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59 [fifty-nine]

At the post office

59 [ሓምሳንትሽዓተን] 59 [ḥamisanitishi‘ateni]	ኣብ ምምሕዳር ፖስት abi mimiḥidari positi

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The native language is always the most important language

Our native language is the first language we learn. This happens automatically, so we don't notice it. Most people only have one native language. All other languages are studied as foreign languages. Of course there are also people who grow up with multiple languages. However, they typically speak these languages with differing levels of fluency. Often, the languages are also used differently. One language is used at work, for example. The other is used at home. How well we speak a language is dependent on multiple factors. When we learn it as small children, we typically learn it very well. Our speech center works most effectively in these years of life. How often we speak a language is also important. The more often we use it, the better we speak it. But researchers believe a person can never speak two languages equally well. One language is always the more important language. Experiments seem to confirm this hypothesis. Various people were tested in one study. Half of the test subjects spoke two languages fluently. Chinese was the native language and English the second. The other half of the subjects only spoke English as their native language. The test subjects had to solve simple tasks in English. While doing so, the activity of their brains was measured. And differences appeared in the brains of the test subjects! In the multilingual individuals, one region of the brain was especially active. The monolingual individuals, on the other hand, showed no activity in this region. Both groups solved the tasks equally fast and well. Despite this, the Chinese still translated everything into their native language…

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Where is the nearest post office?	እ_ ዘ_ረ_ ም_ሕ_ር ፖ_ት ኣ_ይ ኣ_? i_ī z_k_’_r_b_ m_m_h_i_a_i p_s_t_ a_e_i a_o_ እቲ ዘቐረበ ምምሕዳር ፖስት ኣበይ ኣሎ? itī zeḵ’erebe mimiḥidari positi abeyi alo? እ_ ዘ___ ም____ ፖ__ ኣ__ ኣ__ i__ z_________ m__________ p_____ a____ a___ እቲ ዘቐረበ ምምሕዳር ፖስት ኣበይ ኣሎ? itī zeḵ’erebe mimiḥidari positi abeyi alo? __ ____ _____ ___ ___ ___ ___ __________ ___________ ______ _____ ____ እቲ ዘቐረበ ምምሕዳር ፖስት ኣበይ ኣሎ? itī zeḵ’erebe mimiḥidari positi abeyi alo?
Is the post office far from here?	እ_ ዘ_ረ_ ም_ሕ_ር ፖ_ት ር_ቕ ድ_? i_ī z_k_’_r_b_ m_m_h_i_a_i p_s_t_ r_h_u_̱_i d_y_? እቲ ዘቐረበ ምምሕዳር ፖስት ርሑቕ ድዩ? itī zeḵ’erebe mimiḥidari positi riḥuḵ’i diyu? እ_ ዘ___ ም____ ፖ__ ር__ ድ__ i__ z_________ m__________ p_____ r________ d____ እቲ ዘቐረበ ምምሕዳር ፖስት ርሑቕ ድዩ? itī zeḵ’erebe mimiḥidari positi riḥuḵ’i diyu? __ ____ _____ ___ ___ ___ ___ __________ ___________ ______ _________ _____ እቲ ዘቐረበ ምምሕዳር ፖስት ርሑቕ ድዩ? itī zeḵ’erebe mimiḥidari positi riḥuḵ’i diyu?
Where is the nearest mail box?	እ_ ዝ_ረ_ ፖ_ት_ቦ_ስ_ን_ብ_በ_ት ም_ታ_) ኣ_ይ ኣ_? i_ī z_k_’_r_b_ p_s_t_-_o_i_i_n_d_b_d_b_t_t_ m_’_t_w_) a_e_i a_o_ እቲ ዝቐረበ ፖስት-ቦክስ(ንደብዳበታት ምእታው) ኣበይ ኣሎ? itī ziḵ’erebe positi-bokisi(nidebidabetati mi’itawi) abeyi alo? እ_ ዝ___ ፖ______________ ም____ ኣ__ ኣ__ i__ z_________ p___________________________ m________ a____ a___ እቲ ዝቐረበ ፖስት-ቦክስ(ንደብዳበታት ምእታው) ኣበይ ኣሎ? itī ziḵ’erebe positi-bokisi(nidebidabetati mi’itawi) abeyi alo? __ ____ _______________ _____ ___ ___ ___ __________ ____________________________ _________ _____ ____ እቲ ዝቐረበ ፖስት-ቦክስ(ንደብዳበታት ምእታው) ኣበይ ኣሎ? itī ziḵ’erebe positi-bokisi(nidebidabetati mi’itawi) abeyi alo?

