Janga Wolof

Overview of Questions in Wolof

Wolof uses various structures to form questions, often employing pronouns and specific question words. Questions can target subjects, objects, or complements, and their formation depends on the element being emphasized. Responses typically mirror the structure of the question and emphasize key information using pronouns and predicates.

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Forming Questions

Open Questions

• Subject Questions:
  • Use Kan (Who) or Ñan (Which people) + subject emphasis pronoun.
  • Example: Kan moo dem? (“Who left?”).
  • Contraction: Ku dem?
• Object Questions:
  • Use Lan (What) or Ñan (Which people) + object emphasis pronoun.
  • Example: Lan lay def? (“What is he doing?”).
• Location Questions:
  • Use Fu (Where) or Fan (Where/Which place).
  • Example: Fu mu dem? (“Where did he go?”).

Yes/No Questions

• Formed by adding interrogative intonation to statements.
  • Example: Maa ngi dem? (“Am I going?”).
  • Negative example: Duma dem? (“Am I not going?”).
• Use Ndax to explicitly mark yes/no questions.
  • Example: Ndax dinga dem? (“Will you go?”).

Alternative Questions

• Present two or more options using wala (or).
  • Example: Dinga lekk wala dinga naan? (“Will you eat or drink?”).

Embedded Questions

• Introduced using conjunctions like ndax (whether) or lu (what/how).
  • Example: Xam nga ndax mu dem? (“Do you know whether he went?”).

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Response Structures

Affirmative Responses

• Mirror the structure of the question.
  • Example:
    • Question: Kan moo dem? (“Who left?”).
    • Response: Moom moo dem. (“He is the one who left.”).
• Use Waaw (“Yes”) for simple affirmatives.
  • Example: Ndax dinga dem? Waaw. (“Will you go? Yes.”).

Negative Responses

• Negate using déedéet (“No”) or a negative verb form.
  • Example:
    • Question: Ndax dinga dem? (“Will you go?”).
    • Response: Déedéet, duma dem. (“No, I will not go.”).

Clarifying Responses

• Use emphasis pronouns or predicates to provide additional information.
  • Example:
    • Question: Lan lay def? (“What is he doing?”).
    • Response: Lekk lay def. (“He is eating.”).

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Question Words in Wolof

• Kan (“Who”): Refers to a person.
  • Example: Kan moo gis? (“Who saw it?”).
• Lan (“What”): Refers to objects or actions.
  • Example: Lan lay wax? (“What is he saying?”).
• Fan/Fu (“Where”): Refers to location.
  • Example: Fan nga dëkk? (“Where do you live?”).
• Naka (“How”): Refers to manner or condition.
  • Example: Naka nga fanaane? (“How did you spend the night?”).
• Lu (“What/How”): Embedded questions or reasons.
  • Example: Lu tax? (“Why?”).

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Exercises

• Form open and yes/no questions using question words.
• Practice responding affirmatively and negatively.
• Rewrite statements into questions and vice versa.
• Translate between Wolof and English using examples of questions and responses.