Choosing a faculty in Maldivian
The admissions office of a university in Malé: an applicant hands in papers in Maldivian. 8 phrases that the conversation is made of: «ސަލާމް، އަހަރެން ދަރިވަރެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި ވަންނަން ބޭނުން» — Hello, I want to enroll.; «ކޮން ދާއިރާއެއް؟» — Which subject? Every line can be played right on the page. The conversation is predictable: few lines, and almost all of them repeat from one exchange to the next.
How the whole thing sounds
The situation: the admissions office of a university in malé: an applicant hands in papers. The conversation is short and predictable — which is exactly what makes it good for a first try: few lines, and almost all of them repeat from one exchange to the next.
- ސަލާމް، އަހަރެން ދަރިވަރެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި ވަންނަން ބޭނުންsalaam, aharen dharivarehge gothugai vannan beynunHello, I want to enroll.
- ކޮން ދާއިރާއެއް؟kon dhaairaaeh?Which subject?
- ކެމިސްޓްރީ ނުވަތަ ބަޔޮލޮޖީkemistree nuvatha bayolojeeChemistry or biology.
- ދެ ފެކަލްޓީގައި ވެސް ހުސް ޖާގަ އެބަހުރިdhe fekalteegai ves hus jaaga ebahuriBoth faculties have places.
- ސްކޮލަރްޝިޕު ލިބޭނެތަ؟skolarshipu libeynetha?Can one get a scholarship?
- މާކްސް ރަނގަޅުނަމަ ލިބޭނެmaaks rangalhunama libeyneIf the points are good, they will give one.
- އަހަންނަށް ނުވަދިހަ މާކްސް ލިބުނުahannah nuvadhiha maaks libunuI got ninety points.
- ރަނގަޅު. މި ފޯމު ފުރުއްވާ، އަދި ސެޓްފިކެޓު ގެންނަވާrangalhu. mi foamu furuvvaa, adhi setfiketu gennavaaGood. Fill in the form and bring the certificate.
Lines one by one
| Maldivian | Reading | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| ސަލާމް، އަހަރެން ދަރިވަރެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި ވަންނަން ބޭނުން | salaam, aharen dharivarehge gothugai vannan beynun | Hello, I want to enroll. |
| ކޮން ދާއިރާއެއް؟ | kon dhaairaaeh? | Which subject? |
| ކެމިސްޓްރީ ނުވަތަ ބަޔޮލޮޖީ | kemistree nuvatha bayolojee | Chemistry or biology. |
| ދެ ފެކަލްޓީގައި ވެސް ހުސް ޖާގަ އެބަހުރި | dhe fekalteegai ves hus jaaga ebahuri | Both faculties have places. |
| ސްކޮލަރްޝިޕު ލިބޭނެތަ؟ | skolarshipu libeynetha? | Can one get a scholarship? |
| މާކްސް ރަނގަޅުނަމަ ލިބޭނެ | maaks rangalhunama libeyne | If the points are good, they will give one. |
| އަހަންނަށް ނުވަދިހަ މާކްސް ލިބުނު | ahannah nuvadhiha maaks libunu | I got ninety points. |
| ރަނގަޅު. މި ފޯމު ފުރުއްވާ، އަދި ސެޓްފިކެޓު ގެންނަވާ | rangalhu. mi foamu furuvvaa, adhi setfiketu gennavaa | Good. Fill in the form and bring the certificate. |
How to prepare for a conversation like this
Memorizing the lines is not enough: the other person will say their own thing, not what is written. What helps more is catching the key words by ear and keeping three rescue phrases ready: “I don't understand”, “repeat, please”, “slower”.
And one more thing phrasebooks do not mention: awkwardness gets in the way more than not knowing the words.
- Fear of making mistakes gets in the way of learning a language, and it gets in the way badly. It is one of the most reliably measured findings in the entire field.checked many timesTeimouri, Goetze & Plonsky, 2019, Studies in Second Language Acquisition 41(2) · 19,933 participants from 23 countries; correlation with results r = −0.36.
- That fear can be dealt with — the methods have been tested and they work.checked many timesXiong et al., 2024, Journal of Language and Social Psychology · 37 studies, anxiety reduced by −0.61. Of the seven conditions examined, only age turned out to matter.
Frequently asked
How do you start a conversation in Maldivian in this situation?
“ސަލާމް، އަހަރެން ދަރިވަރެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި ވަންނަން ބޭނުން” (salaam, aharen dharivarehge gothugai vannan beynun) — Hello, I want to enroll.. The first line in such a conversation is almost always the same, and that is the one worth learning: the other person will carry it from there.
What if you did not understand the reply?
Say “I don't understand” and “repeat, please” — both are in the rescue set. Admitting your language is still shaky almost always makes the other person more patient.
Should you memorize the dialogue?
No. It is more useful to catch the key words by ear: the other person will say their own thing, and a memorized line will not always fit their reply.