4kia
At the door
A visitor today, and with them the smallest grammar of any chapter: wa at the front of a sentence turns it into a yes-or-no question, and two little words, lia and tua, answer it. Everything else is sentences you can already read.
SceneI
A friend stands at the door.
melukia.phaokia. whelani.
| new word | say it | it means |
|---|---|---|
| whelani | whe · la · ni | welcome |
SceneII
meluwa lopia nulae.phaotua. lopia thalo.meluwa wheo nulae.phaotua. wheo mua thepalu nai.meluwa misheko nulae.phaolia. misheko nulae.
| new word | say it | it means |
|---|---|---|
| wa | wa | (asks) |
| tua | tu · a | no |
| lia | li · a | yes |
Three questions, three answers. The question is the plain sentence with wa set before it: nothing moves, nothing changes shape. The friend learns that everyone is up and about, except the one you already knew.
SceneIII
meluwa lohau welao nai.phaolia. lohau welao nai.meluwa misheko welao nai.phaolia. misheko welao nai. misheko nulae.
Yes, the dog is good. Yes, the cat is good: the cat is asleep, which in a cat and goodness are not in conflict.
SceneIV
lopiakia melu.melukia lopia. wa thia nuora nuola.lopialia. wa thia nuora nuola.melulia.phaonuora ha nai. whelani.
The child is asked, answers, and asks straight back: the same five words, returned. The parent settles it the way parents do: the food is here; welcome. (That little ha, here, you will meet properly in the next chapter.) When the visit ends:
melupao.lopiapao melu.
| new word | say it | it means |
|---|---|---|
| pao | pa · o | goodbye |