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The Zarma course "Cawyan Zarma sanni"
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Content
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Structure
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Spelling of words
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1. Structure
The course "Studying the Zarma language"
encompass six linked components:
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The lessons
The course
will eventually consists of about 26 lessons. Each lesson starts with an introduction in Zarma, e.g. a
short story, which is followed by the vocabulary and grammar.
Words are classified in verbs, nouns and
other words. In addition to the
translation an indication of the
pronunciation is provided. An explanation of
the pronunciation is given in the
pronunciation guide. Each lesson ends with some exercises to practise the newly learned words and grammar.
For the first lesson you can
practice interactively.
In the first ten lessons attention will be
paid to greetings, just before the grammar
topics are discussed. The ritual of greeting
is very important in Zarma society, as well
as in many other African countries. One
takes time for greeting before coming to the
topic to be discussed. It goes far beyond
the "Hello" and "How are you?" used in
western Europe.
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Interactive test book
Practice your knowledge interactively.
Currently the test is only available for the
first lesson.
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The answer book
The answer book can be used to check your
answers and to check whether or not you
comprehend the subject matter discussed and
explained in the lesson.
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The pronunciation guide
The pronunciation guide provides a
general view of the tones used in Zarma,
as well as an indication of the
pronunciation. This guide also explains
how to use the indications of the
pronunciation of each new word given in the vocabulary of each lesson. To learn more about the pronunciation you can always click the pronunciation icon
see icon right.
To let you get used to spoken Zarma,
examples are included in some of the
lesson. You should also listen to the
video clips with modern Zarma songs. |
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The grammar help
The grammar help provides an overview per
topic. Most grammar topics are not discussed
and explained in one lesson but by gradual
stages in several lessons. The grammar help
gives you an opportunity to keep an overview
of the entire subject matter of the topic.
References are made to the lessons in which
the topic is discussed and explained.
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The dictionary
The dictionary (Zarma - English) makes it
possible to easily find the translation of a
Zarma word, So as not to leaf through the
lessons to find the word in one of the
vocabulary lists. Nevertheless,
in the dictionary a reference is provided
to the lesson in which the word is introduced.
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2. Spelling of words
The spelling system
used in this Zarma internet course will follow
the spelling laid down in acts in the end of
the previous century and a has been used in
literature after 1995 and especially
since the beginning of this century.
The spelling used originally in the course
followed the system of the available loose-leaf paper courses
(see
credits). In 2012 I made a start to
adapt the spelling to the most recent one.
All lessons starting from lesson 16 are or
will be published in the new spelling. If
words also occur in earlier lessons or other
parts of the website, they will be set to
the new spelling there as well. In addition,
older lessons will be check one for one and
spelling reset. The dictionary will
eventually be in the new spelling with the
old and other spelling between {}.
The authors of the old loose-leaf paper
course stated they have tried to follow the
rules laid down by the Education Ministry of
the Niger Republic in the early 1980thies, and
that there were a few words which the
Ministry insisted had to be spelled a
certain way, but which nearly all Zarmas
pronounce a bit differently. This is because
of the existing differences of pronunciation
among Zarmas, the Songhays and the Dandis.
Where such a word occurs in the
vocabularies, it is indicated how it should
be pronounced, as the spelling will not fit
the spoken word. These words shall also be
marked in the margin with a tilde between
brackets (~). |
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Last updated:
13 februari 2012
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