English "make" → Chichewa "kupanga" – The Verb of Making, Preparing and Doing
What does "make" mean in Chichewa?
English "make" is one of its busiest verbs: we make food, make a chair, make noise, make a plan, make a mistake, make someone laugh. Chichewa has a verb that covers the first four of these, the everyday work of making things: -panga. With the infinitive prefix it is kupanga, "to make."
- kupanga chakudya: to make food, to prepare a meal - kupanga mpando: to make a chair - kupanga phokoso: to make noise - kupanga ndondomeko: to make a plan
The verb. -panga is an ordinary verb of the kind you have met in every lesson since the early ones: subject prefix, tense marker, stem. Amayi akupanga chakudya, "Mother is making food." Ndinapanga mpando, "I made a chair." Wiktionary lists the Chichewa verb with the meanings "to build" and "to make," and traces it to the Proto-Bantu root -pánga, "to make." Its object is whatever is being made: a thing, a meal, a plan.
It also means "do." The same verb asks what someone is doing or will do: Ukupanga chiyani?, "What are you doing?" The sentence from Lesson 40, Ukamaliza sukulu udzapanga chiyani?, "When you finish school, what will you do?", uses it. Wikipedia's article on Chichewa tenses has the same sentence with tone marks. Chichewa has a second verb for "do," kuchita, taught in Lesson 15, and the two overlap: kuchita is the general "do," while kupanga leans towards making something.
Where English "make" and Chichewa kupanga part company. Three points to watch:
- Houses are usually built with another verb. Kumanga nyumba, "to build a house," uses kumanga, a verb that also means "to tie." Wiktionary does list "build" under -panga, but when you build a house the usual word is kumanga. - "Create" has its own verb. In the modern Chichewa Bible, God "creates" with kulenga (Mulungu analenga munthu, Genesis 1:27), but when God says "Let us make a human being," the verb is -panga (Genesis 1:26). The older Bible uses -panga for the whole account. Section F shows both. - "Make someone do something" is not done with kupanga. English "make him laugh" or "make it clear" puts a second verb after "make." Chichewa changes the second verb itself, adding a causative ending such as -its-, as in kudzilungamitsa, "to make oneself righteous" (Lesson 41). Learn those as single verbs.
One verb, many shapes. -panga takes the same endings as other verbs. The applicative -pangira means "make for someone" (Amayi anandipangira chakudya, "Mother made food for me"); the passive -pangidwa means "be made" (nsima imapangidwa ndi ufa wa chimanga, "nsima is made from maize flour").
What does "make" mean in Chichewa? To make or prepare something, say kupanga: Ndikupanga nsima, "I am making nsima." To say what someone is doing, Ukupanga chiyani? To make something for someone, add -ir-: -pangira. To build a house, kumanga is the usual word.
- "Make" = kupanga: -panga is the verb of making and preparing: Amayi akupanga chakudya, "Mother is making food" - It also asks and says what people do: Ukupanga chiyani?, "What are you doing?" - "Make for someone" = -pangira; "be made" = -pangidwa: Amayi anandipangira chakudya; Mpando unapangidwa ndi matabwa - Subjunctive and negatives end in -e: Tipange!, "Let us make!"; Musapange phokoso, "Do not make noise"; Sindinapange, "I did not make" - Other verbs for other "makes": houses are kumanga; "create" is kulenga; "make someone do" is a causative ending on the verb
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kupanga /ku.ˈpa.ŋɡa/: three syllables, ku-PA-nga. The ng is one sound, as in English "finger," not "singer": the n and the g are said together, and they begin the last syllable.
-pange /ˈpa.ŋɡe/: the same sound again, with e as in English "bed."
Stress falls on the next-to-last syllable of the whole word, so it moves as endings are added:
- kupanga /ku.ˈpa.ŋɡa/: ku-PA-nga, "to make" - akupanga /a.ku.ˈpa.ŋɡa/: a-ku-PA-nga, "he/she is making" - anandipangira /a.na.ndi.pa.ŋɡi.ˈɾa/: a-na-ndi-pa-ngi-RA, "she made for me" - imapangidwa /i.ma.pa.ŋɡi.ˈdwa/: i-ma-pa-ngi-DWA, "it is made" - sindinapange /si.ndi.na.ˈpa.ŋɡe/: si-ndi-na-PA-nge, "I did not make"
Tone. Wiktionary writes the infinitive as kupánga, with a high tone on the first syllable of the stem, and Wikipedia's account of Chichewa tenses writes udzápangánji, "what will you do?", with high tones on -dza- and on -nga-. The standard spelling does not mark tone, and this lesson writes the words without tone marks, as Malawian books and newspapers do.
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All fifteen examples are constructed for teaching, from verified patterns. Example 42.1 follows a sentence from Lesson 37 of this course, and 42.3 follows the pattern of Wikipedia's sample Ukamaliza sukulu udzapanga chiyani?
