aprender saludos y respuestas al hablar o escribir en yoruba (diccionario).pdf

8/10/2019 APRENDER SALUDOS Y RESPUESTAS AL HABLAR O ESCRIBIR EN YORUBA (diccionario).pdf

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KKkkeerrYYoorrbbSSttuuddyyMMoodduullee

AABBaassiiccIInnttrroodduuccttiioonnttootthheeYYoorrbbLLaanngguuaaggee


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Introduction

The following study module is called Kker Yorb, which means Little Yorb inEnglish. It is a very brief introduction presenting only the very basic elements of theYorb language including basic pronunciation and vocabulary. If was born from

Yorb culture and many of the praise songs, prayers and invocations that we use eachday are written in Yorb.

Further, for the student serious about learning Yorb the challenge also presents anopportunity to learn more about not just the culture, but also the religion and deeperphilosophical ideas supporting If itself. Yorb is a language rich with meaning that canbe interpreted at various levels. What is presented here is just the first of many steps inlearning this beautiful and powerful language.


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Understanding the Yorb Alphabet

The Yorb Alphabeta b d e e

f g gb h i

j k l m n

o o p r s

s t u w y

The Yorb alphabet contains 25 letters, with each letter representing its own uniquesound. As you can see from the above table, the Yorb alphabet uses characters notfound in the English alphabet. These characters also have unique pronunciations that will

be addressed in subsequent sections.Learning the Yorb alphabet is important for students of rs because in addition tobeing the first step in learning the language it also allows the traditional If devotee todetermine when a word has been changed through interaction with another rs basedlanguage, such as Lukumi. The presence of letters not native to the Yorb alphabet, suchas the letter c (very common in many Lukumi words), would indicate a word that hassince been changed from the original Yoruba.

In fact, the Yorb language has a way to indicate words borrowed from anotherlanguage through the use of tonal marks. However, this falls into a more advanced level

of study and is being presented for the purpose of general information only at this time.


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Pronouncing the Yorb Letters

Learning to properly pronounce the Yorb letters is an essential step in learning to makeeven the most basic use of the language. As you will learn in a later section, thepronunciation coupled with the pitch is what delineates one word from another in

Yorb.

A Guide to Yorb Pronunciation

Letter Sound Example

a ah father

e ay bait

e eh let

i ee bee

o oh boat

o aw got

u oo moon

s s say

s sh shop

p kp

Like running thewords back pay

together at thesame time

gb p or b sound

Like saying thewords big boy

together veryquickly

Note:Both the a and the o sound similar. The difference

is with the shape of the mouth and the way that modulatesthe sound. This can be one of the trickiest distinctions tomake for a non-Yorb person to make when hearing thelanguage being spoken.

The student is advised to spend time practicing the proper pronunciation of the Yorbcharacters using the phrases and vocabulary words presented later in this module.


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Proper Pronunciation for the rs Names

The following chart provides the proper pronunciation for the names of the Orisa, manyof which are mispronounced in the Diaspora. Please see the subsequent section ontone/pitch in order to insure that both pronunciation and pitch come together to create

overall proper pronunciation.

Proper Pronunciation ofrs Names

Oldmar Oh-loh-doo-mah-ray

s Ay-shoo

sun Aw-shoon

Sng Shahn-go

Oya Aw-yah

gn Oh-goon

ss Aw-shaw-see

Obtl Aw-bah-tah-lah

Yemoja Yay-maw-jah (hard j)

rnml Aw-roon-mee-lah

bej Ee-bay-jee (hard j)Olkun Oh-loh-koon

Or Oh-ree

Egngn Ay-goon-goon


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Tonal Marks The Key to Yorb Language

Yorb is a tonal language, which means that the meaning of words depends on the pitchof ones voice when speaking them. There may be several Yorb words consisting ofthe same sequence of letters, but variations in the tonal marks distinguish one word from

another.

It is essential that one learn how to properly change the pitch of ones voice whenspeaking Yorb, especially to a native speaker. The differences in words can be quitedramatic and maintaining the proper tone is the only way to avoid a miscommunication.

This is what most non-Yorb students seem to find the most challenging. However, witha bit of practice it becomes much easier than it sounds on paper. While it does take sometime to understand and put into practice the changes in pitch, once mastered it allows oneto perceive the full beauty of the Yorb language. If one hears a native Yorb speakingtheir language it often sounds as if they are singing, even when they are engaged in

normal conversation. It is one of the most lyrical and enchanting languages of the world!

