Language/Fon/Grammar/Questions

Fon Grammar - Questions

Hi Fon learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to ask questions in Fon. Questions are a fundamental part of any language, and Fon is no exception. Learning how to form questions correctly will allow you to communicate more effectively and have more meaningful interactions with native speakers. We will also provide you with cultural information and some interesting facts along the way. So, let's get started!

Basic Question Words

In English, there are five basic question words: who, what, where, when, and why. In Fon, there are four basic question words: tɔ̃́, nù, blí, and ngwɛntɔ. Here is what they mean:

Fon	Pronunciation	English
tɔ̃́	tone	who
nù	nu	what
blí	bli	where
ngwɛntɔ	ngwento	when

It is important to note that Fon has no direct equivalent for the question word "why." However, you can use the phrase "kpá à hɛ" to ask "why" in a roundabout way. This phrase directly translates to "for what reason."

Basic Yes/No Questions

Yes/no questions are questions that can be answered with "yes" or "no." In Fon, these types of questions are formed by adding the particle "nú" to the end of a statement. Here is an example:

• Statement: Mí dó dé. (I am going home.)
• Question: Mí dó dé nú? (Am I going home?)

The particle "nú" corresponds to the English word "right," and is often used to express surprise or disbelief, even in statements that are not questions. For example: "Mí dó dé nú! (I am going home, right!)"

Using Basic Question Words

To ask a question using the basic question words we introduced earlier, simply add the question word to the beginning of a statement. Here are some examples:

• Tɔ̃́ lá bǒn? (Who is coming?)
• Nù là fó̌n? (What are you doing?)
• Blí là nàwɛ́r? (Where is the market?)
• Ngwɛntɔ làkí èn? (When did you arrive?)

Question Words with Special Particles

In Fon, there are some question words that require the use of a special particle to form a question. Here are some examples:

• Kpàtà: This word means "how." To ask a question using "kpàtà," add the particle "wú" to the end of the word. For example: Kpàtàwú lɛ́? (How are you?)

• Nù ʋtòn: This phrase means "what time." To ask a question using "nù ʋtòn," simply add the phrase to the beginning of a statement. For example: Nù ʋtòn là dó dè? (What time are we going home?)

• Blí kɛ̀: This phrase means "where to." To ask a question using "blí kɛ̀," simply add the phrase to the beginning of a statement. For example: Blí kɛ̀ là dó dé? (Where are we going?)

Dialogue

• Person 1: Mi lá blí? (Where am I?)
• Person 2: Tɔ̃́ mi tí? (Who brought you?)
• Person 1: Mi tí là Yáyá. (Yaya brought me.)
• Person 2: Nù dò tè? (What do you want?)
• Person 1: An kè mètè. (I don't want anything.)

Cultural Notes

In Fon culture, asking questions is often seen as a sign of respect and interest in the person you are speaking to. It is also a way to establish a deeper connection with someone by showing that you value their thoughts and opinions. Additionally, Fon has a rich tradition of storytelling, and asking questions can be a way to learn new stories or traditions from older generations.

Interesting Facts

- Fon is spoken by around four million people in Benin and Togo. - Fon is a tonal language, meaning that the pitch of a word's pronunciation can change its meaning. - The Fon people have a unique writing system that uses special symbols to represent sounds and meanings.

To improve your Fon Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Sources

• Fon language - Wikipedia
• Tonal language - Wikipedia
• Fon people - Wikipedia