1
ha
ha
3pl
pro
pro
wɔ
wɔ
3sg
pro
pro
wei
wei
call
v
v
le
le
as
Prep
Adp
Mɛnde
mɛ̀ndé
Mende
Nprop
Nprop
They called him (one of the drummers) Mende.
2
yen
yen
this
dempro
dempro
kabiyɛɛ
kabi
Kabi
Nprop
-yɛ
Art
Nominal particle
-ɛ
Top
utprt
Nprop
hu
hu
ncp
ncp
ncp
pɛ
pɛ
they
Indf
Indf
wei
wei
call
v
v
le
le
as
Prep
Adp
jigbaŋ-gbaŋ
jigbaŋ-gbaŋ
jigbaŋ-gbaŋ
Nprop
Nprop
yɛŋu
Kabi is what they called “jigbaŋ gbaŋ”.
3
huu
huu
ncp
ncp
ncp
hu
hu
Focus
utprt
utprt
yi
yi
1pl
Pers
Pers
ce
ce
aux
v
v
fɔsɛ
fɔsɛ
beat
v
v
This is what we were playing.
4
ha
ha
3pl
pro
pro
nago
nago
after
Advlizer
Advlizer
le
le
say
v
v
ha
ha
3pl
pro
pro
weniɛ
weni
call
v
-ɛ
Cmpl
v:Any
yin
yin
1pl.emph
Pers
Pers
la
la
for
Prep
Adp
komiɛ
komi
dance
hu
-ɛ
Art
Nominal particle
hu
F
m-m
m-m
yes
DiscoPrt
pol
watiɛ
wati
time
hu
-ɛ
Art
Nominal particle
hu
yen
yen
this
dempro
dempro
After they have said they call us for the dance at this time,
5
si
si
then
CoorCon
CoorCon
yi
yi
1pl
Pers
Pers
kɔ
kɔ
go
v
v
ge
gé
Prog
Verbprt
Verbprt
lagbɛn
lagbɛn
immediately
temp
temp
then we go straightaway.
6
kɛnga
kɛnga
about
adv
adv
lɔgɔ
lɔgɔ
day
kɔ
kɔ
yen
yen
two
num
num
si
si
then
CoorCon
CoorCon
yi
yi
1pl
Pers
Pers
lɔ
lɔ
it
locpro
locpro
yi
yi
1pl
Pers
Pers
We are there in perhaps two days.
7
lani
lan
this
dempro
-i
cl-final
Prt
pa
pa
pour
idph
idph
la
la
it
Indf
Indf
ya
ya
1sg
Pers
pro
mu
mù
2sg
Pers
Pers
hɔwɛ
hɔ
speak
v
-wɛ
Rel
Prt
That is all I have to tell you.
8
yi
yi
1pl
Pers
Pers
dugi
dugi
fall
v
v
tamaa
tama
waste.time
hu
-a
Art
Nominal particle
hu
le
le
say
v
v
yi
yi
1pl
Pers
Pers
huni
huni
come
v
v
We were just playing around. When we returned
9
agbɛna
a-
ncm
n:Any
gbɛn
parents
ha
-a
ncm
n:Any
ha
a
a
3pl
pro
pro
hi
hi
ncp
ncp
ncp
yɛ-
ha
ha
3pl
pro
pro
hin
hin
ncp
ncp
ncp
pɛŋ
pɛ́ín
first
temp
temp
topi
topi
chase
v
v
10
ha
ha
3pl
pro
pro
le
le
say
v
v
ha
ha
2pl
Pers
Pers
ma
ma
Neg
Verbprt
Verbprt
mui
mui
enter
v
v
yan
yàŋ
here
loc
loc
ha
ha
2pl
Pers
Pers
kɔn
kɔn
go
v
v
komi
komi
dance
hu
hu
nui
nui
return
v
v
yanu
ya
there
loc
anu
inside
Post
loc
ha-a-a
ha-a-a
continuously
quant
quant
They say, Do not come here! Go back to where you were playing (lit. there inside).
