English "will" → Chichewa "-dza-" – The Future Tense Marker
What does "will" mean in Chichewa?
English "will" is a small separate word that stands before a verb and moves it into the future: "I will come," "it will rain." Chichewa has no separate word for this. It puts a short syllable, -dza-, inside the verb itself, straight after the subject prefix:
- ndi- (I) + -dza- (will) + bwera (come) = ndidzabwera, "I will come" - ti- (we) + -dza- + pita (go) = tidzapita, "we will go" - mvula i-dza-gwa = "rain will fall," "it will rain"
One Chichewa word, ndidzabwera, does the work of three English words, "I will come." This is the same building plan you have met in every verb so far: subject prefix, then a tense marker, then the verb stem. The past ndinabwera (I came) has -na- in that slot; the future ndidzabwera has -dza-.
Two points differ from English:
- -dza- is the future of "not today." Grammars of Chichewa describe -dza- as the tense for the general or more distant future: tomorrow, next week, one day. For something that will happen later today, or that is already arranged, Chichewa usually uses a present form instead, as English does in "I'm going home tomorrow": Ndikupita kwathu mawa. Section D sets out the choices. - The negative is built at the front. "I will not come" is sindidzabwera: the negative prefix si- goes before the subject prefix, and -dza- stays where it was. English moves "not" into the middle; Chichewa adds a syllable at the beginning.
The marker comes from the verb kudza, "to come," an older word still found in the Bible: Ufumu wanu udze, "Thy kingdom come" (Mateyu 6:10, Buku Lopatulika). The future is thought of as what is coming, just as English speakers say "the coming year." In the Nyanja of Zambia, especially the town Nyanja of Lusaka, the same marker is commonly heard as -za-: ndizapita, "I will go."
What does "will" mean in Chichewa? "Will" is not a word in Chichewa but a syllable in the verb: -dza- between the subject prefix and the verb stem. Ndidzabwera means "I will come"; sindidzabwera means "I will not come." For "will" in a polite request ("Will you help me?"), Chichewa uses -nga- from Lesson 36: Kodi mungandithandize?
- "Will" = -dza- inside the verb: subject prefix + dza + verb stem: ndidzabwera, "I will come"; adzapita, "he/she will go" - The subject prefix agrees with the noun class, as always: mvula idzagwa (class 9), ulendo udzatenga (class 14), chidzapatsidwa (class 7) - Negative: si- in front: sindidzaiwala, "I will not forget"; with a- it becomes sa-: sadzapita, "he/she/they will not go" - -dza- is "not today": tomorrow, next year, one day. For later today or for arranged plans, a present form is common: Ndikupita kwathu mawa - "When…, will…": the "when/if" clause takes -ka-, the main clause takes -dza-: Ukamaliza sukulu udzapanga chiyani?, "When you finish school, what will you do?"
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-dza- /dza/: one syllable, like the ds of English "adze" followed by the a of "father." The d and z are pronounced together as one sound, never "da-za."
Stress stays on the second-to-last syllable of the whole word, so adding -dza- moves nothing at the end of the verb, but it does make the word longer in front:
- ndidzabwera /ndi.dza.ˈbwe.ɾa/: ndi-dza-BWE-ra, "I will come" - tidzapita /ti.dza.ˈpi.ta/: ti-dza-PI-ta, "we will go" - sindidzaiwala /si.ndi.dza.i.ˈwa.la/: si-ndi-dza-i-WA-la, "I will not forget" - adzapita /a.dza.ˈpi.ta/: a-dza-PI-ta, "he/she will go" - mawa /ˈma.wa/: MA-wa, "tomorrow"
Tone. Chichewa is a tonal language, and the future -dza- carries a high tone, which also lifts the subject prefix before it: Wikipedia's account of Chichewa tenses writes ndídzáthándiza, "I will help." In the negative, the earlier tones are dropped and a single tone falls near the end of the word: sitidzamuiwála, "we will never forget him." The standard spelling does not mark tone, and this lesson writes the words without tone marks, as Malawian books and newspapers do. Listen to native speakers for the melody.
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Examples 40.8, 40.9, 40.11, 40.12 and 40.13 are taken from the examples in Wikipedia's article "Chichewa tenses," with the tone marks removed (in 40.9 the enclitic -nji, "what," is replaced by the separate word chiyani). The others are constructed for teaching.
