Grammar: Formulating greeting in Nko

Grammar Points

Greeting componants

Omission in greeting

Grammar

You can put “ߌ ߣߌ߫” in front of any of these activity names and it becomes greeting. Notice that this is 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 greetings.

Grammar Introduction

ߣߴߌ ߦߋ߫ ”ߌ ߣߌ߫“ ߓߌ߬ߟߊ߬ ߕߍ߬ߡߌ߲߬ߠߋ߲ ߣߌ߲߬ ߝߍ߲-ߍ-ߝߍ߲߫ ߢߍߝߍ߬߸ ߏ߬ ߓߍ߫ ߞߍ߫ ߝߏ߬ߟߌ ߦߋ߫· ߊ߬ ߘߐ߲߫ ߞߏ߫ ߣߌ߲߬ ߠߎ߬ ߦߋ߫ ߞߍߕߊ ߘߊߡߊ߲ ߘߐ߫ ߘߋ߬ ߕߐ߮ ߦߋ߫، ߓߊߙߌ߫߸ ߞߍߕߊ ߕߍ߫ ߓߊ߲߫ ߝߐߟߊ߸ ߏ߬ ߟߊ߫ ߊ߬ ߝߏ߬ߟߌ ߝߣߊ߫ ߕߍ߫ ߛߋ߫ ߞߊ߬ ߓߊ߲߫ ߝߐߟߊ· ߏ߬ ߓߍ߯ ߣߵߊ߬ ߕߊ߫߸ ߛߓߊ߬ ߝߟߐ )ߥߊߟߋ߸ ߗߋ/ ߞߋ߸ ߓߊ߯ߙߊ( ߓߍ߫ ߛߋ߫ ߞߊ߬ ߝߐ߫ ߞߍߕߊ ߛߎ߯ ߓߍ߯ ߡߊ߬· ߊ߬ ߗߍ߬ ߞߊ߫ ߢߌ߲߬ ߝߣߊ߫߸ ߌ ߞߊ߬ ߞߍߕߊ ߝߏ߬ߟߌ ߖߊ߯ߓߌ ߣߌ߫ ߊ߬ ߓߍ߲߬ߡߊ߬ ߖߊ߯ߓߌ ߦߋ߫ ߝߏ߫ ߣߴߌ ߕߴߏ߬ ߘߐ߲߫، ߊ߲ ߓߍߣߊ߬ ߛߴ ߏ߬ ߡߊ߬ ߞߐߝߍ߬؛ ߊ߬ ߞߊ߫ ߖߊ߯ ߊ߬ ߟߊ߫ ߝߣߊ߫ ߡߐ߱ ߞߊ߬ ߢߌ߬ߣߌ߲߬ߞߊ߬ߟߌ߬ ߞߍ߫ ߝߏ߬ߟߌߢߐ߲߮ ߞߊ߫ ߞߍߕߊ ߞߊ߲߬ ߝߏ߬ߟߌ ߞߣߐ߫·