Evangeline’s Translation
In a country where the people speak Chadian Arabic and French, and having studied Sudanese Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic, as well as having Nehemiah learn Latin, I’m not sure about the kids, but my head is language spinning a lot. So sometimes, at the Broten dinner table, you might overhear us naming words in different languages. Tonight, Evangeline had us all laughing.
You see, when Evangeline doesn’t know a word in Arabic, she usually tries to speak in a thick African English accent to make it sound foreign. So for example, chair turns into chaar. Well, here was tonight’s interaction:
PAPA: Evangeline, what’s the English word for the thing you live in?
EVANGELINE: House.
PAPA: Nehemiah, Latin?
NEHEMIAH: Casa
PAPA: Mama, Sudanese Arabic?
MAMA: Beet
PAPA: Which is the same as Chadian Arabic (Chadians also say beet).
NEHEMIAH (interrupting): What about the bathroom?
PAPA: Okay Nehemiah. Mama what is bathroom in Sudanese Arabic?
MAMA: Hamaam.
EVANGELINE: I use the Chadians’ bathroom.
PAPA: That’s good Dolly, but do you know the Chadian Arabic word for “bathroom”?
EVANGELINE: Yeah.
PAPA: Wow, what is it?
EVANGELINE (in a slow African English accent): Squaaty Potty!
It’s actually warabeet, but well put Silly Dilly.
Ha ha! She is funny.
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON VIDEO
CHAR
I think Evangeline is like her mamma. I remember hearing Sonja speak in that same accent while telling stories about a grad school classmate. I miss you guys and I’m so glad that you’re blogging!