Last week, our Saturday evening practice group transcribed this song Mangginen Manu by Daniel De Leon Guerrero, where he sings about contemporary problems facing the island of Guam at the time of the song’s release. It’s an excellent example of how Chamorro music is much deeper than simply creating “good island vibes.” While creating nice, feel-good tunes is definitely part of Chamorro songwriting, being able to speak to the current moment with wit, rhythm, and rhyme is also significant. In this song we get a sampling of some sharp social commentary and criticism of the institutions and behaviors that are responsible for the welfare of the island and its people. This post includes Chamorro lyrics and an English translation for Mangginen Manu sung by Daniel De Leon Guerrero. Happy listening!
Continue reading “Kåntan Chamoru: Mangginen Manu”Virtual One-on-One Chamorro Language Lessons Now Available
Our Saturday practice group finished reading and translating I Derechon i Taotao this morning, which means there is no new story for this week. I have also noticed a huge spike in views and audio downloads on the blog – Un dångkulo na si Yu’os ma’åse todus hamyo! A big thank you to all of you! It is truly a beautiful thing to see so much activity on this blog, which shows how much people are wanting to learn and use our language.
There are also some people who have reached out to me directly, wanting to know how they can learn Chamorro. If you are interested in group practice and study, you are more than welcome to join our Saturday (PST) practice groups on Zoom. Just fill out the Contact Form to express interest.
But if you are looking for something more personalized, there is a new and unique learning resource now available: Individual Chamorro language instruction for adult language learners, offered by our friend Jesus Lujan. He is based on Guam but offers instruction virtually, which is an incredible opportunity for anyone off-island to receive personalized Chamorro language help from a trustworthy teacher. Whether you are needing more conversation practice or are starting from level zero, his sessions can be a great support in reaching your Chamorro language goals. And if you would like to learn with a group, he also offers group discounts. Contact him today to secure your spot!
65 Words for Accessories & Clothing in Chamorro (with Audio Pronunciations)
In this post, we will learn 65 Chamorro different words for clothes and accessories, including basic terms for everyday items and materials commonly used for clothing. Each word includes an English translation and audio pronunciations by Jay Che’le. Happy studying!
Continue reading “65 Words for Accessories & Clothing in Chamorro (with Audio Pronunciations)”Kåntan Chamoru: Gayera
Although it is now officially an illegal activity, cockfighting was a fixture of Chamorro culture up until it was banned in the U.S. territories just a few years ago. I’ve never been to a cockfight, but it was part of Jay’s childhood growing up on Guam in the nineties. In this song we get to hear about cockfighting in Chamorro culture, including some name drops of favored rooster breeds for the fighting pit. In this post we have Chamorro lyrics and an English translation for the song Gayera by Daniel De Leon Guerrero. Happy listening!
Continue reading “Kåntan Chamoru: Gayera”
The Right of a People
It is Guam’s Mes Chamoru (Chamorro month) once again! To kick off our celebration this month, our Saturday morning practice group will be reading the essay I Derechon I Taotao, written by Rosa Salas Palomo and originally published in 1987 as the opening essay to the book Chamorro Self-Determination. At that time, the Guam Commonwealth Act was up for the vote. In this essay, Señora Palomo repeatedly emphasizes the importance of the Chamorro language for our culture, our children, our people, and our future political status.
This post includes the Chamorro text, an English translation, and a Chamorro audio narration by Jay Che’le. Happy reading!
Lengguahi-ta 