The Yorb represent shifts in tone through using a high and low tonal mark. Using theletter a as an example, the marks are represented below.

The Yorb Tonal Marks

High tone, indicating higher pitch

a Middle tone, indicating regular pitch

Low tone, indicating lower pitch

The tonal marks may be likened to DO, REand MIon the musical scale. DO representsthe low tonal mark. RE represents the middle tone (with no mark). MI represents the hightonal mark. When using this tool one can easily see how speaking Yorb can be verymuch like singing a song.

If we examine the following word Baba we can see that there are no tonal markings,which would indicate that this word would be pronounced with an even mid-tonality.

Examining the word Dd we can see that both vowels have a high tonal marking

indicating the need to say the entire word at a higher pitch.

Lastly, an examination of the work y illustrates the use of both a low and high tonein the same word. This means that the word would start off with a lower pitch and end ona higher one.

Many Yorb words have varied tonality within the same word. For example, lfdisplays a variety of tones, starting with a low tone moving into another low tone,


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followed by two high tones and ending once again on a low tone. The best way to get afeel for this somewhat complex pronunciation is by saying the word slowly, carefullyemphasizing both proper pronunciation andpitch.

To understand just how important proper pitch is when speaking Yorb, we present the

following three words with their tonal marks and meaning. Note the significantdifferences between all three words. It is easy to see how neglecting to use proper pitchalong with proper pronunciation could easily lead to miscommunications in verbaldialogs and mistranslated words in written communications.

Three Yorb Words

b High tone, meaning jump, leap

be Middle tone, meaning cut, peel

bLow tone, meaning beg

It often helps to work with a partner when learning Yorb as it makes it easier to hearwhat is being said rather than trying to both speak and listen at the same time. This is onearea where only practice and dedication enable the student to develop the skill required torecognize and emulate proper pitch when speaking the Yorb language.


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Yorb Numbers

The Yorb language handles counting, cardinal and ordinal numbers differently. For thepurposes of this study module, only the counting and cardinal numbers 1 through 10 willbe presented. This will be expanded in future study modules.

Learning Yorb Numbers

# CountingExample: One, two...

CardinalExample: One egg, two eggs...

1 okan kan

2 ej mj

3 eta mta

4 erin mrin

5 arnn mrnn

6 ef mf

7 eje mje

8 ejo mjo

9 esnn msnn

10 ew mw


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Yorb Colors

A thorough discussion on the Yorb color scheme requires a very detailed study of notjust chromatics, but also philosophy, religion and culture as well. It is well beyond theintention of this module to fully explain the basis of the traditional Yorb color scheme,

however, the Yorb words for the most basic colors are presented below.

It should be noted that the traditional Yorb color scheme involves only three colors black, red and white. Rather than viewing them as finite colors the Yorb viewed theseas spectrums on a single continuum that, while distinct, would blend into one another.Within these three basic colors all colors could be classified. For example, a dark bluewould be classified in the black category, while orange may be classified in the redcategory.

The Yorb have since developed names for individual colors, both by borrowing wordsfrom other cultures and using comparison to descript the quality of the color itself. Some

examples may be found below.

Learning Yorb Colors

Color Yorb Word

Black Dd

Red Pupa

White Funfun

Blue Bl (borrowed from English)

Yellow Yl (borrowed from English)

Grey r b er (comparison to ash)

Green Dd b ew (Black like leaves)

Note:Sometimes the word ar is used for blue,but this actually refers to a blue dye and not thecolor itself.


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CommonCommon Yorb Words, Phrases and Expressions

The syntax of the Yorb can be quite complex to a non-Yorb person seeking to learnthe language. Any serious student is advised to acquire a complete teaching aid on thesubject and practice through both written and verbal communication.

More commonly used words, phrases and expressions can be found below. Some wordsthat directly relate to the practice of If have been included to familiarize the student withsome basic terminology used daily by If devotees.

Common Yorb Greetings

E kr Good Morning (to an elder or someone older than you)Kr Good Morning (to a peer or someone younger than you)

This greeting is used from the early morning hours until about noon.

E ksn Good Afternoon (to an elder or someone older than you)Ksn Good Afternoon (to a peer or someone younger than you)

This greeting is used from noon until about 4 p.m.

E krl Good Evening (to an elder or someone older than you)Krl Good Evening (to a peer or someone younger than you)

This greeting is used from about 4 p.m. until about 7 p.m.

