Ara àti Ìlera
Chapter Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Name common parts of the body using fully marked Yorùbá vocabulary.
- Describe a simple symptom using the productive pattern [body part] ń dun [mi/ọ/e/wọn].
- State a general illness or condition using formulaic expressions such as Mo ṣàìsàn and Mo ní ibà.
- Use kò in health-specific negative statements, including Ara mi kò yá and Kò dára.
- Express need using nílò and ask for help using ràn ___ lọ́wọ́ with object pronouns.
- Recognize and use polite, urgent intonation appropriate to describing a problem or asking for help.
- Understand and complete a simple clinic intake form.
- Write a short, fully marked message explaining a health problem and requesting help.
Communication Scenario
You have been feeling unwell since yesterday. A friend, Dúpé, notices that something is wrong and asks about it. You need to describe your symptoms clearly enough that she can decide whether you should go to the clinic — the same ilé ìwòsàn you learned to give directions to in Chapter 11. Later in the chapter, you will also practice the other side of this exchange: understanding what a nurse asks you when you arrive, and filling out a simple intake form.
- Before you open this chapter, list any parts of the body you may already know in Yorùbá from earlier chapters or general exposure. You are not expected to know many — this is simply a starting check.
- Think of three ways you might describe not feeling well in English: "My head hurts," "I have a fever," "I feel sick." Notice that these use different grammatical patterns in English (a possessive subject, a possessive object, and a simple adjective). Keep this in mind — Yorùbá does not map onto these English patterns one-to-one.
- Recall the honorific command form ẹ + verb from Chapter 11, and the polite request frame ẹ jọ̀wọ́ + verb. You will use both again in this chapter when asking for help.
Core Vocabulary
Àwọn ẹ̀yà ara — Parts of the body
| Yorùbá | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| orí | head | |
| ojú | eye, face | context determines meaning |
| etí | ear | |
| imú | nose | |
| ẹnu | mouth | underdotted ẹ |
| eyín | tooth, teeth | |
| ọrùn | neck | underdotted ọ, low tone |
| àyà | chest | |
| inú | stomach, belly, inside | reviewed from Ch. 11 wọ inú |
| ẹ̀yìn | back | |
| apá | arm | |
| ọwọ́ | hand | underdotted ọ |
| ìka | finger | |
| ẹsẹ̀ | leg, foot | reviewed from Ch. 11 ẹsẹ̀ "on foot" |
| awọ ara | skin | lit. skin of the body |
| ara | body | also used generally for "one's whole self" |
Àìsàn àti àmì àìsàn — Illness and symptoms
| Yorùbá | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| àìsàn | illness, sickness | noun; verb form below |
| ṣàìsàn | to be sick | used as Mo ṣàìsàn — I am sick |
| ibà | fever | used with ní — Mo ní ibà |
| òtútù | cold (illness); also: cold (temperature) | context distinguishes meaning |
| ikọ́ | cough | |
| ìrora | pain | |
| dídùn / dun | to hurt, to ache | verb; see Grammar 12.1 |
| àárẹ̀ | tiredness, fatigue | |
| yá | to be well, to be fine (of the body) | used with negation — see Grammar 12.3 |
| lera | to be strong, to be in good health |
Ilé ìwòsàn àti ìtọ́jú — The clinic and treatment
| Yorùbá | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ilé ìwòsàn | hospital, clinic | reviewed from Ch. 11 |
| dókítà | doctor | loanword |
| nọ́ọ̀sì | nurse | loanword |
| aláìsàn | sick person, patient | |
| oògùn | medicine | |
| ìtọ́jú | care, treatment | |
| ìwé àyẹ̀wò | intake form, examination form | lit. examination paper |
| orúkọ ẹni tí ó bá ń kàn | emergency contact's name | formulaic form-heading; receptive |
Ọ̀rọ̀ ìránlọ́wọ́ àti àìní — Help and need expressions
| Yorùbá | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| nílò | to need | followed directly by a noun |
| ràn ___ lọ́wọ́ | to help (someone) | serial pattern; reviewed and developed from Ch. 9 and Ch. 11 |
| ìrànlọ́wọ́ | help (noun) | used with nílò — Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́ |
| ẹ jọ̀wọ́ | please | reviewed from Ch. 7 and Ch. 11 |
| kíákíá | quickly | reduplicated intensifier; formulaic at this stage |
| pàjáwìrì | emergency | receptive vocabulary; signage and formal use |
Àwọn àmì àti gbólóhùn ilé ìwòsàn — Common clinic signs and phrases
| Yorùbá | English |
|---|---|
| Ẹ jọ̀wọ́ dúró níbí. | Please wait here. |
| Kí ni ó ń dà ọ́ láàmú? | What is troubling you? (formulaic; receptive) |
| Ibi wo ni ó ń dun ọ? | Where does it hurt? |
| Ẹ mú oògùn yìí ní ìgbà mẹ́ta lóòjọ́. | Take this medicine three times a day. (formulaic; receptive) |
| Pàjáwìrì Nìkan | Emergency Only (sign) |
Clinic-staff phrases marked "receptive" contain structures (such as complement clauses and dosage numerals) that are not yet productive at this stage of the volume. Learners should understand them in context but are not assessed on producing them independently.
