埃维语
埃维语
条目
历史版本
埃维语是一种通行于加纳、多哥和贝宁的尼日尔-刚果语系格贝语支的语言，其使用者约有六百万人。埃维语是一种声调语言，即使彼此间其他部份的发音一样，只要声调不同，它的意义就可能会有所不同。埃维语与其他同属格贝语支的语言有丰语、格恩语、夫拉菲拉语和阿扎语等。德国的非洲学家迪特里希‧赫尔曼‧伟士特曼出版了许多关于埃维语及其他格贝语支语言的字典和语法等相关的资料。其他研究埃维语和相关语言的语言学家包括 Gilbert Ansre、Herbert Stahlke、Nick Clements、Roberto Pazzi、Felix K. Ameka、Alan Stewart Duthie、Hounkpati B. Capo、Enoch Aboh和Chris Collins等。
由来
属印欧语系、印度-伊朗语族。分布于阿富汗和巴基斯坦西北地区。使用人口在阿富汗境内有1000多万，在巴基斯坦的西北地区也有近1000万。主要方言分为两支：南部方言，保留了古音sh和zh；北部方言（主要通行于巴基斯坦）采用了kh音和gh音。经语言学家考证，埃维语和梵语的语法十分近似，除具有较多的共同词语外，还有许多共同的词根。埃维语受印地语的影响很大，也吸收了许多波斯语和阿拉伯语词，但仍保留了古伊朗语的许多特征。埃维语有长元音和短元音各3个。名词与形容词都有性、数、格的变化，动词有人称和时、态等变化。埃维语采用经过修改的阿拉伯文字，有40个字母，8个纯系埃维语字母，其余是阿拉伯语和波斯语字母。
日常用语
英语 | 埃维语 |
Welcome | Woé zɔ (sg) Miawoe zɔ (pl) Yooo(response) |
Hello (General greeting) | No equivalent |
How are you? | Ɛfoa? |
Reply to 'How are you?' | Me fo. Wo ha ɛfoa? |
Long time no see | Ɛdidi Ɛ nyteƒe (response) |
What's your name? | Nkowode? |
My name is ... | Nkↄnye nye ... |
Where are you from? | Fika netso? |
I'm from ... | Metso ... |
Pleased to meet you | No equivalent. Smile and repeat the person's name |
Good morning (Morning greeting) | Ŋdi Ŋdi na mi |
Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) | Ŋdɔ Ŋdɔ na mi |
Good evening (Evening greeting) | Fiɛyi Fiɛyi na mi |
Good night | Dɔ agbe |
Goodbye (Parting phrases) | Mia dogo(we'll meet again) |
Good luck! | Eme nenyo |
Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) | - |
Have a nice day | Nkekea nenyo |
Bon appetit / Have a nice meal | - |
Bon voyage / Have a good journey | Hede nyuie (safe journey) |
I understand | Se eme Me se eme Me se egɔme |
I don't understand | Nye me se eme o Nye me se egɔme o |
Yes | E |
No | Ao |
Maybe | Do ma hii |
I don't know | Nye me nya o |
Please speak more slowly | Meᶑekuku, ƒonu gbleũ |
Please say that again | Meᶑekuku, ga gbloe ake |
Please write it down | Meᶑekuku ηlↄe |
Do you speak English? | Ese yevugbe a? Ese English a? |
Do you speakEwe? | Ese ʋegbe a? |
Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') | E, vide E, vide vide |
How do you say ... inEwe? | Leke a gblↄ ... le Eʋe gbe me? |
Excuse me | Kafla Meɖekuku |
How much is this? | Nenie? |
Sorry | Baba Babanawo |
Please | Meɖekuku |
Thank you | Akpe |
Reply to thank you | Woezo Mia woezo Akpe melio Mesu akpe o |
Where's the toilet? | Fika afɔdzi le? |
This gentleman will pay for everything | Afetↄ ke axe fe na nuwo katᾶ |
This lady will pay for everything | Afenↄ ke axe fe na nuwo katᾶ |
Would you like to dance with me? | Aᶑu wu kplim a? |
I miss you | Me susu wo lo |
I love you | Me lↄ wo |
Get well soon | Na haya kaba |
Go away! | Dzo le gbonye! |
Leave me alone! | Heda le gbonye! |
Help! | Kpedeŋu nye! |
Fire! | Dzo! |
Stop! | Tↄ! |
Call the police! | Yↄ kpovi tↄ wo! |
Christmas and New Year greetings | Blunya na wo (Merry Christmas) Eƒé bé dzogbenyui nami (Happy New Year) Fè Yéyè Fé Dzogbenyui Nami (Happy New Year) |
Easter greetings | - |
Birthday greetings | Dzigbenyue nawo Dzigbeza bɔkɔɔ nawo |
One language is never enough | Gbe deka mede blibo o |
My hovercraft is full of eels Why this phrase? | - |