E kal Good Late Evening (to an elder or someone older than you)Kal Good Late Evening (to a peer or someone younger than you)

This greeting is used from about 7 p.m. until the early morning hours.

Important Note:The honorific pronoun E is alwaysused when greeting either oneselder or someone older than oneself. The Yorb culture is based on honoring oneselders and this respect is integrated directly into the language itself. It is not appropriateto use E when speaking to ones peers or someone younger than oneself, but toneglect to use it with ones elders is considered a sign of disrespect and the mark of arude individual. There are also lessons relating directly to If in this note.

It is also standard in Yorb culture for the younger person to initiate the greeting withthe older person and to do so in a respectful way, using the appropriate greeting. Thereare even physical gestures specific to gender that are used when greeting an elder.

When greeted using the proper greeting above, ones elders will return the greetingappropriate for someone younger than they are. Age may refer to either physical ageand/or initiatory age within the If religion.

For example, you greet your elder by saying E kr. Your elder would return thegreeting by saying simply Kr.


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Greeting:Bwo ni? How are things?Response:Dada ni. Fine.This greeting is used among peers and is not appropriate for ones elders. Ones eldersmay offer this greeting to you, but you should wait until they initiate it. They should be

greeted using the proper greeting (with the honorific pronoun E) listed above.

Greeting:S lf ni? How are you?Response:lf ni. Fine/Doing well.This greeting is used among peers and is not appropriate for ones elders. Ones eldersmay offer this greeting to you, but you should wait until they initiate it. They should be

greeted using the proper greeting (with the honorific pronoun E) listed above.

Common Yorb Expressions

B ni Yes

B k/ t NoE s Thank you (to an elder or someone older than you)O s Thank you (to a peer or someone younger than you)

Mo dp I thank you.A dp We thank you.

Mo dppp I thank you very much.A dppp We thank you very much.

K tp Youre welcome/Dont mention it/Its nothing

lf Greeting that means Well being, a way of greeting someone wishing themwell at the same time.

This is best used between peers or with people younger than you. It is not considered anacceptable greeting for an elder. In some cases this may be the greeting used to greetand show respect to an rs priest, but when used in this way it is accompanied by a

specific ritual gesture to distinguish it from a social greeting used by peers.

db Goodbye.This closing is used universally between peers and elders ali ke.

E m bn Im sorry (to an elder or someone older than you)

M bn Im sorry (to a peer or someone younger than you)

E k tp Youre welcome/Dont mention it/Its nothing(to an elder or someone older than you)

K tp Youre welcome/Dont mention it/Its nothing(to a peer or someone younger than you)


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K ni orko re? What is your name?Orkomi ni... My name is...

It is generally considered improper for someone to ask someones name in Yorbculture. The idea of coming up to someone, greeting them and asking for their name is aforeign concept in Yorb culture. The exception is when an elder or someone older

than you asks for your name, which is considered acceptable.E dde! Stand up (to an elder or someone older than you)E jkSit down (to an elder or someone older than you)

Dde! Stand up (to a peer or someone younger than you)JkSit down (to a peer or someone younger than you)

E m dde! Dont stand up (to an elder or someone older than you)E m jkDont sit down (to an elder or someone older than you)

M dde! Dont stand up (to a peer or someone younger than you)

M jkDont sit down (to a peer or someone younger than you)Mo frn re I love you (to one individual, singular)Mo frn yin I love you (to more than one person, plural)

Mo naa frn re I love you too (to one individual, singular)Mo naa frn yin I love you too (to more than one person, plural)


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A Brief Yorb Vocabulary

The following section lists some commonly used Yorb words, many of which relatedirectly to the rs or to the practice of If.

Common and rs Related Yorb Vocabulary

Abo Female (indicating gender, not speaking of a woman per se)

AbrsAn Orisa worshipper, most often used in the Diaspora to meansomeone who has received some basic initiations. This makes adistinction between someone initiated as a priest of rs.

borboybosse

May the sacrifice/prayers be sanctioned/heardMay the sacrifice/prayers be acceptedMay the sacrifice/prayers manifest

bor, boy is considered one of the proper greetings for aBabalawo or ynif (If initiate). The priest will return thegreeting of bosse. In many cases an extended blessing willbe offered by the initiate when returning this greeting. This variesfrom priest to priest.

dm Food offerings made to the Ancestors and/or rs.

dr Prayer

Ako Male (indicating gender, not speaking of a man per se)

lf

Greeting that means Well being; a way of greeting someoneand wishing them well at the same time.