42.1a Amayi mother akupanga she-is-making chakudya food
42.1b Amayi /a.ˈma.ji/ mother.CL2 (honorific) akupanga /a.ku.ˈpa.ŋɡa/ a-ku-pang-a: 3SG-PRES-make-FV chakudya /tʃa.ˈku.dja/ food.CL7
42.2a Ndikupanga I-am-making nsima nsima
42.2b Ndikupanga /ndi.ku.ˈpa.ŋɡa/ ndi-ku-pang-a: 1SG-PRES-make-FV nsima /ˈnsi.ma/ maize porridge.CL9
42.3a Ukupanga you-are-making chiyani what
42.3b Ukupanga /u.ku.ˈpa.ŋɡa/ u-ku-pang-a: 2SG-PRES-make-FV chiyani /tʃi.ˈja.ni/ what.INTERR
42.4a Abambo father anapanga he-made mpando chair
42.4b Abambo /a.ˈba.mbo/ father.CL2 (honorific) anapanga /a.na.ˈpa.ŋɡa/ a-na-pang-a: 3SG-PAST-make-FV mpando /ˈmpa.ndo/ chair.CL3
42.5a Tiyeni come-on tipange let-us-make chakudya food
42.5b Tiyeni /ti.ˈje.ni/ come-on (lit. let-us-go) tipange /ti.ˈpa.ŋɡe/ ti-pang-e: 1PL-make-SBJV chakudya /tʃa.ˈku.dja/ food.CL7
42.6a Abambo father anapanga he-made mpando chair ndi with matabwa planks
42.6b Abambo /a.ˈba.mbo/ father.CL2 (honorific) anapanga /a.na.ˈpa.ŋɡa/ a-na-pang-a: 3SG-PAST-make-FV mpando /ˈmpa.ndo/ chair.CL3 ndi /ndi/ with matabwa /ma.ˈta.bwa/ plank.CL6.PL
42.7a Nsima nsima imapangidwa it-is-made ndi with ufa flour wa of chimanga maize
42.7b Nsima /ˈnsi.ma/ maize porridge.CL9 imapangidwa /i.ma.pa.ŋɡi.ˈdwa/ i-ma-pang-idw-a: CL9-HAB-make-PASS-FV ndi /ndi/ with (= from) ufa /ˈu.fa/ flour.CL14 wa /wa/ of.CL14 chimanga /tʃi.ˈma.ŋɡa/ maize.CL7
42.8a Amayi mother anandipangira she-made-for-me chakudya food chokoma tasty
42.8b Amayi /a.ˈma.ji/ mother.CL2 (honorific) anandipangira /a.na.ndi.pa.ŋɡi.ˈɾa/ a-na-ndi-pang-ir-a: 3SG-PAST-1SG.OBJ-make-APPL-FV chakudya /tʃa.ˈku.dja/ food.CL7 chokoma /tʃo.ˈko.ma/ cho-koma: of.CL7-sweet (= tasty)
42.9a Musapange do-not-make phokoso noise mwana child akugona he-is-sleeping
42.9b Musapange /mu.sa.ˈpa.ŋɡe/ mu-sa-pang-e: 2PL-NEG-make-SBJV (= do not make) phokoso /pʰo.ˈko.so/ noise.CL5 mwana /ˈmwa.na/ child.CL1 akugona /a.ku.ˈɡo.na/ a-ku-gon-a: 3SG-PRES-sleep-FV
42.10a Ndikufuna I-want kupanga to-make mkate bread lero today
42.10b Ndikufuna /ndi.ku.ˈfu.na/ ndi-ku-fun-a: 1SG-PRES-want-FV kupanga /ku.ˈpa.ŋɡa/ ku-pang-a: INF-make-FV mkate /m̩.ˈka.te/ bread.CL3 lero /ˈle.ɾo/ today
42.11a Mawa tomorrow tidzapanga we-will-make ndondomeko plan ya of ntchito work
42.11b Mawa /ˈma.wa/ tomorrow tidzapanga /ti.dza.ˈpa.ŋɡa/ ti-dza-pang-a: 1PL-FUT-make-FV ndondomeko /ndo.ndo.ˈme.ko/ plan.CL9 ya /ja/ of.CL9 ntchito /ˈntʃi.to/ work.CL9
42.12a Ukamaliza when-you-finish kupanga to-make mkate bread udzandithandiza you-will-help-me kuphika to-cook nsima nsima
