Kpelle
Kpelle-Health, Sickness, and Wellness Part 2
In previous lesson I presented vocabulary and sentence structure related to physical health. Today I will present some basic questions associated with health and sickness, while also expanding it to emotional/mental health and wellness.
Medical Questions
Whats your name?: Ila aba gbEE?
Who can we contact?: GbEE be kwa pori mare-kE?
Do you have a cough?: TooN kaa ya?
For how long?: A gE tai yEElu
How long have you been sick?: Tai yEElu be ya gE kolE?
Are you taking your medicine?: Ya I sale seyei?
Does the baby/child have a cough? Toon kaa loloN ma?
Have you had your vaccinations? I imaki seye?
Do you take malaria medicine? I kpono-faa maa sale seye
When did the symptoms first start? Mi tai be goo e pelaN la?
Please cough: TooN saa
Do you understand: Imeni
I understand: Na meni
Signs of Illness:
Burn: gelen
Yale: break
Yalee: broken
Kolo-wolo: scratch
Kpono-faa-maa: have a fever
Soli: hurt or ache
Tee: cut
Too-seN: rash
Toon: cough
Weli-ke-maa: bone
Wolo: cry
Yee-kon: muscle
Paa: sore
Emotions:
Happy: lii nEEi (you happy?- ilii a nEEi?)
Afraid: lii too polu
Angry: lii wana
Hate: bele-kpe-goi
Basic Answers:
Yes: Ooee
No: Kpao
Answers:
Yes, very much: ooee, a daa ma
Yes small-smaall: ooee a bElE-bElE
I am _____: na _____
I am not____: Fe _____
Example: Nai a neei (I am happy) Nai a nEEi da maa (I am very happy)
Fe a neei (I am not happy)
Add M or N to noun (for example body party to express possession): koi (stomach) becomes ngoi (my stomach); zua (nose) becomes nzua (my nose)
To express something hurts use phrase: ______(body part with “N” in front) and then solii (hurting)
Example: Nei a solii (my eye is hurting)
To express something is broken use: ______(body part with “n” in front) + Yalee
Example: ngoo a yalee (my leg is broken)
Practice the dialogue between you and the doctor. The doctor will be asking questions. Choose the best answer.
Now try to fill in the blanks from the sentences. Use the following words to help:
nun; manan-la; naan; Your name