Pronunciation and Orthography Focus
Focus 1 — Nasal vowels and syllabic nasals in health vocabulary
Health vocabulary contains several important nasal features. Practice each type carefully:
- Nasal vowels: ọrùn (neck) and ẹnu (mouth) both contain vowels followed by n that nasalize the preceding vowel sound rather than adding a separate consonant sound. Do not pronounce the n as a full English "n" — let it color the vowel instead.
- Syllabic nasals: ìrànlọ́wọ́ (help) contains a syllabic n that forms its own syllable, distinct from the nasal vowels above. Say it slowly: ì-rà-n-lọ́-wọ́.
- Oral vs. nasal contrast: Compare oògùn (medicine, oral vowels throughout) with ọrùn (neck, nasalized vowel). Confusing oral and nasal vowels can change or obscure meaning.
Focus 2 — Polite, urgent intonation when describing a problem
When describing a health problem or asking for help, Yorùbá speakers typically maintain politeness even while conveying urgency. This is done through vocabulary choice and pacing rather than through raised pitch or volume. Practice these contrasts:
- Orí ń dun mi. — spoken evenly, at a normal pace: a mild, ordinary complaint.
- Orí ń dun mi gan-an. Ẹ jọ̀wọ́, ẹ ràn mí lọ́wọ́. — spoken slightly slower, with clear emphasis on gan-an (very much) and a brief pause before the request: a more serious complaint paired with a polite request for help.
Notice that urgency is added through the intensifier gan-an and the explicit request ẹ ràn mí lọ́wọ́, not by shouting or dropping the honorific ẹ. Even in a genuinely urgent situation, dropping courtesy markers is not the way Yorùbá speech typically signals seriousness.
Focus 3 — Tone in the dun pattern
The verb dun (to hurt) carries mid tone and must remain clearly audible even though it sits between the high-tone progressive marker ń and the pronoun that follows. Practice these forms slowly, then at natural speed:
- Orí ń dun mi. — My head hurts.
- Ẹsẹ̀ ń dun un. — His/her leg hurts.
- Ọwọ́ ń dun wa. — Our hand(s) hurt.
Do not flatten dun toward the high tone of ń. The three syllables remain tonally distinct: high–mid–(pronoun tone).
Focus 4 — Body-part and illness words for tone marking practice
Say each word aloud and mark the tone pattern (H = high, M = mid, L = low) for each syllable.
- ọrùn — neck (underdotted ọ, low tone throughout)
- ìrànlọ́wọ́ — help (low–mid–low–high–high; contains the syllabic nasal n)
- àìsàn — illness (low–low–low)
- oògùn — medicine (mid, long vowel–low)
- ẹ̀yìn — back (low–low, underdotted ẹ)
Grammar and Sentence Patterns
12.1 Describing a symptom: [body part] ń dun [pronoun]
Purpose: describe where something hurts.
Yorùbá describes physical pain with the body part as the grammatical subject and the person who feels the pain as an object pronoun after the verb dun (to hurt). This is the opposite of the English pattern "My head hurts," where "head" is possessed by "my." Learn this pattern as a fixed frame rather than translating word for word:
- Orí ń dun mi. head + progressive + hurt + me My head hurts. (lit. "Head is hurting me.")
- Inú ń dun un. stomach + progressive + hurt + him/her His/her stomach hurts.
- Ẹ̀yìn ń dun mi gan-an. My back really hurts.
You learned possession with mi, rẹ, and rẹ̀ in Chapter 3 (orí mi — "my head," as a plain noun phrase). That possessive pattern is still correct when you are simply naming a body part, such as pointing to a diagram. But when you are describing a symptom, Yorùbá uses the object-pronoun-after-the-verb pattern shown above: Orí ń dun mi, not *Orí mi ń dun. The body part is the subject that "does" the hurting; the person experiencing it appears as the object of dun. This chapter treats the pattern formulaically — you do not yet need to analyze why Yorùbá organizes the sentence this way, only to produce the frame correctly.