11
ɛyina
ɛyina
yei
komiyɛ
komi
dance
hu
-yɛ
Cmpl
v:Any
hu
kabiyɛ
kabi
Kabi
Nprop
-yɛ
Art
Nominal particle
Nprop
yen
yen
this
dempro
dempro
yema
yema
want
v
v
mu
mu
one
num
num
pihaingahiga
pihain
brother
ka
-ga
ncm
ka:Any
hi
1pl
Pers
-ga
ncm
ka:Any
n
We danced and danced, this Kabi. One boy, one of our brothers
12
a
à
Quot
utprt
utprt
Bilami
Bilami
Bilami
Nprop
Nprop
kɛ
kɛ
but
CoorCon
CoorCon
wɔ
wɔ
3sg
pro
pro
na
na
Past
Verbprt
Verbprt
kɔn
kɔn
go
v
v
pɔgwɛ
pɔɔg
world
kɔ
-gw
ncm.kɔ
ncm
-ɛ
Art
Nominal particle
kɔ
anun
anun
inside
Post
Adp
was called Bilami, but he left for the wider world.
13
wɔn
wɔn
3sg.emph
pro
pro
wɔ
wɔ
3sg
pro
pro
lɔgi
lɔgi
play
v
v
ikelehinyɛ
i-
ncm
Noun class marker
kelehin
slotted.drum
hi
-yɛ
Art
Nominal particle
hi
we
we
that
demadj
demadj
He (Balami) was hitting/playing the xylophone 31.5
14
hɛ
hɛ
hey
Interj
Interj
kɛnga
kɛnga
perhaps
ClPrt
ClPrt
imu
i-
ncm
Noun class marker
mu
one
num
num
iyen
i-
ncm
Noun class marker
yen
two
num
num
iɣaa
i-
ncm
Noun class marker
ɣaa
three
num
num
ihiɔn
i-
ncm
Noun class marker
hiɔn
four
num
num
lɔ̀ìmá
lɔ̀ì
days
ma
-má
ncm.ma
Noun
kɔ
sì
sì
when
Advlizer
Advlizer
yì
yì
1pl
Pers
Pers
lɔ́
lɔ́
it
locpro
locpro
Hey, about, one, two, three, four days we stayed there
15.1
am
am
ge
gé
Past
Verbprt
Verbprt
le
le
say
v
v
a
a
1sg
Pers
Pers
wɔmi
wɔm
count
v
-i
cl-final
Prt
te
te
understand
v
v
la
la
it
Indf
Indf
When I had counted, did you understand?
15.2
imu
i-
ncm
Noun class marker
mu
one
num
num
iyen
i-
ncm
Noun class marker
yen
two
num
num
ihaa
i-
ncm
Noun class marker
haa
three
num
num
ihiyɔn
i-
ncm
Noun class marker
hiyɔn
four
num
num
One, two, three, four
16
oke
oke
okay
utprt
utprt
le
le
say
v
v
yi
yi
1pl
Pers
Pers
na
na
Prog
aux
aux
pɔwɛ
pɔ
grow.up
v
-wɛ
BindPrt
ClPrt
v
yi
yi
1pl
Pers
Pers
can
can
sit
v
v
si
si
then
CoorCon
CoorCon
yi
yi
1pl
Pers
Pers
fɔliyɛ
fɔli
fall.in
v
-yɛ
BindPrt
ClPrt
Okay, when we were growing up, we sat down lined up (in a circle)
17
si
si
so
Advlizer
Advlizer
numu
nu
person
n
mu
one
num
wɔ
wɔ
3sg
pro
pro
koiɛ
koi
take
v
-ɛ
Cmpl
v:Any
v
pepɛ
pep
stone
hu
-ɛ
Art
Nominal particle
hu
So one man took the stone
18
wɔ
wɔ
3sg
pro
pro
koiɛ
koi
take
v
-ɛ
Cmpl
v:Any
v
nago
nago
after
Advlizer
Advlizer
pepɛ
pep
stone
hu
-ɛ
Art
Nominal particle
hu
after he took the stone
19
wɔ
wɔ
3sg
pro
pro
hi
hi
ncp
ncp
ncp
pa
pa
pour
idph
idph
pilin
pilin
go.round
v
v
ha-a-a
ha-a-a
continuously
quant
quant
wɔ
wɔ
3sg
pro
pro
mui
mui
reach
v
v
He started running around us (until) he reached (one person).
