Unit 10 Appointments and Invitations Learning Objectives By the end of this unit you will be able to: Extend invitations Set, accept or decline appointments Follow the general outline of a telephone conversation in Amharic Describe different cultural celebrations Review major verb tenses Dialog 1 Karen, a PCV, invites an Ethiopian friend to lunch. k@rN: TGST Mœ LUBZ> Karen: Tïgïst, mïsa lïgabïzïš? TGST: xY YQR¬ ²Ê xYmcኝM l@§ g!z@ Yh#N Tigist: Ay, yïk ΄ïrta, zare aymäčäñïm. Lela gize yïhun? k@rN: YÒ§L mc& XNgÂኝ Karen: Yïčalal, mäče ïnnïgänañ? ትግስት: ማክሰኞ Tigist: Makïsäño? ኬረን: Eሺ የት Eንገናኝ Karen: Ïšši. Yät ïnnïgänañ? ትግስት: ራስ ሆቴል Tigist: Ras Hotel? ኬረን: ይቻላል በስንት ሰዓት ይመችሻል Karen: Yïčalal, bäsïnt sä’at yïmäčïšal? ትግስት: በሰባት ሰዓት Tigist: Bä säbat sä’at.
Grammar Point Making Suggestions Using “Let’s” Making suggestions involves use of the jussive form of the verb. The jussive is formed by adding an appropriate prefix to the male form of the imperative verb. A common use of the jussive expresses “let’s” do something: XN ïnnï + imperative verb form for male person = let’s The dialog makes use of the jussive form of ¥GßT mägäñät [tgß tägäñä], as in: Mc& XNgÂኝ Mäče ïnnïgänañ? When shall we meet? 84 Look at the following examples: Infinitive Command (male Let’s ___! form) mB§T mäblat B§ bïla XNB§ ïnnïbïla Let’s eat! m-ÈT mät΄ät΄at -È t΄ät΄a XN-È ïnnït΄ät’a Let’s drink! mÿD mähed £D hid XN£D ïnnïhid Let’s go! mÅwT mäč΄awät tÅwT täč΄awät XNÅwT ïnnïč’awät Let’s play/chat! mGÆT mägbat GÆ gïba XNGÆ ïnnïgïba Let’s go in! mät΄änk΄äk’ tät΄änk΄äk΄ ïnnït΄änk΄äk΄ Let’s take care. Notice that if the command form starts with the prefix “tä-“, this prefix is dropped in forming the jussive.
Grammar Point Expressing “Let me” or “May I?”/“Shall I?” Extending an invitation or offering something involves another form of the jussive. This form is represented in the dialog by: LUBZ> Lïgabïzïš? May I invite you? You also saw some verbs of this type in the previous unit: LlμW Lïläkaw? Can I try it? LG²L> Lïgïzalïš? Shall I buy for you (♀)? §MÈLH Lamt΄alïh. Let me bring for you (♂) When phrased as a question, this form of the jussive indicates either, “Shall I?” or “May I?”. As a statement, the sense is, “Let me” (i.
allow me to). These sorts of phrases are formed as follows: L lï + imperative verb form for male person Examples: LöY Lïk΄oy Let me wait. / Shall I wait? L£D Lïhid Let me go. / Shall I go? Common uses: LUBZH Lïgabïzïh? (♂)/LUBZ> Lïgabïzïš? (♀) / LUB²Ch# Lïgabïzaččïhu (pl)? May I invite you? LRÄH Lïrdah? (♂)/LRÄ> Lïrdaš? (♀)/LRÄCh# Lïrdaččïhu (pl)?Shall I help you? 85 Notice that these verbs attach the indirect object suffix –H-ïh (♂)/->-ïš? (♀) / -xCh#- aččïhu (pl) to express to whom the action refers.
Object suffixes are always attached to the end of the jussive verb. Practice Take the following commands, and turn them into a “Let’s!” suggestion: 1. Mœ b!ዪ Mïsa bïyi. Xz!H öY Ïzzih k’oy.
ðLM GÆ Film gïba. tÅwt$ Täč’awätu. Translate the following into Amharic. Shall I come to your (m.
Let me invite you (f. May I call you (m. Shall I wait for you (plural) at Meta Café? 5. Shall I buy you (f.
child) a candy from the shop? Dialog 2 gBÊ: dH êLK ¶ÃN Xh#D sRG xl LUBZH? Gebre: Dähna walk, Ryan. Ïhud särg allä, lïgabïzïh? ¶ÃN: y¥N sRG nW? Ryan: Yäman särg näw? gBÊ: ywND» Gebre: Yäwondïme. ¶ÃN: SNT s›T §Y nW? Ryan: Sïnt sä’at lay näw? gBÊ: sÆT s›T Gebre: Säbat sä’at. ¶ÃN: X¹! dS Yl¾L xmsGÂlh#Ý Ryan: Ïšši.