42.12b Ukamaliza /u.ka.ma.ˈli.za/ u-ka-maliz-a: 2SG-WHEN-finish-FV kupanga /ku.ˈpa.ŋɡa/ ku-pang-a: INF-make-FV mkate /m̩.ˈka.te/ bread.CL3 udzandithandiza /u.dza.ndi.tʰa.ˈndi.za/ u-dza-ndi-thandiz-a: 2SG-FUT-1SG.OBJ-help-FV kuphika /ku.ˈpʰi.ka/ ku-phik-a: INF-cook-FV nsima /ˈnsi.ma/ maize porridge.CL9
42.13a Mphunzitsi teacher anati he-said ana children apange they-should-make mipando chairs yatsopano new
42.13b Mphunzitsi /mpʰu.ˈnzi.tsi/ teacher.CL1 anati /a.ˈna.ti/ a-na-ti: 3SG-PAST-say ana /ˈa.na/ child.CL2.PL apange /a.ˈpa.ŋɡe/ a-pang-e: 3PL-make-SBJV mipando /mi.ˈpa.ndo/ chair.CL4.PL yatsopano /ja.tso.ˈpa.no/ ya-tsopano: of.CL4-new (= new)
42.14a Sindinapange I-did-not-make nsima nsima ndekha alone amayi mother anandithandiza she-helped-me
42.14b Sindinapange /si.ndi.na.ˈpa.ŋɡe/ si-ndi-na-pang-e: NEG-1SG-PAST-make-NEG.FV nsima /ˈnsi.ma/ maize porridge.CL9 ndekha /ˈnde.kʰa/ alone.1SG (= by myself) amayi /a.ˈma.ji/ mother.CL2 (honorific) anandithandiza /a.na.ndi.tʰa.ˈndi.za/ a-na-ndi-thandiz-a: 3SG-PAST-1SG.OBJ-help-FV
42.15a Amene the-one-who anapanga he-made nsima nsima iyi this ndi is mwana child wanga my
42.15b Amene /a.ˈme.ne/ REL.CL1 (= the one who) anapanga /a.na.ˈpa.ŋɡa/ a-na-pang-a: 3SG-PAST-make-FV nsima /ˈnsi.ma/ maize porridge.CL9 iyi /ˈi.ji/ this.CL9 ndi /ndi/ is (COP) mwana /ˈmwa.na/ child.CL1 wanga /ˈwa.ŋɡa/ my.CL1.POSS
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42.1 Amayi akupanga chakudya. → "Mother is making food."
42.2 Ndikupanga nsima. → "I am making nsima."
42.3 Ukupanga chiyani? → "What are you doing?" / "What are you making?"
42.4 Abambo anapanga mpando. → "Father made a chair."
42.5 Tiyeni tipange chakudya. → "Come on, let's make food."
42.6 Abambo anapanga mpando ndi matabwa. → "Father made a chair out of planks."
42.7 Nsima imapangidwa ndi ufa wa chimanga. → "Nsima is made from maize flour."
42.8 Amayi anandipangira chakudya chokoma. → "Mother made me some tasty food."
42.9 Musapange phokoso, mwana akugona. → "Don't make a noise, the child is sleeping."
42.10 Ndikufuna kupanga mkate lero. → "I want to make bread today."
42.11 Mawa tidzapanga ndondomeko ya ntchito. → "Tomorrow we will make a work plan."
42.12 Ukamaliza kupanga mkate, udzandithandiza kuphika nsima. → "When you finish making the bread, you will help me cook the nsima."
42.13 Mphunzitsi anati ana apange mipando yatsopano. → "The teacher said the children should make new chairs."
42.14 Sindinapange nsima ndekha; amayi anandithandiza. → "I did not make the nsima by myself; Mother helped me."
42.15 Amene anapanga nsima iyi ndi mwana wanga. → "The one who made this nsima is my child."
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42.1 Amayi akupanga chakudya.
