Friday, August 1, 2014

I'm working my way through Marc Prou's book, SpokenHaitian Creole for Intermediate Learners. Will you please explain this dialog to me? A young boy: Sispann fè politik non, baton n'ap chèche. Alò, ou gen kote wi pou ou ta pran baton, gade gwosè w. A girl: Mezanmi oh! Ala yon ti moun frekan! M ta ka manman ou, epi w'ap gade gwosè m. The young boy: m pa di ou pa ta ka gran sè m, men afè manman an bliye sa. Thank you, Mandaly.

1.
“A young boy: Sispann fè politik non, baton n'ap chèche. Alò, ou gen kote wi pou ou ta pran baton, gade gwosè w. “

Pulling the sentence apart:
Sispann fè politik non...stop the bureaucracy won’t you
Baton n’ap chèche... [baton nou ap chache (when not contracted)] – the club you looking for (lit.) – You looking for a beating (thrashing)
Alò, ou gen kote wi pou ou ta pran baton... – thus, you have place, yes/indeed, to sustain a beating (this sentence implies that the person is on the heavy side and can sustain a beating because he/she'll can absorb a blow on the fat on their body rather than on their bony part. It can be a sexual suggestion too … if people are referring to how curvy one is)
Gade gwosè w ... – look how curvy/fat you are

Putting the sentence back together:
Sispann fè politik non, baton n'ap chèche. Alò, ou gen kote wi pou ou ta pran baton, gade gwosè w. Stop being political wont you? You must be looking for a beating. Indeed you do have room to sustain a couple of blows. Look how plump you are.

2.
A girl: Mezanmi oh! Ala yon ti moun frekan! M ta ka manman ou, epi w'ap gade
gwosè m.
pulling te sentence apart:
Mezanmi oh!Oh my God! or Oh man! or Geez! Or Wow! Or Oh my!
Ala yon timoun frekan! – ala (how!) frekan (insolent) – What what a rude child!
M ta ka manman ouI could be your mother
epi w'ap gade gwosè* m. – and you’re looking at how plump I am.
*gwosè means size

Putting the sentence back together:
Mezanmi oh! Ala yon ti moun frekan! M ta ka manman ou, epi w'ap gade
gwosè m.Oh my! What an impertinent child! I could be your mother and you’re looking at my curves.

3.
The young boy: m pa di ou pa ta ka gran sè m, men afè manman an bliye sa.
pulling te sentence apart:
M pa di ou pa ta ka gran sè mI don’t say you couldn’t be my big sister.
Gran sè – older sister
Gran sè m – my older sister
Men afè manman an - but that business of mother
bliye saforget about it.

Putting the sentences back together:
M pa di ou pa ta ka gran sè m, men afè manman an bliye sa. – I don’t deny that you could be my big sister, but you could not pass for my mother, forget about that!


 ..........
“A young oy: Sispann fè politik non, baton n'ap chèche. Alò, ou gen kote wi pou ou ta pran baton, gade gwosè w. Stop being political wont you? You must be looking for a beating. Indeed you do have room to sustain a couple of blows. Look how plump you are.

Girl: Mezanmi oh! Ala yon ti moun frekan! M ta ka manman ou, epi w'ap gade
gwosè m.Oh my! What an impertinent child! I could be your mother and you’re looking at m curves.

A young boy: M pa di ou pa ta ka gran sè m, men afè manman an bliye sa. – I don’t deny that you could be my big sister, but you could not pass for my mother, forget about that!”



Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

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