40.1a Ndidzabwera I-will-come mawa tomorrow
40.1b Ndidzabwera /ndi.dza.ˈbwe.ɾa/ ndi-dza-bwer-a: 1SG-FUT-come-FV mawa /ˈma.wa/ tomorrow
40.2a Tidzaonana we-will-see-each-other mawa tomorrow
40.2b Tidzaonana /ti.dza.o.ˈna.na/ ti-dza-on-an-a: 1PL-FUT-see-RECP-FV mawa /ˈma.wa/ tomorrow
40.3a Mvula rain idzagwa it-will-fall
40.3b Mvula /ˈmvu.la/ rain.CL9 idzagwa /i.ˈdza.ɡwa/ i-dza-gw-a: CL9-FUT-fall-FV
40.4a Sindidzaiwala I-will-not-forget
40.4b Sindidzaiwala /si.ndi.dza.i.ˈwa.la/ si-ndi-dza-iwal-a: NEG-1SG-FUT-forget-FV
40.5a Adzapita he-will-go ku to Lilongwe Lilongwe
40.5b Adzapita /a.dza.ˈpi.ta/ a-dza-pit-a: 3SG-FUT-go-FV ku /ku/ to.LOC17 Lilongwe /li.ˈlo.ŋɡwe/ Lilongwe (capital of Malawi)
40.6a Mwana child wanga my adzayamba he-will-begin sukulu school chaka year chamawa of-tomorrow
40.6b Mwana /ˈmwa.na/ child.CL1 wanga /ˈwa.ŋɡa/ my.CL1.POSS adzayamba /a.dza.ˈja.mba/ a-dza-yamb-a: 3SG-FUT-begin-FV sukulu /su.ˈku.lu/ school.CL9 chaka /ˈtʃa.ka/ year.CL7 chamawa /tʃa.ˈma.wa/ cha-mawa: of.CL7-tomorrow (= next)
40.7a Ndidzakuthandiza I-will-help-you sabata week yamawa of-tomorrow
40.7b Ndidzakuthandiza /ndi.dza.ku.tʰa.ˈndi.za/ ndi-dza-ku-thandiz-a: 1SG-FUT-2SG.OBJ-help-FV sabata /sa.ˈba.ta/ week.CL9 yamawa /ja.ˈma.wa/ ya-mawa: of.CL9-tomorrow (= next)
40.8a Tsiku day lina one nanenso and-I-too ndidzakhala I-will-be mtolankhani reporter
40.8b Tsiku /ˈtsi.ku/ day.CL5 lina /ˈli.na/ other.CL5 (tsiku lina = one day) nanenso /na.ˈne.nso/ na-ine-nso: and-1SG.PRON-too ndidzakhala /ndi.dza.ˈkʰa.la/ ndi-dza-khal-a: 1SG-FUT-be-FV mtolankhani /m̩.to.la.ˈŋkʰa.ni/ reporter.CL1
40.9a Ukamaliza when-you-finish sukulu school udzapanga you-will-do chiyani what
40.9b Ukamaliza /u.ka.ma.ˈli.za/ u-ka-maliz-a: 2SG-WHEN-finish-FV sukulu /su.ˈku.lu/ school.CL9 udzapanga /u.dza.ˈpa.ŋɡa/ u-dza-pang-a: 2SG-FUT-make-FV chiyani /tʃi.ˈja.ni/ what
40.10a Ana children sadzapita they-will-not-go kusukulu to-school mawa tomorrow
40.10b Ana /ˈa.na/ child.CL2.PL sadzapita /sa.dza.ˈpi.ta/ s(i)-a-dza-pit-a: NEG-3PL-FUT-go-FV kusukulu /ku.su.ˈku.lu/ ku-sukulu: LOC17-school mawa /ˈma.wa/ tomorrow
40.11a Adzadya they-will-eat chiyani what nyengo season yokolola of-harvesting
40.11b Adzadya /a.ˈdza.dja/ a-dza-dy-a: 3PL-FUT-eat-FV chiyani /tʃi.ˈja.ni/ what nyengo /ˈɲe.ŋɡo/ season.CL9 yokolola /jo.ko.ˈlo.la/ ya-(ku)-kolola: of.CL9-harvest (= harvest season)
40.12a Ine I ndidzakukonda I-will-love-you moyo life wanga my wonse all
40.12b Ine /ˈi.ne/ 1SG.PRON ndidzakukonda /ndi.dza.ku.ˈko.nda/ ndi-dza-ku-kond-a: 1SG-FUT-2SG.OBJ-love-FV moyo /ˈmo.jo/ life.CL3 wanga /ˈwa.ŋɡa/ my.CL3.POSS wonse /ˈwo.nse/ all.CL3
40.13a Ife we sitidzamuiwala we-will-not-forget-him
40.13b Ife /ˈi.fe/ 1PL.PRON sitidzamuiwala /si.ti.dza.mu.i.ˈwa.la/ si-ti-dza-mu-iwal-a: NEG-1PL-FUT-3SG.OBJ-forget-FV
40.14a Mukabwera if-you-come mawa tomorrow mudzandipeza you-will-find-me kunyumba at-home
40.14b Mukabwera /mu.ka.ˈbwe.ɾa/ mu-ka-bwer-a: 2PL-WHEN/IF-come-FV mawa /ˈma.wa/ tomorrow mudzandipeza /mu.dza.ndi.ˈpe.za/ mu-dza-ndi-pez-a: 2PL-FUT-1SG.OBJ-find-FV kunyumba /ku.ˈɲu.mba/ ku-nyumba: LOC17-house
40.15a Mphunzitsi teacher wathu our anati he-said tidzalemba we-will-write mayeso exams sabata week yamawa of-tomorrow
40.15b Mphunzitsi /mpʰu.ˈnzi.tsi/ teacher.CL1 wathu /ˈwa.tʰu/ our.CL1.POSS anati /a.ˈna.ti/ a-na-ti: 3SG-PAST-say tidzalemba /ti.dza.ˈle.mba/ ti-dza-lemb-a: 1PL-FUT-write-FV mayeso /ma.ˈje.so/ exam.CL6.PL sabata /sa.ˈba.ta/ week.CL9 yamawa /ja.ˈma.wa/ ya-mawa: of.CL9-tomorrow (= next)
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40.1 Ndidzabwera mawa. → "I will come tomorrow."
