown how to use the words “eê” (yes) and “nnyaya/ nnyaa/ê-ê” (no) when questioned about your name/identity. In the next learning unit, you will be introduced to asking questions to identify people and things – singular and plural, and to identify people and things – singular and plural. You will also be shown how to negate the positive statements of identification, name actions and processes and formulate simple sentences in the present tense. The demonstratives, yô and ba are used together with nouns in classes ... respectively a. Se- and Di- b. Le- and Di- c. Mo- and Ba- d. Bo- and Ma- Question 2 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text Complete the following sentence by inserting the correct subject concord, and also the correct object concord: Lekgarebe _nwa ditlhare_ babang ka bonako a. Lekgarebe e nwa ditlhare tse di babang ka bonako. b. Lekgarebe o nwa ditlhare tse di babang ka bonako. c. Lekgarebe di nwa ditlhare tsa o babang ka bonako. d. Lekgarebe le nwa ditlhare tse di babang ka bonako Question 3 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text The waiter initiates the greeting because he is… a. hearing b. answering c. listening d. arriving Question 4 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text Indicate which one of the Setswana phrases below would be used to express 'This is a fruit a. Se, ga ke leungo. b. Sê, ke leungo c. Se, ke leungo d. Sê, ga se leungo Question 5 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text Give the Setswana for the request: ‘Could you please bring us the menu?’ a. Re kopa lenaneno la dino, tsweetswee b. Re kopa lenaneo la dijo, tsweetswee c. O kopa diseteiki tse dinnyane, tsweetswee d. Ke kopa galase ya Coke, tsweetswee Question 6 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text Select the correct form of the verb in the future tense, positive a. Logaga lo tletse ditlhare. b. Logaga lo tlaa tlala ditlhare c. Logaga lo tlala ditlhare. d. Logaga ga lo tlale ditlhare ithuta Setswana Question 7 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text What are the correct pronouns in the sentence Nku e bolailwe ke lebete a. Yona and Yona b. Ona and Yona c. Yona and lona d. Bona and Tsona Question 8 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text You would use the expression Ke têng when you… a. address a person who departs b. wish to indicate that you are well c. wake up early in the morning d. want to show respect to a person Question 9 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text The translation of ‘these games’ is: a. Metshameko ye b. Metshameko tse c. Metshameko e d. Metshameko tsa Question 10 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text The positive form of the verb 'ga ba a sala is: a. ba setse b. ra sala c. ba sala d. re setse Question 11 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text Choose the correct form for the expression: 'I do not want to speak Seesimane' a. Ga ke batle go bua Seesimane b. Ga ke rate go bua Seesimane c. Ga ke rate go utlwa Seesimane d. Ga ke batle go utlwa Seesimane Question 12 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text When referring to the place belonging to a person (maternal uncle), we usually.... a. place go before the word, e.g. go malome b. Use the word as it is, e.g. malome. c. use ng at the end of the word, e.g. malomeng d. place ga before the word, e.g. ga malome Question 13 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text Singular form for the word ’logadima’ in Setswana is … a. Makgadima b. digadima c. Dikgadima d. Magadima Question 14 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text When we replace the object in the sentence 'Ke amogetse madi maabane'with the object concord the sentence will be a. Ke a amogetse maabane b. Ke se amogetse maabane c. Ke e amogetse maabane d. Ke o amogetse maabane Question 15 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text When would you use the expression Ke sa phela sentle? a. When you introduce yourself b. When you wish to indicate that you are well c. When you greet an older person d. When you address a person who departs Question 16 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text When you leave a person’s office and say goodbye to him/her, which of the following Setswana phrases would be appropriate to use? a. Sala sentle. b. Tsamaya sentle c. Nna sentle d. Le tsoga sentle Question 17 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text Which of the Setswana phrases below would be used to say go further? a. Tswelela pele b. Ga ke utlwe c. Ke a leboga d. Ema pele Question 18 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text Write the conjunction in the following sentence by selecting the correct answer to the word in the brackets, A lo tla tsamaya le nna (or) lo tla nna? a. Fa. b. Ana. c. Le fa. d. Kgotsa. Question 19 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text Write the correct conjunction in brackets in Setswana, Mosetsana o ile sekolong (but) wa lwala a. Gore. b. ntse. c. Lefa. d. mme. Question 20 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text When eating out in a restaurant, which phrase are you most likely to use when a waiter approaches to serve you? a. Ke kopa gore o kwale metsotso ya kopano b. Nka le le thusa ka eng c. Ke kopa lenaneo la dijo d. A le batla sa go ja na? Question 21 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text Fill in the missing word in the following question: Balemi ba ka itumela …… pula e ka na. a. Ka b. Fa c. Go d. ko Question 22 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text Complete the sentence: Batho ba buisa ….