Language Learning

1. Tandaambauli citonga kabotu.

   I don't speak Tonga very well.

   Usage

   Tells someone up front that your Tonga is not good yet

   Grammar Note

   ta-nda-ambauli (I do not speak) is followed by the language name "citonga" (class 7) and "kabotu" (well). Found only in the Peace Corps Zambia teaching material (Harris 2013), not in the Bible translations; native review recommended

2. Ndilasola kwiiya

   I am trying to learn

   Usage

   Tells someone you are in the middle of learning, so they may speak more simply

   Grammar Note

   ndi-la-sola (I am trying) is followed by the infinitive "kwiiya" (to learn). Found only in the Peace Corps Zambia teaching material (Harris 2013), not in the Bible translations; native review recommended

3. Amundijatile, amwindulule

   Sorry, please repeat

   Usage

   Politely asks someone to say it again when you did not catch it

   Grammar Note

   a-mu-indulule: a polite request form (mu = polite you); the root is "indulula" (repeat). Found only in the Peace Corps Zambia teaching material (Harris 2013), not in the Bible translations; native review recommended

4. Citonga

   The Tonga language

   Usage

   The name of the Tonga language spoken in southern Zambia

   Grammar Note

   A class 7 noun (prefix ci-); language names begin with ci-. Found only in the Peace Corps Zambia teaching material (Harris 2013), not in the Bible translations; native review recommended

5. Kwiiya

   To learn

   Usage

   Learning

   Grammar Note

   A verb infinitive; the root is "-iya", and the vowel is lengthened where ku- meets it. "Sikwiiya" is "one who learns" (a student)

6. Kwiisya

   To teach

   Usage

   Teaching

   Grammar Note

   A verb infinitive; the root is "-iisya", the causative of "kwiiya" (to learn). "Kwiisya" is also used as a noun meaning "teaching"

7. Kwaamba

   To speak / to say

   Usage

   Speaking or saying

   Grammar Note

   A verb infinitive, beginning with ku-; the root is "-amba"

8. Ijwi

   Word / voice

   Usage

   A word, or a person's voice

   Grammar Note

   A class 5 noun (headword form); often used for a spoken word, as in "the word of God"

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