40.2 Tidzaonana mawa. → "We will see each other tomorrow." / "See you tomorrow."
40.3 Mvula idzagwa. → "It will rain."
40.4 Sindidzaiwala. → "I will not forget."
40.5 Adzapita ku Lilongwe. → "He will go to Lilongwe."
40.6 Mwana wanga adzayamba sukulu chaka chamawa. → "My child will start school next year."
40.7 Ndidzakuthandiza sabata yamawa. → "I will help you next week."
40.8 Tsiku lina nanenso ndidzakhala mtolankhani. → "One day I too will be a reporter."
40.9 Ukamaliza sukulu, udzapanga chiyani? → "When you finish school, what will you do?"
40.10 Ana sadzapita kusukulu mawa. → "The children will not go to school tomorrow."
40.11 Adzadya chiyani nyengo yokolola? → "What will they eat at harvest time?"
40.12 Ine ndidzakukonda moyo wanga wonse. → "I will love you all my life."
40.13 Ife sitidzamuiwala. → "We will never forget him."
40.14 Mukabwera mawa, mudzandipeza kunyumba. → "If you come tomorrow, you will find me at home."
40.15 Mphunzitsi wathu anati tidzalemba mayeso sabata yamawa. → "Our teacher said we will write exams next week."
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40.1 Ndidzabwera mawa.
40.2 Tidzaonana mawa.
40.3 Mvula idzagwa.
40.4 Sindidzaiwala.
40.5 Adzapita ku Lilongwe.
40.6 Mwana wanga adzayamba sukulu chaka chamawa.
40.7 Ndidzakuthandiza sabata yamawa.
40.8 Tsiku lina nanenso ndidzakhala mtolankhani.
40.9 Ukamaliza sukulu, udzapanga chiyani?
40.10 Ana sadzapita kusukulu mawa.
40.11 Adzadya chiyani nyengo yokolola?
40.12 Ine ndidzakukonda moyo wanga wonse.
40.13 Ife sitidzamuiwala.
40.14 Mukabwera mawa, mudzandipeza kunyumba.
40.15 Mphunzitsi wathu anati tidzalemba mayeso sabata yamawa.
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These are the grammar rules for -dza- (will) in Chichewa:
1. Where -dza- goes. The Chichewa verb is built in a fixed order: subject prefix, tense marker, object prefix (if any), verb stem. The future marker -dza- takes the tense slot, straight after the subject:
- ndi-dza-bwera: I will come (40.1) - ti-dza-pita: we will go - ndi-dza-ku-thandiza: I will help you (40.7) - mu-dza-ndi-peza: you will find me (40.14)
The object prefix (ku- "you," mu- "him/her," ndi- "me," wa- "them") always comes after -dza-, never before it.
2. The forms with every person. With kupita, "to go" (Lesson 30):
- ndidzapita: I will go - udzapita: you (sg.) will go - adzapita: he/she will go - tidzapita: we will go - mudzapita: you (pl. or polite) will go - adzapita: they will go
As in every tense, a- serves for "he/she" and for "they" (class 1 and class 2); the subject noun or the context tells you which.
3. Agreement with noun classes. A noun subject takes its own class prefix before -dza-:
- class 9: mvula idzagwa, "it will rain" (40.3) - class 14: ulendo udzatenga maola anayi, "the journey will take four hours" (40.19) - class 7: chidzapatsidwa, "it will be given" (Section F) - class 3: mtengo udzagwa, "the tree will fall" - class 8: zinthu zidzakhala bwino, "things will be fine"
4. The negative. Put si- in front of the whole verb. Where si- meets a vowel prefix, the two join:
- sindidzapita: I will not go - sudzapita: you (sg.) will not go (si + u) - sadzapita: he/she will not go; they will not go (si + a) (40.10) - sitidzapita: we will not go - simudzapita: you (pl.) will not go
With an object prefix, the order is the same as in the positive: sitidzamuiwala, "we will not forget him" (40.13). Without a time word, the negative future often carries the sense of "never": Sindidzaiwala, "I will never forget."
