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Entry Speaker  Somali Orthography  English Translation 
1  A Waxayna billa baynaa iminka, waxayna doonana waynu iskaga hadlaynaa waa muddo toban daqiiqo ah. Markaa bal ii warran! Maxaad warhaysaa?  Now we are starting to converse and we will be talking about anything we want. Our time limit is ten minutes. So, tell me! What kind of news do you have for me? 
2  B Wallahi wa aa nabad. Sidaan ku kuugu sheegay ma ogtahay sabka wixii I qabsaday ayaan ku soo cecelin karnaa. Marka waxa weeye ninkaan ku sheegayey ee saaxiibkay ahaa naqtii baa hoost a gashatay oolaba arki maayo, markaa midkii kale oon la deganaa markii aan imid Los Angeles. Ninkaas baan teleefon u diray oo, isua ka soo noqday xaggaas iyo Nigeria. Markaa waa taan ku lahaa nu saaye mushtar ah weeyo makaasaan ku idhi waar ninkii maxaa kudhacay? Markaas uu wuxuu yidhi waar ninkii anuuba xalay ila joogay, lakiin mor kaan arka anaa ninkii canaanyeyo oo odhanaya waar maxaad dadka saaxiibadaa ah siaas ugu gashay, maxaad teleefon ugu diri weydey.   I am doing fine. I will tell you what I did this morning. The friend that I used to talk about these days doesn't call. He seems to be busy with his girlfriend. I also called a friend of mine from Nigeria who I was living with when I arrived in Los Angeles. He is a businessman and has returned from Africa. He told me that my other friend was with him, and he will ask him why he doesn't call us anymore. 
3  A I mika hadalkii baynu iska qabanay maaye. Ninkani waa qolada afka baadha. Maalin daweyd baanu halkan kuaragnay. Maqaa xida yor ee aynu fadhiisono. Markaa waxaan ugo sheekeeyo af Soomaligu nooco matalan marka afafka loo kala qaybiyo siady codadka u kala adeegsadaan inuu keenu yahay nooca ata qalaad laguu yidhaado tone language, uu ka midka yahay markaan waxaan sii yey tusalayaal sid codu isu beddelo ee marka lodku is beddelo ama tanka waxa ay yidhaah daan eeyadu macue kale u sameeyaan. Matalan marka aynu soo qaadano codka codka ku dhacay ayaa machahna kala beddeley, 'inan', 'inan' waxba kumay saa'idin. 'Inan' oo kii lab ah iyo 'inan' oo dheddiggdkii ah. Matalan 'dameer' iyo 'dameer', 'weyl' iyo 'weyl'. Waxbaa yara si ah.  Let us talk about something else. This man, ____, is an instructor of languages. We have recently met at the cafeteria where we Somalis gather. We talked about the Somali language and what kind of language it is. I said, for example, when you categorize languages, Somali is referred to as a tone language. In Somali language, a change of the tone of a certain word produces a different meaning. For instance, 'a girl' in Somali is called 'inan'. But, also in the same spelling, it is 'a boy'. The difference lies in the sound and tone. When one wants to say 'boy' it sounds like /innaan/ , but it is spelled the same as 'girl' : 'inan'. This can be applied to 'dameer', meaning 'he-donkey' or 'she-donkey'. Also, 'weyl', meaning a female cow in contrast to 'weyl', a male cow. Something seems to be funny there. 
4  B Mxaakaa af uguska laguu yidhaahda?  What do you call this in the English language? 
5  A Tonka ayaa beddlay. In griisida waxa la yidhaadaa iyada, ….waxay adeegsataa stress ka iyo waxay yidhaadaan oo markaa.  The tone changed. I think the English language is referred to as a change of stress and tone. 
6  B Middau kule maxaa la yidhaahdaan af Soomaliga markii lagu hadlayo, makan labuda mooyaane qoka kale wuxim odhanayaa, haa ama wukun dirayaa calaamaad in qof kaasi la gocdo ah. Markaan nidhaahno 'kow', waxaad u malaysaa inaanu af ingiriisku lahayn. Matalan marka lab qof oo ingiriisi wada hadalayaan qof yidhaahda anigu naan ku maglee haa wuxuu qofka kale u qaadanayaa ee hadlayaa in aanu qofkani waxba ka dhegeysaneymin.  In contrast to the English language, the Somali language, when two people are talking, the listener tends to constantly say 'kow', meaning 'yes'. Whereas a listener in the language never interrupts, rather he or she nods their head. Communicating in English, for a listener to make noise would be impolite behavior. 