(newspaper) a. buka b. kuranta c. beibele d. dikgang Question 23 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text When the object concord of the ...... is used, it is written conjunctively with the verb and it is then responsible for changing the first sound of the verb a. first person b. third person c. animal class d. person class Question 24 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text Select the correct form of the verb in the past tense, positive: a. Banna ba tla se reme dikgong ka moso b. Banna ba tla ba reme dikgong gompieno c. Banna ba tlaa rema dikgong ka moso. d. Banna ba letse ba rema dikgong maabane Question 25 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text The correct subject concord for the noun Masigo is ... a. bo b. a c. se d. di Question 26 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text Select the correct translation of A cat is in the box? a. Katse e mo gare ga bokoso? b. Dikatse di tsene mo teng ga bokoso? c. Katse e ko ntle ga bokoso? d. Katse le ko gare ga bokoso Question 27 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text Select the correct negative of Kgosi e bua le batsadi ba bana a. Kgosi ga o bue le batsadi ba bana. b. Kgosi e ga e bua le batsadi ba bana. c. Kgosi ga e bue le batsadi ba bana. d. Se teng se sengwe Question 28 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text Select the correct answer to the question Sefofane se tsamaya kae? a. Mo loaping b. mo tseleng c. mo metsing d. mo marung Question 29 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text At what time of the day does a young woman is supposed to be in Gauteng? a. Ka ura ya botlhano b. mantsiboa c. Ka ura ya boraro d. ka metlha Question 30 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text Provide the correct pronoun for the underlined object Neo o reka diperekisi a. Dino b. Sona c. Yona d. Tsona Question 31 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text The positive answer to the statement: Ga ba na tiro a. Nnyaya, ke na le tiro b. ba na le tiro c. Ee, ba na le tiro d. Nnyaya, ga re na tiro Question 32 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text Give the future tense of 'Monn o rwalela dikgong a. Monna o rwaletse dikgong b. Monna o tlile go rwalela dikgong c. Monna o tla rwalela dikgong d. Monna o ne a rwalela dikgong Question 33 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text Questions 33 – 40 relate to the dialogue Ka matsatsi a boikhutsô (During the holidays) which you will find in Learning Unit 10 as Activity 1. Read the dialogue carefully before answering questions 34 – 40. The numbers in the following dialogue correspond with the numbers of the questions. Dialogue: Ka matsatsi a boikhutso "During the holidays" Thabô: Le ya kae ka matsatsi a boikhutsô a Botsalo jwa Morêna? Where are you going during the Christmas holidays? Cathy: Re ya kwa Knysna. We are going to Knysna. Thabô: Le … [34] gôna? What will you do there? Cathy: Re tlaa thuma mo lewatlêng. We will swim in the sea. Re tlaa tshwara ditlhapi. We will catch fish. Gapê re tlaa tsamaya mo lebôpông. We will also walk on the beach. Fa pula e na, re tlaa ya kwa disikông kgotsa baesekôpông kgotsa mabênkêlêng. If it rains, we will go to the disco or the movies or the shops. Thabô: A o tlaa dira bungee jump? Are you going to bungee jump? Cathy: Nnyaya, … [35] e dirê. No, I won't do it. Ke a tshaba. I am scared. Thabô: Le tlaa tloga leng? When will you leave? Cathy: Ka la lesomennê. On the 14th. Thabô: A le tlaa tsamaya ka mmôtôrôkara? Will you be going by car? Cathy: Nnyaya, … [36] ka mmôtôrôkara. No, we won't take the car. Re tlaa ya ka setimêla. We will go by train. Thabô: Go siame, Cathy. Ok, Cathy. Katlegô le matlhôgônolo a matsalô a Morêna le ngwaga ô mošwa. I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Cathy: Ke a leboga, Thabô. Thank you, Thabô. Le wêna o itumelele matsalô a Morêna le ngwaga ô mošwa. May you also enjoy Christmas and the new year. Choose the correct options in questions 34 to 36 to complete the dialogue: a. tlaa botsang b. tlaa rekang c. tlaa jang d. tlaa dirang Question 34 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text Choose the sentence in which the verb appears in the negative form: a. Aowa, basetsana ba nwa teye b. Basetsana ba nwa kofi c. Ke nyaka gore basetsana ba nwe kofi d. Basetsana ga ba nwe kofi Question 35 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text In which of the following statements is the verb in the negative form? a. Morutabana o omanya mosimane. b. Morutabana ga a omanye mosimane c. Morutatabana o tla omanya mosimane d. Morutabana o omantse mosimane Question 36 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text You would use the expression Ke nako mang? when you….. a. enquire about the cost of something b. ask what the time is c. call the waiter in a restaurant d. enquire whether a person is thirsty Question 37 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text Select the correct translation of “students study hard”. a. Baithuti ba ithuta thata. b. Baithuti ba dira thata c. Ke baithuti thata d. Ga ba rate go ithuta thata Question 38 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text You would use the expression Go sa na le sê sengwê, naa? when you….. a. enquire about the whereabouts of others b. ask whether there is something else c. ask a person who departs about his/her destination d. want to show respect Question 39 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text Complete the sentence Thabo ….. mo ôfising kamoso. a. o tlo dira b. o dirile c. o ne a dira d. o ne a dirile Question 40 Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00 Flag question Question text The correct translation for the sentence 'Gape re tlaa tsamaya mo lebopong is: a. We will also swim in the sea b. We will also walk on the beach c. We will not swim in the sea d. We will not walk on the beach