Lesson: Telling Time in Rukiga

1. Introduction:

For this exercise, we are going to focus on telling time in Rukiga based on previous lessons and shared resources. In this particular lesson, we are going to work on practicing different ways of telling time in Rukiga.  This would be relevant for writing, listening, and speaking Rukiga for new learners.

Before we begin, the learner should review the following resources: Exercise 3, Topic 4 from the Rukiga Primer provided by the Peace Centre and the Time in Rukiga pressbook page. These resources will form the basis of this exercise.

A few points to remember:

• Remember the difference between Bantu time and English time.
• Make sure you pay attention to the time of day.
• Knowing numbers can notably help you with telling time.

1. Instructions:

1. Review the aforementioned resources as well as the aforementioned points.
2. Review the provided examples below.
3. Using the example as well as the resources noted above, complete the practice sentences through either writing in Rukiga or translating from Rukiga to English.

1. Example:

Me: Nogambaki nyabo?

SO: Ndigye seebo, oriregye nyabo?

Me: Ndigye nyabo, ni shaaha zingahi?

SO: Ni eshaaha itaano n’ekicweka omukaasheshe.

Me: Kare, oyebare nyabo. Kandi erizooba ni ebiro ki?

So: Erizoba ni Owakabiri ya ikumi n’emwe ya Okwakaana

Using this example from Rukiga, let us break part the relevant words to talk about the discourse related to time that is happening here.

First learners may note the key question “ni shaaha zingahi” is used to ask “what time is it?”. Another form that is just as commonly used is “eshaaha zingahi”? The response given is “Ni eshaaha itaano n’ekicweka omukaasheshe” or directly translated “it is five and a half in the morning” meaning that in English time “it is 11:30 in the morning”. Next it is asked “erizooba ni ebiro ki?” or “today is what day/date?” in direct translation. The response given is “Erizoba ni Owakabiri na ikumi n’emwe ya Okwakaana” or “today is Tuesday and the eleventh of April”.

This basic dialogue is a simple way pattern to use when engaging the key vocabulary of time in general life use; learners should memorize this basic form in order to be able to easily engage time telling in Rukiga.

Let us practice!