This post is based on Practical Marshallese by Peter Rudiak-Gould, a freely distributed, full-length textbook for learning the native language of the Marshall Islands. It has been used since 2004 as the official language manual for all volunteers in the WorldTeach Marshall Islands program, and it has formed the basis of language classes for Americans at Kwajalein Atoll. The 102 short lessons describe the grammar of the language in practical and familiar terms, and a glossary presents 1500 useful words.
In the last lesson you learned the word ‘bar’ and its many uses. There is another use of the word ‘bar’ to mean ‘other’:
| bar juon = or juon bar = | again/one one/again | = another |
| bar ruo/jilu/emān = or ruo/jilu/emān bar = | again/two,three,four two,three,four/again | = two/three/four other |
| bar jet = or jet bar = | again/some some/again | = some other, a few other |
For example:
| Bar juon ni = | again/one/coconut | = Another coconut |
| Jiljino bar eṃṃaan = | six/again/man | = Six other men |
| Bar jet armej = | again/some/person | = Some other people |
– If you are using these phrases with a verb, put ‘bar’ before the verb:
| Bar letok juon ni = | again/give-to me/one/coconut | = Give me another coconut |
| Bar jerbal juon iiō = | again/work/one/year | = Work another [one more] year |
– If you want to say ‘the other coconut,’ or ‘the other coconuts,’ you do not use ‘bar.’ You must use the word for ‘the’ followed by ‘juon’ (if singular) or ‘jet’ (if plural). (Also remember that there are three words for ‘the’ depending on whether it is singular or plural, and human or non-human). For example:
| ni eo juon = | coconut/the(singular)/one | = the other coconut |
| leddik eo juon = | girl/the(singular)/one | = the other girl |
| ni ko jet = | coconut/the(plural, non-human)/some | = the other coconuts |
| leddik ro jet = | girl/the(plural, human)/some | = the other girls |
– You use the same words to make phrases like ‘everyone else,’ ‘everything else’:
| Aolep armej ro jet = | all/person/the/some | = all the other people | = Everyone else |
| Aolep men ko jet = | all/thing/the/some | = all the other things | = Everything else |
Vocabulary
| iuṃwin | under, for (a certain amount of time) Ex. Iuṃwin tebōḷ eo = Under the table Ex. Iuṃwin juon awa = For an hour |
| jemjem | to sharpen |
| kōjparok | to protect, to take care of, to treat gently, to conserve Ex. Kōjparok aṃ mour = Take care of yourself |
| pojak | ready |
| keinikkan | plant (noun) |
| ḷa- | informal word attached to the beginning of a male name, to refer to a man or boy in an informal, familiar, or affectionate way Ex. ḶaAli = Ali (referred to in an informal way) |
| li- | informal word attached to the beginning of a female name, to refer to a woman or girl in an informal, familiar, or affectionate way Ex. LiTonika = Tonika (referred to in an informal way) |
| ṃarṃar | necklace |
| eṃṃōḷoḷo (E: sometimes ṃōṃōḷoḷo) | cool (in the sense of ‘pleasantly cold’) |
| uwe | to get on (a boat, car, etc.), to ride |
Language Tip – Ḷa– and Li-
In the vocabulary above you saw the words ‘ḷa’ and ‘li,’ which you attach to the beginning of male and female names, respectively. These add more familiarity, informality, and affection to the name. With some names, ‘ḷa’ and ‘li’ are almost always added, to the point where they become almost part of the name. Often nicknames are made with ‘ḷa’ and ‘li’ by adding some other word afterwards; for instance ‘ḷakuuj’ is like calling someone ‘Catman,’ ‘Catboy,’ or ‘Mr. Cat’ and ‘likuuj’ is like calling them ‘Catwoman,’ ‘Catgirl,’ or ‘Ms. Cat.’ (A scientist who studied pandanus in the Marshall Islands was given the nickname ‘ḷabōb,’ meaning ‘Pandanus Man.’)
In any of these cases, if you are on familiar and informal terms with the person, you can use these words to good effect. If not, it is best not to use them, but if you do you are much more likely to amuse the person than to offend them.