Reader I - Na baro kè

Trial

Welcome to the Na baro kè Reader!

This is an in-progress collection of short video excerpts from street interview episodes of the Na baro kè series available on YouTube, designed to help you pick up new grammar and vocabularly while engaging with Bambara/Jula as it is spoken in real life.

Each chapter features a 2–4 minute video with optional subtitles (in Bambara/Jula or English), along with vocabulary lists and grammar explanations tied to key moments.

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

Click here to see Volume II.

Grammar Points Covered

1) Foli

  • None

2) Warimisɛn

  • Expressing "You can't get/find it" with sɔrɔ ('obtain') in the passive voice
  • Expressing "need; must" with Fo X ka
  • Expressing "to the point that" with fo to express "until; to the point that"
  • Comparative constructions to express "more than" or "-er" with qualitative verbs and(ni) X ye
  • Expressing 'because of X' or "for X" with X kanma
  • Expressing "the same" with kelen
  • Using O bɛ à sɔrɔ to express "It so happens", etc

3) Nɛnɛ

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

4) Sabari

  • Expressing "each/every" with the distributive o construction
  • Expressing "before(hand)" or "ever" with ka ye

5) SOTRAMA

  • None

6) Telefɔni

  • None

7) Tunga

  • None

8) Surun

  • Expressing "To each, their X" with Bɛɛ n'i ka X

9) Ouaga vs Bobo

  • Expressing "like; as if" with i n'à fɔ, i ko, etc
  • Expressing "since" or "seeing as" with komi or ikomi

10) Senankuya

  • None

11) Lɔgɔ

  • Use of X bɛɛ ni à bɛɛ for emphasis
  • Use of ka to as "to cause" to express "which is why"