I need a couple of stamps.	ን_ይ ቅ_ብ ና_ ን_ብ_ቤ ስ_ም_ታ_ የ_ል_ኒ_ n_‘_y_ k_i_u_i n_y_ n_d_b_d_b_ s_t_m_p_t_t_ y_d_l_y_n_። ንዓይ ቅሩብ ናይ ንደብዳቤ ስተምፕታት የድልየኒ። ni‘ayi k’irubi nayi nidebidabē sitemipitati yediliyenī። ን__ ቅ__ ና_ ን____ ስ_____ የ_____ n_____ k______ n___ n_________ s___________ y__________ ንዓይ ቅሩብ ናይ ንደብዳቤ ስተምፕታት የድልየኒ። ni‘ayi k’irubi nayi nidebidabē sitemipitati yediliyenī። ___ ___ __ _____ ______ ______ ______ _______ ____ __________ ____________ ___________ ንዓይ ቅሩብ ናይ ንደብዳቤ ስተምፕታት የድልየኒ። ni‘ayi k’irubi nayi nidebidabē sitemipitati yediliyenī።
For a card and a letter.	ን_ደ ካ_ታ_ ን_ደ ደ_ዳ_ን_ n_h_a_e k_r_t_n_ n_h_a_e d_b_d_b_n_። ንሓደ ካርታን ንሓደ ደብዳበን። niḥade karitani niḥade debidabeni። ን__ ካ___ ን__ ደ_____ n______ k_______ n______ d__________ ንሓደ ካርታን ንሓደ ደብዳበን። niḥade karitani niḥade debidabeni። ___ ____ ___ ______ _______ ________ _______ ___________ ንሓደ ካርታን ንሓደ ደብዳበን። niḥade karitani niḥade debidabeni።
How much is the postage to America?	ና_ ኣ_ሪ_ መ_ደ_ ክ_ደ_ ይ_ጽ_? n_b_ a_e_ī_a m_s_d_d_ k_n_d_y_ y_b_t_’_h_i_ ናብ ኣመሪካ መስደዲ ክንደይ ይበጽሕ? nabi amerīka mesidedī kinideyi yibets’iḥi? ና_ ኣ___ መ___ ክ___ ይ____ n___ a______ m_______ k_______ y___________ ናብ ኣመሪካ መስደዲ ክንደይ ይበጽሕ? nabi amerīka mesidedī kinideyi yibets’iḥi? __ ____ ____ ____ _____ ____ _______ ________ ________ ____________ ናብ ኣመሪካ መስደዲ ክንደይ ይበጽሕ? nabi amerīka mesidedī kinideyi yibets’iḥi?