12.2 Naming a general illness or condition
Purpose: state that you are sick, or name a specific condition such as fever or a cold.
- Mo ṣàìsàn. I + be.sick I am sick.
- Mo ní ibà. I + have + fever I have a fever.
- Mo ní òtútù. I have a cold.
- Ó ní ikọ́. He/she has a cough.
The verb ní (to have) was introduced formulaically for possession in earlier chapters and is developed further here for naming conditions. Ṣàìsàn (to be sick) is learned as a fixed formulaic verb at this stage; its relationship to the noun àìsàn is not analyzed further in Volume I.
12.3 Negation in health contexts: kò yá and related expressions
Purpose: say that you are not well, using the negation system from Chapters 2–10 in a new domain.
You have used kò to negate declarative statements since Chapter 2 and have practiced it steadily through Chapter 10. This chapter develops kò specifically for the domain of health:
- Ara mi kò yá. body + my + not + be.well I am not well. (lit. "My body is not well.")
- Kò dára. It's not good. / I'm not doing well. (general response to "How are you?")
- N kò lera. I am not strong / not in good health.
Remember the distinction from Chapter 11: kò negates a declarative statement, while má negates a command. In a health context, this distinction still holds. Ara mi kò yá (I am not well) is a statement about your condition. If a nurse tells you Má jẹun kí o tó dé (Do not eat before you arrive — receptive at this stage), that is a prohibitive instruction, not a declarative statement. Keep the two systems separate even in this new vocabulary domain.
12.4 Expressing need: nílò
Purpose: say what you need.
The verb nílò (to need) is followed directly by a noun, with no preposition:
- Mo nílò oògùn. I + need + medicine I need medicine.
- Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́. I need help.
- A nílò dókítà. We need a doctor.
12.5 Asking for help: ràn ___ lọ́wọ́ with object pronouns
Purpose: ask someone to help you, using a serial verb pattern reviewed from Chapters 9 and 11 and now developed with a fuller set of object pronouns.
The pattern ràn ___ lọ́wọ́ (help ___) places an object pronoun between ràn and lọ́wọ́. You have seen this pattern formulaically as ràn mí lọ́wọ́ since Chapter 9. This chapter treats the object-pronoun slot as a productive frame for high-frequency help requests:
- Ẹ ràn mí lọ́wọ́, ẹ jọ̀wọ́. honorific + help + me + hand-part + please Please help me. (honorific)
- Mo fẹ́ ràn ọ́ lọ́wọ́. I want to help you. (familiar)
- Ta ni yóò ràn wá lọ́wọ́? Who will help us? (contains future yóò, reviewed formulaically from Ch. 9)
Your Yoruba Pronoun System is already consolidated for ordinary post-verbal object use (Chapters 3–10). In the specific frame ràn ___ lọ́wọ́, however, treat the object pronoun as part of a fixed help-request formula rather than as a fully generalizable grammar rule to apply elsewhere. This keeps the high-frequency expression usable immediately while more complex serial-verb argument structure remains scheduled for later volumes.
Health language in Yorùbá often organizes the sentence differently from English, even when the vocabulary is familiar. The pattern [body part] ń dun [person] places the source of the sensation, not the person, as the grammatical subject. Meanwhile, general condition statements like Mo ṣàìsàn and Mo ní ibà place the person as the subject, much like English. Learners who try to force every health sentence into a single template will produce unnatural Yorùbá. Learn each frame — dun, ṣàìsàn, ní + condition, kò yá, nílò, and ràn ___ lọ́wọ́ — as its own pattern with its own word order.
Practice — Describing symptoms
Complete each sentence with the correct body part and object pronoun to match the English prompt.
- My stomach hurts. → ___ ń dun ___.
- His leg hurts. → ___ ń dun ___.
- Our ears hurt. → ___ ń dun ___.
- Your (familiar) back really hurts. → ___ ń dun ___ gan-an.
- Their head hurts. → ___ ń dun ___.
Practice — Need and help
Translate each sentence into Yorùbá using nílò or ràn ___ lọ́wọ́ as appropriate.
- I need medicine.
- Please help me. (honorific)
- We need a doctor.
- I want to help you. (familiar)
- I need help — my head really hurts.
Practice — Negation in health contexts
Rewrite each sentence in the negative using kò.
