Dagbani dialogues for vision health outreach Alhassan Aliyu Mohammed and Peter de Groot April 2011

2 V …were created by Unite for Sight coordinator Ali (Alhassan Aliyu Mohammed) and UFS volunteer Peter de Groot in March, They are intended as an introduction and phrase book for the Dagbani language, adapted to the needs of UFS volunteers working in vision health screening Each of the eight dialogues include both native speaker audio embedded in the presentation and a transcription of the dialogue, with corresponding English translation Note that Dagbani does not have an established writing system agreed by everyone, therefore no attempt has been made to transcribe the Dagbani according to a consistent methodology The written Dagbani is intended only to provide some mnemonic guide to the dialogue—the proper use of the dialogues is to listen carefully to the audio and imitate the sounds, rhythm and tonality of the native speaker These Dagbani dialogues…

3 V Dagbani itself has multiple dialects There is no guarantee that Dagbani will be spoken on all outreach programs, especially if the community is far from Tamale One use of the dialogues is to provide a template for collecting appropriate phrases in other languages Northern Region of Ghana is home to many languages

4 V Dagbani Language Resource, Yuri Hanada (UFS Tamale, January 2009) Wikipedia article on the Dagbani language, including references and external links Dagbani-English Dictionary prepared by Roger Blench (2004, 2006) Also of interest are… A dictionary of Ghanaian English by Roger Blench (2006) Many web sites for Twi, a common language alongside English Additional Dagbani resources are available on the web…

5 V Dialogue 1: Greetings Gah-fah-rahExcuse me Eng…(acknowledgement) Dah-see-bahGood morning Nah…(acknowledgement) Kah-u-lah?Hello, how’s it going Ah-lah-feeFine (there is health) Nah-wu-nee-n-songGood bye Ah mee(Response) Click the icon for audio

6 V Dialogue 2: Who are you? Where are you from? Gah-fah-rahExcuse me Eng…(acknowledgement) Ah-mah-rah-bahWelcome! (join us or come in) Ng go-yee-yah(response) Ahn-tee-rehGood afternoon Nah…(acknowledgement) Ah yu-leh?What is your name? Ng yu-ley AliMy name is Ali Yah polo kah-yee nah?Where are you from? Ng yeh-lah Ah-meh-ree-kah nahI am from America Ah yu mah-lah?What is your age? PaHm sug-lo sub-mahPlease write it down

7 V Dialogue 3: How are things? Ahn-nu-lahGood evening nah(acknowledgement) Ahg-bee-hee-rah?How are you? Gom-behn-nehI’m fine Ah paHa beh wu lah?How is your wife? Ah-lah-feeFine (there is health) Ah bee-hee beh wu lah?How are your children? Ah-lah-feeFine (there is health) Ah zo beh wu lah?How is your friend? Ah-lah-feeFine (there is health) Ah tu-mah beh wu lah?How is your work? Ah-lah-feeFine (there is health) Toh, sahah shehl-leh!OK, see you later!

8 V Dialogue 4: Getting stuff Kah-u-lah?Hello, how’s it going Ah-lah-feeFine (there is health) Ah lah mbo ngo?How much is this? PaHm sug-lo sub-mahPlease write it down Teh dehm-ahLet’s eat Ng ku lan deeI won’t eat Om pu-hee-yahThank you

9 V Dialogue 5: Visual acuity Pob-mah ah nim-blahCover your eye Ahn-yeh-mahDo you see me? Eng…Yes Bo-kah-ng-ning-dah? Ng mah-What am I doing? Show me- Yeh polo kah-dee-pah? Which way does it face (E chart character?) Ngo poloThis side Vehng yehl-lahVery good

10 V Dialogue 6: Counting fingers Nu beh-heh ah-lah mmbo ngo?How many fingers is this? Nu-beh-leh yeh nehOne finger Ah-lah mmbo ngo?How many is this? Nu beh-heh ah-yeeTwo fingers Ah-lah?How many? Ah tahThree Ah-lah?How many? Ah nah hehFour Ah-lah?How many? Ah nuFive Vehng yehl-lahVery good

11 V Dialogue 7: Refraction Deh neh?Is it clear? Eng…Yes Ahn to kaH-rehm ngo?Can you read this? Ah yee, deh beh-nehNo, it’s not clear Kah ngo?And this? Eh, deh nehYes, it is clear Wu-lah ngeh-neh pkara-ngo?How are these glasses? Deh nehIt is clear

12 V Dialogue 8: Helping patients Baba, ngo poloFather, this way (to an older man) Mma, ngo poloMother, this way Dwehl-mahFollow me Dwehl-mahFollow me Zhe neh-mahSit down m-boThat’s right Don neh-mahLie down Song meh ah-zoho peeyehHead here Ah nah-bah peeyehFeet here Sah sem-nahMove towards me Sah sem-hahMove back (away from me) Don bah-lehmRelax