OK so over that past few months I have been attempting to speak in Luganda. The local languae spoken in my region of Uganda. While I have mastered greetings and enough to get by in markets and negotiating bicycle taxis my vocabularly is limited and sentence structure is non existent! But the locals are either super impressed by my efforts or find it hilarious that a muzungu would ever be able to say something in Luganda. I've become accustomed to to laughed at hysterically many times a day! So, while learning Luganda has been a struggle I do like to think I've mastered Ugandan English very well. Even being understood by my primary school students. You may be think that Uganda uses British English (which is correct after we were their colonial leader) but the Ugandans have adapted tat somewhat. Here is a little guide to the kind of English I now use.
Well be back = Welcome back
Well done = well done for doing nothing in particular, probably best translated to Hi or well done for still being alive.
China phone = A fake/bad quality phone
Duplicate = poor quality
You are ever busy = You are always busy
How are you = translates directly to How are you but there are only two responses- I am fine (means normal) or I am fair (I am possibly seriously sick/dying/have just lost my mother).
You are lost = You have been away for a long time, where have you been?
I think we are here = Are we in the right place?
Assist me with you phone = Please can I use your phone
Give me money = Please may I have some money from the food allowance which you are looking after.
How is there? = How is you house/town?
Extend = Please can you move up a bit so I can sit down.
It is over = There is no more/it is finished
What is the programme? = What are we doing to today?
I am sick = I don't want to do what you are asking me to do
I am coming = I might come if I feel like it, but you might never see me again.
I was at a burial = I decided not to do what you asked me (here everyone drops everything for the death of anyone in the community for the following day)
It is there = the thing you are asking for exists but this bizarre "there" place could be anywhere!
I think we should buy tomatoes = Would you like me to buy the tomatoes or will you shout at me again for buying the ones that are too big, too small, too yellow!
It's OK=Yes....this was probably the hardest one as it's OK in English means no it's OK I don't mind so it is the opposite! The cause of masses of confusion-I still haven't got used to it!
I'm sure there are many more but time is up on the internet cafe so I'll have to think of more to post later.
Lots of love
xxx