Däs yïläñal! Amäsägïnalähu. Vocabulary Important Occasions Common Meeting Places LdT lïdät birthday çt&L hotel hotel KRST krïstïna christening μØ kafe café sRG särg wedding mÂfš ï¬ mänafäša bota park MR”T mïrïk΄at graduation, blessing TÃTR b@T tiyatïr bet theater qBR k΄äbïr funeral s!n!¥ b@T sinima bet cinema GBÏ gïbža party/get-together -§ b@T t΄älla bet t’älla house SBsÆ sïbsäba meeting [bL s΄äbäl a feast held in the name of a Christian holy figure 86 Practice Practice vocabulary by inviting a classmate to the following places or event. If possible, try this without looking at your vocabulary list above! 1. party or get-together 3.
graduation Dialog 3 släN: QÄ» ks›T MN TS‰lH? Solomon: Kïdame käsä’at mïn tïsäraläh? ¥RK: MN nW? Mark: Mïn näw? släN: TÃTR LUBZH Solomon: Tiyatïr lïgabïzïh? ¥RK: xY YQR¬ QÄ» b@t& XNGÄ YmÈL½ xYmcኝMÝÝ Mark: Ay, yïk΄ïrta, k΄ïdame bete ïngïda yïmät΄al. Grammar Point Asking If and Saying Whether It Is “Suitable” or Not The verb mmcT mämäčät [tmctämäčä] “to be suitable” is used in extending, accepting or declining invitations. Examples from the dialogs: xYmcNM Ayïmäčäñïm. It doesn’t work for me.
(Lit: “It doesn’t suit me.) YmCšL Yïmäčïšal? Does that work for you (f.)? (Lit: “Does that suit you (f.) ? ) Various forms of mämäčät [tämäčä] “to be suitable” (passive verb form) Singular Plural Affirmative Negative Affirmative Negative Xn@ ïne Ymc¾L xYmcኝM X¾ ïñña YmcÂL xYmcNM yïmäčäñal ayïmäčäñïm yïmäčänal ayïmäčänïm xNt antä Ymc¦L xYmCHM yïmäčïhal ayïmäčïhïm xNcE anči YmCšL xYmC>M XÂNt YmÒC“L xYmÒCh#M yïmäčïšal ayïmäčïšïm ïnnantä Yïmäčäčïhual ayïmäčačïhum XRSã YmCw¬L xYmCãTM ïrswo yïmäčïwotal ayïmäčïwotïm Xs# ïssu YmcêL xYmcWM yïmäčäwal ayïmäčäwïm Xú* ïssua YmÒ¬L xYmÒTM Xns# YmÒcêL xYmÒcWM yïmäčatal ayïmäčatïm ïnnäsu yïmäčäčäwal ayïmäčäčäwïm XúcW YmÒcêL xYmÒcWM ïssačäw yïmäčäčäwal ayïmäčäčäwïm 87 Cultural Note Invitations in Ethiopia It is quite common in Ethiopian culture to invite friends out for lunch, dinner, šY/b#Â šay/buna, and other more formal events. Be aware that if you are the one inviting, it is expected that you will pay for the one you have invited. Similarly, if you are invited, you can typically expect that the person who has invited you will pay for you. When coming to a special event, such as a LdT lïdät, KRSTÂ krïstïna, or any other, it is common to bring a gift.
For a LdT lïdät, it is common to bring food or drink for the gathering. For a KRSTÂ krïstïna, a gift of clothing for the infant may be brought, but it is not required. When attending a särg, a good gift for a close friend is some sort of yb@T :” yäbet ïk΄a, as in BR+ö bïrč΄ïk΄o. For a recent graduate, photo frames, neckties, and shirts are common, but choose your gift according to what your friend will like.
People may be very insistent when extending an invitation. To be polite in refusing an invitation, you should offer a reason that you will not be able to attend. Your boss has just invited you to a lunch at a restaurant tomorrow. Construct a dialog in which you decline the invitations politely.
You would like to go to Sodere (a recreation park) with an office mate next weekend. Create a dialog in which you propose the appointment and get accepted. Cultural Note Dating and Romantic Relationships Dating (the way it is done in the western culture now) among boys and girls was introduced to Ethiopian life recently through modernization. However, in the rural societies boys and girls practice romantic friendship called ykNfR wÄJnT yäkänfär wädajïnät, literally means “lip friendship” similar to boy-and–girl-friendship.
This usually doesn’t go beyond kissing (not in the open) and exchange of love lyrics in public ceremonies and wedding. For some, this relationship may lead to marriage. Traditionally, marriages were arranged by the parents with the help of elder intermediaries called >¥Gl@ šïmagïle. Today dating is becoming common among young people in bigger towns.
Preparatory and college students in particular widely practice this modern kind of relationship. Ethiopians are not direct in love affairs. Girls are particularly indirect in this regard. Girls are not expected to express their interest to the guys they are attracted to.
Most of the time the male takes the initiative and the female’s role is just to accept or to refuse. Women are not expected to accept the invitation immediately, either. Rather, they can show their interest not verbally but by using body language such as smiling. Whatever the response may be, the male for his part is not expected to give up his 88 attempt till he gets her acceptance.
