June 4th, 2014

June 4^th, 2014

Language

Since moving to Malawi, I have learned how to greet people in countless ways and languages (or so it seems). As I have mentioned before, during training I lived with a family who spoke primarily Chichewa, but knew and understood about 5 other languages from Malawi. Unfortunately, Chilambya was not one of those languages. Because of this I was able to pick up Chichewa and tidbits of the other languages my fellow volunteers were learning. I then moved to my site in Kameme which is known by the rest of Malawi as having the most languages in a specific area. I live close to the boarder of Zambia and Tanzania which both influence Kameme since many products and services are imported here to Malawi. As a result, Chitipa speaks over 22 languages. In Kameme, according to the traditional authority, there are 6-8 languages spoken in this small area. We have seen this demonstrated at the start of each meeting, where the first order of business (of course following the prayer), is to agree on which language to use.

My favorite thing right now is learning how to greet people in each of the languages, I’m up to four! 

Here is a small sample of what I have learned:

General Greetings:

-        Mwaghona! (Hello! Chilambya & Chinyha)

-        Muli scheti? (How are you? Chinyha)

-        Muli akiza? (How are you? Chilambya)

-        Muli bwangi? (How are you? Chichewa)

-        Muli uli? (How are you? Chitumbuka)

Morning:

-        Makata (Chinyha)

-        Mwalamusha (Chilambya)

-        Mwadzuka (Chichewa)

-        Mwauka (Chitumbuka)

Afternoon:

-        Mwaomba (Chinyha)

-        Mwalinda (Chilambya)

-        Mwaswera (Chichewa)

-        Mwatandala (Chitimbuka)

Thank you:

-        Wasalipa (Chinyha)

-        Ndagha (Chilambya)

-        Zikomo (Chichewa)

-        Yewo (Chitimbuka)

As you can see, they are pretty similar. Most people will get the jist of what I am saying even if they don’t really understand that particular language. I’ve been told that you can sit in on a meeting here in Kameme with four people and they can each be speaking in a different language, still understanding each other. It is fascinating that things get done here, and maybe why meetings take 5 times as long here compared to the states, at least that is one of my theories.

I’ve also included the speech that I gave during swear-in at the ambassador’s house. Five of us were chosen to speak, four of us in the languages that we learned during training and one in English. The speech was split up between the four different languages and then translated fully in English. I was the last to go, here is my section:

Umuchinzi wabikikwa kale

Mwaghona mwensi!

Ngati bantu be bakufuma ku America sona ma volontiya, tukwikala mu mwoyo uwa kuswigha nu kusekelela chifukwa cha ba Malawi be twabamanya nu kubaghana.

Posona, tukwanda imbombo uithu iyi ni myoyo ya kwighuka. Tukwitikizya izya mbombo yithu yo yili kuntazi kuti nkulu hee, lole tukusimikizya kubomba akiza nukuyipa sana ku Peace Corps naku Malawi.

Twasalifya sana, pakutupa umwabi uwu uwa kubomba imbombo iyi. Ndagha ndagha ndagha!

Rough Translation:

Respect has already been given

Hello everyone!

As people from America, we are living in awe and great happiness because of Malawians we have known and loved.

We are starting this job with open hearts. We acknowledge that the job we will have in the future is challenging, but we promise that we are going to work well and will dedicate ourselves to Peace Corps and Malawi.

We thank you for giving us this opportunity. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Language has been fascinating and frustrating all at the same time. I am hoping to get a tutor in the next week or so in order to better understand the villagers I meet on a daily basis (plus being able to talk to my landlord might be helpful). It’s exciting, and daunting at times to be learning a language that only a miniscule percentage of the world’s population uses. At times this motivates me, when else will I ever have the opportunity to learn such a unique language?? But at other times it is extremely disheartening, what is the point? I will never have the chance to use it once I leave. Hell, as soon as I leave Chitipa, Malawians look at me like a crazy lady when I great them in Chilambya! It’s all part of the game I suppose. I am embracing the here and now, going with the flow, and taking the time to fully immerse myself in the culture. That’s why I’m here, right?