Bamatick

When you put the letters M and P together, it’s really difficult to distinguish between that combination and N and P. Mp sounds damn close to Np. Then, add to that the difference between E and Ë. Finally, do all of that while whispering. That’s what it’s like to learn Tiriyo. So, what I heard was “mmpa.” Nope. Not that. Npa means “Let’s go.” Ënpa means “teach.” Enpa means something to do with teaching….It was all very hard to understand. But, I found my way and got along fair enough. While I was in the village, I wrote a children’s book. When I got home, I wrote a grammar book. I tried to share it with the Peace Corps, but I don’t think it ever found it’s way back to Suriname.