5. "Not today." The grammars describe -dza- as the future for events "not today": tomorrow, next week, next year, one day. Time words that go naturally with it:
- mawa: tomorrow - sabata yamawa: next week (literally "the week of tomorrow") - chaka chamawa: next year - tsiku lina: one day, some day
For something that will happen later today, or for a plan already made, Chichewa commonly uses a present form, where English uses "will" or "going to":
- Ndiyimba foni ndikafika: "I'll give you a ring when I arrive" (simple present) - Ndikupita kwathu mawa: "I'm going home tomorrow" (present continuous, a fixed plan)
These two examples are given in Wikipedia's article on Chichewa tenses. Do not worry if you hear speakers use -dza- for later today as well; the rule is a tendency, and -dza- is never wrong for "tomorrow onwards."
6. "When…, will…": -ka- and -dza- together. In a sentence about a future condition, the "when" or "if" clause takes -ka- and the main clause takes -dza-:
- Ukamaliza sukulu, udzapanga chiyani?: "When you finish school, what will you do?" (40.9) - Mukabwera mawa, mudzandipeza kunyumba: "If you come tomorrow, you will find me at home" (40.14)
English says "when you finish" in the present, not "when you will finish"; in the same way the Chichewa -ka- clause normally has no -dza-.
7. Reported future. After anati or anati kuti, "he/she said (that)," the future stays future: Mphunzitsi wathu anati tidzalemba mayeso, "Our teacher said we will write exams" (40.15). English often changes "will" to "would" here; Chichewa does not change the tense.
8. Other futures, for recognition. Chichewa has several other future tenses which you will meet later. -ka- as a main-clause future means "will (when the time comes)," often with a sense of contingency: Mukandipeza kuntchito, "You'll find me at work (when you come)." -zi- is a continuous future: Sitima izinyamuka, "The train will be leaving soon." Both examples are from Wikipedia's account of Chichewa tenses. For now, -dza- is the one to use.
9. "Will" as a request. English also uses "will" to ask a favour: "Will you help me?" Chichewa does not use -dza- here but the polite -nga- of Lesson 36 with the subjunctive ending -e: Kodi mungandithandize?, "Could you help me?"
Common Mistakes
- Looking for a separate word. ✗ Ndi dza bwera. ✓ Ndidzabwera: the future is written as one word. - Putting the object prefix first. ✗ ndikudzathandiza. ✓ ndidzakuthandiza, "I will help you": tense before object. - Forgetting the vowel merger in the negative. ✗ siadzapita. ✓ sadzapita, "he/she will not go." - Using -dza- for every English "will." "Will you open the door?" is a request: ✓ Kodi mungatsegule chitseko?, not a future. - The wrong class prefix. ✗ mvula adzagwa. ✓ mvula idzagwa: mvula is class 9, so the prefix is i-.
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Tidzaonana. A common Malawian goodbye, Tionana, "we'll see each other," is a present-tense future of the kind described in Section D: the speaker expects to meet again soon. With -dza- it becomes Tidzaonana, which looks further ahead: "we'll see each other (some day)," and suits a longer parting. Tidzaonana mawa is "See you tomorrow."
Mawa, the word for the future. The ordinary word for "tomorrow," mawa, also makes the words for "next": sabata yamawa, "next week," and chaka chamawa, "next year," literally "the week of tomorrow" and "the year of tomorrow." The future in Chichewa is counted from tomorrow, and -dza-, the tense of "not today," fits this way of speaking.
Promises and the future. Because -dza- speaks of what is to come, it is the tense of vows and of hope. Wikipedia's account of Chichewa tenses gives the vow Ine ndidzakukonda moyo wanga wonse, "I will love you all my life" (40.12), and the words of remembrance Ife sitidzamuiwala, "We will never forget him" (40.13). In church, the future is the tense of the promises of the Gospel, as in Section F.
The verb kudza. The marker -dza- comes from kudza, "to come," which Chichewa still uses in set phrases. The petition of the Lord's Prayer in Buku Lopatulika, Ufumu wanu udze, "Thy kingdom come" (Mateyu 6:10), uses the old verb in its subjunctive form. The more usual modern verb for "come" is kubwera (40.1).
Varieties. This lesson follows the standard Chichewa of Malawi. In Zambia, where the language is called Nyanja and is a lingua franca of Lusaka, the future is commonly heard with -za-: ndizapita, "I will go." Both forms are understood across the region.
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Source: Matthew 7:7 (Mateyu 7:7) in two Chichewa Bibles: Buku Lopatulika (Bible Society of Malawi, first published 1922; the 2018 edition, BLP-2018), and Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero (Biblica, CCL), a modern-language translation. "Ask, and it shall be given you." Each verse makes three promises in the future with -dza-. Texts checked on bible.com (BLP-2018, Matthew 7; CCL, Matthew 7:7).
