Kapampangan/Introducing Yourself

Part A: Description

In this lesson you will learn to introduce yourself using the standard level of formality or respect. You will also be able to ask someone his name.

First you need to know that the verb to be is never expressed in Kapampangan. Where there is no verb, it is automatically assumed that the sentence is about something being something. Therefore to ask What is your name, you only need to know the words "What your name?". Here they are:

nánu	what
lagyú'	name
mu	your

However you also need the article the. This is because Kapampangan literally say What is the name your?

Nánu ya ing lagyú' mu or Nánung lagyú' mu.

The phrase nánu ing, meaning what the is obviously a very frequent combination. It has evolved into an aggregated word, which is nánung. It means exactly nánu ing, but is much easier to pronounce and therefore more common.

Note that mu is placed after the name it modifies. This is always the case: possessive pronouns are always placed after the possessed thing.

If your name is George, the answer is Áku y George

Áku simply means I or me. When this word is not at the beginning of a sentence, it can be abbreviated into ku.

y is an article reserved in the case that the word that follows is a name. It is compulsory unless you are calling someone.

Then you might want to say Nice to meet you. In Kapampangan, the expression used is Happy me knowing you. We will therefore need 3 more words:

masayá	happy
akilála	to know
íka, ka	you

Again we see here that the pronoun you, íka, can be abbreviated into ka. Abbreviation of pronouns is frequent in Kapampangan, we will see more of that in later lessons.

So the phrase Happy me to know you is Masayá áku ing akilála íka, but Kapampangans are more likely to say Masayá ku ing akilála ka.

ing is indicating that akilála is a noun, it basically means the knowledge of. ku ing, like nánu ing, has evolved into an aggregated word, which is kung. It means exactly áku ing, but is easier to pronounce and therefore more common.

So the final sentence becomes Masayá kung akilála ka.

We have just one more words to learn, which is essential in every situation: wa yes

Part B: Application

It is George's first interview for a job after leaving university. He has an appointment with a future colleague, Kevin, that is in the team he will be working with, and Bob, his future boss. Kevin is of the same age as George, but Bob is a 50 year old professional.

Try to understand the conversation below between George and Kevin.

Kevin arrives into the room and shakes George's hand.
George	- Mayáp a yábak.
Kevin	- Mayáp a yábak, nánung lagyú' mu?
George	- Áku y George, íka y Kevin?
Kevin	- Wa, áku, Masayá kung akilála ra ka, George.
George	- Komustá, Kevin, masayá kung akilála ra ka.
Bob enters the room

Let us stop here for a second and analyse, sentence by sentence, what is happening.

Speaker	Kapampangan	English translation	Very literally	Comment
George	Mayáp a yábak pu.	Good morning	Good morning.	George and Kevin are of the same age and do not feel that they need to speak using the most respectful language together, therefore, pu is not used here.
Kevin	Mayáp a yábak, nánung lagyú' mu?	Good morning, what is your name?	Good morning, what the name yours?
George	Áku y George, íka y Kevin?	My name is George, and are you Kevin?	I George, You <name>Kevin?	y should be used in front of each name, except when the name is used to call someone.
Kevin	Wa, áku, masayá kung akilála ra ka, George.	Yes, I am, nice to meet you, George.	Yes, me, happy me to know you, George	Note that I am is simply áku, since the verb to be is never expressed.
George	Komustá, Kevin, masayá kung akilála ra ka.	Hi, Kevin, nice to meet you.	Hi/How are you, Kevin. Happy me to know you	This time the name "Kevin" is used to call Kevin, and the y is not required.

Part C: Exercises

Write the following conversation in Kapampangan and then read it aloud:

• Try to introduce yourself to a person of your age that you meet at a party.
• Express how nice it is to meet them.
• Ask them what their name is.

Solutions

Listen to the above conversation in Kapampangan

Part D: Summary

You now know how to introduce yourself in Kapampangan. Also you have learned the following new words and phrases:

wa	yes
nánu	what
mu	your
áku, ku	I or me
íka, ka	you
lagyú'	name
masayá	happy
akilála	to know
masayá kung akilála ka	nice to meet you
y	an article reserved for names.

And you have learned the following grammar rules:

• íka can be abbreviated into ka, and áku into ku
• The prepositions nánu and ku can be merged with ing, thus giving nánung and kung.
• Possessive pronouns are always placed after the possessed thing.

Continue to Introducing Yourself, Part Two