As we try to revive our language, we use different strategies and models. The simplest of these, which will give the learner some grasp of the language is the formulaic approach, where one word or multiword lexical units are learned, stored as a whole in the long-memory and easily retrieved when a situation in which the words can be used is presented to the speaker. Such formulaic language units in the English language includes expressions like: bye, goodbye, hello, excuse me, please, thank you, thank you a lot, sorry, good morning, it’s nice, it’s hot, etc. Formulaic language expressions are suitable for children and adults who want to learn the basic units of the language, or at least be able to express themselves occasionally in it, without them necessarily be fluent in the language. It could be a first step upon which more complicated forms of the language are built – forms that require the use of grammar and an understanding of the syntax of the language.
Coptic has its formulaic expressions that children and adults could easily learn, retain for a long time – in fact for the rest of their lives – and use. I include below some of these Coptic formulaic expressions:
| Coptic formulaic expression | Meaning in English |
| Nane etoo’oi | Good morning |
| Nane roohi | Good evening |
| Chere | Hello/Hi |
| Oujai | Bye |
| Ti shep’ehmot entotk | I thank you |
| Maron | Let’s go |
| Ash pe pek ran (pe ran)? | What’s your name? |
| Pa ran pe (…) | My name is (…) |
| Ash pe pek riti (pe riti)? | How are you? |
| Ouoj | Fine/Good/Sound/Well |
| Ari ehmot | Please |
| Xw nie evol | Forgive me (I am sorry) |
These are some of the expressions, and they can be largely expanded and used as ready-made units to teach and to be used by the Copts who want to retain some of Coptic words and phrases. I certainly hope that somebody would produce a book of such formulaic units in Coptic, and use it in teaching minimal Coptic.
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