- Ara mi yá. (I am well.) → ___
- Mo lera. (I am strong/healthy.) → ___
- Ó dára. (It's good / He/she is doing well.) → ___
Model Dialogue
Read the dialogue carefully. Notice how Dúpé notices something is wrong, how Kúnlé describes his symptom using the dun pattern, and how the conversation moves toward a polite request for help. Comprehension questions follow.
Ipò: Dúpé àti Kúnlé jẹ́ ọ̀rẹ́. Wọ́n wà ní ilé Kúnlé. Dúpé ṣàkíyèsí pé ojú Kúnlé kò dára.
Setting: Dúpé and Kúnlé are friends. They are at Kúnlé's house. Dúpé notices that Kúnlé does not look well.
- Orí ń dun mi gan-an. — the core symptom pattern with intensifier.
- Ara mi kò yá rárá. — negated health statement, intensified with rárá (not at all).
- Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́ rẹ gan-an. — need expression combined with the possessive rẹ (your) reviewed from Chapter 3.
Àwọn ìbéèrè nípa ọ̀rọ̀ àdáhùnṣe — Comprehension questions:
- Kí ni ó ń dun Kúnlé nígbà tí Dúpé bẹ̀rẹ̀ sí bi í léèrè? (What is hurting Kúnlé when Dúpé first asks him?)
- Ǹjẹ́ Kúnlé ní ibà? (Does Kúnlé have a fever?)
- Kí ni Dúpé fẹ́ ṣe láti ràn Kúnlé lọ́wọ́? (What does Dúpé want to do to help Kúnlé?)
- Ní ilé ìwòsàn, kí ni ìbéèrè àkọ́kọ́ tí nọ́ọ̀sì bi Kúnlé? (At the clinic, what is the nurse's first question to Kúnlé?)
- Wa gbolohùn kan nínú ìjíròrò tí ó lo kò ní ọ̀rọ̀ ìlera. Kọ ọ̀ jáde, sọ ìtumọ̀ rẹ̀. (Find one sentence in the dialogue that uses kò in a health statement. Write it out and give its meaning.)
Listening
Ask your instructor, a study partner, or a qualified Yorùbá speaker to read the following short exchanges at a natural pace. Listen twice. On the first listen, identify the symptom or need being described. On the second listen, complete the table below.
If no speaker is available, this is a Listening Script for Independent Use. Read each exchange aloud at a natural pace, then cover it and complete the tasks. Machine text-to-speech output must be checked by a qualified Yorùbá speaker before being used as a pronunciation model.
Ìjíròrò 1:
Àpín A: "Ǹjẹ́ ara rẹ dára?"
Àpín B: "Rárá, ara mi kò yá. Ẹsẹ̀ mi ń dun mi gan-an."
Àpín A: "Ó yẹ kí o sinmi."
Ìjíròrò 2:
Àpín A: "Mo ní ibà àti ikọ́ láti àná."
Àpín B: "Ṣé o ti lọ sí ilé ìwòsàn?"
Àpín A: "Rárá, mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́ láti dé ibẹ̀."
Ìjíròrò 3:
Àpín A: "Etí mi ń dun mi, àti ọrùn mi náà."
Àpín B: "Ẹ jọ̀wọ́ dúró níbí, dókítà máa wá kíákíá."
Àpín A: "Ẹ ṣé gan-an."
| Ìjíròrò | Àmì àìsàn (Symptom) | Àìní (Need) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ______ | ______ |
| 2 | ______ | ______ |
| 3 | ______ | ______ |
Ìbéèrè àfikún — Bonus questions:
- In Exchange 1, which body part hurts, and how intense is it described as being?
- In Exchange 2, what two symptoms does Speaker A report, and what does they say they need?
- In Exchange 3, how many body parts hurt, and what does Speaker B tell Speaker A to do?
Reading
Read the two texts below. The first is a simple clinic intake form. The second is a short written message asking a friend for help. Both use Standard Yorùbá orthography with full tone marks and underdots.