This may cause some issues for volunteers, as the refusal of a relationship is not always accepted by a pursuing man. Therefore, one must be very strong and clear about his or her disinterest in starting a relationship. Homosexuality and Bisexuality Homosexuality and bisexuality are considered to be very taboo and inappropriate in Ethiopian culture. You may find that your friends and colleagues are reluctant to even talk about homosexuality.
It is illegal in Ethiopia, and someone who is known to be homosexual will be outcast from his family, and may face legal consequences such as imprisonment. There are small pockets of homosexuals in Addis Ababa, but you will probably never meet an openly gay person. Vocabulary Telephone Conversation ¥N LbL? Man lïbäl? Who is speaking? (Lit: “Whom shall I say?) ¥N nH/n>? Man näh/näš? Who is this speaking? ____N fLጌ nbR ____n fälïge näbär. ____N ÃgÂß#ኝ ____n yagänañuñ Can you put me through to _______? mL:KT xlãT? Mäl’ïkt aaläwot? Can I take a message? TN> Y-Bq$ Tïnïš yït΄äbïk΄u.
Just a moment, please. mL¹@ XdW§lh# Mälïše ïdäwïlalähu. I’ll call back. SLk# tY²*L Sïlku täyïzoal.
The phone is busy. xYs‰M Aysäram. It is not functional. xND g!z@ Aand gize.
Dialog 4 An Informal Phone Conversation ¥„: ÿlÖ ¥N LbL? Maru: Hello man lïbäl? úéN: ÿlÖ ¥„ úéN nኝ Saron: Hello Maru. ¥„: ¬Ä!ÃS úéN XNÁT n> dH n>? Maru: Tadias Saron. Ïndet näš? Dähna näš? úéN: XGz!xB/@R YmSgN dH XyWLH ng wd ¥¬ [bL QmS Saron: Ïgziabher yïmäsgän dähna. Ïyäwlïh…nägä wädä mata s΄äbäl k΄ïmäs.
úéN: bL X¹! ng XNgÂኝ Saron: Bäl ïšši nägä ïnnïgänañ. 89 Dialog 5 Formal Phone Conversation xbb: ÿlÖ pES ÷R Abebe: Hello, Peace Corps. tSÍü: XÆKã wYzé xL¥ZN ¥nUgR fLg@ nbR Tesfaye: Ïbakwo Woyzäro Almazïn manägagär fälïge näbär. xbb: Y-Bq$ Abebe: Yït΄äbïk΄u.
… xL¥Z: ¥N LbL Almaz: Hello man lïbäl? tSÍü: tSÍü nኝ Eንደምን ዋልሽ Aልማዝ? Tesfaye: Tesfaye näñ. Ïndämïn walš Almaz? Aልማዝ: Eንደምን ዋልክ ተስፋዬ? Almaz: Ïndämïn walk Tesfaye. Practice Create a telephone conversation for the following situations: 1. You would like to invite your counterpart next Saturday for lunch in a restaurant.
Call her/him and make the invitation. Assume it will be declined. You are calling head office to speak to the doctor. Unfortunately, she is out on a field trip.
Leave a message and say that you will call back. Grammar Point Present and Past Perfect Verb Tenses A. The Present Perfect Tense The present perfect tense usually indicates something that has happened in the past (often in the near past), something that has been ‘perfected’, as it were, but also some effect on the present. This tense is usually expressed in English by, “have” or “has” done something, as in, “I have arrived”.
Look at the following question and answer exchanges: A: b#ÂW xLdrsM XNÁ Bunnaw aldäräsäm ïnde? B: dRú*L Därsoal. dRS Därs + å o + xL al It is ready. (Lit It has arrrived.) [YdRúL yïdärsal (future)] A: ¬Ks!W xLmÈM? Taxiw alïmät΄am? B: m_aL Mät΄ïtoal. m_T Mät΄ït + å o + xL al It has come.
[YmÈL yïmät΄al (future)] 90 A: xSt&R xLÿdCM? Aster alhedäčïm? B: ÿÄlC Hedaaläč. ÿD Hed + x a + xlC aläč She has gone. [TÿÄlC tïhedaläč (future)] The present perfect tense builds upon the gerundive, which you were introduced to in Unit 10 but is outlined in more detail in the Grammar Appendix. Note that the whole sentence ‘dRú*L Därsoal’ = root(stem) + å o + xL al, has two suffixes.
The first suffix, i. ‘o’, marks the subject ‘he’; the second indicates present perfect. Present Perfect Forms of mÿD mähed [ÿd heddä] (to go) Person Gerundive Perfect Sentence Form Affix Marker Suffix (Present Perfect) Xn@ ïne -e- -xlh# -alähu ÿ©lh# Hejealähu. xNt anta -äh- -xL -all ÿd¦L Hedähall.
You ♂ have gone. xNcE anči -äš- -xL -all ÿdšL Hedäšall. You ♀ have gone. XRSã -äw- -xL -all ÿdêL Hedäwall.
You (polite) have ïrswo gone. Xs# ïssu -o- -xL -all ÿìxL Hedoall.