42.2 Ndikupanga nsima.
42.3 Ukupanga chiyani?
42.4 Abambo anapanga mpando.
42.5 Tiyeni tipange chakudya.
42.6 Abambo anapanga mpando ndi matabwa.
42.7 Nsima imapangidwa ndi ufa wa chimanga.
42.8 Amayi anandipangira chakudya chokoma.
42.9 Musapange phokoso, mwana akugona.
42.10 Ndikufuna kupanga mkate lero.
42.11 Mawa tidzapanga ndondomeko ya ntchito.
42.12 Ukamaliza kupanga mkate, udzandithandiza kuphika nsima.
42.13 Mphunzitsi anati ana apange mipando yatsopano.
42.14 Sindinapange nsima ndekha; amayi anandithandiza.
42.15 Amene anapanga nsima iyi ndi mwana wanga.
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These are the grammar rules for kupanga (make) in Chichewa:
1. The verb and its forms. The stem is -pang-, with the final vowel -a. Like every verb it is built from a subject prefix, a tense marker and the stem:
- infinitive: kupanga (42.10, 42.12) - present, -ku-: ndikupanga, ukupanga, akupanga (42.1, 42.2, 42.3) - habitual, -ma-: ndimapanga, "I usually make"; imapangidwa (42.7) - past, -na-: ndinapanga, anapanga (42.4, 42.6, 42.15) - future, -dza-: ndidzapanga, tidzapanga (42.11) - perfect, -a-: ndapanga, "I have made"; tapanga, "we have made"; wapanga, "you / he / she has made"
2. The subjunctive and the commands end in -e. To say "let us," "he should," "do not," the final -a becomes -e:
- tipange, "let us make" (42.5); apange, "they should make" (42.13) - negative, with -sa- after the subject prefix: musapange, "do not make" (42.9); usapange to one person - the plain command: panga! to one person, pangani! to several
Wikipedia's article on Chichewa tenses gives the same rule for the subjunctive, with the example Mundipatse, "Please give it to me." The Chichewa Bible has the same form in God's own words: Tipange munthu, "Let us make a human being" (Section F).
3. Negatives. Negative present, past and future begin with si-, in front of the subject prefix: present sindipanga ("I do not make"), past sindinapange ("I did not make," 42.14), future sindidzapanga. The negative past takes the final vowel -e, not -a: Wikipedia's article gives Sanabwere, "He didn't come," and sindinapange works the same way. The negative present and future keep -a, as in sitidzapanga kanthu, "we will make nothing" (narrative, 42.30).
4. What can be made. Kupanga takes the thing made as its object, and the object follows the verb:
- food: chakudya, nsima, mkate (42.1, 42.2, 42.10) - objects: mpando (42.4, 42.13) - abstract things: phokoso, "noise" (42.9); ndondomeko, "a plan" (42.11)
5. Panga and chita, "make" and "do." Both can ask "what are you doing?" For -panga this is Ukupanga chiyani? (42.3), which is also the verb of Lesson 40's Ukamaliza sukulu udzapanga chiyani? In practice, -panga is the natural verb when something comes into being (a meal, a chair, a plan), and kuchita (Lesson 15) is the wider "do."
6. The passive: -pangidwa. The passive suffix -idw- turns "make" into "be made." The subject prefix agrees with what is made: nsima imapangidwa (class 9: i-, 42.7); mpando unapangidwa (class 3: u-, narrative 42.25); zonse zinapangidwa (class 8: zi-, 42.28). Ndi then gives the material or the maker: ndi ufa wa chimanga, "from maize flour"; ndi manja athu, "by our hands" (42.28).
7. The applicative: -pangira. The suffix -ir- adds a person for whom something is made: anandipangira chakudya, "she made me food" (42.8), literally "she made-for-me food." Forgetting it changes the meaning: Amayi anandipanga would be heard as "Mother made me." The subjunctive -pangire appears in the course already in Mungandipangire mtengo wabwino? (Lesson 17).
8. Make something happen: the causative. To "make someone do" or "make something so," Chichewa adds an ending to the second verb itself. Lesson 41 gave kudzilungamitsa, "to make oneself righteous," from lungama, "be righteous," with the causative -its-. Wiktionary lists -pangitsa as the causative of -panga, but English "make him laugh" does not go through kupanga.
9. Other verbs for English "make."
- kumanga nyumba, "to build a house" (kumanga means "to tie, to build") - kulenga, "to create," as in the modern Bible's Mulungu analenga munthu, "God created man" (Genesis 1:27, CCL) - kuphika, "to cook," as in kuphika nsima (42.12), where English can also say "make nsima"
Common Mistakes
- Wrong final vowel in the subjunctive. ✗ Musapanga phokoso. ✓ Musapange phokoso: after "do not" the verb ends in -e. - Wrong final vowel in the negative past. ✗ Sindinapanga. ✓ Sindinapange, "I did not make." - Leaving out -ir- for "make for someone." ✗ Amayi anandipanga chakudya. ✓ Amayi anandipangira chakudya. Without -ir- the sentence means "Mother made me." - Wrong agreement in the passive. ✗ Nsima umapangidwa. ✓ Nsima imapangidwa: nsima is class 9, so i-. - Translating every "make" with kupanga. English "make him laugh" and "make a house" are done with other forms or verbs: a causative ending, or kumanga.
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Making food. In a Malawian household the daily making is above all the making of nsima, the stiff maize porridge that is eaten with a relish at almost every meal. The word for cooking it is kuphika (Ndani anaphika nsima iyi?, Lesson 41), and the more general kupanga chakudya, "to prepare food," is also used, as in the sentence of Lesson 37 that 42.1 follows: Amayi akupanga chakudya china, "Mother is making other food." Nsima is made from ufa wa chimanga, maize flour; the passive in 42.7 describes it.
Pangano. The noun pangano is built on the same root. Dictionaries and Bible-translation guides give "agreement, covenant, contract," and pangano latsopano is "new covenant." The idea is that an agreement is something people make together.
