Remember to check the Logistics Task for any updates and to ensure you are on schedule!

Training Goals:

1. Swahili Week 2 (Arusha and Zanzibar volunteers)

Keep practicing the greetings from last week:

Mambo vipi?       --->      Poa
Hujambo?           --->     Sijambo
Habari yako?      --->      Nzuri
Shikamoo?         --->      Marahaba

Now let's take a look at a sample conversation between you and an elderly man using the greetings we learned.

You:      Shikamoo?                        (Hello, how are you? [Formal])
Elder:    Marahaba!                         (I'm very well.)
Elder:    Hujambo?                         (How are you?)
You:      Sijambo.                             (I'm good)
You:      Habari za leo?                   (How is you day going?)
Elder:   Nzuri, habari yako?          (Good, how are you?)
You:      Nzuri, asante.                    (Good, thank you)
Elder:   Kwa heri.                            (Goodbye)
You:      Kwa heri                             (Goodbye)

Note that often when someone responds with "marahaba" they will then use a form of the Jambo greeting to the younger person (this greeting is usually used for younger people or possibly peers as an initial greeting).  Also note that this coversation used a few different greetings that ask similar things; this is commonly done by native speakers to ask more thoroughly how a person is doing and to extend the conversation (you are unlikely to hear short greeting exchanges between native speakers).

Conjugating Verbs

Without waiting any longer, let's jump right into learning how to conjugate verbs in Swahili. Once you master the basic structure of verb conjugation, you will be able to apply this to almost any new verbs that you learn (so its really important!).

Swahili is an "agglutinative language" meaning that the subject, tense, verb, and object all get fused into one word. For example, if you wanted to write "We walk" in Swahili, you would write "Tunatembea." The basic formula for conjugating verbs is simple (you just need to practice a lot so it comes quickly):

         Subject     +    Tense     +     Verb Root

Every subject has a corresponding prefix. Every tense has a corresponding infix. And every verb has a root, which gets added on as a suffix. This will make more sense in a second, so stay with us.

Let's look at a few common verbs:

kucheza      --->     to play
kupenda     --->     to like
kutembea   --->    to walk
kutaka         --->    to want
kusoma      --->    to read/study

Note that all these verbs start with "ku" and are in their infinitive form; the "ku" at the beginning corresponds to the "to" in English. To conjugate the verbs, we will be using the verb root (i.e. -cheza or -soma). You will often see verbs in a Swahili dictionary written like this without the "ku".

The next thing you need to learn is the personal pronouns:

Each pronoun has a corresponding Subject Prefix that is used to conjugate verbs.

Lastly, we need a tense marker that will be placed between the Subject Prefix and the verb root. Let's only look at present tense for now.

Present Tense    ---->   -na

Now let's put it all together. Remember we want Subject Prefix + Tense + Verb Root. So if you wanted to say "I like", you would start with the Pronoun for I (Mimi) and the Subject Prefix for I (ni-), and then add the Present Tense marker (-na). Then you would take the root of the verb "kupenda" (-penda) and add that as the suffix.

I like    ---->    Mimi    ni + na + penda
I like    ---->    Mimi ninapenda

Let's look at another example: "They walk"

They = Wao
Subject Prefix = wa-
Present Tense marker = -na-
Verb Root = -tembea

They walk     ----->     Wao wanatembea

* Native speakers often drop the pronouns in every day conversations because the subject prefixes usually make it clear who is being refered to, but the pronouns can be used for more clarification. Since "wa-" is the subject prefix for "Wao" (they), this sentence would be grammatically correct without the "Wao". 

They walk    ------>     Wanatembea

But while you are learning, using the pronouns also might help you keep the pronouns and subject prefixes straight.

Assignment:

Write 5 sentences in the Discussion section using different subjects and different verbs.

2. Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony (all volunteers)

Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony is a documentary by Lee Hirsch that features South African poets, musicians, and activits as they recall the struggle against Apartheid from the 1940's-1990's. The film depicts the important role of music, specifially "freedom songs", as a form of non-violent social protest against the oppressive, discriminatory regime that stripped black South African citizens of nearly every basic human right.

The documentary can be viewed for free on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9BXqbxC9tA&feature=watch-now-button&wide=1

Or on Hulu at: http://www.hulu.com/watch/206701/amandla-a-revolution-in-four-part-harmony

This documentary is specific to South Africa, but we think its important that all volunteers learn about the different places we are working. Please watch this documentary and write a short response in the discussion board about any aspect of this video.

Listen to this song: Tinariwen "Aman Iman" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YhynhACbRY. Enjoy!