Buying Things at the Market

Trial

These dialogs are situations where someone buys something at the market.

Nafɛnw

NOTE: The dialog is a bit off because it has a male playing a female seller.

SITUATION: Fred wants to buy some vegetables. He is bargaining with Fanta, the vegetable seller.

FRED: Kamalen, i bɛ mun le fɛ bi?
FANTA: N bɛ nafɛn dɔw le ɲinina.
FRED: Na yan kɛ! Nafɛn bɛɛ suguya kelen-kelen bɛ n fɛ yan.
FANTA: Tamati kɛnɛ bɛ joli-joli?
FRED: Tamati kɛnɛ bɛ sigi kelen dalasi duuru.
FANTA: Jaba kɛnɛ dɔ sanlɔgɔ bɛ n na fana.
FRED: Jabasigiw bɛ dalasi tan-tan.
FANTA: I bɛ sabari ka dɔɔnin bɔ à la. Dalasi tan ka ca kosɛbɛ.
FRED: Baasi tɛ. N bɛna jaba di i ma, sigi kelen, dalasi segin ni tila.

FRED: Boy, what do you want today?
FANTA: I'm looking for some vegetables (lit. "sauce-things").
FRED: Come here then! All sorts of vegetables are here with me.
FANTA: How much are tomatoes each?
FRED: Fresh tomatoes are 25 francs the pile.
FANTA: I've got a hankering for some onions too.
FRED: Onions are 50 francs a pile.
FANTA: Be kind and take some off [the price]. 50 francs is really a lot.
FRED: No problem. I am going to give you onions for 42.5 francs for one pile.
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Sisɛ

SITUATION: Fred has gone to the market to buy some chicken. He is talking to Mamadi, the "sisɛtigi" or chicken seller.

MAMADI: N terikɛ, e bɛ tagara min? Sisɛ ɲumanw bɛ n fɛ yan. I tɛna dɔ san?
FRED: N bɛ sisɛ le ɲinina cɔ!
MAMADI: Na! Na n taw filɛ. Min o min diyara i ye, n bɛna u di i ma da diman na.
FRED: Joli-joli don?
MAMADI: Kelen, bi naani ni duuru. I bɛ joli le fɛ?
FRED: Fila le sanlɔgɔ bɛ n na. I bɛ se ka dɔɔnin bɔ à la?
MAMADI: Baasi tɛ. I diya-n-ye taw woloma. N bɛna duuru-duuru bɔ i ye.
FRED: O bɛna diya n ye kosɛbɛ. I barika!

MAMADI: My friend, where are you going? I've got some nice chickens here. Won't you buy some?
FRED: I am indeed looking for chicken!
MAMADI: Come [on over]! Come look at mine. Whichever ones you like, I'm going to give them to you for a good price.
FRED: How much are they each?
MAMADI: One [for] 225 francs. How many do you want?
FRED: I have a desire for two. Can you take some off [the price]?
MAMADI: No problem. Select your preferred ones. I am going to five off of each.
FRED: That's going to please me. Thanks!
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Derekeba Sɔngɔ

SITUATION: Robert is trying to by a "derekeba" from Umaru at the market.

ROBERT: Kɔrɔ, derekeba gwɛman nin sɔngɔ bɛ joli?
UMARU: Nin? Kɛmɛ segin ni bi duuru!
ROBERT: Ko joli?
UMARU: N ko kɛmɛ segin ni bi duuru.
ROBERT: Hun! O ka ca ka tɛmɛ! I tɛ se ka dɔ bɔ à la?
UMARU: N tɛ se.

ROBERT: Elder brother, how much is the price of this white boubou?
UMARU: This? 4,250.
ROBERT: [You] say how much?
UMARU: I said 4,250.
ROBERT: Whoa! That's way too much! Won't you lower the price?
UMARU: I can't.
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Derekeba Sanni

SITUATION: Robert is at the market bargaining with Asimu, a clothing vendor, for a new "derekeba."

ROBERT: Kɔrɔ, i sabari ka dɔ bɔ derekeba sɔngɔ la.
ASIMU: À sɔngɔ karikari le bɛ kɛmɛ wɔɔrɔ ni mugan ye.
ROBERT: Barika!
ASIMU: À sɔngɔ le bɛ o ye. Fɛn si tɛ se ka bɔ à la.
ROBERT: N kà o lɔn. Nka ne ta wari ma o bɛɛ bɔ. Ne b'à fɛ ka derekeba nin san.
ASIMU: Baasi tɛ. Kɛmɛ wɔɔrɔ sara.
ROBERT: I ni ce, kɔrɔ. O diyara n ye kosɛbɛ. N bɛn'à san.

ROBERT: Elder brother, be kind and take some off the price of the boubou.
ASIMU: It's last price is 3,100.
ROBERT: Please [lower it]!
ASIMU: That's its price. Nothing else can be taken off it.
ROBERT: I know it. But my money doesn't add up to all that. I want to buy this boubou
ASIMU: Fine (lit. 'No problem'). Pay 3,000.
ROBERT: Thanks, elder brother. This really has pleased me. I'm going to buy it.
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