Ìwé àyẹ̀wò aláìsàn — Patient intake form
ILÉ ÌWÒSÀN ÌJỌBA — ÌWÉ ÀYẸ̀WÒ
Orúkọ: _______________________
Ọjọ́ orí: _______________________
Ibi tí ó ń dun ọ (yan ọ̀kan tàbí jù bẹ́ẹ̀ lọ):
☐ Orí ☐ Ọrùn ☐ Inú ☐ Ẹ̀yìn ☐ Ẹsẹ̀ ☐ Mìíràn: _______
Ǹjẹ́ o ní ibà? ☐ Bẹ́ẹ̀ni ☐ Rárá
Ǹjẹ́ o ní ikọ́? ☐ Bẹ́ẹ̀ni ☐ Rárá
Ìgbà tí àìsàn bẹ̀rẹ̀: _______________________
Ìfitónilétí ìrànlọ́wọ́ — A message asking for help
Ọ̀rẹ́ mi Fúnmi,
Ẹ jọ̀wọ́, mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́ rẹ. Ara mi kò yá láti àná. Orí àti ẹ̀yìn mi ń dun mi gan-an, mo sì ní ibà. N kò lè lọ sí iṣẹ́ lónìí.
Ǹjẹ́ o lè ràn mí lọ́wọ́ láti pe dókítà fún mi? Mo wà ní ilé báyìí, n kò sì fẹ́ jáde nìkan.
Ẹ ṣé gan-an,
Àbíké
Àwọn ìbéèrè nípa ọ̀rọ̀ àdáhùnṣe — Comprehension questions:
- Kí ni àwọn ìbí tí a lè fi àmì sí lórí ìwé àyẹ̀wò náà? (What locations can be checked on the intake form?)
- Kí ni Àbíké sọ pé ó ń dun òun? (What does Àbíké say is hurting her?)
- Kí ni Àbíké béèrè lọ́wọ́ Fúnmi láti ṣe fún òun? (What does Àbíké ask Fúnmi to do for her?)
- Kí nìdí tí Àbíké fi sọ pé n kò lè lọ sí iṣẹ́? (Why does Àbíké say she cannot go to work?)
- Wa gbolohùn kan nínú lẹ́tà náà tí ó lo ọ̀rọ̀-ìṣe nílò. Kọ ọ̀ jáde. (Find one sentence in the letter that uses the verb nílò. Write it out.)
Writing Workshop
Chapter 12 has two writing products: a completed intake form and a short help-request message. Both must use Standard Yorùbá orthography with full tone marks and underdots.
Àpín A — Ìwé àyẹ̀wò (Intake form)
Using the model form in the Reading section as a template, invent a plausible patient and complete the form in Yorùbá. Include:
- A name and age.
- At least two body parts marked as hurting.
- A yes/no answer for fever and for cough.
- A brief note on when the illness began.
Àpín B — Ìfitónilétí ìrànlọ́wọ́ (Help-request message)
Write a short message (50–70 words) to a friend describing a health problem and asking for help. Your message must include:
- A greeting and opening line.
- At least two symptoms using the [body part] ń dun [pronoun] pattern.
- At least one negative health statement with kò.
- A request for help using nílò or ràn ___ lọ́wọ́.
- A closing.
- Plan your symptoms. Choose two or three body parts and decide how serious each symptom is.
- Draft each sentence. Write each symptom, condition, and request as a separate short sentence using the correct pattern for each.
- Add courtesy and intensity. Insert ẹ jọ̀wọ́, gan-an, or rárá where they make the message sound natural and appropriately urgent.
- Apply the editing checklist. Verify every tone mark, underdot, and pattern choice before submitting.
Àtúnṣe àtúnyẹ̀wò — Editing checklist:
- Every ẹ, ọ, and ṣ carries its underdot: ọrùn, not *orun.
- High and low tones are marked on every required syllable. Mid tones are left unmarked.
- The symptom pattern places the body part first, followed by ń dun and the object pronoun — not the reverse.
- I did not write *[body part] mi ń dun when describing a symptom.
- kò is used only for declarative negation, never for a command.
- nílò is followed directly by a noun, with no extra preposition.
- The honorific ẹ is used when the situation calls for polite or respectful address.
- Every sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with appropriate punctuation.
Speaking Practice
Àdáwọlé àkọ́kọ́ — Controlled practice: symptom check
Working with a partner, take turns asking and answering about how you feel. Speaker A asks Ǹjẹ́ ara rẹ dára? (Are you well?). Speaker B answers with at least one symptom using the dun pattern and one general condition statement. Switch roles after five exchanges each.
Every exchange must include:
- The opening question Ǹjẹ́ ara rẹ dára?
- At least one symptom in the [body part] ń dun [pronoun] pattern.
- A closing response, either Ó yẹ kí o sinmi (You should rest — formulaic) or Ẹ ṣé, mo dára báyìí (Thank you, I am fine now).
