Wikijunior:Languages/Dagbani
Dagbani (Dagomba)
[edit | edit source]Dagbani is member of the Gur branch of Niger-Congo languages. It is spoken mainly in northern Ghana by 800,000 Dagomba people. It is closely related to, and mutually intelligible with, Mossi, which is spoken mainly in Burkina-Faso. Dagbani is also known as Dagbamba, Dagbane and Dagomba.
Dagbani is taught in primary and secondary schools, and there are radio programmes in the language.
Dagbani Words
[edit | edit source]Here are some words for family members I found. Hope it is useful
Grandfather - Yɛb’doo
Grandmother - Yɛb’paɣa
Father - M’ba
Mom - M’ma
Brother - Tizodoo
Sister - Tizopaɣa
Father’s elder brother(uncle) - Bakpema
Father’s junior brother(uncle) - Bapira
Father’s sister (aunt) - Piriba
Mother’s elder sister(aunt) - Mapkema
Mother’s junior sister(aunt) - Mapira
Mother’s brother(uncle) - ŋahiba
Son - Dapala
Daughter - Bipuhinga
Cousins - Dachiya
Grandchild - Yaanga
Great grandchild - Yaantib’che
Inlaws - Deenima
Nephew /Niece-ŋahiŋga
Ancestor - Siɣli lana
Bachelor - Dakↄli
Children - Bihi
Descendant - Zuliya
Ex husband - Yidan kuro
Ex wife - Pa kuro
Family - Daŋa
Fiancée - Mam
Heir - Zuu
Heiress - Pakpang
Husband - Yidana
Infancy - Bilimni
Inheritance - Fali
Marriage - Paɣ’ kpuɤbo
Orphan - Kpibga
Parent - Laamba
Stepfather - Mba
Stepmother - Mma yintah
Spinster - Paɤ’ zinli
Twin - Jabila
Dagbani alphabet and pronunciation
[edit | edit source]Sample text
[edit | edit source]Sal' la sala. Bɛhig' be sokam sanimi, din pa la amii. Suhizɔbo be sokam sani; ka nambɔxu beni. Suhubɔhibo mi bi lan kɔŋ yigunaadam kam sani. Dinzuxu dimbɔŋɔ zaa wuhiya ka dama di tu kamaata ka ti zaa yu tab' hali ni ti puuni.
Translation
[edit | edit source]All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Past Perfect: Pun, Daa, Daa Pun:
N daa bi tum tumaa maa > I had not done the work.
A daa na bi tum tumaa maa > you had not yet done the work.
O daa na bi tum tumaa maa > he had not yet done the work.
Ti daa na bi tum tumaa maa > we had not yet done the work.
Yi daa na bi tum tumaa maa . You have not yet done the work.
Be daa na bi tum tumaa maa > they had not yet done the work.
Poems (Yetogatalmalsi):
Jilma (Respect):
bia timi a ba naa ama jilma, > child, respect your father and mother.
naawuni ni bori sheli m-bala, > that is what God wants.
yumi a ba naa ama. > love your father and mother.
dama be nyela a laamba. > Because they are your parents.
Fara (Poverty):
fara deei zaa. > Poverty is now rampant.
bihi kuhirila fara. > Children are crying out of poverty.
ninkura kuhirila fara. > Elders are crying out of poverty.
ban tumdi kuhirila fara. > Those working are crying.
ban bi tumdi kuhirila fara. > Those who don’t work are even waste off.
ligiri mi zo n-nye fara. > Riches is the friend of poverty.
ligiri yi bi chag fara ku chag. > If money doesn’t go, poverty will surely not go.
din zugu, bagmi ligiri dibu. > Therefore let’s spend money wisely.
Assignment:
Dimi di zaa
Dimi sagam maa zaa
Yi daa na bi tum tumaa maa
Be daa na bi tum tumaa maa
N daa bi tum tumaa maa
A daa na bi tum tumaa maa
O daa na bi tum tumaa maa
Lam; wuhi Farouk.
Di lar maa.
Lam’ ka sokam wum
ANSWERS PROVIDERED BY ISABELLA: Part 3:
Dimi di zaa- Eat it all.
Dimi sagam maa zaa – Eat all the TZ (?)
Yi daa na bi tum tumaa maa – You have not yet done the work.
Be daa na bi tum tumaa maa – They have not yet done the work.
N daa bi tum tumaa maa -I have not yet done the work.
A daa na bi tum tumaa maa -You have not yet done the work.
O daa na bi tum tumaa maa -He/she has not yet done the work.
Lam; wuhi Farouk – Laugh; for Farouk to see.
Di lar maa. – Don’t laugh at me
Lam’ ka sokam wum -Laugh so loud that everyone can hear!