Volunteering

1. Ng soak el mengesiau er tiang. Ng ua ngara a rolel a omeluches er a ngklek?

   ng so-AK el me-nge-SI-au er ti-ANG. ng u-A nga-RA a ro-LEL a o-me-LU-ches er a NGKLEK

   I'd like to volunteer here. How do I sign up?

   Usage

   Initial inquiry when wanting to join volunteer activities

   Grammar Note

   No English loan is needed for "volunteer": the word "chesiau" (a contribution of food or labour to help workers on a house or community project) and its verb "mengesiau" are exactly this concept. Signing up is expressed as "writing one’s name".

2. Ng ngar er ker a obis er a rechad el mengesiau?

   ng ngar er KER a O-bis er a re-CHAD el me-nge-SI-au

   Where is the volunteer coordination center?

   Usage

   Ask for the location of the volunteer coordination office

   Grammar Note

   The frame for asking a location is "Ng ngar er ker a X?". Palauan has no word for "coordination centre", so "obis" (office) is used instead. "Rechad" is the plural of "chad" (person).

3. Ak rengelekl er a omengelakl / omengull / omekedekl.

   ak ren-GE-lekl er a o-men-ge-LAKL / o-men-GULL / o-me-KE-dekl.

   I have experience in teaching / medical / construction.

   Usage

   Introduce your skills and background to volunteer coordinators

   Grammar Note

   Palauan often uses the om- prefix to nominalize verbs into action nouns

4. Ng tela el klebesei a chesiau?

   ng te-LA el kle-be-SEI a che-SI-au

   How long is the volunteer commitment?

   Usage

   Ask about the required duration for volunteer participation

   Grammar Note

   The frame for asking a duration is "Ng tela el klebesei a X?". "Klebesei" means "day".

5. Ak ousbech a klekedall me a osisechakl?

   ak ou-SBECH a kle-ke-DALL me a o-si-se-CHAKL

   Do I need any special equipment or training?

   Usage

   Confirm what preparation is needed before participating

   Grammar Note

   "Ousbech" covers both "use" and "need" (e.g. "kausisbech a didu el ousbech" = need each other). "Klekedall" means tools, equipment and "osisechakl" means training, instruction. "Me a" coordinates two nouns.

6. Ng soak el olengeseu er a delal a chelebuul me a melekau er a beluu.

   ng so-AK el o-le-nge-SE-u er a de-LAL a che-le-BU-ul me a me-le-KAU er a be-LU-u

   I'd like to help with disaster relief / environmental work.

   Usage

   Offer to help in a specific area of volunteer work

   Grammar Note

   "Disaster" is the idiom "delal a chelebuul" (literally "the mother of calamity"). Palauan has no word for "environment", so it is expressed as "melekau er a beluu" — protecting the land or village.

7. Ng ngar er ngii a cheldecheduch el mo er a rechad el mengesiau?

   ng ngar er ngii a chel-de-che-DUCH el mo er a re-CHAD el me-nge-SI-au

   Is there a volunteer orientation session?

   Usage

   Ask if an introductory briefing is available before starting

   Grammar Note

   "Cheldecheduch" means a meeting or conference; Palauan has no word for "orientation session", so this covers it. The existential frame is "Ng ngar er ngii a X?".

8. Ak sebechek el mengesiau el chedal a cheldebechel?

   ak se-be-CHEK el me-nge-SI-au el che-DAL a chel-de-be-CHEL

   Can I volunteer as part of a group?

   Usage

   Ask if group participation is possible for volunteering

   Grammar Note

   "Chedal a cheldebechel" is an idiom meaning "member of the group". "Cheldebechel" is the Palauan word for a village club or age-set, so no English loan is needed for "group".

9. Ng ngar er ngii a blai me a kall er a rechad el mengesiau?

   ng ngar er ngii a BLAI me a KALL er a re-CHAD el me-nge-SI-au

   Are accommodation and meals provided for volunteers?

   Usage

   Important question for long-term or travelling volunteers

   Grammar Note

   "Blai" (house) and "kall" (food) are both basic words, so there is no need to borrow "housing". "Me a" coordinates the two nouns.

10. Ke ousbech a ngeso er a ngera el tekoi?

    ke ou-SBECH a NGE-so er a NGE-ra el te-KOI?

    What languages do you need help with?

    Usage

    Ask which languages are needed when offering translation help

    Grammar Note

    An example is "Ke ousbech a ngeso?" ("Do you need help?"); tekoi means "word/language" (tekoi er a Belau = the Palauan language)

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