F-A: Interlinear Text
F-A.1a Pemphani ask ndipo and chidzapatsidwa it-will-be-given kwa to inu you funani seek ndipo and mudzapeza you-will-find gogodani knock ndipo and chidzatsegulidwa it-will-be-opened kwa to inu you
F-A.1b Pemphani /pe.ˈmpʰa.ni/ pemph-a-ni: ask-FV-PL (IMP) ndipo /ˈndi.po/ and (then) chidzapatsidwa /tʃi.dza.pa.ˈtsi.dwa/ chi-dza-pats-idw-a: CL7-FUT-give-PASS-FV kwa /kwa/ to inu /ˈi.nu/ 2PL.PRON funani /fu.ˈna.ni/ fun-a-ni: seek-FV-PL (IMP) ndipo /ˈndi.po/ and (then) mudzapeza /mu.dza.ˈpe.za/ mu-dza-pez-a: 2PL-FUT-find-FV gogodani /ɡo.ɡo.ˈda.ni/ gogod-a-ni: knock-FV-PL (IMP) ndipo /ˈndi.po/ and (then) chidzatsegulidwa /tʃi.dza.tse.ɡu.ˈli.dwa/ chi-dza-tsegul-idw-a: CL7-FUT-open-PASS-FV kwa /kwa/ to inu /ˈi.nu/ 2PL.PRON
F-A.2a Pemphani ask ndipo and mudzapatsidwa you-will-be-given funafunani search ndipo and mudzapeza you-will-find gogodani knock ndipo and adzakutsekulirani they-will-open-for-you
F-A.2b Pemphani /pe.ˈmpʰa.ni/ pemph-a-ni: ask-FV-PL (IMP) ndipo /ˈndi.po/ and (then) mudzapatsidwa /mu.dza.pa.ˈtsi.dwa/ mu-dza-pats-idw-a: 2PL-FUT-give-PASS-FV funafunani /fu.na.fu.ˈna.ni/ funa-fun-a-ni: REDUP-seek-FV-PL (IMP) ndipo /ˈndi.po/ and (then) mudzapeza /mu.dza.ˈpe.za/ mu-dza-pez-a: 2PL-FUT-find-FV gogodani /ɡo.ɡo.ˈda.ni/ gogod-a-ni: knock-FV-PL (IMP) ndipo /ˈndi.po/ and (then) adzakutsekulirani /a.dza.ku.tse.ku.li.ˈɾa.ni/ a-dza-ku-tsekul-ir-a-ni: 3-FUT-2.OBJ-open-APPL-FV-PL
F-B: Original Text with Translation
F-B.1 Pemphani, ndipo chidzapatsidwa kwa inu; funani, ndipo mudzapeza; gogodani, ndipo chidzatsegulidwa kwa inu; (Mateyu 7:7, BLP-2018) → "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:"
F-B.2 Pemphani ndipo mudzapatsidwa; funafunani ndipo mudzapeza; gogodani ndipo adzakutsekulirani. (Mateyu 7:7, CCL) → "Ask and you will be given; search and you will find; knock and they will open for you."
F-C: Original Text Only
Pemphani, ndipo chidzapatsidwa kwa inu; funani, ndipo mudzapeza; gogodani, ndipo chidzatsegulidwa kwa inu;
Pemphani ndipo mudzapatsidwa; funafunani ndipo mudzapeza; gogodani ndipo adzakutsekulirani.
F-D: Grammar and Literary Commentary
- Command, then future. Each half-line is an imperative followed by ndipo and a -dza- future: Pemphani… chidzapatsidwa, "Ask… it will be given." The plural imperative ends in -ni (pemphani, funani, gogodani), because Jesus is speaking to a crowd. - Three subjects for "will." The old translation (BLP) says chi-dza-patsidwa, "it (class 7) will be given," with the class 7 prefix chi- standing for "something, the thing asked for." The modern translation (CCL) says mu-dza-patsidwa, "you will be given," with the person as subject. The same -dza- serves both: only the subject prefix changes, exactly as in Section D, rule 3. - Passive futures. chidzapatsidwa (from kupatsa, "to give") and chidzatsegulidwa (from kutsegula, "to open") add the passive extension -idw- after the stem: "will be given," "will be opened." - adzakutsekulirani, one word for six English ones. a-dza-ku-tsekul-ir-a-ni: "they will open for you (pl.)." The object prefix ku- ("you") with the ending -ni makes the object plural; the applicative -ir- adds "for." Tsekula is a variant of tsegula, "open": the two translations use the two spellings. - funafunani. The CCL doubles the stem: funa-funa, "seek and seek," the Chichewa reduplication that makes an action searching or repeated. English "search" catches it. - The present in verse 8. BLP continues in verse 8 with the timeless present: pakuti yense wakupempha alandira, "for every one that asketh receiveth." The promise to the listeners is future (-dza-); the general truth behind it is present. - Mau and Mawu. The title of the old Bible, Buku Lopatulika ndilo Mau a Mulungu, writes Mau, "word"; modern spelling, as in the CCL's title, is Mawu. Older Chichewa texts often omit the w between vowels.
