NTM PNG just put out a new video. Right now our team is wrestling with how to spell and construct Kovol verbs, we’re deep in the weeds discussing grammar points. This video was an encouraging little reminder of where we’re going with all this.
Pig surgery
You never know what's going to happen when you start a day of language. Yesterday I decided I'd hike down to a nearby hamlet to check out some sentences I'd created. I've been working on figuring out Kovol clauses, but there's a little complexity to it which I think may be explained by calling them dependent clauses. Anyway I had some sentences I'd come up with to check out my ideas on dependent clauses.
I get 20 seconds away from my house and see a friend swinging his machete at a banana tree. "Good morning, what you you up to?" I ask, "I'm removing my pig's balls" he replies. Obviously then I switch to Tok Pisin to check in a language I'm more fluent in if he said what I thought he said. Sure enough, that mornings work was castrating his pig. I ran to get Rhett because I know he's into his things and we settled in for the show.
First a 'fence' was made which looked like a little circular wicker drum. Some leaves are pointed out that will be used to "take care of the blood" - but not as I thought for wiping or absorbing blood to keep the workspace tidy - more on that later
1 Comment
Lois S. · 19/09/2021 at 1:03 pm
Thanks for sharing the video. I read an excellent book by Jack Crabtree (Tipping Our Kings) . It is great to see what he is doing now, and what you all will be doing soon. And what Philip’s parents have already done. Blessings as you keep pressing on.