How heavy is the package?	እ_ ካ_ቶ_ ከ_ደ_ ክ_ደ_ ድ_? i_ī k_r_t_n_ k_b_d_t_ k_n_d_y_ d_y_? እቲ ካርቶን ከብደቱ ክንደይ ድዩ? itī karitoni kebidetu kinideyi diyu? እ_ ካ___ ከ___ ክ___ ድ__ i__ k_______ k_______ k_______ d____ እቲ ካርቶን ከብደቱ ክንደይ ድዩ? itī karitoni kebidetu kinideyi diyu? __ ____ ____ ____ ___ ___ ________ ________ ________ _____ እቲ ካርቶን ከብደቱ ክንደይ ድዩ? itī karitoni kebidetu kinideyi diyu?
Can I send it by air mail?	ብ_የ_ [_ስ_] ክ_ዶ እ_እ_ ዲ_? b_’_y_r_ [_o_i_i_ k_s_d_ i_̱_’_l_ d_y_? ብኣየር [ፖስት] ክሰዶ እኽእል ዲየ? bi’ayeri [positi] kisedo iẖi’ili dīye? ብ___ [____ ክ__ እ___ ዲ__ b_______ [_______ k_____ i_______ d____ ብኣየር [ፖስት] ክሰዶ እኽእል ዲየ? bi’ayeri [positi] kisedo iẖi’ili dīye? ____ _____ ___ ____ ___ ________ ________ ______ ________ _____ ብኣየር [ፖስት] ክሰዶ እኽእል ዲየ? bi’ayeri [positi] kisedo iẖi’ili dīye?
How long will it take to get there?	ክ_ደ_ ክ_ስ_ ኢ_ ክ_ብ ዝ_ጽ_? k_n_d_y_ k_w_s_d_ ī_u k_s_b_ z_b_t_’_h_i_ ክንደይ ክወስድ ኢዩ ክሳብ ዝበጽሕ? kinideyi kiwesidi īyu kisabi zibets’iḥi? ክ___ ክ___ ኢ_ ክ__ ዝ____ k_______ k_______ ī__ k_____ z___________ ክንደይ ክወስድ ኢዩ ክሳብ ዝበጽሕ? kinideyi kiwesidi īyu kisabi zibets’iḥi? ____ ____ __ ___ _____ ________ ________ ___ ______ ____________ ክንደይ ክወስድ ኢዩ ክሳብ ዝበጽሕ? kinideyi kiwesidi īyu kisabi zibets’iḥi?

Where can I make a call?	ኣ_ይ ክ_ው_ እ_እ_? a_e_i k_d_w_l_ i_̱_’_l_? ኣበይ ክድውል እኽእል? abeyi kidiwili iẖi’ili? ኣ__ ክ___ እ____ a____ k_______ i________ ኣበይ ክድውል እኽእል? abeyi kidiwili iẖi’ili? ___ ____ _____ _____ ________ _________ ኣበይ ክድውል እኽእል? abeyi kidiwili iẖi’ili?
Where is the nearest telephone booth?	እ_ ዝ_ረ_ ክ_ሊ ተ_ፎ_ ኣ_ይ ኣ_? i_ī z_k_’_r_b_ k_f_l_ t_l_f_n_ a_e_i a_o_ እቲ ዝቐረበ ክፍሊ ተለፎን ኣበይ ኣሎ? itī ziḵ’erebe kifilī telefoni abeyi alo? እ_ ዝ___ ክ__ ተ___ ኣ__ ኣ__ i__ z_________ k_____ t_______ a____ a___ እቲ ዝቐረበ ክፍሊ ተለፎን ኣበይ ኣሎ? itī ziḵ’erebe kifilī telefoni abeyi alo? __ ____ ___ ____ ___ ___ ___ __________ ______ ________ _____ ____ እቲ ዝቐረበ ክፍሊ ተለፎን ኣበይ ኣሎ? itī ziḵ’erebe kifilī telefoni abeyi alo?
Do you have calling cards?	ካ_ድ ተ_ፎ_ ኣ_ኩ_ ዲ_ ? k_r_d_ t_l_f_n_ a_e_u_i d_y_ ? ካርድ ተለፎን ኣለኩም ዲዩ ? karidi telefoni alekumi dīyu ? ካ__ ተ___ ኣ___ ዲ_ ? k_____ t_______ a______ d___ ? ካርድ ተለፎን ኣለኩም ዲዩ ? karidi telefoni alekumi dīyu ? ___ ____ ____ __ _ ______ ________ _______ ____ _ ካርድ ተለፎን ኣለኩም ዲዩ ? karidi telefoni alekumi dīyu ?

