Book 2 Lesson 8 | ya mian so avang (The Shipped Goods Are Coming)
ya mian so avang ｜ The Shipped Goods Are Coming
Every Tuesday and Saturday, the cargo boat brings supplies to Orchid Island. Sompo (So) and Masaray (Ma) went to Jiayo to pick up their shipment.
Readings
Hey, a boat! Do they have anything for you?
I don't know. Maybe the rice and vegetables my brother sent are here.
Let's go see.
Our goods (the rice and vegetables) are on the list.
How will we get the goods to your house?
Let's go rent a motorcycle.
The rice is so heavy—can we really carry it?
Let's find a truck to carry it instead.
Where will we find a truck?
There's a truck over there—let's go talk to him.
How much is it to ship one bag of rice?
One hundred dollars per bag.
Grammar ｜ ya mian so avang (The Shipped Goods Are Coming)
(1) Stative verb ma- used as a transitive verb
The stative prefix ma- normally expresses ability or physical state. When used transitively, its argument structure follows the regular transitive pattern: the Agent is in the Genitive case, and the Patient is Nominative.
In Example (1), the Agent is ta “we”, and the Patient is o ya mar'ehmet a mogis ito “this rice is so heavy”.
This rice is so heavy. Can we really carry it?
(2) Verbs functioning as adverbs in sentence-initial position
The verb ala “maybe; perhaps” appears only in sentence-initial position. When used this way, it functions adverbially and must be followed by the linker a.
Because ala ends in a, its final vowel merges with the linker a.
The prefix ni- in niparara is the perfective marker, expressing that the sending of goods “has already happened” relative to the time of speaking.
Maybe the rice and vegetables that my brother sent are here.
(3) Serial verb constructions & the linker a
A serial verb construction consists of two verbs sharing the same Agent and/or Patient. The two verbs may both be intransitive, or one transitive and the other intransitive. They are linked with the linker a.
In Example (3), the shared Agent is ta “we”. In Example (4), the shared Agent is ta “we”, and the shared Patient is ya “it”.
Let's go see.
4. kongoen ta ya (a) yangay do vahay nio?
How will we get the goods to your house?
(4) Deictics (location-based demonstratives)
Yami deictics distinguish proximity to the speaker, addressee, or a third person.
In Example (5), dang is a locative form meaning “close to you”.
In Example (6), o ito is a nominative form referring to something “close to him/her”.
Hey, a boat. Do they have anything for you?
6. o ito so tozako, mi ta pala ipanci.
There is a truck there; let's go talk to him about it.
Demonstrate ｜ ya mian so avang (The Shipped Goods Are Coming)
(1) Internship supply list & discussion
Students A and B are on a 1–2 month summer internship on Orchid Island. They ask relatives and friends (C) to send essential goods. Each pair prepares a list, explains the items, and practices the conversation in dyads.
Shall we ask our elder brother to send some food (rice, staples) to us?
B: nohon, kaparara na pa so ipiveravera so kakanan a siken.
Okay, ask him to send some dishwashing liquid too.
C: ya abo o ya do irala?
Aren't these goods available on Orchid Island?
A: ya ji ásisingat o pzapzatan do irala.
Everything is too expensive on Orchid Island.
C: nohon, a simaraw am, pararaen ko an.
Alright, I will send them to you tomorrow, okay?
(2) Role play: How to transport the goods
Two students discuss how to move the shipment home.
How will we get the goods to your house?
B: mi ta mámood so otobay an?
Shall we go rent a motorcycle?
A: mavang ta o ya maréhmet ya?
This is so heavy. Can we really carry it?
B: no komoan am, míkala ta pala so tozako a pasakayan ta sia.
Otherwise, let's find a big truck to transport it.
(3) Role play: Bargaining with rental owners & drivers
Two students negotiate prices: A & C discuss renting a motorcycle; B & D discuss the cost of transporting rice bags.
We want to rent a motorcycle. How much is it for one day?
C: anem a ranaw.
Six hundred dollars.
A: ay, teymasíngat an, pavevehi pa.
Wow, too expensive. Can you give a discount?
C: nona, pavevehan so alima poo.
Alright, fifty dollars off.
B: tosia, ta ya teymasingat, apiapia pa kapikala ta so tozako.
No way! Still too expensive. Let's go find a truck.
A: ápira o ngina no teysa a lavat a mogis?
How much is it to ship one bag of rice?
D: atlo a ranaw (o teysa a lavat a mogis).
Three hundred dollars (for one bag of rice).
B: kasingasíngat na? adoa a ranaw an?
That's too expensive. How about 200?
D: ya téyapereh rana am,
That's too little!
A: alima a poo o ikadoa na a ranaw.
Two hundred fifty dollars?
D: nohon.
Alright.
Exercise ｜ ya mian so avang (The Shipped Goods Are Coming)
(1) Integrated shipment list
Collect all the individual lists of goods from Activity (1). Combine them into a single master list representing the total shipment loaded onto the Orchid Island cargo boat. Sort and classify the goods into clear categories (e.g., food, cleaning products, household items, tools, clothing, etc.).
• Food (rice, noodles, canned goods)
• Daily necessities (soap, shampoo, detergent)
• Kitchen items (dishwashing liquid, cooking oil)
• Household goods (towels, bedding, tools)
• School or work supplies (stationery, electronics)
• Others (miscellaneous items)
(2) Advertising design: Motorcycle rental shop
Design an advertisement for a motorcycle rental shop on Orchid Island. Provide clear information for customers, including rental rules, pricing, discounts, and compensation regulations.
• Daily rental price (full price + discounted price)
• Deposit and ID requirement
• Safety rules (helmet use, speed limit, damage responsibility)
• Compensation policy (repairs, replacement fees)
• Contact information and business hours
• Optional: slogan + simple illustration