Lately Jay has been testing out a different kind of learning activity with our practice group, focused on strengthening listening comprehension of spoken Chamorro. He listens to online clips of Chamorro speakers and creates comprehension questions to see how much we actually catch. These types of exercises are a great way to strengthen real-time listening comprehension of Chamorro.
This post includes the first set of Jay’s listening comprehension exercises for a clip from the video “Kadon Ayuyu” by Stel Star Productions, which can be found on YouTube. The video does include English subtitles, so make sure to hide the subtitles (or don’t look at them!) to get the most out of this exercise. I’ve included the comprehension questions with sample answers, in Chamorro first followed by English translations. The questions are formatted as “click-to-reveal” – just click the question to reveal a sample answer. Do your best to give your answers in Chamorro, in your own words. Happy listening!
PS: If you want to listen to the video clip again, refresh the whole page to reset the time stamps (4:24 – 8:23).
Image Credit: By Drew Avery – originally posted to Flickr as Coconut Crab {Birgus latro}#2, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9861915
Bideo 4:24 – 8:23
I Finaisen Siha Gi Finu’ Chamoru
▶ Håyi para u maestråyi hit gi mama’títinas kåddun ayuyu?
Si Gualåffon para u fa’nå’gui hit gi taimanu mafa’tinås-ña i kaddun ayuyu.
▶ Håyi fuma’nå’gui gui’ (i maestro-ta) mama’tinas kåddun ayuyu?
Fina’nå’gui as nanå-ña.
▶ Håfa “changkotcha”?
Changkotcha kumekilek-ña na para u mana’lågu gi lokkluk na hånum. (Gi halum diksionåriu, masåsångan changkotcha an totchi para u mana’lokkluk.)
▶ Håfa na mapega i ayuyu gi lokkluk na hånum?
Ha changkotcha i ayuyu para u malaknos i hagå’-ña sa’ mala’et.
▶Håfa ilek-ña i lahi annai ha tågu i otru taotao para u pega i ayuyu gi halum hånum?
Ilek-ña, “Dåggao hålum!”
▶ Håfa sinangån-ña i taotao put “Taga”?
Gi antis na tiempu, siña si Taga (un sen metgut na maga’låhi) kumacha’ i niyuk yan i dos kannai-ña ha’. Kumekilek-ña i lahi na mansén metgut i taotao Chamoru gi tiempun åntis, lao på’gu na tiempu manhinatmi hit nu i (haga’) Españot. Put eyu na ti metgut gui’. Ilek-ña na guaha Tagå-ña yan guaha Españot-ña, ya eyu muna’dididi’ i metgot-ña.
▶ Taimanu sinangån-ña “That’s how it’s done” gi finu’ Chamoru?
Ilek-ña, “Eyugui taimanu macho’gue’-ña”.
▶Håfa sinangån-ña put i “mambisisita” yan i “bokan guma'”?
Ilek-ña na maolek i dikiki’ na ayuyu para i bokan guma’. Lao an guaha mambisísita, maolekña i dangkulu.
The Questions in English
▶ Who will teach us in the preparation of coconut crab soup?
Gualåffon will teach us how coconut crab soup is made.
▶ Who taught him (our teacher) to make coconut crab soup?
His mother taught him.
▶ What is “changkotcha”?
Changkotcha means that it will be cooked in boiling water. (In the dictionary, changkotcha is said when it is protein that’s going to be boiled.)
▶ Why is the coconut crab put in boiling water?
He cooks the coconut crab in boiling water so that its blood will be taken out, because it’s bitter.
▶What did the man say when he told the other person to put the coconut crab in the water?
He said, “Throw it in!”
▶ What did he say about “Taga”?
In times past, Taga (a very strong chief) could husk a coconut with just his two hands. What the man means is that the Chamorros were very strong before, but nowadays we have been invaded by Spanish (blood). Because of that, he is not strong. He said that he has “Taga” and Spanish in him, and that is what lessens his strength.
▶ How did he say “That’s how it’s done” in Chamorro?
He said, “Eyugui taimanu macho’gue’-ña“.
▶What did he say about “visitors” and “food for the house”?
He said that the small coconut crab is good for food for the house. But if there are people visiting, the big one is better.
References
Stel Star Productions. “Kadon Ayuyu – Finatinas Vol. 2.” June 7, 2023. YouTube video, 24:08. https://youtu.be/0wZdRLOi1WA?si=gnLffq4CdQcxHUSX
Lengguahi-ta 