Iṣẹ́ pẹ̀lú alábàápàdé — Clinic role-play
One partner plays a patient; the other plays a nurse. The nurse asks for the patient's name and where it hurts, following the model dialogue. The patient answers using at least two symptoms and one need or help expression. If no partner is available, perform both roles aloud using the model dialogue as a guide, then create a new version with different symptoms.
- Nurse asks: Kí ni orúkọ yín? Ibi wo ni ó ń dun yín?
- Patient answers with at least two body parts and one general condition (ibà or ikọ́).
- Patient includes one request using nílò or ràn ___ lọ́wọ́.
Fún àwọn tí ń kọ́ nìkọ̀ọ̀kan — Solo alternative: recorded self-report
Record yourself describing an imagined illness in one to two minutes of continuous Yorùbá. Include at least three symptoms, one negative health statement, and one help request. Listen back and check:
- Did you keep dun at mid tone, clearly distinct from the high tone of ń?
- Did you use kò correctly for a declarative negative statement?
- Did your request for help sound polite, using ẹ jọ̀wọ́ or the honorific ẹ?
- Did you use nasal vowels and syllabic nasals accurately in words like ọrùn and ìrànlọ́wọ́?
Culture and Communication
In many Yorùbá-speaking communities, asking after someone's health is a routine part of greeting, not reserved only for moments of visible illness. A simple Ǹjẹ́ ara rẹ dára? may appear even in an ordinary greeting sequence. When someone does report feeling unwell, a common and warmly received response is Kò burú o, ó máa dára (It's not too bad, it will get better — formulaic; a comforting phrase rather than a medical claim), offered before any practical help is arranged.
It is also common for a friend, neighbor, or family member to take an active role in getting someone to care — accompanying them to a clinic, calling on their behalf, or checking in afterward. Offering this kind of help, as Dúpé does in the model dialogue, is viewed as an ordinary expression of care rather than an imposition.
Across Yorùbá-speaking areas, people commonly draw on a range of care options depending on the situation, cost, and severity: government clinics and hospitals (ilé ìwòsàn ìjọba), private clinics, neighborhood pharmacies (often simply called chemist in Nigerian English usage), and, for some conditions, traditional or herbal practitioners. This range of options is a practical reality of daily life rather than a sign that any one option is inadequate. Learners visiting a Yorùbá-speaking area should be prepared to hear all of these referenced in ordinary conversation about health.
Some everyday illness terms vary in informal use across regions and generations. For example, ibà (fever) is sometimes used broadly to refer to malaria-like symptoms in casual conversation, while more formal or clinical settings distinguish ibà from a specific diagnosis such as ibà ẹ̀fọn (malaria, lit. "mosquito fever"). The productive default for this course remains the general terms listed in the vocabulary tables; more specific medical terminology is introduced in later volumes.
Common Mistakes
Error: Writing *Orí mi ń dun when you mean "My head hurts," modeled directly on the English possessive structure.
Correction: Orí ń dun mi. — The body part is the subject of dun; the person is the object pronoun that follows the verb. Do not attach a possessive pronoun to the body part in this pattern. Compare with Chapter 3's possessive pattern orí mi (my head, as a plain noun phrase) — that pattern is correct for naming a body part, but not for describing a symptom with dun.
Error: Writing *Kò jẹun kí o tó dé to tell someone not to eat before arriving.
Correction: Má jẹun kí o tó dé. — As established in Chapter 11, kò negates a declarative statement, while má negates a command. This distinction applies in health contexts exactly as it does elsewhere. Use kò only to state a fact, such as Ara mi kò yá (I am not well).
Error: Writing *Mo nílò fún oògùn to mean "I need medicine," inserting an unnecessary preposition.
Correction: Mo nílò oògùn. — Nílò takes its object directly, with no preposition in between. This differs from English "need for," which some learners try to translate literally.
Error: Writing *orun instead of ọrùn, or *enu instead of ẹnu.
Correction: ọrùn (neck) requires the underdotted ọ with low tone; ẹnu (mouth) requires the underdotted ẹ on the first syllable. Many body-part words in this chapter contain ọ or ẹ and must be written with underdots at all times. Check every body-part and illness word in your written work against the vocabulary tables before submission.
Chapter Review
Apá A — Àwọn Ọ̀rọ̀ (Vocabulary)
1. Write the Yorùbá word for each of the following: head, stomach, neck, back, hand, leg/foot, fever, cough, medicine, doctor.
