Lesson 7: AN Cluster
How to Use This Lesson
This lesson is divided into four sections. Please move through them in this order: Grammar, Vocabulary, Practice, Flashcards.
Do not try to memorize! Just read through the content attentively. The warm-ups and flashcards will bring the vocabulary back later!
Questions
Today, we will do some practice and review.
Remember that in Oravia, words are flexible! The words we use as nouns most of the time can also be used as verbs. Take a look at this table with words from the BO cluster:
| Oravia | English |
|---|---|
| bociu | decoration |
| bortal | door |
| borcai | wall |
| bospupi | shower |
| boemo | kitchen |
| bonjae | cabinet |
| bonfene | bed |
| bontame | table |
And these are some ways they can be used as verbs:
| Oravia | English |
|---|---|
| bociu | decoration, to decorate |
| bortal | door, to enter |
| borcai | wall, to separate |
| bospupi | shower, to shower, to wash |
| boemo | kitchen, to cook |
| bonjae | cabinet, to put in a cabinet |
| bonfene | bed, to lie down |
| bontame | table, to put on a table |
No need to memorize the table! The verb meanings are usually the following:
- the most common is to use / do the thing
- if it's a surface or container, it can mean to put into/onto it.
If the meaning is not clear, we can always use other verbs like put, do, or open (some of which we will learn today!).
Now, see if you can understand these questions. If you scroll bellow, you will see tips, and then answers.
Tips
i = verb
e = direct complement of the verb
ce = what?
cei = who (what + person)?
cedom = where (what + place)?
en = in/at/on
de = from/of
falfal = child
boelori = room
bo = house
Answers
Now try to create 3 questions:
The AN Cluster
Today we will learn our fourth cluster, AN! Take a look at these words.
| Oravia | English |
|---|---|
| anye | make |
| anvu | move |
| aniyel | come |
| anidai | want |
| anifou | need |
| anefene | rest |
| ansau | start |
What do you think the AN cluster is about?
There was no way for you to know this yet, but there are multiple clusters formed primarily by actions. Later, we will also see a cluster for bodily actions like snore and sneeze, and another for physical actions like jump and throw. For now, thinking about AN as action works fine.
Of course, even though these are primarily actions, these words can also be used as nouns or adjectives. You could say, for instance:
Recall that the word that comes before modifies the following one. What do you think these word combinations mean?
Recognize the Roots
Take another look at anefene. Do you recognize any roots you've learned before?
🌍 Sound Connections
Sau means start, like Hindi शुरू śurū (start, beginning).
Vu means "movement", coming from Mandarin 步 bù (step, pace).
Fi is like Swahili -fika (to arrive, come).
Here are other words with these roots:
beivu = car (vehicle + move), just like anvu = movement (action + move).
bofi = inside (house + come), just like aniyel = come (movement towards + come)
roesau = learn (formal knowledge + start/beginning), just like ansau = start (movement + start)
Matching Games
Time to practice! Match the Oravia words with their English meanings. Use sound-meaning associations as clues. For example, the subcluster sound tells you the category, even for words you haven't seen before.
If you don't remember or make a mistake, that's totally fine! We will have plenty of opportunities to practice. Right now just give it a try.
Click one word from each column to match them. The game will check automatically when you select both words.
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
🎉 Lesson 7 Complete!
Use the Flashcards tab for another quick review.
Come back tomorrow for Lesson 8.