Haitian Creole: Bonjou Mandaly, M’ fèk fini premyè chapit Pastè Bab e m’ gen kesyon pa bann e pa pakèt pou ou. Ou dispose?! Oke. Respire.... M'ap swete w toujou gen souf. Mèsi anpil anpil
Bonjou Mandaly, M’ fèk fini premyè chapit Pastè Bab e m’ gen kesyon pa bann e pa pakèt pou ou. Ou dispose?! Oke. Respire.... M'ap swete w toujou gen souf. Mèsi anpil anpil
Pou di w laverite, kè'm manke rete lè m te wè longè kesyon w lan :)
Mwen te menm manke endispoze. Bondye fè m te chita sou yon chèz :)
Mwen espere lè'm fin repon kesyon ou yo, ou va repase premye chapit la ankò, avèk yon lòt konpreyansyon :)
1. fèmen bèk lapousyè ki t'ap fè granchire nan lakou tè - close the beak of the
dust that was showing of on the ground?
I translate it as ....the rain fell and "eliminated the dust that was getting to be too much."
2. lakòz figi tan an ki te makònen - because the face of time was entangled?
You can say "tan an makònen", or "tan an mare".  It means "the sky is gray" or "it looks like it's about to rain."
...lakòz figi tan an ki te makònen ... → ...because of the weather that looked cloudy...
3. lanjelis oubyen gran lajounen
Lanjelis is darkness that falls at between 6 or 7 PM at night.
Lanjelis oubyen gran lajounen → darkness or broad daylight
4. badijonnen ak klou gagit - covered with shoe nails?
Your translation is right.  We do not lack shoemakers in Haiti.  Sometimes they patch up your shoes with these little nails and it feels like your shoe is made of nails.  Not all the roads in Haiti are asphalted. And for a kid that walks 3 to 5 miles to and from school twice a day, a shoemaker is a life saver.  Otherwise we would be buying shoes every week.
5.machèt ki pa ret ak machèt - machete that didn't stay a machete?
rete avèk yon moun (like a restavèk) means you're a servant to them.
Manchèt ki pa rete a manchèt - "a machete that is no servant to other machetes." or "the machete of all machetes."
6. Oun manman machèt koulin ki rive…jouk atè – A huge ??? machete that goes all
Your translation is right, a huge or long machete that reaches all the way to the ground.
manchèt koulin → type of long machete with skinny instead of wide blade; good for cutting sugar cane.
7. pla machèt –the blade of the machete? Or the handle?
pla manchèt la → the blade of the machete
pla men w → the palm of your hands
Rès la kontinye nan yon imèl....
Posted by Mandaly at 3:52 PM
TiWil June 8, 2013 at 2:51 PM
oo this was very nice. Where are you seeing this person's questions and translation? (I don't see it in their post above)
I would be curious to see their translation.
Mandaly June 8, 2013 at 3:11 PM
The question was from "Shonejai".
I just notified the "asker" about your comment.
You might also hear from him.
Bonjou Mandaly,
M’ fèk fini premyè chapit Pastè Bab e m’ gen kesyon pa bann e pa pakèt pou ou.
Ou dispose?! Oke. Respire..
8. pa jamn konn sasa vle di kannale kouri bridsoukou, sou oun sèl lanse – never
knew what it meant for ??? to run suddenly in one single launch??
9. mete li nan kan – put him in front of the goal?
10. kòm gadyen – as goalie?
11. lè l bouke sèvi po flè
12. pete kaboulaw
13. Si se pasa, vyèy pete je l, li toujou renmen sèmante l ap kite oun panyien
gòl pase – Otherwise, searing that is was true, he always like to swear that he
is letting a handful of goals pass?
14. mango miska
15. kòkòb – a handicapped person?
16. Lègnwa
17, jwè k ap make l la panse se oun fent, se la a l bannann – players that are
focusing on him there thought he was a joke, he’s in a jam?
18. kloure bèk
19. pran labitid = gen labitid?
20. tèt zafè l
21. tenkantenk
22. chofe tidife vole – is this like egging him on?
23. plim te kòmanse pouse nan lestomak li – si this like saying butterflies in
24. zafè pa l se pale – his business is talking?
25. si w pèdi pye w
26. deplòtonnen
27. depi douvanjou louvri jouk chanpwèl pran lari – from the break of dawn until
the evil spirits take to the streets, or “all day”?
28. tambouyè peristil Edga a
29. bagèt legede - ??? sticks
30. demake – standing out?
31. pa gen vant pou ri– is this the same as ‘not having the stomach to do
something, in this case, to laugh.
32. pase raj nou
33. plim ne gouy ap aprann bèl drib nan men mèt Bobo
34. ou ti jwè dèyè manman
35. m pa annefè ak pòv – I am not dealing with poverty?
36. krabè
37. bat dèyè l – beat his butt?
38. fèmen tiyo djwalalèlè Pastè Bab la ak oun franse pwenti
M'ap swete w toujou gen souf.
Mèsi anpil anpil
TiWil June 9, 2013 at 6:10 AM
Could I be included in this e-mail? I do not mind if Shonejai contacts me as well. I am always happy to discuss Haitian literature :) Could I give you my e-mail address somewhere not on the public Blog? Where so?
Mandaly June 9, 2013 at 6:37 AM
Yes - Shonejai has emailed and showed interest in sharing info with you.
He also is setting up a (English-Creole) glossary for each chapter of the book as he reads on(which is truly helpful!)to help others who may have the same questions as him. He's sent me the ones for ch 1 and ch 2 and wants to share that too.
You may email me at Limanecasimi@aol.com.
Dakò - mèsi.
TiWil June 10, 2013 at 3:16 AM
oke! m te voye yon imèl ba ou! mèsi!
Mandaly June 10, 2013 at 9:32 AM
Dakò zanmi. Mwen resevwa li.