The older Bible and the newer Bible. The 2018 Buku Lopatulika uses -panga throughout the creation story of Genesis 1: God made the sky (1:7), made the great lights (1:16), made a human being (1:26) and saw all that he had made (1:31). The modern Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero keeps -panga in the speech Tipange munthu (1:26) but uses -lenga, "create," where the narrator tells what God did (1:27, 1:31). Section F gives both.
Varieties. This lesson follows the standard Chichewa of Malawi. Wiktionary's entry is for Chichewa; whether the Nyanja of Zambia uses kupanga in just the same ways was not checked for this lesson.
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Source: Genesis 1:26 in Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero (Biblica, CCL), and Genesis 1:7 and 1:31 in the Buku Lopatulika (Bible Society of Malawi, BLP-2018). Texts checked on bible.com (CCL, Genesis 1; BLP-2018, Genesis 1). Only the opening clause of each verse is given, so that the lines teach the verb and stay short; the verses continue after the ellipsis.
F-A: Interlinear Text
F-A.1a Zitatha after-this izi these Mulungu God anati he-said Tipange let-us-make munthu person m’chifanizo in-image chathu our
F-A.1b Zitatha /zi.ˈta.tʰa/ after (lit. they-having-ended) izi /ˈi.zi/ these.CL8 Mulungu /mu.ˈlu.ŋɡu/ God.CL1 anati /a.ˈna.ti/ a-na-ti: 3SG-PAST-say Tipange /ti.ˈpa.ŋɡe/ ti-pang-e: 1PL-make-SBJV munthu /ˈmu.ntʰu/ person.CL1 m’chifanizo /m̩.tʃi.fa.ˈni.zo/ m’-chifanizo: in-image.CL7 chathu /ˈtʃa.tʰu/ cha-thu: of.CL7-our (= our)
F-A.2a Ndipo and Mulungu God anapanga he-made thambo sky
F-A.2b Ndipo /ˈndi.po/ and (then) Mulungu /mu.ˈlu.ŋɡu/ God.CL1 anapanga /a.na.ˈpa.ŋɡa/ a-na-pang-a: 3SG-PAST-make-FV thambo /ˈtʰa.mbo/ firmament, sky (noun)
F-A.3a Ndipo and anaziona he-saw-them Mulungu God zonse all zimene which adazipanga he-made-them
F-A.3b Ndipo /ˈndi.po/ and (then) anaziona /a.na.zi.ˈo.na/ a-na-zi-on-a: 3SG-PAST-OBJ.CL8-see-FV Mulungu /mu.ˈlu.ŋɡu/ God.CL1 zonse /ˈzo.nse/ all.CL8 zimene /zi.ˈme.ne/ REL.CL8 adazipanga /a.da.zi.ˈpa.ŋɡa/ a-da-zi-pang-a: 3SG-PAST(older)-OBJ.CL8-make-FV
F-B: Original Text with Translation
F-B.1 Zitatha izi Mulungu anati, 'Tipange munthu m’chifanizo chathu…' (Genesis 1:26, CCL, opening) → "After this God said, 'Let us make a human being in our image…'"
F-B.2 Ndipo Mulungu anapanga thambo… (Genesis 1:7, BLP-2018, opening) → "And God made the sky…"
F-B.3 Ndipo anaziona Mulungu zonse zimene adazipanga… (Genesis 1:31, BLP-2018, opening) → "And God saw all that he had made…"
F-C: Original Text Only
Zitatha izi Mulungu anati, 'Tipange munthu m’chifanizo chathu…'
Ndipo Mulungu anapanga thambo…
Ndipo anaziona Mulungu zonse zimene adazipanga…
F-D: Grammar and Literary Commentary
- Tipange. The subjunctive with ti-, "let us," ending in -e, as in 42.5 Tiyeni tipange chakudya. In the Bible the "us" is God speaking of himself, and the verb is the ordinary verb of making. The BLP-2018 has the same words with a different frame: Ndipo anati Mulungu, Tipange munthu m'chifanizo chathu (Genesis 1:26). - Anapanga thambo. Past -na- with a single object: "God made the sky." The verse goes on to say that he separated the waters under the sky from the waters above it. - Adazipanga. In the older Bible the past marker is -da- where modern Chichewa has -na-: adazipanga where today's speech says anazipanga. The object marker -zi- inside the verb repeats zonse zimene, "all which," class 8: "all that he made, he made them." In the modern Bible the same clause is zonse zimene anazilenga (Genesis 1:31, CCL), with -lenga. - Verb order. Anaziona Mulungu, "God saw them," puts the verb before its subject, the order of the BLP-2018 text; the other lines in this lesson put the subject first. - Panga and lenga. The older Bible narrates creation with -panga in all three verses. The modern Bible uses -lenga in the narration (analenga munthu, "he created man," 1:27) and keeps -panga in the divine speech. Both verbs are taught here: kupanga is the everyday "make," kulenga the more exact "create." - Zitatha izi. A linking phrase, "after these things," that opens the CCL verse. - M’chifanizo chathu. Chifanizo, "image," with the locative m’- ("in") and the class 7 possessive chathu, "our": "in our image."
