Yes- another blog on language learning...because thats what Im doing with most of my time these days! Malawi's colonial past is imprinted all over the Yawo language. Their words for the days of the week are a classic example. The yawo culture is aurel and a 'traditional' person here works in their garden every day, spending Friday afternoon at the Mosque- and yet their days are named as follows:
Monday- Lyakulemba (day of writing)
Tuesday- Lyawili (second day)
Wednesday - Lyatatu (third day)
Thursday - Lyancheche (fourth day)
Friday - Lyansano (you guessed it- fifith day!)
Saturday - Lyakuweluka (day of rest)
Sunday - Lyanlungu (day of God)
so, not only influenced by a culture that counts- but also a foreign culture that worships God on Sunday, rests Saturday and starts 'writing' (work) on Monday! makes sense to me- but im not sure what it means to them
the yawo spelling takes a bit of getting used to- some letters they just dont have, and they never have 2 vowels next to each other. They dont seem to like putting consonants together too often either- and when they do its in combo's like 'mj', 'mb', 'nj' and 'ng' which are fun to pronounce smoothly in a sentance. Also, every word has to end with a vowel and 'c' is always pronounced halfway between 'ch' and 'sh'... Here are a few more 'amusing' yawo edits to the english language:
trousers: tawalusa
town: tawuni
city: tawuni jekulungwa (big)
shirt: cati
hose: payipi
car: motokala
radio: wayilasi
keys: makisi (ma means plural)
and...if you didnt pick it up in the the picture above (sorry- taken from a car window, so couldnt move the sun :) )- that is a grocery store (golosale) and local tearoom (tiyilumu). gotta love it
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