Art & Museums

10 phrases · Aymara with romanization, English and audio

  1. Akana foto apsuñax sumati?

    A-ka-na fo-to ap-su-ñax su-ma-ti?

    Is photography allowed here?

    Usage

    Used to check whether photography is permitted in a museum or gallery

    Grammar Note

    The old text opened with Quechua Kaypi (the Aymara locative is -na, not -pi). Arsuwinaka derives from 'utterance, word', not 'photograph', and imasintaña means 'to hide'. Taking a photo is foto apsuña, parallel to Spanish sacar una foto, and all ten ay-phot cards use this form (Laime 2020: apsuña. v. tr. Sacar. Extraer)

  2. Khitisa aka lurata luri?

    Khi-ti-sa a-ka lu-ra-ta lu-ri?

    Who is the artist?

    Usage

    Used to ask about the creator of an artwork

    Grammar Note

    Kawkiri means 'which'. 'Who' is khiti

  3. Aka luratan sutipax kunasa?

    A-ka lu-ra-tan su-ti-pax ku-na-sa?

    What is this work called?

    Usage

    Used to ask for the title of an artwork

    Grammar Note

    'What' is kuna. The frame is the same as 'Akax kunasa?' (What is this?), with the question marked by -sa

  4. Kunapachasa aka uñaña uta luratayna?

    Ku-na-pa-cha-sa a-ka u-ña-ña u-ta lu-ra-tay-na?

    When was this museum built?

    Usage

    Used to ask about the history and construction of a museum

    Grammar Note

    Kunjama means 'how'. 'When' is kunapacha. A museum is uñaña uta ('house for seeing'). The remote past -tayna is used as in luratayna

  5. Ist'añataki guía utjiti?

    Is-t'a-ña-ta-ki gu-í-a ut-ji-ti?

    Do you have an audio guide?

    Usage

    Used to ask about audio guide availability

    Grammar Note

    The old yatichiña means 'to teach', not 'to guide', and arsuña 'to speak' yields 'a guide who talks', i.e. a human. Framing it as 'for listening' removes the ambiguity. Ist'aña is Laime 2020 'Escuchar. Oír'

  6. Kawkhansa waxt'aku aljañ uta utji?

    Kaw-khan-sa waxt'-a-ku al-jañ u-ta ut-ji?

    Where is the gift shop?

    Usage

    Used to locate the gift shop

    Grammar Note

    Apnaqawi means 'use, administration' (from apnaqaña 'to use, to manage'). 'To sell' is aljaña and 'to buy' is alaña; they look alike, so take care not to confuse them. A shop can be expressed as 'aljaña + uta'

  7. Aka luratan mä ñit'sutapa alaña muntwa.

    A-ka lu-ra-tan mä ñit'-su-ta-pa a-la-ña mun-twa.

    I'd like to buy a print of this artwork.

    Usage

    Used when wishing to buy a print of an artwork

    Grammar Note

    'To buy' is alaña. 'To print' is ñit'suña / qillqsuña. The first-person 'I want' is muntwa

  8. Irpirimpi sarnaqañax utjiti?

    Ir-pi-rim-pi sar-na-qa-ñax ut-ji-ti?

    Is there a guided tour?

    Usage

    Used to ask if a guided tour is available

    Grammar Note

    The old yatiqiri is 'one who learns, a student' (yatiqaña 'to learn' + agentive -iri), not a guide. A guide is irpiri (Laime 2020: irpiri. s. Guía), already used in this language's data in the ay-hike cards. Puriña means 'to arrive', not 'to walk'; walking around is sarnaqaña

  9. Kunapachasa uñaña uta jist'ari?

    Ku-na-pa-cha-sa u-ña-ña u-ta jis-t'a-ri?

    What are the museum's opening hours?

    Usage

    Used to ask about the museum's operating hours

    Grammar Note

    Kunjama means 'how'. A time or point in time is kunapacha. 'To open' is jist'araña, and its 3rd person present is jist'ari

  10. Aka luratax wali k'achawa.

    A-ka lu-ra-tax wa-li k'a-cha-wa.

    This painting is beautiful.

    Usage

    Used to express admiration for an artwork

    Grammar Note

    Suma centers on 'good, harmonious'; visual beauty is k'acha (wali k'achawa 'breathtakingly beautiful')

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