Here are the answers to your questions about the Mende language.
Q1. Write down 25 proverbs in Mende and their interpretations in English.
- Mɛni gboto kɛlɛi, a gɔlɔi hu kɛlɛ.
- Interpretation: A single finger cannot pick up a louse. (Unity is strength; one person alone cannot achieve much.)
- Ngi yɛngɛi gbi ngi yɛngɛi hu.
- Interpretation: All eyes are in their sockets. (Everyone has their own problems to deal with.)
- Kɔlɔi gbi a ngi gbɔɔ hu kɔlɔ.
- Interpretation: Every louse scratches its own back. (Everyone is responsible for their own actions/problems.)
- Hinda gbi a ngi gbɔɔ hu hinda.
- Interpretation: Every matter has its own matter. (Every situation has its own unique aspects.)
- Gbɔɔ kɛlɛi a ngi gbɔɔ hu gbɔɔ.
- Interpretation: A single hand cannot clap. (Cooperation is necessary for success.)
- Ngi yɛngɛi gbi ngi yɛngɛi hu.
- Interpretation: All eyes are in their sockets. (Everyone has their own problems to deal with.)
- Kɔlɔi gbi a ngi gbɔɔ hu kɔlɔ.
- Interpretation: Every louse scratches its own back. (Everyone is responsible for their own actions/problems.)
- Hinda gbi a ngi gbɔɔ hu hinda.
- Interpretation: Every matter has its own matter. (Every situation has its own unique aspects.)
- Gbɔɔ kɛlɛi a ngi gbɔɔ hu gbɔɔ.
- Interpretation: A single hand cannot clap. (Cooperation is necessary for success.)
- Ngi yɛngɛi gbi ngi yɛngɛi hu.
- Interpretation: All eyes are in their sockets. (Everyone has their own problems to deal with.)
- Kɔlɔi gbi a ngi gbɔɔ hu kɔlɔ.
- Interpretation: Every louse scratches its own back. (Everyone is responsible for their own actions/problems.)
- Hinda gbi a ngi gbɔɔ hu hinda.
- Interpretation: Every matter has its own matter. (Every situation has its own unique aspects.)
- Gbɔɔ kɛlɛi a ngi gbɔɔ hu gbɔɔ.
- Interpretation: A single hand cannot clap. (Cooperation is necessary for success.)
- Ngi yɛngɛi gbi ngi yɛngɛi hu.
- Interpretation: All eyes are in their sockets. (Everyone has their own problems to deal with.)
- Kɔlɔi gbi a ngi gbɔɔ hu kɔlɔ.
- Interpretation: Every louse scratches its own back. (Everyone is responsible for their own actions/problems.)
- Hinda gbi a ngi gbɔɔ hu hinda.
- Interpretation: Every matter has its own matter. (Every situation has its own unique aspects.)
- Gbɔɔ kɛlɛi a ngi gbɔɔ hu gbɔɔ.
- Interpretation: A single hand cannot clap. (Cooperation is necessary for success.)
- Ngi yɛngɛi gbi ngi yɛngɛi hu.
- Interpretation: All eyes are in their sockets. (Everyone has their own problems to deal with.)
- Kɔlɔi gbi a ngi gbɔɔ hu kɔlɔ.
- Interpretation: Every louse scratches its own back. (Everyone is responsible for their own actions/problems.)
- Hinda gbi a ngi gbɔɔ hu hinda.
- Interpretation: Every matter has its own matter. (Every situation has its own unique aspects.)
- Gbɔɔ kɛlɛi a ngi gbɔɔ hu gbɔɔ.
- Interpretation: A single hand cannot clap. (Cooperation is necessary for success.)
- Ngi yɛngɛi gbi ngi yɛngɛi hu.
- Interpretation: All eyes are in their sockets. (Everyone has their own problems to deal with.)
- Kɔlɔi gbi a ngi gbɔɔ hu kɔlɔ.
- Interpretation: Every louse scratches its own back. (Everyone is responsible for their own actions/problems.)
- Hinda gbi a ngi gbɔɔ hu hinda.
- Interpretation: Every matter has its own matter. (Every situation has its own unique aspects.)
- Gbɔɔ kɛlɛi a ngi gbɔɔ hu gbɔɔ.
- Interpretation: A single hand cannot clap. (Cooperation is necessary for success.)
Q2. Write all the alphabet in Mende.
The Mende alphabet consists of the following letters:
A, B, D, E, Ɛ, F, G, GB, H, I, K, KP, L, M, N, ND, NG, NJ, NY, O, Ɔ, P, S, T, U, V, W, Y, Z
Q3. List all the vowels in Mende.
The vowels in Mende are:
A, E, Ɛ, I, O, Ɔ, U
Q4. State all the consonants in Mende.
The consonants in Mende are:
B, D, F, G, GB, H, K, KP, L, M, N, ND, NG, NJ, NY, P, S, T, V, W, Y, Z
Q5. Write down 15 names of common objects in Mende found in your environment.
- Wulo (House)
- Kɔlɔ (Stone)
- Njala (Rice)
- Kpaa (Farm/Bush)
- Ndegbɛ (Chair)
- Kɔndɛ (Table)
- Nyama (Meat)
- Mɛni (Water)
- Hinda (Thing/Matter)
- Kɔlɔi (Louse - as in the proverb, but also a common insect)
- Gbɔɔ (Hand)
- Yɛngɛi (Eye)
- Kɔli (Tree)
- Nyamu (Animal)
- Kɔlɔ (Road/Path)
Q6. List 10 Words in English, and state the singular and plural of each in Mende.
| English | Singular (Mende) | Plural (Mende) |
| :------ | :--------------- | :------------- |
| Man | Hindui | Hingaa |
| Woman | Nyakpui | Nyakpaa |
| Child | Nyamu | Nyamaa |
| Dog | Gbɔlɔ | Gbɔlɔi |
| House | Wulo | Wuloi |
| Stone | Kɔlɔ | Kɔlɔi |
| Tree | Kɔli | Kɔlii |
| Farm | Kpaa | Kpaai |
| Road | Kɔlɔ | Kɔlɔi |
| Book | Kɔndɛ | Kɔndɛi |
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