Problem:IOL/2009/i2/en(A)

From IOL Wiki
< Problem:IOL‎ | 2009‎ | i2

IOL 2009 Problem #2 Maninka and Bamana

The following are words of the Maninka and Bamana languages written in the N'Ko and the Roman script and their English translations:

(a)

ߓߊ߬ߟߊߞߊ߬ߥߎߟߌ bàlákàwúli unexpectedness; sandgrouse (a kind of bird)
ߖߊߕߎ߬ߙߎ játùrú hyena
ߞߏ߬ߟߌ߬ߖߌ kòlijí washing water
ߥߊ߬ߟߊ wàlá slate
ߞߎߡߊߦߌߙߊ kúmayira advertising
ߕߎ߬ߓߊ߬ߓߎ߬ߡߏߙߌ tùbabumóri Christian priest
ߓߌ߬ߟߊߞߏ߬ߙߏ
?
uncircumcised boy
ߕߊߖߎߟߊ
?
match-seller
?
kòrikóri rust
?
báwò because

(b)

ߡߙߊߖߓߊ߬ márajàba hail!
ߖߌߟߛߊߡߊ jílasama hippopotamus
ߞߙߐ߬ߞߙߊ߬ߛߌ kɔ̀rɔkarasí gerontocracy
ߞߣߊ߬ kàna may it be that
ߓߊ߬ߛߌ߬ߕߡߍ básitɛ́me wide-meshed sieve
ߣߊ߬ߡߊߕߙߏ߬ߞߏ nàmátòrokó hyena
ߞߟߐ߬ߟߐ
?
rainbow
ߕߊߡߣߍ
?
light (of a lamp)
ߥߟߏߥߟߏ
?
a kind of midges; honey from such midges
?
jàmanakɛ́ the joys, pleasures of youth
?
lɛ́tɛrɛ letter, missive
?
bìlakóro uncircumcised boy

Fill in the gaps.

⚠ The N'Ko script was invented in 1949 by the Guinean enlightener Soulemayne Kante. In the Roman script j = j in judge, y = y in yay!, ɛa in hat, ɔa in hall. The marks ̺́ and ̺̀ indicate high and low tone (level of voice when pronouncing the syllable), respectively; if neither is present, the syllable has middle tone. The Bamana and Maninka languages belong to the Manding group of the Mande language family. They are spoken in Mali, Guinea and other countries in West Africa. These languages are very close to one another; the distinction between them is of no consequence to the problem.

—Ivan Derzhanski