Street Word

Kisii English?

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Published on Saturday, 30 June 2007 23:34

Call it what you may. I am always fascinated by the fact that of all the tribes in kenya, the abagusii tribe seems to have the most interesting conjugations and accent issues. I think its a reflection of the language and stuff. Well, you are probably wondering what I mean. Here are afew examples.

The P and B dilemma
Why do we always switch p's for b's and b's for p's?
e.g te pas is bassing py? (the bus is passing by), Subabaisa (supervisor), papors (bubbles), buresitenti (president), Pangirisi panki (Barclays bank) etc.

The S and SH Phenomenon
e.g shunshine, sining soes (shining shoes), Shea sells (sea shells), etc

The miraculous appearance of extra vowels
e.g Berseferency (perseverence), taoni (down? town?) I amu goingi taoni tere to see a beautifur gari.

The examples are endless so let me not even continue. And then there is the kisii who has american children.

Here is a conversation that I bet many of you have heard on many occassion. Imagine parents who immigrated to the US and had their kids here. You know that the parents maintain their accent and the kids speak "american" So there:

MOM: Kitisi! Chuutrens! Ng'ai mwachia abana aba.

KIDS: Yes mom?

MOM: gweni mama kori (call) you woti you tu?

KIDS: We come?

MOM : So why you tonti riseni to mama gweni mama kori you?

KIDS: Well Brian was playing nintendo and Ashley was playing with her barby dolls and then Bobby was watching cartoons and it was so loud we could not hear you. Sorry mom.

MOM: Purayani! Aye you poy! no more ntendosi. Asiri! witi your parpy torrs puti temu agway, Poppu!!! gaki abana mbwate! Omwana aikaranse atogorie amaiso etibi igoro miaka yote. Gento tari koigwa nonye!. Nabana mbwate gose nebikondo?

KIDS (crying): but mom you called us monkeys in "African."

MOM: Kira. Abirikani? gwot isi abirikani? tere is no ranguech korrd abirikani. You are abagusii!! Mwanyarire. reti your tatty come home and tiri witi you kitis. I am fet apu. Omonto nkwane bwakia bokaira abana emetu nebitare! karwaa timbachwata bosa!

BRIAN: Mom you called us rock -heads that's not nice!

MOM: So? ifu mama calls you a rocketi you are a rocketi!

BRIAN: Not rocket! rock heads!

MOM : So you tinki you are smarti? Tiga iso aracha rero mutaona cha mtema kuni!

KIDS: Mom sorry. Please don't tell dad please?

MOM: Okay pati tonti tu tati again. Mama rafi you and mama tonti wanti to piti her peipy tarrings. Okay swilaats? Kamu to mama. Mama gibu you some raf. Mama kisi you and hagi you and teni you go naiti naiti okay swillies?

There's more to come have a pompastikarry fantapurasi americanized day.Preisha (pleasure)
~Nyabengeya (Call me Nyaps)