Assimil Dutch1

een (AYn)

It is absolutely essential that you read the preceding introduction before starting!

EERSTE (1ste) LES.

Bent u ziek ?

1    — Goedendag (NI), mevrouw De Vos.

2    — Dag (1), meneer Janssens.

3    Hoe maakt u het (2) ?

4    — Niet heel goed.

5    — Bent (3) u ziek ?

6    — Nee (4), maar mijn vrouw is ziek,

7    mijn dochter is ziek,

8    mijn zoon is ook in bed

UITSPRAAK (pronunciation) [uitspraak) bent"uu ziEk?

1    hgoed:ndaHG m:fvrou d: fvos

The V sound in Dutch is preceded by a slight t sound.

2    daHG nrnAYr yanssens

3    hoe maakt ‘uu het?

In het the h is pronounced only if the word is being empha-sized. One says [het), [h:t] or [:t] depending on the degree of emphasis.

4    niEt hAYI hgoet

At the end ot a word, d is pronounced as t,

5    bent ‘uu zlEk?

6    nAY, maar mein fvrou is"siEk

Here the z in ziek is pronounced as s because it follows an s. This is called assimilation.

7    mein doHGt:r is*slEk

The s in is Is usually pronounced s rather than z as in English!

FIRST LESSON

Are you III?

1    — Good day, Mrs. De Vos.

2    — Hello, Mr. Janssens.

3    How are you (How make you it)?

4    — Not very good.

5    — Are you ill?

6    — No, but my wite is ill,

7    my daughter is ill,

8    my son is also in bed,

OPMERKINGEN (COMMENTS) [opmerking:n)

(1)    Dag is less formal and morę common than goedendag. Dag is also used for good-bye, but then the vowel is lengthened: [da-aHG!]

(2)    For How are you?' one also hears Hoe gaal hel (How goes it)? For ‘How is your son?’ one could say Hoe maakt uw zoon het (How makes your son it)? Hoe gaat het met uw zoon (How goes it with your son)?

(3)    As in English the subject and verb are reversed to form a question. U bent ziek (You are ill). Bent u ziek (Are you ill)?

(4)    One may write nee or neen, but the finał n is not pronounced.

1- LES