Alphabet & Sounds

Section 1 🔗

Lesson 1 🔗 

In this lesson, we will learn the grammar patterns of some common greetings in Mam when addressing both an individual (singular) and a group (plural). Lastly, we’ll look at different ways to say thank you and goodbye. 

1. Welcome: b’a’ntuleni

2. How are you? ti’ ta’y? ti’ ta’ qi?

3. I am good: b’a’n ta qini. 

4. Thank you: chjonte

5. Let’s go:  qo’, qo’y

   1. Two types of “we” in Mam: inclusive and exclusive:

6. Asking about others: Ti’ ta’ Sofia? 

Lesson 2 🔗

In this lesson, we will learn the grammar behind presenting items. We will learn: 

1. Presenting items: Atzan __ ken 

2. You’re right: Ax tok tu’ni

Lesson 3 🔗

In the conversation in this lesson, we saw several examples of how to describe emotional states in Mam. There are several different grammatical strategies used when describing emotions. Two main types are: 

1. Stative sentences to describe emotions: B’a’n ta’ qini. 

2. Third person singular pronouns: She/he/it: txin, q’a, xuj, xin

3. Active sentences to describe emotions: Nchin tzalji. 

   1. n-, (ongoing action)

   2. blue pronouns (before C and V)

   3. orange suffix, third person singular classifiers

   4. Verbal suffix: -n, -an

Section 2 🔗

Lesson 5 🔗  

In the conversation in this lesson, we see how to describe weather states in Mam. In this lesson we’ll learn the basics of describing the weather, discussing the weather, and a few ways to express existence, amounts, and locations.  

1. Asking about weather: Ti’ ta’ qi’j ja’l?

2. Existence, there is, there isnt: At, Nti’

3. There’s a lot or not a lot: At nim, Nya nim

4. At and in: max, tuj 

Lesson 6 🔗

In this lesson, we will learn about red pronouns and the three ways they are used in Mam:

1. Possessing nouns: my relative: warmani

2. Objects of prepositions (to me): (I’m afraid/ there is hunger about me): at tchi wi’ji

   1. Relational nouns

3. Subjects of some verbs (I): I want: waji

Lesson 7 🔗 

In this lesson, we will learn: 

1. Counting and listing: jun, kab’, junt

2. What is ___?: Alkye ___? 

3. Place names using “house”: tja xnaq’tzb’il

4. Plural: qa

Section 3 🔗

Lesson 9 🔗  

In this lesson, we will learn.... 

1. Go and “will go” + verb: qo kxe’l b’etal

2. Directionals: jawn, kub’an, okan, elan, tzaj, xi’

3. Location: max 

Lesson 10 🔗

In this lesson, we will learn.... 

1. You might fall! Noq ___ tolji! 

2. Introducing a new blue pronoun: tz’

3. Be careful (go slowly): cheb’

Lesson 11 🔗

In this lesson, we will learn.... 

1. Time markers: ma, o

2. Negative words (Don’t worry): nti’, me’n

3. Return/go back: al meltz’j

4. Because: tu’n 

5. Intensity: qa’san

Section 4 🔗

Lesson 13 🔗

In this lesson, we will learn.... 

1. Let’s go (verb): Qo’ laq’ol

2. I want to (verb): Waji chin keyan

3. Asking for price/ “How much?”: jte’

4. Commands: q’ontzi, qanxi, ontzi, laq’ontzi

Lesson 14 🔗

In this lesson, we will learn.... 

1. Future tense 

2. Question words: jto, tijil, alkye, ti’, jte’. add also: a’l, jto’, niky’ or, jatum ti’ qu’n

3. How to express ‘doing’ (be done by us): tijil kb’antel qu’n, ma b’ant kyaj q’ij

Lesson 15 🔗

1. “Is there…?” questions: atm

2. Different ways to express “it’s delicious”: k’owj/ t’kowja’l / tk’owjalsan

3. Different ways to express fullness: nojan qini, ma chin noji 

Section 5 🔗

Lesson 17 🔗

1. Verbs like “to coffee” “to chuj”  and borrowings: nchin kapeyni, nchin chuni

2. To you, to me, to it: tiy, wiy, te

3. Positions (next to, on top of, behind): ttxlaj

4. To have: at nxjelb’li, at tipumal

Lesson 18 🔗

1. Many: la’, nim (can count la’)

2. Making (to be made by you): nb’ant jun klob’j tu’ni?

3. I want to be able to weave: Waji b’ant nchmoni (double red pronouns))

Lesson 19 🔗

1. Thank you for visiting us/I will return next year

2. Need to/must: il ti’j tu’n ___

3. If: qa