20
wɔ
wɔ
3sg
pro
pro
mui
mui
reach
v
v
nago
nago
once
adv
adv
nu
nu
person
n
n
wɛ
wɛ
that
demadj
demadj
wɔni
wɔn
3sg.emph
pro
-i
cl-final
Prt
When he reached a certain person,
21
si
si
then
CoorCon
CoorCon
wɔ
wɔ
3sg
pro
pro
hinyɛ
hiny
lay
v
-ɛ
Cmpl
v:Any
v
pepɛ
pep
stone
hu
-ɛ
Art
Nominal particle
hu
wɛ
wɛ
that
demadj
demadj
then he lay the stone down (behind him).
22
ce
ce
be
v
v
lan
la
ncp
ncp
-n
Neg
ClPrt
Indf
siiyo
sii
know
v
-yo
emph
Utterance particle
v
ma
ma
Neg
Verbprt
Verbprt
koi
koi
take
v
v
nango
nango
pepɛ
pep
stone
hu
-ɛ
Art
Nominal particle
hu
wɛ
wɛ
that
demadj
demadj
le
le
say
v
v
wɔ
wɔ
3sg
pro
pro
huni
huni
come
v
v
Not knowing it (the placement of the stone) you will not take the stone when he comes.
23
wɔ
wɔ
3sg
pro
pro
mɔ
mɔ
2sg
Pers
Pers
pa
pa
pour
idph
idph
gbun
gbun
hit
v
v
He will whack you!
24
wɔ
wɔ
3sg
pro
pro
le
le
say
v
v
koi
koi
take
v
v
pepi
pepi
stone
hu
hu
miyɛ
mi
1sg
Pers
-yɛ
Art
Nominal particle
Pers
He says, Take my stone.
25
kutu
la
la
Adp
poma
poma
children
ha
ha
pepe
pepe
stone
hu
hu
kutu
la
la
it
Indf
Indf
poma
poma
children
ha
ha
[Mende:] Put the stone behind, put it behind!
26.1
gbun
gbun
hit
v
v
mu
mù
2sg
Pers
Pers
Strikes you?
26.2
ɛh
ɛh
yes
DiscoPrt
utprt
si
si
then
CoorCon
CoorCon
wɔ
wɔ
3sg
pro
pro
gbun
gbun
hit
v
v
mu
mù
2sg
Pers
Pers
Yes, then he hits you.
27
pandɛ
pan
sun
hi
-dɛ
Art
Nominal particle
pi
pìì
set
v
v
nago
nago
after
Advlizer
Advlizer
si
si
then
CoorCon
CoorCon
hun
hun
come
v
v
can
can
sit
v
v
hoton
hoton
outside
loc
loc
yɔn
yɔn
to
Post
Adp
After the sun sets, (we) come sit outside.
28
si
si
then
CoorCon
CoorCon
yin
yin
1pl.emph
Pers
Pers
gbi
gbi
all
quant
quant
si
si
then
CoorCon
CoorCon
yi
yi
1pl
Pers
Pers
cani
cani
sit
v
v
atɛmamiyɛ
a-
ncm
n:Any
tɛm
friend
wɔ
-a
ncm
n:Any
mi
1sg
Pers
-yɛ
BindPrt
ClPrt
Pers
All of my friends we sit together
29
atɛmamiyɛ
a-
ncm
n:Any
tɛm
friend
wɔ
-a
ncm
n:Any
mi
1sg
Pers
-yɛ
Art
Nominal particle
Pers
ha
ha
3pl
pro
pro
yipi
yipi
bring
v
v
Will my friends bring [it]?
30
atɛmam
a-
ncm
n:Any
tɛm
friend
wɔ
-a
ncm
n:Any
-m
hinyɛ
hin
1pl.emph
Pers
-yɛ
Art
Nominal particle
v
ha
ha
3pl
pro
pro
yipi
yipi
bring
v
v
pepɛ
pep
stone
hu
-ɛ
Art
Nominal particle
hu
Our friends will bring the stone.
