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This lesson explains the imperative in its positive and negative forms. This is a medical conversation with a distraught father or mother.
Person: | Ki̲i̲m, luä̲k ɤä̲. Gatdä̲ li̲wɛ. Guic puɔ̲nydɛ, cɛ thïl gua̲a̲th. Doctor, help me. My child is dying. Look at his body, it has no place (i.e. very weak). |
Ɣä̲n ba̲a̲ kä̲ ji̲. Bi̲ jï̲n ɛ tɛ̲k. I come to you. You will make him live. |
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Doc: | Bitni̲, bitni̲, wu̲tɛ! /Ci̲ gatdu̲ bi̲ li̲w tä̲ä̲mɛ. Wal a thï̲n, bi̲ ɤä̲n ɛ ka̲m ɛ. Quite, Quite fellow! Your child will not die now. Medicine is present, I will give it to him. |
Person: | Aɤ, ki̲i̲m, ɛ jï̲n ram mi̲ di̲i̲t. Ɛ jï̲n ram mi̲ gɔaa. Kuoth a thï̲n, dɔ̲ɔ̲ bɛ kɔ luä̲k. Ah, doctor, you are a big (great) person. You are a good person. God is present, perhaps he will help us. |
Doc: | Wu̲tɛ, jï̲n rɔm lɔcdu̲, kä̲ /cu̲ diɛɛr. Kuoth Jidhɛth a thï̲n Fellow, you cradle your heart, and don't worry. God Jesus is present. |
pa̲ny kä̲ mi̲ bi̲ jï̲n ɛ ŋa̲th, dɔ̲ɔ̲ bɛ ji̲ luä̲k ɛpu̲c. Ci̲ liŋ? really and if you will believe it, perhaps he will help you truly do you hear? |
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Person: | Ɣɔ̲ɔ̲n, cä̲ liŋ. Gɔaaɛ. Yes, I hear. It is good. |
Doc: | Ɛ jɛn, bër no̲o̲ni̲ gat. It is so, come, bring the child. |
PHONETICS
SYNTAX
Intransitive Formation (without an object) 1st Aspect:
come | go | stay | |
Sing. | bër | wër | tɛ̲ni |
Pl. | biaa | wiaa | tayɛ |
biɛ̈ɛ̈ | wiɛ̈ɛ̈ |
Transitive Formation (with an object) 1st Aspect:
Note: The 3rd Aspect imperative is simply the 2nd persons of the Aspect for the positive. It is used in anticipation. It's uncommon.
Negative Formation of both Transitive and Intransitive:
Usage:
The positive imperative is used mostly in instances demanding immediate action. e.g. Cut it! Turn around! Come here! The imperative is answered to by the 1st Aspect of the verb in the form of a question.
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