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A constructed narrative, in the order of one day, for the verb of this lesson. A child tells how the family spends a day of making: bread, food, a chair and a plan. Every sentence uses -panga in a different shape: present, past, future, subjunctive, perfect, passive, negative.
Part A: Interlinear Text
42.16a Lero today ndi is tsiku day la of kupanga making
42.16b Lero /ˈle.ɾo/ today ndi /ndi/ is (COP) tsiku /ˈtsi.ku/ day.CL5 la /la/ of.CL5 kupanga /ku.ˈpa.ŋɡa/ ku-pang-a: INF-make-FV (= making)
42.17a Aliyense everyone akupanga he-is-making chinachake something
42.17b Aliyense /a.li.ˈje.nse/ everyone.CL1 akupanga /a.ku.ˈpa.ŋɡa/ a-ku-pang-a: 3SG-PRES-make-FV chinachake /tʃi.na.ˈtʃa.ke/ something.CL7
42.18a Amayi mother akupanga she-is-making mkate bread
42.18b Amayi /a.ˈma.ji/ mother.CL2 (honorific) akupanga /a.ku.ˈpa.ŋɡa/ a-ku-pang-a: 3SG-PRES-make-FV mkate /m̩.ˈka.te/ bread.CL3
42.19a Chimwemwe Chimwemwe akuthandiza she-is-helping amayi mother kupanga to-make mkate bread
42.19b Chimwemwe /tʃi.ˈmwe.mwe/ Chimwemwe (name: "joy") akuthandiza /a.ku.tʰa.ˈndi.za/ a-ku-thandiz-a: 3SG-PRES-help-FV amayi /a.ˈma.ji/ mother.CL2 (honorific) kupanga /ku.ˈpa.ŋɡa/ ku-pang-a: INF-make-FV mkate /m̩.ˈka.te/ bread.CL3
42.20a Abambo father akupanga he-is-making mpando chair watsopano new
42.20b Abambo /a.ˈba.mbo/ father.CL2 (honorific) akupanga /a.ku.ˈpa.ŋɡa/ a-ku-pang-a: 3SG-PRES-make-FV mpando /ˈmpa.ndo/ chair.CL3 watsopano /wa.tso.ˈpa.no/ wa-tsopano: of.CL3-new (= new)
42.21a Abambo father anandifunsa he-asked-me kuti that Iwe you ukupanga you-are-making chiyani what
42.21b Abambo /a.ˈba.mbo/ father.CL2 (honorific) anandifunsa /a.na.ndi.ˈfu.nsa/ a-na-ndi-funs-a: 3SG-PAST-1SG.OBJ-ask-FV kuti /ˈku.ti/ that (introduces speech) Iwe /ˈi.we/ 2SG.PRON ukupanga /u.ku.ˈpa.ŋɡa/ u-ku-pang-a: 2SG-PRES-make-FV chiyani /tʃi.ˈja.ni/ what.INTERR
42.22a Ndinati I-said Ndikupanga I-am-making ndondomeko plan ya of mawa tomorrow
42.22b Ndinati /ndi.ˈna.ti/ ndi-na-ti: 1SG-PAST-say Ndikupanga /ndi.ku.ˈpa.ŋɡa/ ndi-ku-pang-a: 1SG-PRES-make-FV ndondomeko /ndo.ndo.ˈme.ko/ plan.CL9 ya /ja/ of.CL9 mawa /ˈma.wa/ tomorrow
42.23a Abambo father anati he-said Ukamaliza when-you-finish udzandithandiza you-will-help-me kupanga to-make mpando chair
42.23b Abambo /a.ˈba.mbo/ father.CL2 (honorific) anati /a.ˈna.ti/ a-na-ti: 3SG-PAST-say Ukamaliza /u.ka.ma.ˈli.za/ u-ka-maliz-a: 2SG-WHEN-finish-FV udzandithandiza /u.dza.ndi.tʰa.ˈndi.za/ u-dza-ndi-thandiz-a: 2SG-FUT-1SG.OBJ-help-FV kupanga /ku.ˈpa.ŋɡa/ ku-pang-a: INF-make-FV mpando /ˈmpa.ndo/ chair.CL3
42.24a Ndinamaliza I-finished msanga quickly ndipo and tinapanga we-made mpando chair pamodzi together