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A constructed narrative about a journey still to come. Chimwemwe will travel from her village to visit her grandmother in Zomba. Every event lies in the future, so almost every verb carries -dza-.
Part A: Interlinear Text
40.16a Mawa tomorrow Chimwemwe Chimwemwe adzapita she-will-go ku to Zomba Zomba
40.16b Mawa /ˈma.wa/ tomorrow Chimwemwe /tʃi.ˈmwe.mwe/ Chimwemwe (name: "joy") adzapita /a.dza.ˈpi.ta/ a-dza-pit-a: 3SG-FUT-go-FV ku /ku/ to.LOC17 Zomba /ˈzo.mba/ Zomba (town)
40.17a Adzakwera she-will-board basi bus m'mawa in-the-morning kwambiri very
40.17b Adzakwera /a.dza.ˈkwe.ɾa/ a-dza-kwer-a: 3SG-FUT-climb-FV basi /ˈba.si/ bus.CL9 m'mawa /m̩.ˈma.wa/ m-mawa: LOC18-morning kwambiri /kwa.ˈmbi.ɾi/ very (m'mawa kwambiri = very early)
40.18a Amayi mother ake her adzamuperekeza she-will-accompany-her
40.18b Amayi /a.ˈma.ji/ mother.CL2 (honorific) ake /ˈa.ke/ her.CL2.POSS adzamuperekeza /a.dza.mu.pe.ɾe.ˈke.za/ a-dza-mu-perekez-a: 3-FUT-3SG.OBJ-accompany-FV
40.19a Ulendo journey udzatenga it-will-take maola hours anayi four
40.19b Ulendo /u.ˈle.ndo/ journey.CL14 udzatenga /u.dza.ˈte.ŋɡa/ u-dza-teng-a: CL14-FUT-take-FV maola /ma.ˈo.la/ hour.CL6.PL anayi /a.ˈna.ji/ four.CL6
40.20a Agogo grandmother ake her adzamudikira she-will-wait-for-her
40.20b Agogo /a.ˈɡo.ɡo/ grandparent.CL2 (honorific) ake /ˈa.ke/ her.CL2.POSS adzamudikira /a.dza.mu.di.ˈki.ɾa/ a-dza-mu-dikir-a: 3-FUT-3SG.OBJ-wait-FV
40.21a Chimwemwe Chimwemwe adzawapatsa she-will-give-them mphatso gift
40.21b Chimwemwe /tʃi.ˈmwe.mwe/ Chimwemwe adzawapatsa /a.dza.wa.ˈpa.tsa/ a-dza-wa-pats-a: 3SG-FUT-3PL.OBJ(honorific)-give-FV mphatso /ˈmpʰa.tso/ gift.CL9
40.22a Agogo grandmother adzaphika she-will-cook nsima nsima ndi and nkhuku chicken
40.22b Agogo /a.ˈɡo.ɡo/ grandparent.CL2 (honorific) adzaphika /a.dza.ˈpʰi.ka/ a-dza-phik-a: 3-FUT-cook-FV nsima /ˈnsi.ma/ maize porridge.CL9 ndi /ndi/ and nkhuku /ˈŋkʰu.ku/ chicken.CL9
40.23a Madzulo evening adzakhala they-will-sit pamodzi together ndi and kucheza to-chat
40.23b Madzulo /ma.ˈdzu.lo/ evening.CL6 adzakhala /a.dza.ˈkʰa.la/ a-dza-khal-a: 3PL-FUT-sit-FV pamodzi /pa.ˈmo.dzi/ pa-modzi: LOC16-one (= together) ndi /ndi/ and kucheza /ku.ˈtʃe.za/ ku-chez-a: INF-chat-FV
40.24a Agogo grandmother adzamufotokozera she-will-tell-her nthano stories zakale of-old
40.24b Agogo /a.ˈɡo.ɡo/ grandparent.CL2 (honorific) adzamufotokozera /a.dza.mu.fo.to.ko.ˈze.ɾa/ a-dza-mu-fotokoz-er-a: 3-FUT-3SG.OBJ-explain-APPL-FV nthano /ˈntʰa.no/ folktale.CL10 zakale /za.ˈka.le/ za-kale: of.CL10-long.ago
40.25a Chimwemwe Chimwemwe sadzaiwala she-will-not-forget ulendo journey umenewu this
40.25b Chimwemwe /tʃi.ˈmwe.mwe/ Chimwemwe sadzaiwala /sa.dza.i.ˈwa.la/ s(i)-a-dza-iwal-a: NEG-3SG-FUT-forget-FV ulendo /u.ˈle.ndo/ journey.CL14 umenewu /u.me.ˈne.wu/ this.CL14
40.26a Adzakhala she-will-stay kumeneko there masiku days atatu three
