Problem:IOL/2009/i2/en(B)
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!, ɛ ≈ a in hat, ɔ ≈ a 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