Tuesday, April 10, 2012

CHAMORRO TONGUE TWISTER : DRY SEASON

It rained a fair amount tonight, but from the looks of the humble Hagåtña River today, it certainly is the dry season.  The river water is quite low, exposing those dry banks.



"Dry season" in Chamorro is fañomnagan.  I have to slow down every time I'm about to say it.  A bit tricky for the lingually challenged.

FA + ÑOM + NA + GAN

It comes from FAN + SOMNAK + AN.  Somnak means "sunlight."  To the Chamorro mind, "dry season" is really "time of sunlight," meaning "abundant sunlight, little or no rain," which kind of dries things out, no?

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