Syd Ruben is a Torres Strait Island man, first nations person of Australia, with bloodlines from Erub, Mer and Malaya.
Born in Brisbane, raised in Ipswich (South East Queensland).
Syd is passionate about learning his traditional mother-tongue language of Meriam Mir, and is on personal discovery in trying to teach himself this ancient language and share his ideas and concepts with others along the way.
Ep6. I Learn Meriam This Way: Happy Birthday, Happy New Year and other salutations!
In this episode I give my version of Happy Birthday and Happy New Year. Also we say ‘Cheers’ and ‘Have a safe trip’ in Meriam mir. The word list for todays episode are: Serer = happy; Aosmer = born; Gerger = day; Kerkar = new; Urut = year; Debe Ari; Debe Ati; marim = to you; wabim or uabim = to you all. Also I now speak the acknowledgment of country in Meriam mir and I reword my disclaimer.
1 Feb 2024
Ep6. I Learn Meriam This Way: Happy New Year, Happy Birthday
We say Happy New Year around late December and early January, and we say Happy Birthday nearly all year round. Why not say it in Meriam Mir. Au serer kerkar urut (happy new year), au serer aosmer gerger (happy birthday).
18 Aug 2023
Ep5. I Learn Meriam This Way: Describing a state of well being
In this episode we use simple phrases to describe a state well being, for example, Ka gebgeb nali (I am cold); Kara gebgeb barki (I feel cold) , and E gebgeb pe dike (It is cold). We interchange ‘cold’ with other describing words. Wordlist: gebgeb = cold; urweri = hot; gimgim = sick; sikak = good, well; tebteb = alone; geumge = scared, afraid; niap = thirst; werer = hungry; erar = tired; baz = cloud; irmer = rain; lim = sun.
16 Jun 2023
Ep4. I Learn Meriam This Way: Self Introduction
In episode 4 we cover a basic self introduction with an acknowledgement to your ailan group, your tribe and totem.
25 May 2023
Ep3. I Learn Meriam This Way: Salutations, Greetings and Closings
In todays episode we concentrate on changing all your simple salutations (good morning, good day, etc) to meriam, a basic ‘how do you do?’ and a departure phrase. Word list for todays phrases are: debe = good; idim = morning; gerger = day; kikem = afternoon; ki = night; nako = how; ma = you; nali = am / existence near me; ua = pronoun more than one person; uridili = more than one person existing; esuau = thank you; au esuau = thank you very much; iako mi dali = see you again shortly; O O = departing signal; adira werkab = god bless
18 May 2023
Ep2. I Learn Meriam This Way: Meriam Alphabet, vowels and “R”.
In this episode we find out that 19 letters are used in the Meriam alphabet, we hear the vowel sounds and the sound of the letter “R”. Words used in this episode: Vowels - A sound: abara = his, hers or its; ka and kaka = I; ma = you; E sound: emeret = old, ancient; debe = good: I sound: ipiti = striking, hitting or beating; idim = morning: O sound: ogog = dirty, unclean; omasker = children; parkoparko = imperfect: U sound: umele = know, know how, can or be able to; urut = year; nalu = what, which or why. Letter R sound: Meriam Mir; gerger = day; perper = lightning; girgir = thunder.
11 May 2023
Ep1. I Learn Meriam This Way: The Method.
In episode one, I give a brief background of my learning journey and I explain my methodology to learn Meriam Mir, while living in a modern society. I don’t claim to be a native speaker, a linguist, an educator or academic on languages. This podcast is just a concept and an idea that I often refer to as “the method to my madness”.
7 May 2023
I Learn Meriam This Way
I Learn Meriam Mir is my first ever podcast and may be the first ever dedicated to the ancient language of Meriam Mir. Meriam Mir is the language of the Meriam people of Torres Strait. Our language is classified as critically endangered and is facing extinction in less than a few decades unless something is done. This is my call to action to help preserve and maintain it’s survival by providing my learning tips and methods that I use in my personal journey of wanting to learn my native language while living and use it in a modern society.
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