2. Translate each expression into English: àìsàn · yá · lera · ìrora · ìrànlọ́wọ́ · aláìsàn · ìtọ́jú · nọ́ọ̀sì.
3. Write a short phrase using each of the following: nílò · ràn ___ lọ́wọ́ · kò yá · ń dun.
Apá B — Gírámà (Grammar)
1. Write the symptom sentence [body part] ń dun [pronoun] for each: (a) my ear; (b) his stomach; (c) our legs; (d) her back, intensified with gan-an.
2. Write the negative form of each health statement using kò: (a) Ara mi yá. (b) Mo lera. (c) Ó dára.
3. Identify and correct the error in each sentence:
- *Orí mi ń dun. (meant as "My head hurts.")
- *Má ara mi yá. (meant as a declarative statement, "I am not well.")
- *Mo nílò fún ìrànlọ́wọ́.
4. Write a three-sentence self-report describing how you feel today, using at least one symptom pattern, one negation, and one need or help expression.
Apá C — Ìmọ̀ Ohùn àti Àkọ̀wé (Pronunciation and orthography)
1. The following words are written without tone marks or underdots. Restore all required diacritics: orun; enu; eyin; aisan; irannlowo.
2. Write the tone pattern (H = high, M = mid, L = low) for each syllable of: ọrùn · àìsàn · oògùn · ẹ̀yìn.
3. Identify which words in the vocabulary lists contain a syllabic nasal, and which contain a nasal vowel. List at least two of each.
Apá D — Kíkọ (Writing)
1. Submit your completed intake form and help-request message from the Writing Workshop. Apply the editing checklist before submission.
2. Write two new intake-form entries (name, symptom, condition) for imagined patients, following the model form in the Reading section.
Apá E — Ìbánisọ̀rọ̀ (Speaking)
1. Without notes, describe an imagined illness in one to two minutes. Your account must include: at least three symptoms, one negative health statement, one request for help, and appropriate polite intonation.
2. Working with a partner or practicing solo, perform the clinic scenario from the Speaking Practice section, inventing new symptoms different from the model dialogue.
Ìfojúsí ẹkọ̀ tẹ́lẹ̀ — Cumulative review check
Before the Performance Task, confirm you can do the following using vocabulary and grammar from Chapters 1–12:
- Use possessive mi, rẹ, and rẹ̀ from Chapter 3 to name a body part, distinct from the dun symptom pattern taught in this chapter.
- Use kò to negate a declarative statement, and má to negate a command — a distinction first taught in Chapter 11.
- Use the honorific ẹ and the polite frame ẹ jọ̀wọ́ from Chapters 3, 7, and 11 when making a request.
- Use lọ sí ilé ìwòsàn from Chapter 11's vocabulary and direction patterns.
- Ask a basic information question using kí ni and ibi wo ni.
- Recognize the formulaic future marker yóò / máa in context without needing to produce it analytically.
Performance Task
Iṣẹ́ aṣeyọrí — Abala 12
Ìròyìn àìsàn àti ìbéèrè ìrànlọ́wọ́ — A health report and request for help
The Chapter 12 Performance Task has two parts. All spoken and written Yorùbá must use full tone marks and underdots.
Part 1 — Oral self-report (1–2 minutes):
Describe an imagined illness to a friend and ask for help. Your description must include:
- An appropriate opening greeting or response to a health inquiry.
- At least three symptoms, using the [body part] ń dun [pronoun] pattern and/or Mo ní ibà/ikọ́/òtútù.
- At least one negative health statement using kò.
- A clear request for help using nílò or ràn ___ lọ́wọ́.
- Appropriate polite, unhurried but concerned intonation.
- A polite closing, such as ẹ ṣé.
Part 2 — Completed intake form and written message (50–70 words for the message):
Complete a clinic intake form for an imagined patient, then write a short message to a friend explaining the same health problem and asking for help. Your message must include at least two symptoms, one negation with kò, and one help or need expression. Use fully marked Standard Yorùbá throughout.
Assessment note: The spoken task is evaluated on task completion, comprehensibility, correct use of the symptom pattern, correct distinction of kò from má, appropriate honorific or polite address, and intelligible tone and nasal production. The written task is evaluated on accuracy of the symptom and negation patterns, correct use of nílò and ràn ___ lọ́wọ́, orthographic completeness (underdots and tone marks), and overall clarity.
Answer Key
Practice — Describing symptoms
- Inú ń dun mi.
- Ẹsẹ̀ ń dun un.
- Etí ń dun wa.
- Ẹ̀yìn ń dun ọ gan-an.
- Orí ń dun wọn.
Practice — Need and help
- Mo nílò oògùn.