42.24b Ndinamaliza /ndi.na.ma.ˈli.za/ ndi-na-maliz-a: 1SG-PAST-finish-FV msanga /m̩.ˈsa.ŋɡa/ quickly (ADV) ndipo /ˈndi.po/ and (then) tinapanga /ti.na.ˈpa.ŋɡa/ ti-na-pang-a: 1PL-PAST-make-FV mpando /ˈmpa.ndo/ chair.CL3 pamodzi /pa.ˈmo.dzi/ together
42.25a Mpandowo that-chair unapangidwa it-was-made tsiku day limodzi one
42.25b Mpandowo /mpa.ˈndo.wo/ mpando-wo: chair.CL3-that (aforementioned) unapangidwa /u.na.pa.ŋɡi.ˈdwa/ u-na-pang-idw-a: CL3-PAST-make-PASS-FV tsiku /ˈtsi.ku/ day.CL5 limodzi /li.ˈmo.dzi/ one.CL5
42.26a Madzulo evening mkate bread wapangidwa it-has-been-made
42.26b Madzulo /ma.ˈdzu.lo/ evening (LOC) mkate /m̩.ˈka.te/ bread.CL3 wapangidwa /wa.pa.ŋɡi.ˈdwa/ w(u)-a-pang-idw-a: CL3-PERF-make-PASS-FV
42.27a Tonse all-of-us tikudya we-are-eating chakudya food chimene which amayi mother anapanga she-made
42.27b Tonse /ˈto.nse/ to-nse: 1PL-all (= all of us) tikudya /ti.ˈku.dja/ ti-ku-dy-a: 1PL-PRES-eat-FV chakudya /tʃa.ˈku.dja/ food.CL7 chimene /tʃi.ˈme.ne/ REL.CL7 amayi /a.ˈma.ji/ mother.CL2 (honorific) anapanga /a.na.ˈpa.ŋɡa/ a-na-pang-a: 3SG-PAST-make-FV
42.28a Zonse everything zinapangidwa they-were-made ndi with manja hands athu our
42.28b Zonse /ˈzo.nse/ all.CL8 (= everything) zinapangidwa /zi.na.pa.ŋɡi.ˈdwa/ zi-na-pang-idw-a: CL8-PAST-make-PASS-FV ndi /ndi/ by, with manja /ˈma.ndʒa/ hand.CL6.PL athu /ˈa.tʰu/ our.CL6.POSS
42.29a Chimwemwe Chimwemwe anati she-said Tiyeni come-on tipangenso let-us-make-again mawa tomorrow
42.29b Chimwemwe /tʃi.ˈmwe.mwe/ Chimwemwe (name: "joy") anati /a.ˈna.ti/ a-na-ti: 3SG-PAST-say Tiyeni /ti.ˈje.ni/ come-on (lit. let-us-go) tipangenso /ti.pa.ˈŋɡe.nso/ ti-pang-e-nso: 1PL-make-SBJV-again mawa /ˈma.wa/ tomorrow
42.30a Koma but amayi mother anati she-said Ayi no mawa tomorrow sitidzapanga we-will-not-make kanthu anything
42.30b Koma /ˈko.ma/ but amayi /a.ˈma.ji/ mother.CL2 (honorific) anati /a.ˈna.ti/ a-na-ti: 3SG-PAST-say Ayi /ˈa.ji/ no mawa /ˈma.wa/ tomorrow sitidzapanga /si.ti.dza.ˈpa.ŋɡa/ si-ti-dza-pang-a: NEG-1PL-FUT-make-FV kanthu /ˈka.ntʰu/ anything (with NEG = nothing)
Part B: Natural Sentences
42.16 Lero ndi tsiku la kupanga. → "Today is a day of making."
42.17 Aliyense akupanga chinachake. → "Everyone is making something."
42.18 Amayi akupanga mkate. → "Mother is making bread."
42.19 Chimwemwe akuthandiza amayi kupanga mkate. → "Chimwemwe is helping Mother make the bread."
42.20 Abambo akupanga mpando watsopano. → "Father is making a new chair."
42.21 Abambo anandifunsa kuti, Iwe ukupanga chiyani? → "Father asked me, 'What are you making?'"
42.22 Ndinati, Ndikupanga ndondomeko ya mawa. → "I said, 'I am making a plan for tomorrow.'"
42.23 Abambo anati, Ukamaliza, udzandithandiza kupanga mpando. → "Father said, 'When you finish, you will help me make the chair.'"
