Language Learning

1. Mii dát lea sámegillii?

   What is this in Sami?

   Usage

   Asks for the Sami word for something while pointing at it

   Grammar Note

   Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. sámegillii is the fixed form for "in Sami" (dárogillii "in Norwegian" is built the same way). It is Mii dát lea? "What is this?" with the language added

2. Sáhtát go čállit dan munnje?

   Can you write that down for me?

   Usage

   To ask someone to write down a word or name you did not catch

   Grammar Note

   Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. A yes/no question puts the particle go, written separately, after the verb. Written for one addressee. munnje is the illative of mun, "to me"

3. Maid dát sátni mearkkaša?

   What does this word mean?

   Usage

   Asks the meaning of a word you do not know

   Grammar Note

   Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. mearkkašit "to mean"; the form Dat mearkkaša … is common. maid is the accusative form of mii

4. Mun áiggun oahppat sámegiela

   I am going to learn Sami

   Usage

   Tells someone that you intend to learn Sami

   Grammar Note

   Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. áigut "to intend, will" is followed by an infinitive. As an object, giella "language" takes the accusative giela (consonant gradation)

5. Mun in ipmir maid son dadjá

   I don't understand what he or she is saying

   Usage

   When you cannot follow what a person is saying

   Grammar Note

   son means "he or she" with no gender. After the negative verb in the main verb ipmir is in its connegative form. For two people use the dual soai

6. Mu mielas lea váttis oahppat sámegiela

   I think it is difficult to learn Sami

   Usage

   Shares how hard you find it. The "it is difficult to …" pattern works with other verbs too

   Grammar Note

   Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. The pattern Mu mielas lea váttis oahppat … "in my opinion it is hard to learn …" is attested with English songs; here sámegiela replaces the object

7. Oahpat go don sámegiela?

   Are you learning Sami?

   Usage

   Asks whether the other person is also learning Sami

   Grammar Note

   Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. A yes/no question puts the particle go, written separately, after the verb. Written for one addressee. It is the question form of the attested statement Don oahpat eŋgelasgiela "You learn English"

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