Wemba tuki perrma nyunga-kat.
Don't move, that man here is sneaking (a bird)
Pronunciation:
Say: wemb-ar tuuk-ii perrm-ar nyuung-ar-kart
Notes:
Vowels: Standard - 'a' as in ‘path’, ‘u’ as in ‘put’, ‘i’ as in ‘hill’.   Variation - 'e' followed by ‘m’ in the same syllable and is not immediately followed by a vowel is long and slightly nasalised. - 'e' followed by 'l' or 'r' is 'e' as in 'fern'.
Consonant - 'ny' (palato-nasal) combine 'n' and 'y' while top of tongue touches hard palate plus nasal vibration. (Avoid the English 'nee' as in 'many') - 'ng' (velar-nasal) combine 'n' and 'g' while back of tongue touches soft palate plus nasal vibration, - 'rr' roll or trill tongue.
Literal Meaning:
don't move-you(sing.) sneaking-he here-definitely
Shows:
Verb ending - ordering one person - i, Postposition - indeed! -kat(a), Negative - head-word
Explanation:
Sentence begins with the negative (wemba) and then the verb 'tuka' to move with the 'order one person' 'i' added. Then 'perrma' (to sneak or creep" and 'nyuka-kat' (from around here). The 'kat' ending emphasises the 'nyunga' (from around here). (Note: The 'order one person' ending 'i' means that the verb doesn't need a person ending.)
Learning Focus:
Spoken, Communication
Learning Exercise:
Build - look up, write down and practice saying some new sentences beginning with 'Wemba tuki ...' eg 'Don't move the kangaroos have seen us.'
Adapt - could you create a similar Wamba Wamba sentence beginning with 'nongwe'?
Phrase Sentence:
Sentence
Words Associated:
nyunga - around here
kat(a) - indeed
perrma - to sneak up
tuka - to move
Topics:
Communication - Describing, Communication - order or direction
Age Guides:
Yr 10-12, Yr 7-9
Reference: