Level 1
Wiliem ant d’senz wunderént om haden
William and the Ten Bowls of Wheat
0 / 8 chapters complete
Meet Wiliem
How this little book works
Wiliem is a boy who loves one thing more than anything: haden — dry, crunchy wheat. He eats it by the bowlful, and he is sure that’s why he’s so strong and tall.
Each chapter has two pages. On the left, a short scene from Wiliem’s life in Maquish, with English underneath. On the right: the new words, one small grammar idea that the scene just used, and a quick exercise.
Tip: read each scene twice — once with the English, once covering it with your hand.
Cast
Wiliem
Our hero. A student who eats ten bowls of wheat.
Méma
Their mother, who wants Wiliem to eat slowly.
Rébéka
Wiliem’s older sister. Tall, kind and a little amazed.
D’kunterzor
The teacher, who speaks Maquish at school.
Sounds & spelling
How Maquish looks
A few letters to watch
- é
- Its own vowel, roughly the “eh” in bed. Always keep the accent: méma, béylén.
- pf
- As in German Pferd — p and f together: lopféter, upfenli.
- jj
- Like English “sh”: ejj (year).
- ch
- A throaty sound, like Russian х or Scottish loch.
- d’
- “The” — it sticks to the next word: d’bukt, the book.
- Aa
- Capitals start a sentence and a month name. Ordinary nouns stay lowercase: skohl, bukt. The language name is Dmakmakis.
Word order is like English: subject – verb – object. Wiliem kemaké haden. — William eats wheat.
Chapters
- Agar sanHelo! Ittsi its Wiliem.Hello! I am William.
- Agar duIttsa golkiari RébékaMy sister Rebecca
- Agar tréSenz wunderént om hadenTen bowls of wheat
- Agar fierInt skohlAt school
- Agar fifDapasktYesterday
- Agar sekInt sektariOn Saturday
- Agar hurenNan-kemaké lektomli!Don’t eat quickly!
- Agar simoWiliem kemaké haden luanstWilliam always eats wheat