Gagana Samoa: A Samoan Language Coursebook, Revised Edition

Lesona 3. This, That, These, Those

333333333333333  Conversation / Talanoaga At the shopping centre: IOANE: ‘O le ā le fale lale? What’s that building? MELE: ‘O le Maota Sāmoa. It is Sāmoa House. IOANE: ‘Ae ā le fale lea? What about this building? MELE: ‘O le Falemeli. It’s the Post Office. IOANE: ‘O fea le falepovi? Where’s the butchers? MELE: Lea. Here (it is). At the butchers: IOANE: ‘O le ā lenei mea? What’s this thing? MELE: ‘O le itū māmoe. It’s a side of lamb. IOANE: ‘O le ā lenā mea? What’s that thing? MELE: ‘O fasi pua‘a. They’re pork pieces. IOANE: ‘Ē, va‘ai ‘i le tapuvae pua‘a lale. Hey, look at that pig trotter! Demonstratives This, that, these, those. lenei — this (close to speaker) lea — this (close to speaker) lenā — that (close to listener) lele — that (not too distant from speaker) lelā — that (away from speaker/listener) lale — that (away from speaker/listener) LESONA 3 This, That, These, Those ≥  Gagana Sāmoa 1. There are three formal demonstratives in Samoan; they are: lenei — this (in possession of/close to speaker); other form — lea lenā — that (in possession of/close to speaker); other form — lele lelā — that (away from both speaker/listener); other form — lale 2. Singular demonstratives. lenei / lea (this) lenā / lele (that — close to) lelā / lale (that — far away) 3. Plural demonstratives. nei / ia (these) nā / nā (those — close to) lā / lā (those — far away) Note: In all except two (lea, lele) the plural form is obtained by dropping le from: lenei, lenā, lelā, lale. 4. Demonstratives can come before or after the noun they qualify. for example: before — ‘O lea mea — (this thing) after — ‘O le mea lea — (the thing this) 5. Ā is a question word used as the pronoun “What”. for example: ‘O le ā? — It’s a what? (What is it?) ‘O le ā lea? — It’s a what this? (What is this?) ‘O le ā is also an idiomatic expression used when answering someone’s call. for example: Sole — “Hey, fellow” ‘O le ā? — “What?” Additional practise / Fa‘ata‘ita‘iga fa‘aopoopo (A) ‘O le ā lenei mea? What’s this? ‘O le uati lenei mea. It’s a clock this thing. (E) ‘O le ā lelā mea? What’s that? ‘O le laulau lelā. It’s a table that thing. (I) ‘O le ā lenā mea? What’s that? ‘O le peni lenei mea. It’s a pen this thing. (O) ‘O le ā lea mea? What’s this thing? ‘O le tusi lenā mea. It’s a book that thing. ≥ Lesona   Conversation / Talanoaga PETA: ‘O ā nei mea? What are these? MALAMA: ‘O i‘a. They’re fish. PETA: ‘Ae ā nā mea? What about those? MALAMA: ‘O talo. They’re taro. In English we say “chairs” if there are two or more. In the types of sentences we have learnt so far in Samoan, e.g., ‘O le laulau, le is the definite article which means the, and it implies singular or one object. To form the plural you simply remove le. Thus: singular plural ‘O le laulau (the table) ‘O laulau (tables) Wrapping fish in tin foil for cooking. University of Hawai‘i, Samoan Studies ≥  Gagana Sāmoa EXERCISE 1 Translate / Fa‘aliliu In this exercise, you are referring to things near the person you are speaking to. 1. That tree; those trees. 2. That book; those books. 3. That baby; those babies. 4. That bus; those buses. 5. That man; those men. 6. That school; those schools. 7. That child; those children. 8. That girl; those girls. 9. That church; those churches. 10. That teacher; those teachers. EXERCISE 2 Write in plural in Samoan 1. ‘O lenei tama. 2. ‘O lenei ‘ato. 3. ‘O lenei igoa. 4. ‘O lenā laulau. 5. ‘O lenā fale. 6. ‘O lenā fafine. 7. ‘O lelā tusi. 8. ‘O lelā fōma‘i. 9. ‘O lea ta‘avale. 10. ‘O lea falema‘i. EXERCISE 3 Translate / Fa‘aliliu The thing you are referring to is away from the person that you are talking to. 1. That man; those men. 2. That house; those houses. 3. That tree; those trees. Lesona   4. That church; those churches. 5. That book; those books. 6. That table; those tables. 7. That boy; those boys. 8. That bus; those buses. 9. That woman; those women. 10. That school; those schools. EXERCISE 4...