31
hu
hu
ncp
ncp
ncp
nago
nago
after
Advlizer
Advlizer
numu
nu
person
n
mu
one
num
yasuani
yasu
palm(hand)
n
an
inside
Post
-i
cl-final
Prt
Once someone has it,
32
wɔn
wɔn
3sg.emph
pro
pro
wɔ
wɔ
3sg
pro
pro
piilin
si
si
then
CoorCon
CoorCon
wɔ
wɔ
3sg
pro
pro
hun
hun
come
v
v
he goes around, and when he comes,
33
nu
nu
person
n
n
mu
mu
one
num
num
kwɛɛlen
kwɛɛlen
behind
loc
loc
kutu
la
la
Adp
poma
poma
children
ha
ha
kutu
la
la
Adp
poma
poma
children
ha
ha
one person outside, [Mende] Put the stone behind.
34
pepe
pepe
stone
hu
hu
la
la
it
Indf
Indf
kwɛɛlen
kwɛɛlen
behind
loc
loc
gbelen-gbelen
gbelen-gbelen
ring-ring
idph
idph
pepi
pepi
stone
hu
hu
hin
hin
ncp
ncp
ncp
kwɛlen
kwɛlen
behind
loc
loc
the stone behind “gbelen-gbelen” the stone behind
35
pepi
pepi
stone
hu
hu
hin
hin
ncp
ncp
ncp
kwɛlen
kwɛlen
behind
loc
loc
pepi
pepi
stone
hu
hu
hin
hin
ncp
ncp
ncp
kwɛlen
kwɛlen
behind
loc
loc
pepi
pepi
stone
hu
hu
hin
hin
ncp
ncp
ncp
kwɛlen
kwɛlen
behind
loc
loc
the stone behind the stone behind ...
36
pepi
pepi
stone
hu
hu
hin
hin
ncp
ncp
ncp
kwɛlen
kwɛlen
behind
loc
loc
pepi
pepi
stone
hu
hu
hin
hin
ncp
ncp
ncp
kwɛlen
kwɛlen
behind
loc
loc
the stone behind the stone behind ...
37
hn-n-n
hn-n-n
hm-m
utprt
utprt
bɛ
bɛ
man
wɔ
wɔ
bɛ
bɛ
self
Nomprt
Nomprt
yen
yen
this
dempro
dempro
wɔ
wɔ
3sg
pro
pro
hi
hi
1pl.emph
Pers
Pers
beŋ
beŋ
experience
v
v
yisin
yi-
ncm
Noun class marker
sin
hardship
hi
hi
ipalɛ
i-
ncm
Noun class marker
pal
day
temp
-ɛ
Cmpl
v:Any
Hm-m-m, this man will make us suffer today. = stone placer, yisin ‘suffer’
38
la
la
it
Indf
Indf
ibɔtiwe
i-
ncm
Noun class marker
bɔtiwe
pleasure
hi
hi
le
le
when
Advlizer
Advlizer
pandɛ
pan
sun
hi
-dɛ
Art
Nominal particle
lɔ
lɔ
it
locpro
locpro
piɛ
pìì
set
v
-ɛ
Cmpl
v:Any
v
booga
booga
hide-n-seek
hu
hu
yen
yen
this
dempro
dempro
It is very enjoyable, when the sun sets, this game.
39
amaa
a-
ncm
n:Any
ma
women
ha
-a
ncm
n:Any
wɔ
yɛo
yɛ
Top
utprt
o
emph
Utterance particle
utprt
aninpogɛo
a-
ncm
n:Any
ninpog
men
ha
-ɛ
Top
utprt
o
emph
Utterance particle
ha
women, men,
40
watimɔ
wati
time
hu
mɔ
one
num
yapɔ
ya
1sg
Pers
pɔ
grow.up
v
yan
yàŋ
1sg.emph
Pers
Pers
naya
lɔ
lɔ
it
locpro
locpro
na
na
Past
Verbprt
Verbprt
hei
hei
burned
v
v
One day this town was burnt
41
ha
ha
3pl
pro
pro
na
na
Past
Verbprt
Verbprt
sɛmyɛ
sɛ́m
build
v
-yɛ
Cmpl
v:Any
v
go
go
at
Adp
Adp
bafaa
bafa
shed
hu
-a
Art
Nominal particle
hu
gboŋ
gboŋ
waterside
n
n
yɔn
yɔn
at
Post
Adp
ha
ha
3pl
pro
pro
lɔ
lɔ
it
locpro
locpro
hin
hin
lay
v
v
puigwɛ
pui
thatch
kɔ
-gw
ncm.kɔ
ncm
-ɛ
Art
Nominal particle
kɔ
They built a shed at the waterside and there they lay some grass for thatching.
