Accessibility

1. Kao wheelchair accessible i lugåt-ña?

   KAU wheel-CHAIR ak-SES-i-bel i lu-GAT-nya

   Is this place wheelchair accessible?

   Usage

   Asking whether a venue is wheelchair accessible

   Grammar Note

   lugåt-ña means "its place"; -ña is the third-person possessive suffix. "wheelchair" and "accessible" stay in English

2. Presisu yu' håftot kuatto para aksesibilidad.

   pre-SI-su yu haf-TOT kwa-TO pa-ra ak-se-si-bi-li-DAD

   I need a room with accessibility features.

   Usage

   Requesting an accessible room at a hotel front desk

   Grammar Note

   kuåtto is borrowed from Spanish cuarto (room)

3. Guaha ramp pat entråda sin eskaleran?

   GWA-ha ramp pat en-TRA-da sin es-ka-LE-ran

   Is there a ramp or step-free entrance?

   Usage

   Asking about a ramp or level entrance to a building

   Grammar Note

   pat is a conjunction meaning "or". "ramp" stays in English

4. Månu nai gaige i båñu aksesible?

   MA-nu nai ga-I-ge i BA-nyu ak-SE-si-ble

   Where is the accessible restroom?

   Usage

   Asking for the location of an accessible restroom

   Grammar Note

   gaige is a locative existential verb equivalent to "to be located". The frame for asking a location is "Månu nai gaige" (nai is the complementizer for places and times, distinct from the linker na)

5. Ti siña yu' li'e' klåru — siña un ayuda yo'?

   ti SI-nya yu LI-e KLA-ru — SI-na un a-YU-da yo

   I am visually impaired — can you help me?

   Usage

   A visually impaired traveler asking for assistance

   Grammar Note

   siña expresses ability; ti siña means "cannot". "To see" is li'e'; "mira" is the CHamoru word for myrrh — Spanish mirar was not borrowed

6. Guaha minú letra dångkolo?

   GWA-ha mi-NU LE-tra DANG-ko-lo

   Do you have large-print menus?

   Usage

   Requesting a large-print menu for someone with low vision

   Grammar Note

   "dångkolo" is the adjective "big", placed after the noun it modifies. For a plural noun it takes man- (e.g. "mandångkolo siha i CHamoru"). Reduplicating an adjective makes it weaker ("somewhat ..."), so it cannot be used for "large print"

7. Guaha audio guide gi este na lugåt?

   GWA-ha AU-di-o guide gi ES-te na lu-GAT

   Are there audio guides available?

   Usage

   Asking about audio guide availability at a tourist site or museum

   Grammar Note

   este na lugåt means "this place"; este is borrowed from Spanish. "audio guide" stays in English

8. Gai hearing aid yo' — siña un kumuentos klåru?

   gai HEAR-ing aid yo — SI-na un ku-MEN-tos KLA-ru

   I use a hearing aid — please speak clearly.

   Usage

   A hearing aid user requesting clear speech from others

   Grammar Note

   kumuentos is the focus form of kuentos (to speak), emphasizing the actor

9. Siña hu na'hålom i ga'lågu-hu?

   SI-nya hu na-HA-lom i ga-LA-gu-hu

   Can I bring my service/guide dog inside?

   Usage

   Asking permission to bring a service or guide dog inside

   Grammar Note

   ga'lågu-hu means "my dog"; -hu is the first-person singular possessive suffix

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