Maa Language Website Resources

Maa Language-Specific Websites 

Note: A few of these websites were also included in the Language Resource chapter for two reasons: 1). these websites are helpful resources; 2). Maa has limited resources, so websites were included in the resource chapter and this chapter.

Fuchs, Stephanie. 2018. “An Introduction to Maa – the language of the Maasai and the Samburu People”.

Website. https://africageographic.com/stories/an-introduction-to-maa-language-maasai-samburu-people/.

• This website provides some basic words that may help a beginner Maa learner collect vocabulary for their arsenal.

Peace Corps Maasai Language Self-Instruction Manual.

Website. https://www.livelingua.com/course/peace_corps/maasai_language_lessons.

• This website is helpful for providing a broad overview of the Maa language and lessons to help a beginner learn to speak the language. These lessons are designed practically to focus on conversation and communicative language. The lessons were originally written for Peace Corps volunteers wanting to learn Maa, and they are transferable to any student of elementary Maa.

Payne, Doris. 2008. Maa Language Project.

Website. https://pages.uoregon.edu/maasai/.

• This platform by scholars at the university of Oregon is a user friendly website with several chapters/ pages for a beginner Maa learner to expose themself to the language. There is a link for a Maa dictionary in this platform, which, I am sure will prove very helpful for beginner learners. There are also chapters that outline who Maa people are, where they are from, what they do, where the language originated and other interesting context that might help a language learner be more successful in their acquisition.

Learn Maasai: Free Online Courses – Live Lingua

Website: https://www.livelingua.com/courses/Maasai/

• The free Live Lingua online Maasai courses make language learning accessible to everybody. This Maasai language material contains 1 course and 1 ebook. This course is a Peace Corps volunteer (PCV) designed course. The lessons are broken into modules that will help PCV’s once they arrive in their country. This will be helpful for beginner langauge learners.

Learn Maasai

Website: http://ilanguages.org/maasai.php

• This website has lessons on grammar, vocabulary, phrases, flashcards, quizzes, and common words for people who are first exposing themselves to Maa. This is a website primary helpful for people trying to learn the language. It would not be helpful for native speakers.

Coco – Brighter Futures Across the Globe

Website: https://www.coco.org.uk/kenya/supa-era-supat-time-to-learn-maasai-culture-and-maa-language

• This is a website designed to teach people Maa language and culture. It would be helpful for beginner students interested in exposing themselves to the language.

Youtube Videos (for auditory exposure)

Note: A few of these websites were also included in the Language Resource chapter for two reasons: 1). these websites are helpful resources; 2). Maa has limited resources, so websites were included in the resource chapter and this chapter.

The Sound of the Maasai Language (Numbers and Parables) — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQIv0ONR08k

• This audio can be used by an ex-situ beginner learner to expose themselves to Maa by hearing rather than reading. It includes counting numbers up through ten and then the recitation of a common parable.

Wilbur in Kenya: How to say Greetings in Maasai –- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oaPCkBsUjk

• This audio can be used by an ex-situ beginner learner to expose themselves to Maa by hearing rather than reading. This video provides an example for how someone may greet someone in Maa.

John Speaking Maasai — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etUt37dgA4o

• This audio can be used by an ex-situ beginner learner to expose themselves to Maa by hearing rather than reading.