28.
I, COMMON GREETINGS
dumela a general greeting for anytime of the day
rra father/sir
mma mother/madam
Ee Yes
0 a concord which refers to the pronoun 'you'
kae? where?
ke a concord which refers to the pronoun 'I'
teng fine
tlhotse the whole day
sentle well (adv.)
Practice (1)
James: Dwnela, ma. (Good day, madam)
Sharon: Ee, dwnumela rra. (Yes, a good day sir.)
James: 0 kae? (How are you? lit. You are where?)
Sharon: Ke teng. (I am fine.)
Note: If it is evening time, the greeter would say "A o tlhotse" (ie. How did you spen-d the day?) in place of "O kae." The answer would be "Ke tlhotse sentle" (lit. I was well the whole day.).
bana children (in a general greeting also includes the wife)
Go? What?
utlwalang news
Lefa ele sepe nothing (lit. There is nothing)
Practice (2)
James: Dumela, rra.
Fred: Ee, dumela, rra.
James: 0 kae?
Fred: Ke teng.
James: Bana ba kae? (How are your wife and children?)
Fred: Ba teng, rra. (They are fine, sir.")
James: Go utZwalang? (What is the news?)
Fred: Lefa e le sepe. (There is no news.)
2, SOME COMMON USAGES
Ee Yes.
Nnyaa No.
Kea itumela. Thank you.
Tsena. Come in.
Nna fatshe. Sit down.
Tla kwano. Come here.
Nxe! Sorry (when someone is hurt)
Bona! Look out!