Intermediate Coursebook

Trial

This book is designed for Intermediate students of Bambara/Jula.

It picks up where the Advanced Beginner Coursebook ends.

These materials are for use in the live Intermediate Seminar course, but can also be used for independent study.

Grammar Points Covered

Kan Caman

  • Relatives with min

Foli

  • Passive voice
  • Expressing "like; as if" with i n'à fɔ, i ko, komi, etc
  • Adjuncts (AKA "Circonstants")

Telefɔni

  • The instrumental suffix -lan
  • Postverbal adverbs

Warimisɛn

  • Comparative constructions to express "more than" or "-er" with qualitative verbs and (ni) X ye
  • Using ka kɛ to express "to occur; to happen; to be"
  • The suffix -la/na for places

SOTRAMA

  • Comparatives constructions with ka tɛmɛ X kan
  • Superlative constructions
  • Span-of-time words (e.g., “since”, “ago” and “for”, etc)

Sabari

  • The distributive o construction to express "each/every"
  • Expressing "before(hand)" or "ever" with ka ye and ka deli
  • Stage-of-time words (e.g., fɔlɔ, kaban, tuguni, etc., to express "yet", "already", "anymore", etc)

Nɛnɛ

  • N+V Compound verbs like daminɛ
  • Use of yanni to express "before" or "instead"
  • Verbal reduplication to express repetition or intensity
  • Variation Notes
    • The lo variant of the focalization marker le
    • R and L variability in and between Bambara and Jula
  • Usage Notes
    • Use of fɛnkɛ as a placeholder or filler
    • Use of k'i yɛrɛ sɔrɔ to express "to seek/obtain well-being"

Bisi Kura

  • The preposition fo "until"
  • The verbal prefixes la-, ma-, sɔ-

Tunga

  • Expressing "need;must" with Fo X ka
  • Using o b'à sɔrɔ to express "it so happens', etc.

Surun

  • Expressing "because of X", etc., with X kanma and X kosɔn
  • Using ka to as "to cause" to express "which is why"
  • Generic i and "To each, their X" with Bɛɛ n'i ka X

Ouaga vs Bobo

  • Expressing "since" or "seeing as" with komi or ikomi
  • Complex derivation or word-building with multiple suffixes (e.g., -bali plus -ya)
  • Expressing "the same" with kelen

Senankuya

  • Demonstratives
  • Agentive suffixes
  • Adjectives derived from nouns via -ma, -lama, and -ntan