Since Raz is getting quite busy with marriage preparations, I've found a new tutor. A supplementary tutor, if you will, so if Raz cancels I still get my weekly Kurdish fix. His name is Sarmad, and we're meeting twice a week to have conversation classes. Strictly speaking, it's not proper for an unrelated or unmarried … Continue reading Kurdish: Studying & Dating
Month: February 2013
dengedenge (pronounced deng-uh-deng-uh) dengedeng: noise dengedenge: it's noisy Because what does noise sound like? "dengedengedengedengedenge..." It's like a bunch of bells ringing.
After a month of cancelled meetings, I finally had another Kurdish lesson with Raz. The first thing she did after I got to her house was show me her engagement photos. Remember when I wrote that photos were a big part of the wedding process? Well, I had no idea. Photos: There was a huge … Continue reading More on Marriage
I'm getting a Jili Kurdi!! I went shopping with my friend Kanar to get fabric. I'm going to a tailor later this week. I bought shiny silver fabric for my shalwar (pants & camisole), light blue fabric for my long-sleeved dress (which goes over the shalwar), and a blue-and-brown pattern fabric for my long vest … Continue reading Jili Kurdi
I found a pretty good map of the Kurdistan region! It's a bit exaggerated, I believe. I think it's where Kurds have traditionally lived, but not the borders which are actually observed now - for instance, in Iraq, Kirkuk is in Iraqi territory. But it does a pretty good job of showing cities which have … Continue reading Kurdistan (Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Syria)
I have a throat infection from speaking so much. yep.
Recent teaching developments: I've started teaching "y" as "ee," and "w" as "oo." When Kurdish is written in Latin script, "ee" is always conveyed as "y," and where I'd expect a "u" to go, there's always a "w." For instance, the word "short" is written as "Kwrt," but pronounced "Koort." . The kids were (are) … Continue reading Linguistics
My Kurdish tutor is getting MARRIED! I was shocked when I found out today - it was extremely sudden (it usually is). Raz was so focused on her studies, and just a few weeks ago she swore to my friend Betsy that she wasn't ready to marry. She's 24, so she's definitely "getting on" in … Continue reading Marriage
In Mutual Weirdness 