42.24 Ndinamaliza msanga, ndipo tinapanga mpando pamodzi. → "I finished quickly, and we made the chair together."
42.25 Mpandowo unapangidwa tsiku limodzi. → "That chair was made in one day."
42.26 Madzulo mkate wapangidwa. → "In the evening the bread was ready (has been made)."
42.27 Tonse tikudya chakudya chimene amayi anapanga. → "We are all eating the food that Mother made."
42.28 Zonse zinapangidwa ndi manja athu. → "Everything was made by our own hands."
42.29 Chimwemwe anati, Tiyeni tipangenso mawa! → "Chimwemwe said, 'Come on, let's make more tomorrow!'"
42.30 Koma amayi anati, Ayi, mawa sitidzapanga kanthu. → "But Mother said, 'No, tomorrow we will make nothing.'"
Part C: Target Language Only
42.16 Lero ndi tsiku la kupanga.
42.17 Aliyense akupanga chinachake.
42.18 Amayi akupanga mkate.
42.19 Chimwemwe akuthandiza amayi kupanga mkate.
42.20 Abambo akupanga mpando watsopano.
42.21 Abambo anandifunsa kuti, Iwe ukupanga chiyani?
42.22 Ndinati, Ndikupanga ndondomeko ya mawa.
42.23 Abambo anati, Ukamaliza, udzandithandiza kupanga mpando.
42.24 Ndinamaliza msanga, ndipo tinapanga mpando pamodzi.
42.25 Mpandowo unapangidwa tsiku limodzi.
42.26 Madzulo mkate wapangidwa.
42.27 Tonse tikudya chakudya chimene amayi anapanga.
42.28 Zonse zinapangidwa ndi manja athu.
42.29 Chimwemwe anati, Tiyeni tipangenso mawa!
42.30 Koma amayi anati, Ayi, mawa sitidzapanga kanthu.
Part D: Grammar Notes on the Narrative
- Every shape of the verb. Present akupanga (42.17, 42.18), infinitive kupanga (42.16, 42.19, 42.23), past tinapanga (42.24), anapanga (42.27), passive unapangidwa (42.25), zinapangidwa (42.28), perfect passive wapangidwa (42.26), subjunctive tipangenso (42.29), negative future sitidzapanga (42.30). - Tsiku la kupanga. La is the class 5 "of" word, agreeing with tsiku, and the infinitive kupanga works as a noun after it: "a day of making" (42.16). - Wapangidwa. The perfect -a- with the subject prefix u- of mkate gives wa-, and the passive -idw- follows: "the bread has been made," that is, "it is ready" (42.26). - Tipangenso. The repetitive ending -nso, "again," as in anamufunsanso in Lesson 41, comes after the final vowel: tipange + nso (42.29). Wiktionary lists -panganso as the repetitive form of the verb. - Chimene amayi anapanga. The relative word chimene (class 7, for chakudya) follows the noun, and the verb after it has its own subject prefix (Lesson 41): "the food which Mother made" (42.27). - Mpandowo. -wo on a noun, "that, the one already mentioned," as in achifwambawo in Lesson 41: "that chair" (42.25). - Kanthu after the negative. Sitidzapanga kanthu has kanthu, "anything," and the negative verb makes it mean "nothing": "we will make nothing" (42.30). - Earlier lessons. Ukamaliza, "when you finish," and udzandithandiza, "you will help me," are the -ka- and -dza- forms of Lesson 40; amene in 42.15 is Lesson 41.
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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: Chimwemwe /tʃi.ˈmwe.mwe/, iyi /ˈi.ji/, Ayi /ˈa.ji/.
Stress. On the next-to-last syllable of the whole word: ku-PA-nga, a-ku-PA-nga, a-na-ndi-pa-ngi-RA, si-ti-dza-PA-nga, ti-pa-NGE-nso.
Consonant spellings in this lesson:
- ng = /ŋɡ/, one sound: kupanga, tipange, msanga, wanga, chimanga - nd, mp, nt, ns at the start of a syllable begin it together: ndondomeko /ndo.ndo.ˈme.ko/, mpando /ˈmpa.ndo/, ntchito /ˈntʃi.to/, nsima /ˈnsi.ma/ - ph, th, kh = aspirated /pʰ tʰ kʰ/: phokoso, thandiza, kuphika, ndekha, mphunzitsi - ch = /tʃ/: chakudya, chimanga, chokoma, Chimwemwe - dz = /dz/, one sound: tidzapanga, madzulo, pamodzi, limodzi - ts = /ts/, one sound: tsiku, watsopano, mphunzitsi - nj = /ndʒ/: manja - r and l are one sound, written r after i and e and l elsewhere: anandipangira, lero, madzulo - m before a consonant at the start of a word is its own syllable: mkate /m̩.ˈka.te/, msanga /m̩.ˈsa.ŋɡa/ - the apostrophe in m’chifanizo is the Bible's way of writing the locative mu-, "in," shortened before a consonant
Orthography. The verb is written as one word with its prefixes: anandipangira, sindinapange, musapange, tipangenso. Kupanga and its object are separate words: kupanga mkate. Tone is not written in standard spelling. The older Bible writes -da- for the past (adazipanga) where modern spelling has -na-.
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