7  A Taa waynu kaga duwahay. Innagu in qofkii kula sodo ee dodka qaar baa markay kuu shekaynayaan kow deh ku odhanaya, hayee baad leedahay. Iminkaas xas uustee Ingiriisdu waa intonation language. Af Soomaliguna waa tone language. Markaa wuxuu doonayey tusaaleyaal kale in aau u sheego runtii inntii markaa. Maskaxda igago soo dhaeday uun baan xasuusnaa. Waxaan idhi wixii kale ee bal aan heli karana waan soo baadhi doona. Laakiin iin yow imminkuun baabau xasuustee halkaa ayuu kaga geddisanahay sida hadalka loo kala guro. Af Ingriisa iyo ma laha afafka kale.  We are different in that aspect. To make some kind of noise, especially to say 'kow' or 'yes', tends to be a necessary response while listening to someone. Oh! I just remembered, the English language is called an intonational language and the Somali language is called a tone language. Well as you said, our language and many others, especially the English, differ in terms of the speaker versus the listener. 
8  B Afafka kale kuma giraan waa keena keliya.  I think it's only ours that has that factor… 
9  A Qofku wa hadlayaa, ka kalena wa aamusan yahay oo waa dhaageysanayaa markuu qofkii hadalka dhammeeyo aguu kii kalena qaa dana yaa.  In many western languages conversation is characterized by the speaker keeping talking till he finishes what he has to say, while the listener keeps his strict silence. 
10  B Waaba ceeb xagga afafka Ingriiska iyo afafka kaleba sida talyaa niga iyo qofka markay wada hadlayaan hadduu qofkale soo dhex galo awa uu juuq yidhaado, wuxuu u qaadanayaa cay. Waxaabu laayahay iin kani I dhegeysau maayee muxuu iiga so dhex gelaya shekada.  It is not courtesy for the listener to make noises in the English language. If the listener interrupts while the speaker is still talking, it will be taken as rudeness. 
11  A Innagna waxa weeyoon laga ma maatmaan. Waayo berigii hore ee dhagankii Soomaaliga marka uu iin warra maayo, meel intuu ka yimaaddo la waray sanayo. Ninku markuu warram ayo ka kale na wuu ra guu jirey. Markaa weliba waxay u badnaan jirtey oo aan u malayna yaa taasna inay ugu sabab tahay. Ninkan warramaya ee meesha kale ka yimi meel tog buu ka yimi oo nin soo daalay. Codkiisii ma dhawaaqi karo. Meeshiina waa laysu soo uruxoo cod tebiye la haysan, ama bahakan afka qalaad lagu yidhaahdo 'makrifoonka', nin markaa laggii meesha joogey ah oo nastay oo cod dheer ayaa hadalka ka quri jirey. Markaasuu codkii sare u sii qaadayaa.  It is necessary in our culture for a listener to say 'kow' or 'yes' while listening to someone. As you know, our society, for its most part, are nomads. Therefore, travelers are the messengers. When a traveler arrives in a camp, people gather to hear what information he brought. For example, if rainfall took place in the place he came from. However, the traveler is tired and he cannot raise his voice, and there is no microphone. So someone sits next to him and repeats aloud each word he says. 
12  B Oo markaa qofku hadalka leeyaha misfuu ku soo celinayaa hadalka.  The man who sits beside him repeats what words are spoken. 
13  A Haa, ereygii uu yidhaahdabu wuu ka daba odhanayaa. Matalan markuu weedh yidhaahdo, in isku xidhan oo macna samaynaysaba, ninkii waa nin daalan oo isagu hoos buu u odhanayaa, kii kalena saruu u sii qaadayaa.  Yes, he repeats it. 
14  B (no entry)  In other words, he is the Somali microphone. 
15  A (no entry)  The Somali nomads don't have microphones, naturally. 
16  B Isagii buu iska dhigayaa miyaa…  The microphone-man acts as though he is the traveler. 
17  A Codkiisii uun buu ku celinayaa.  He just repeats what the man says. 
18  B Waa Soomaalida makrifoon keedii.  As I said, the Somali form of microphone… 
19  A Illayn makrifoon ma laha e, si dadkii badnaa ee meesha u soo fadhiistay hadalkii u wada gaadho, ayuu ninkan u sii dheereynayaa codka. Waayo ninkan warramayaa waxa laga yaabaa inuu meel colaada ka yimi, ama dagaal ka soo socdey, uu daalan yahay oo codkuba aanu saani uga soo baxay. Markaa nin dardar leh ayaa codkii markuu in yar sheegaba isagu intuu qaado ku dhawaaqaya. Merkaasuu dadkii oo dhan wada qaadhayaa. Horta kolley taasi sabab bay u noqonaysaa waxa Soomaalidu hadalka isaga gurto.  There is no microphone and he should talk loud so that the audience can hear. The traveler is usually tired because he has walked from fifty miles or more. He could also be wounded in a war, etc…This could be why the Somali listener tends to say 'yes' or 'kow' when he is listening. 
20  B Haa, taa kamaanan war hayn gaaladuna kama war hayso ayaan u malaynayaa. Soomaalidu waxay u malaynaysaa dadkoo dhami inay sidaa wada yihiin. Laakiin markaad u fiirsato annaga uun weeye. Toban kii minidh miya anay dhocin…  That is right. I didn't know that. Many Somalis think that most of the people talk like that. By the way, did we run out of the ten minutes we had? 