40.26b Adzakhala /a.dza.ˈkʰa.la/ a-dza-khal-a: 3SG-FUT-stay-FV kumeneko /ku.me.ˈne.ko/ there.LOC17 masiku /ma.ˈsi.ku/ day.CL6.PL atatu /a.ˈta.tu/ three.CL6
40.27a Lamlungu Sunday adzabwerera she-will-return kunyumba home
40.27b Lamlungu /la.m̩.ˈlu.ŋɡu/ Sunday adzabwerera /a.dza.bwe.ˈɾe.ɾa/ a-dza-bwerer-a: 3SG-FUT-return-FV kunyumba /ku.ˈɲu.mba/ ku-nyumba: LOC17-house
40.28a Amayi mother ake her adzakondwa she-will-be-glad kumuona to-see-her
40.28b Amayi /a.ˈma.ji/ mother.CL2 (honorific) ake /ˈa.ke/ her.CL2.POSS adzakondwa /a.dza.ˈko.ndwa/ a-dza-kondw-a: 3-FUT-be.glad-FV kumuona /ku.mu.ˈo.na/ ku-mu-on-a: INF-3SG.OBJ-see-FV
40.29a Ndipo and Chimwemwe Chimwemwe adzanena she-will-say kuti that Chaka year chamawa of-tomorrow ndidzapitanso I-will-go-again
40.29b Ndipo /ˈndi.po/ and (then) Chimwemwe /tʃi.ˈmwe.mwe/ Chimwemwe adzanena /a.dza.ˈne.na/ a-dza-nen-a: 3SG-FUT-say-FV kuti /ˈku.ti/ that (introduces speech) Chaka /ˈtʃa.ka/ year.CL7 chamawa /tʃa.ˈma.wa/ cha-mawa: of.CL7-tomorrow (= next) ndidzapitanso /ndi.dza.pi.ˈta.nso/ ndi-dza-pit-a-nso: 1SG-FUT-go-FV-again
40.30a Dzulo yesterday agogo grandmother ananena she-said pa on foni phone kuti that Ndidzakudikira I-will-wait-for-you mdzukulu grandchild wanga my
40.30b Dzulo /ˈdzu.lo/ yesterday agogo /a.ˈɡo.ɡo/ grandparent.CL2 (honorific) ananena /a.na.ˈne.na/ a-na-nen-a: 3-PAST-say-FV pa /pa/ on.LOC16 foni /ˈfo.ni/ phone.CL9 kuti /ˈku.ti/ that Ndidzakudikira /ndi.dza.ku.di.ˈki.ɾa/ ndi-dza-ku-dikir-a: 1SG-FUT-2SG.OBJ-wait-FV mdzukulu /m̩.dzu.ˈku.lu/ grandchild.CL1 wanga /ˈwa.ŋɡa/ my.CL1.POSS
Part B: Natural Sentences
40.16 Mawa Chimwemwe adzapita ku Zomba. → "Tomorrow Chimwemwe will go to Zomba."
40.17 Adzakwera basi m'mawa kwambiri. → "She will take the bus very early in the morning."
40.18 Amayi ake adzamuperekeza. → "Her mother will go with her."
40.19 Ulendo udzatenga maola anayi. → "The journey will take four hours."
40.20 Agogo ake adzamudikira. → "Her grandmother will be waiting for her."
40.21 Chimwemwe adzawapatsa mphatso. → "Chimwemwe will give her a present."
40.22 Agogo adzaphika nsima ndi nkhuku. → "Grandmother will cook nsima and chicken."
40.23 Madzulo adzakhala pamodzi ndi kucheza. → "In the evening they will sit together and chat."
40.24 Agogo adzamufotokozera nthano zakale. → "Grandmother will tell her old stories."
40.25 Chimwemwe sadzaiwala ulendo umenewu. → "Chimwemwe will never forget this journey."
40.26 Adzakhala kumeneko masiku atatu. → "She will stay there three days."
40.27 Lamlungu adzabwerera kunyumba. → "On Sunday she will come back home."
40.28 Amayi ake adzakondwa kumuona. → "Her mother will be glad to see her."
40.29 Ndipo Chimwemwe adzanena kuti, "Chaka chamawa ndidzapitanso." → "And Chimwemwe will say, 'Next year I will go again.'"
40.30 Dzulo agogo ananena pa foni kuti, "Ndidzakudikira, mdzukulu wanga." → "Yesterday Grandmother said on the phone, 'I will be waiting for you, my grandchild.'"
