Passage: Types of greetings [nko]ߝߏ߬ߟߌ ߛߎ߯ߦߊ ߎ߬[/nko]

Greetings are extremely important in the Nko speaking culture. It is considered impolite not to greet a person. This is why it is essential to know the greetings well. Greetings very often reflect the interlocutor’s activity, age, and time. Here are some common greeting phrases according to different activities, age, and time

ߝߏ߬ߟߌ

Greetings based on activities ߝߏ߬ߟߌ ߞߵߊ߬ ߓߍ߲߬ ߞߍߥߊߟߌ ߡߊ߬

ߝߏ߬ߟߌ

Greetings referring to activities do not refer to any particular time, so any time you see somebody working, you can greet him/ her according to the type of work s/he is doing such as:

Professional work = ߓߊ߯ߙߊ߫ .a

Any type of work = ߥߊߟߋ߫ .b

Travel = ߕߊ߯ߡߊ߫ .c

Speaking = ߞߎߡߊ߫ .d

Farming = ߛߣߍ߬ .e

Singing = ߘߐ߲߬ߞߟߌ߬ߘߊ߫ .f

ߝߏ߬ߟߌ

ߝߏ߬ߟߌ

You need to put “ߌ ߣߌ߫ ” in front of any of these activity names and it becomes a greeting. Notice that these are just few activity names; so in terms of greeting based on activities, one can say that they are endless; however, you can use just the first three ( ߗߋ/ ߞߋ, ߥߊߟߋ, ߓߊ߯ߙߊ) to refer to any activity. Also it is harmonious to respond to an activity greeting by an activity greeting unless you don’t know it. It is also common to ask about somebody’s activity in greeting itself.

ߝߏ߬ߟߌ

Hello (professional worker) ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߓߊ߯ߙߊ߫ .a

Hello (worker) = ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߥߊߟߋ߫ .b

Hello traveler = ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߕߊ߯ߡߊ߫ .c

Hello talkative = ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߞߎߡߊ߫ .d

Hello farmer = ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߛߣߍ߬ .e

Hello singer = ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߘߐ߲߬ߞߟߌ߬ߘߊ߫ .f

ߝߏ߬ߟߌ

ߝߏ߬ߟߌ

Greetings based on age ߝߏ߬ߟߌ ߞߵߊ߬ ߓߍ߲߬ ߝߏ߬ߟߌ߬ߢߐ߲߮ ߛߌ߭ ߡߊ߬

ߝߏ߬ߟߌ

Greetings referring to age are based on kinship relations. One’s father and all the people of his father’s age are greeted the same way. Similarly, One’s mother and her age mates are greeted in the same way. All the people who are your older brother’s age are your older brothers. All the people of your younger sister’s age are your younger siblings. People of one’s age are greeted without reference to the age. These greetings may refer to time or activities as well. Here is the common pattern for morning greeting in the first set, and activity greeting in the second set:

ߝߏ߬ߟߌ

Good morning (father) = ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߛߐ߬ߡߊ߫ ߓߎ߬ߥߊ / ߓߎ߬ߥߊ ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߛߐ߰ߡߊ߬ .a

Good morning (mother) = ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߛߐ߰ߡߊ߬ ߡߊ / ߡߊ ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߛߐ߬ߡߊ߫ .b

Good morning (elder sibling) = ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߛߐ߰ߡߊ߬ ߒ ߞߙߐ߬ / ߒ ߞߙߐ߬ ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߛߐ߬ߡߊ߫ .c

Good morning (younger sibling) = ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߛߐ߰ߡߊ߬ ߒ ߘߞߐ߫ / ߒ ߘߞߐ߫ ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߛߐ߬ߡߊ߫ .d

Good morning (husband/ man) = ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߛߐ߰ߡߊ߬ ߗߍ / ߗߍ ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߛߐ߬ߡߊ߫ .e

Good morning (wife/ woman) = ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߛߐ߰ߡߊ߫ ߡߏ߬ߛߏ / ߡߏ߬ߛߏ ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߛߐ߬ߡߊ߫ .f

ߝߏ߬ߟߌ

Hello working father = ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߓߊ߯ߙߊ߫ ߓߎ߬ߥߊ / ߓߎ߬ߥߊ ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߓߊ߯ߙߊ߫ .g

Hello working mother = ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߥߊߟߋ߫ ߡߊ / ߡߊ ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߥߊߟߋ߫ .h

Hello traveling older sibling = ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߕߊ߯ߡߊ߫ ߒ ߞߙߐ߬ / ߒ ߞߙߐ߫ ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߕߊ߯ߡߊ߫ .e

Hello talking younger sibling = ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߞߎߡߊ߫ ߒ ߘߞߐ߫ / ߒ ߘߞߐ߫ ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߞߎߡߊ߫ .j

Hello farming husband/ man = ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߛߣߍ߬ ߗߍ / ߗߍ ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߛߣߍ߬ .k

Hello singing wife/ woman = ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߘߐ߲߬ߞߟߌ߬ߘߊ߫ ߡߏ߬ߛߏ / ߡߏ߬ߛߏ ߌ ߣߌ߫ ߘߐ߲߬ߞߟߌ߬ߘߊ߫ .l

ߝߏ߬ߟߌ

ߝߏ߬ߟߌ

ߝߏ߬ߟߌ

You may not refer to any particular time as we saw in activity greeting. Notice the word order, deferential names must be at either end of the greetings, but never in the middle.The different age groups names are kinship terms used in families although people prefer calling or greeting their direct family members by using their real names except for one's father and mother. Also if you have more than one uncle or more than one aunt, you would add their proper names after these deferential names. The honorific pronoun (A) ‘you plural’) can be used to replace any of kinship terms but it is preferable not to use it always.