21  A Mayee weli waynu iska sii wadi doonaa ye.  No, it isn't time yet. We can continue speaking. 
22  B Markan aniga iyo adigu wada hadallo, markaa ka bacdi miyaan sii macnaynaynaa waxaan ku wada hadalnay?  Are we going to translate and transcribe our conversation? 
23  A Maya.  No. 
24  B Wuxuu doonayaa keliya dhawaaqa inuu maqlo.  He just wants to hear the tone of the Somali… 
25  A Wuxuu yidhi markii toban ka miridh bilaab meen, in tii aan Ingiriisida ku isdi yuu yidhi ku bilaw. Markay dhamaadaan tobanka miridhna waxaad tidhaahdaa waa kan dhamaadkii duubistii afka Soomaaliga. Markaa qebedduu istaagoo wuxuu yidhi anaa halkaa kaa siinayaa seenyaale.   
26  B Oo de bedduu taaganyay hadda?  Is he standing there with you? 
27  A Haa, ilame joogo. Miyuu adiga kula joogaa.  Yes; he is not in the vicinity. Is he with you? 
28  B May.  No. 
29  A Albaabkii buu xidhoo sanqadha kale ka ilaali buu yidhi. Teleefonka maixiisa aan hayo. Xagga aan ku hadlayo, makrifoon yar baa afka ku soo haya.  He closed the door and asked me not to make any unnecessary noise. There is a microphone hooked on my telephone. 
30  B Anna tabtaasaan ahay.  Mine is the same. 
31  A Markaa wuxuu yidhi, afkaana dib uga yara qaad. Sanqadhaha kalena ka ilaali. Marba waxaan arkayaa uun anigoo gacanta yara dhaqaajiyey oo, dhaqanku waa belaayo e.  He asked to raise my mouth or move my mouth away from the microphone, but now and then I see myself moving my mouth too close to the microphone, or playing with it. Culture (?) is something else. 
32  B Oo waad is hilmaamaysaa.  So you are forgetting his instructions. 
33  A Faraha kolley waan iska yara dhaq dhaqaa jiyaa.  My fingers are moving all over the place. 
34  B Dhawaaqa ka ilaali buu ku yidhi.  He asked not to make noises. 
35  A Haa, iyo wixii sanqadh meelahana ayuu qabanayaa markaa codkii baa ka badhxamaaya. Inta danbe qosol baynu uga buuxinaynaaye maxaad odhan lahayd?  Yes, he asked me that. Let us try to be humorous during the rest of the conversation. What do you want to say? 
36  B Aniga hadalkii iga dhamaayoo waxaan sheegaba garan maayo. Bal adigu noo sheekee. Sheekada wad.  I have run out of words and I don't know what to say anymore. You go ahead and say something. 
37  A Anigu waxaan hayaa shee kooyinkii mutuxnaayee dhaqankaa horee ayuu ka nimid.  I have stories which are dry and which are related to our out-moded Somali language and Somali folk stories. 
38  B Waan kaa maqlayaaye iska wad.  It is all right. Go ahead. 
39  A Anna iminka intaan meelahan joog joogo, shuqulada aan u baahnahay waxa weeye dhaqankan cusub iyo kaftan kiisa iyo jareexadiisa iyo qosolkiisa inaan barto, waayo meshkiladda iminka aan dareemay waxa weeye, laba qof baa wada hadlaya ama matalan tiifiiqaba. Wax bay ku qoslayaan. Wixii anigu maan dareemin.  Now, since I am in the United States, I have tried to get acquainted with this culture. I am trying to learn their sense of humor or jokes. I have been feeling funny. For example, some of my friends tell me jokes (American jokes) but I usually miss what the joke is. I watch sometimes the T.V. (comedy shows) and I miss what the people are laughing about. 
40  B Yacnii qosolkaa layska qoslisiinayo dadku waxay ku qoslayeen.  You mean that you miss the jokes. 
41  A Wixii ay ku qoslayeen maan faminba. Laba sababoodba way jitaan. Mid weeyaane afkii si formal ah baynu u baranay. Markaa sidiisan social ka ah u fahmi maayo. Xaggii buuguun baan ka fahmayaa, ee xaggii mujtamaca, dhaqankii dadka. Iminka waynu soo gaba gebeyneynaa. Halkaasaynu ku dhamaynaynaa.  I don't understand what they are laughing about. Two reasons contribute to this misunderstanding. First, we learned the English language in a formal way and we were not oriented towards its social aspect. The second one is that we see things in terms of books, and not in the social way. Now we are ending it. 
42  B Oo miyay dhacday tobankii?  Did the ten minutes end? 
43  A Haa.   Yes. End of recording of the Somali language is up to here..