- Ẹ jọ̀wọ́, ẹ ràn mí lọ́wọ́.
- A nílò dókítà.
- Mo fẹ́ ràn ọ́ lọ́wọ́.
- Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́ — orí ń dun mi gan-an.
Practice — Negation in health contexts
- Ara mi kò yá.
- N kò lera.
- Kò dára.
Dialogue — Comprehension
- Orí Kúnlé ni ó ń dun ún, láti àná. (His head, since yesterday.)
- Bẹ́ẹ̀ni, ó ní ibà. (Yes, he has a fever.)
- Dúpé fẹ́ ràn Kúnlé lọ́wọ́ láti dé ilé ìwòsàn, ó sì fẹ́ pe tákísì fún un. (She wants to help him get to the clinic and call him a taxi.)
- Nọ́ọ̀sì bi Kúnlé pé kí ni orúkọ rẹ̀ àti ibi tí ó ń dun ún. (Name and where it hurts.)
- Accept any of: Ara mi kò yá rárá. — Meaning: "I am not well at all." Kò negates the declarative statement about his condition.
Listening — Comprehension table
- Exchange 1: Symptom: leg hurts a lot (ẹsẹ̀ ń dun mi gan-an); general condition: not well; Need: to rest (suggested, not requested).
- Exchange 2: Symptom/condition: fever and cough since yesterday; Need: help getting to the clinic.
- Exchange 3: Symptom: ear and neck hurt; Need: none directly stated — offered help to wait for the doctor.
Bonus: (1) The leg; described with gan-an (a lot). (2) Fever and cough; needs help reaching the clinic. (3) Two body parts (ear and neck); told to wait, as the doctor will come shortly.
Reading — Comprehension
- Orí, ọrùn, inú, ẹ̀yìn, ẹsẹ̀, tàbí mìíràn. (Head, neck, stomach, back, leg, or other.)
- Orí àti ẹ̀yìn rẹ̀ ni ó ń dun ún, ó sì ní ibà. (Her head and back, and she has a fever.)
- Ó béèrè pé kí Fúnmi pe dókítà fún un. (She asks Fúnmi to call a doctor for her.)
- Nítorí pé ara rẹ̀ kò yá, orí àti ẹ̀yìn rẹ̀ sì ń dun ún gan-an. (Because she is not well, and her head and back hurt a lot.)
- Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́ rẹ.
Chapter Review — Apá A
- orí; inú; ọrùn; ẹ̀yìn; ọwọ́; ẹsẹ̀; ibà; ikọ́; oògùn; dókítà
- illness; to be well (of the body); to be strong/healthy; pain; help; sick person/patient; care/treatment; nurse
- Accept any natural, well-formed phrase using each word; examples: Mo nílò oògùn. / Ẹ ràn mí lọ́wọ́. / Ara mi kò yá. / Orí ń dun mi.
Chapter Review — Apá B
- (a) Etí ń dun mi. (b) Inú ń dun un. (c) Ẹsẹ̀ ń dun wa. (d) Ẹ̀yìn ń dun un gan-an.
- (a) Ara mi kò yá. (b) N kò lera. (c) Kò dára.
- Corrections: (i) Orí ń dun mi. — the body part is the subject; do not possess it with mi before ń dun. (ii) Ara mi kò yá. — kò negates a declarative statement; má is only for commands. (iii) Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́. — nílò takes its object directly, with no preposition.
- Accept any three-sentence self-report that correctly uses the symptom pattern, a negation with kò, and a need or help expression. Example: Orí àti ẹsẹ̀ mi ń dun mi. Ara mi kò yá rárá. Mo nílò oògùn.
Chapter Review — Apá C
- Correct forms: ọrùn; ẹnu; eyín; àìsàn; ìrànlọ́wọ́.
- Tone patterns (accept phonetically motivated alternatives; flag for human review): ọrùn = L-L; àìsàn = L-L-L; oògùn = M(long)-L; ẹ̀yìn = L-L.
- Syllabic nasal example: ìrànlọ́wọ́ (the medial n). Nasal vowel examples: ọrùn, ẹnu. Accept any correctly identified examples from the vocabulary lists.
Looking Ahead
Ohun tí o lè ṣe báyìí — What you can do now
You can name common parts of the body, describe a symptom using the [body part] ń dun [pronoun] pattern, name a general illness or condition, make a negative health statement with kò, express need with nílò, and ask for help using ràn ___ lọ́wọ́. You can also understand and complete a simple clinic intake form and write a short message explaining a health problem and requesting help.