Part C: Target Language Only
40.16 Mawa Chimwemwe adzapita ku Zomba.
40.17 Adzakwera basi m'mawa kwambiri.
40.18 Amayi ake adzamuperekeza.
40.19 Ulendo udzatenga maola anayi.
40.20 Agogo ake adzamudikira.
40.21 Chimwemwe adzawapatsa mphatso.
40.22 Agogo adzaphika nsima ndi nkhuku.
40.23 Madzulo adzakhala pamodzi ndi kucheza.
40.24 Agogo adzamufotokozera nthano zakale.
40.25 Chimwemwe sadzaiwala ulendo umenewu.
40.26 Adzakhala kumeneko masiku atatu.
40.27 Lamlungu adzabwerera kunyumba.
40.28 Amayi ake adzakondwa kumuona.
40.29 Ndipo Chimwemwe adzanena kuti, "Chaka chamawa ndidzapitanso."
40.30 Dzulo agogo ananena pa foni kuti, "Ndidzakudikira, mdzukulu wanga."
Part D: Grammar Notes on the Narrative
- A chain of -dza- verbs. From adzapita (40.16) to adzanena (40.29), every event of the journey takes -dza-, because it all lies in the days ahead. English repeats "will" each time; Chichewa repeats -dza- inside each verb. - The one past verb. 40.30 steps back: ananena, "she said," has the past marker -na-. Inside the quotation the grandmother's own promise is future again: Ndidzakudikira, "I will wait for you." Compare the reported future of 40.15. - Honorific plurals. Amayi (mother) and agogo (grandmother) are plural in form and take plural agreement as a mark of respect: amayi ake, agogo ake, with the class 2 possessive ake. When Chimwemwe gives her grandmother a present, the object prefix is the plural wa-: adzawapatsa, "she will give them," which English translates "give her" (40.21). Chimwemwe, a child, is referred to with the singular mu-: adzamuperekeza, adzamudikira. - Object prefixes after -dza-. adza-mu-perekeza (40.18), adza-mu-dikira (40.20), adza-wa-patsa (40.21), adza-mu-fotokozera (40.24), ndidza-ku-dikira (40.30): tense first, object second, as in Section D, rule 1. - Class agreement on the subject. Ulendo udzatenga (40.19): ulendo, "journey," is a u- class noun (class 14), so the prefix is u-, and "this journey" is ulendo umenewu (40.25). - The negative future of "never." sadzaiwala (40.25): si + a becomes sa-, and with no time word the sense is "will never forget," as in 40.4 and 40.13. - ndi with an infinitive. adzakhala pamodzi ndi kucheza (40.23): Chichewa often joins a second action with ndi + the infinitive (ku-cheza), and the -dza- of the first verb covers both. - -nso, "again." ndidzapitanso (40.29) adds the suffix -nso, "again, also," to the end of the future verb, as nanenso, "I too," does to the pronoun in 40.8. - Earlier lessons. kumeneko, "there" (40.26), is from Lesson 38; kupita (40.16, 40.29) from Lesson 30.
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Vowels. Five pure vowels: a /a/ (father), e /e/ (bed), i /i/ (machine), o /o/ (Spanish no), u /u/ (rule). Two vowels side by side are two syllables: sindidzaiwala /si.ndi.dza.i.ˈwa.la/, maola /ma.ˈo.la/, tidzaonana /ti.dza.o.ˈna.na/, kumuona /ku.mu.ˈo.na/.
Stress. On the next-to-last syllable of the whole word: ndidza-BWE-ra, adzamudi-KI-ra, adzakutsekuli-RA-ni. Long future verbs keep a light, even rhythm until the stressed syllable near the end.
Consonant spellings in this lesson:
- dz = /dz/, one sound: -dza-, madzulo, dzulo, mdzukulu, pamodzi - ts = /ts/, one sound: tsiku, mphatso, chidzatsegulidwa - ph, th, kh = aspirated /pʰ tʰ kʰ/, with a puff of air: adzaphika, ndidzakuthandiza, ndidzakhala - ch = /tʃ/: chaka, chiyani, kucheza - ny = /ɲ/: nyengo, kunyumba - r and l are one sound in Chichewa, written r after i and e and l elsewhere: bwera, dikira, but iwala, lemba - m before a consonant at the start of a class 1 noun is its own syllable: mtolankhani /m̩.to.la.ˈŋkʰa.ni/, mdzukulu /m̩.dzu.ˈku.lu/; so is the m' of m'mawa /m̩.ˈma.wa/ - nasal + consonant at the start of a class 9 or 10 noun begins the syllable: mvula /ˈmvu.la/, nsima /ˈnsi.ma/, nkhuku /ˈŋkʰu.ku/, mphatso /ˈmpʰa.tso/
Implosives. In native words, b and d are often implosive, said with a slight inward pull of air; this lesson writes them simply /b/ and /d/, as earlier lessons have done.
Orthography. The future marker is never written apart: ndidzabwera, not ndi dza bwera. The negative prefix is joined too: sindidzaiwala. Tone is not written in standard spelling. The apostrophe in m'mawa marks the syllabic m of the locative mu-, "in." Older books write Mau where modern spelling has Mawu (Section F).
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