42
le
le
say
v
v
pandɛ
pan
sun
hi
-dɛ
Art
Nominal particle
lɔ
lɔ
it
locpro
locpro
piyɛ
pi
set
v
-yɛ
Cmpl
v:Any
v
yin
yin
1pl.emph
Pers
Pers
bɛ
bɛ
self
Nomprt
Nomprt
cɔɔn
cɔɔn
gather
v
v
yɛnali
yɛnali
place
loc
loc
mu
mu
one
num
num
When the sun sets, we gather together in one place.
43
han
han
2pl
Pers
Pers
ha
ha
2pl
Pers
Pers
leyɛ
le
leave
v
-yɛ
Cmpl
v:Any
v
yiin
yiin
1pl.emph
Pers
Pers
gɔ
gɔ
go
v
v
matinyɛ
matin
hide.self
v
-yɛ
Cmpl
v:Any
v
amaa
a-
ncm
n:Any
ma
women
ha
-a
ncm
n:Any
wɔ
aninpogɛ
a-
ncm
n:Any
ninpog
men
ha
-ɛ
Cmpl
v:Any
You may be left (behind), we go and hide, women, men,
44
ha
ha
3pl
pro
pro
gɔ
gɔ
go
v
v
gɔ
gɔ
go
v
v
duɛn
duɛn
enter
v
v
pwigwɛ
pwi
grass
n
-gw
ncm.kɔ
ncm
-ɛ
Art
Nominal particle
n
wɛ
wɛ
that
demadj
demadj
alɛ
alɛ
on
Adp
Adp
they go enter (hide) in the thatch
45
ha
ha
3pl
pro
pro
le
le
call
v
v
u-u-u-u-u
They called, U-u-u-u!
46
nuwɛ
nu
person
n
-wɛ
Art
Nominal particle
n
wɔ
wɔ
3sg
pro
pro
leiyɛɛ
lei
left
v
-yɛ
Cmpl
v:Any
-ɛ
Rel
Prt
v
wɔ
wɔ
3sg
pro
pro
lɔn
lɔn
ncp.emph
locpro
locpro
bɛ
bɛ
self
Nomprt
Nomprt
kɔ
kɔ
go
v
v
The one who was left, he went there [under the thatch]
47
gibi-gibi-gibi-gibi-gibi-gibi
gibi-gibi-gibi-gibi-gibi-gibi
padding.feet
idph
idph
running, foot sandals on the floor
48
han
han
3pl
pro
pro
gbi
gbi
all
quant
quant
ha
ha
3pl
pro
pro
lɔn
lɔn
ncp.emph
locpro
locpro
bɛ
bɛ
self
Nomprt
Nomprt
hogin
hogin
emerge
v
v
All of them emerged from there (under the thatch),
49
han
han
3pl
pro
pro
ha
ha
3pl
pro
pro
topi
topi
chase
v
v
They chase them
50
si
si
then
CoorCon
CoorCon
ha
ha
3pl
pro
pro
hun
hun
come
v
v
mui
mui
reach
v
v
yan
yàŋ
here
loc
loc
until they reach here.
51
le
le
when
Advlizer
Advlizer
yina
yi
1pl
Pers
na
Past
Verbprt
poɛ
po
grow.up
v
-ɛ
BindPrt
ClPrt
v
sɛnta
sɛn
game
ta
-ta
ncm
Noun class marker
v
wɛ
wɛ
that
demadj
demadj
pa
pa
only
adv
adv
la
la
it
Indf
Indf
na
na
Past
Verbprt
Verbprt
ge
gé
Prog
Verbprt
Verbprt
yiin
yiin
1pl.emph
Pers
Pers
yasuwan
yasu
palm(hand)
n
wan
to
n>loc
loc
yɛ
yɛ
BindPrt
ClPrt
ClPrt
As we were growing up, only those games were on our minds.
52
yiin
yiin
1pl.emph
Pers
Pers
apoma
a-
ncm
n:Any
poma
children
ha
ha
atenateeni
a-
ncm
n:Any
tenateeni
small.ones
ha
ha
we the small, small ones.