



Based on the idea ofstudying sentences rather than vocabulary lists and abstract grammar rules… Under that plan, what would an absolute beginner start with? Maybe sentences like these:Good afternoon.____.My name is…… (I am called……)I am Maria’s mother.I am not Maria’s mother.I am Maria’s father.I am not Maria’s father.Those six sentences introduced the copula, possession and negation. Of course you’d need a teacher or some recordings to demonstrate the pronunciation, but those first sentences only use three different vowels, which would make the first lesson in pronunciation easy. Next we’d addandto the vowel inventory.Good morning, Maria.Very pleased (to meet you, or whatever).(It is) a pleasure (to meet you, etc).Please speak slowly.I want to speak well.I want to read a book in Papiamentu.At this point the five main vowels are done and some useful phrases have been introduced. Next come the “non-Spanish vowels.”What would you like to eat, sir?Hotdog or porkchop?Sandwich or spaghetti?What would you like to drink, ma’am?Soft drink or coffee?Can I rent a car for thirty minutes?This bridge is very busy.There are many buses and trucks.In addition to demonstrating the vowels, examples like these would gently illustrate that the sequence of words is different in many Papiamentu sentences compared to their English counterparts.