Do you have a telephone directory?	መ_ሓ_ ተ_ፎ_ ኣ_ኩ_ ዲ_? m_t_’_h_a_i t_l_f_n_ a_e_u_i d_y_? መጽሓፍ ተለፎን ኣለኩም ዲዩ? mets’iḥafi telefoni alekumi dīyu? መ___ ተ___ ኣ___ ዲ__ m__________ t_______ a______ d____ መጽሓፍ ተለፎን ኣለኩም ዲዩ? mets’iḥafi telefoni alekumi dīyu? ____ ____ ____ ___ ___________ ________ _______ _____ መጽሓፍ ተለፎን ኣለኩም ዲዩ? mets’iḥafi telefoni alekumi dīyu?
Do you know the area code for Austria?	መ_ተ_ ቁ_ሪ ና_ ኣ_ስ_ር_ ት_ል_ ዲ_? m_’_t_w_ k_u_s_i_ī n_y_ a_i_i_i_i_a t_f_l_t_o d_h_a_ መእተዊ ቁጽሪ ናይ ኣውስትርያ ትፈልጦ ዲኻ? me’itewī k’uts’irī nayi awisitiriya tifelit’o dīẖa? መ___ ቁ__ ና_ ኣ_____ ት___ ዲ__ m_______ k________ n___ a__________ t________ d_____ መእተዊ ቁጽሪ ናይ ኣውስትርያ ትፈልጦ ዲኻ? me’itewī k’uts’irī nayi awisitiriya tifelit’o dīẖa? ____ ___ __ ______ ____ ___ ________ _________ ____ ___________ _________ ______ መእተዊ ቁጽሪ ናይ ኣውስትርያ ትፈልጦ ዲኻ? me’itewī k’uts’irī nayi awisitiriya tifelit’o dīẖa?
One moment, I’ll look it up.	ሓ_ሳ_ ከ ፣ ክ_ኢ_የ_ h_a_i_a_i k_ ፣ k_r_’_‘_e_ ሓንሳዕ ከ ፣ ክርኢ‘የ። ḥanisa‘i ke ፣ kiri’ī‘ye። ሓ___ ከ ፣ ክ_____ h________ k_ ፣ k_________ ሓንሳዕ ከ ፣ ክርኢ‘የ። ḥanisa‘i ke ፣ kiri’ī‘ye። ____ _ _ ______ _________ __ _ __________ ሓንሳዕ ከ ፣ ክርኢ‘የ። ḥanisa‘i ke ፣ kiri’ī‘ye።

The line is always busy.	መ_መ_ ተ_ሒ_ እ_ ዘ_ ። m_s_m_r_ t_t_h_ī_u i_u z_l_ ። መስመር ተታሒዙ እዩ ዘሎ ። mesimeri tetaḥīzu iyu zelo ። መ___ ተ___ እ_ ዘ_ ። m_______ t________ i__ z___ ። መስመር ተታሒዙ እዩ ዘሎ ። mesimeri tetaḥīzu iyu zelo ። ____ ____ __ __ _ ________ _________ ___ ____ _ መስመር ተታሒዙ እዩ ዘሎ ። mesimeri tetaḥīzu iyu zelo ።
Which number did you dial?	ና_ ኣ_ና_ ቁ_ሪ ኢ_ም_ ዊ_ኩ_? n_b_ a_e_a_i k_u_s_i_ī ī_̱_m_d_ w_l_k_m_? ናብ ኣየናይ ቁጽሪ ኢኹምደ ዊልኩም? nabi ayenayi k’uts’irī īẖumide wīlikumi? ና_ ኣ___ ቁ__ ኢ___ ዊ____ n___ a______ k________ ī_______ w________ ናብ ኣየናይ ቁጽሪ ኢኹምደ ዊልኩም? nabi ayenayi k’uts’irī īẖumide wīlikumi? __ ____ ___ ____ _____ ____ _______ _________ ________ _________ ናብ ኣየናይ ቁጽሪ ኢኹምደ ዊልኩም? nabi ayenayi k’uts’irī īẖumide wīlikumi?
You have to dial a zero first!	ኣ_ዲ_ኩ_ ዜ_ ክ_ገ_ሩ ኣ_ኩ_። a_̱_e_ī_i_u_i z_r_ k_t_g_b_r_ a_e_u_i_ ኣቐዲምኩም ዜሮ ክትገብሩ ኣለኩም። aḵ’edīmikumi zēro kitigebiru alekumi። ኣ_____ ዜ_ ክ____ ኣ____ a____________ z___ k_________ a_______ ኣቐዲምኩም ዜሮ ክትገብሩ ኣለኩም። aḵ’edīmikumi zēro kitigebiru alekumi። ______ __ _____ _____ _____________ ____ __________ ________ ኣቐዲምኩም ዜሮ ክትገብሩ ኣለኩም። aḵ’edīmikumi zēro kitigebiru alekumi።

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