See important note under the section on greetings.

se Life force; a common meaning; May it manifest or It is so.

AwoMystery; a name for all rs devotees; a name for an individualrs priest; a term used to identify the If religion.

ywInvestigation, often used in place of Ibi in divination to indicate

the need to investigate issues further.Baba/Baba mi Father/My father

Babalrs A male priest of rs, often with spiritual children of his own.

EboSacrifice or offering

This ma be used to indicate the offerin of blood to the rs


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though in the Diaspora this is often used as a general termindicating an offering made to the Ancestors and/or rs.

rndnlgn

The name for the sacred Oracle of rs initiates. While it refersto the sixteen cowries used during divination, it literally translates

to twenty minus four, which illustrates the way the Yorbcalculate certain numbers.

w Taboo

EgbSociety or group of people; i.e., Egb sun is a group of suninitiates.

j Blood

Emu pe Palm wine

Epo pupa Red palm oil

Ew Leaf or leaves

Ibi Bad luck; bad fortune

bor The ritual serving, praising and feeding of ones Or.

IdAnklet, bracelet or necklace; used to refer to the sacred beadeditems of the rs, although most often used in the Diaspora toindicate a bracelet of some type.

Igb

Literally means calabash, but is often used to indicate acontainer filled with the sacred mysteries and consecratedimplements of the rs; i.e., Igb sun is Osuns sacred ritualcontainer.

Ikin If Sacred palm nuts used in the most important divination rituals.

Il House; used to describe an Orisa family

lkLiterally means bead, but is often used to refer to the sacredbeaded necklaces of the rs.

Ire Good fortune; good luck

y/y mi Mother/My mother

ylrs A female priest of rs, often with spiritual children of her own.

Ob bt Kola nut


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Obnrin Female or specifically a woman

Od IfThe 256 signs used in If divination, which represent thefundamental forces of creation in the universe; also used as areference to the If literary corpus.

gbr

Someone that has received no type of initiation into the mysteriesof rs; a novice.

Often the Lukumi use the word aleyo to indicate a non-initiate.This word is actually a permutation on the Yorb word lejthat means stranger or visitor. gbr is the traditional wordused to indicate someone that has no initiations.

Oknrin Male or specifically a man

Olrs

A male or female rs initiate.

Sometimes this word is used to indicate someone that has beeninitiated into the mysteries of the rs but have no spiritualchildren through rites of initiation.

Olwo

Ones godfather in If.

This term is applied differently within traditional If than inLukumi. In If this term can apply to either an rs priest orBabalawo. The general meaning of the word indicates a personteaching you about the religion. It may, in some cases, indicate acertain rank within the If priesthood.

Omi tt Cool water

Omir Consecrated herbal water; calming water

Omo

Child; offspring

This can be used to refer to ones biological and spiritualchildren.

pl If divination chain

r Shea butter

OrkPraise name or history; sometimes used as an invocation to callthe subject of the Ork

Orin Song

Orgb Bitter kola nut


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Ose Dd/Ose Aldn

Black soap

Ot A general word used for liquor or wine.

Ow Money

Oyin Honey


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Yorb Language Resources

The followings books and online resources have been presented to give the studentadditional resources for learning to speak Yorb. Many of these books are out of printand can be difficult to locate, however a dedicated out-of-print search should yield some

results for the determined seeker.

Abraham M.A. D.Litt, R.C., Dictionary of Modern Yoruba, University of London PressLtd, London, 1958

Adwl-Somadhi, FAMA n, FAMAs d Awo (rs Yorb Dictionary), Ilrnml Communications, San Bernadino, 1996

Barber, Karin, Yorb Dn n So: Book One A beginners Course in Yoruba, New HornPress, Ibadan, 1984 (Comes with a two tape set)

Schleicher, Antonia Ytnd Folrn, J K So Yorb, Yale University Press, NewHaven and London, 1993

Yai, Olabiyi Babalola, Yoruba-English English-Yoruba Concise Dictionary, HippocreneBooks, New York, 1996

Dictionary of the Yoruba Language: English-Yoruba Yoruba-English, ChurchMissionary Society Bookshop, Lagos, 1937

www.motherlandnigeria.com - An excellent website on Yorb culture, including asection on the Yorb language.

www.learnyoruba.com- A small, but potentially useful resource for learning the Yorblanguage.

aprender saludos y respuestas al hablar o escribir en yoruba (diccionario).pdf

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