Nuvuza Tani 2

Text and Translation

Nara zales kines luŋeta baŋibaŋi. Alaza kalatepe gohotepe lakatepe sara. Sarunos pezes yutonda seleno. Nuvonda yutu selese. Hadas tanatana luŋera.

Luŋeya sorove, “Diya liyes tesi gohorahi?” Kumoya rusuve, “Be! Liyes harazidu linda viri gohose.”

“Dinda yutoza tesi kalanen liŋinahi?” “Kalanen liŋizidu viri yutuse.”

“Ŋiri kele muroza dika. Dinda yutoza tesi kalanen liŋinahido vene zeninen diŋi, liya lisataza nara mururazi.” Nuvoya ruluve, “Enda pezes ira! Lidu ese, kegevenen mape vekeve yendodo evu.”

One night a star falls to earth. They go for a time, cold, hungry, and shelter-less. They see light from a campfire in the distance. The light is Nuvu’s campfire. The star hurries to it.

The star says, “Could you give me some food?” The man replies, “No! There is not enough of my food for me to eat.”

“Could I make myself a little bit warm near your campfire?” “There is not enough campfire to make me warm.”

“You have some fine mats.You did not allow that I could make make myself a little bit warm near your campfire; I will put one mat around my body.” Nuvu shouts, “Go away from those! They are for me and not for lazy people who do not work.”

Interlinear and Explanation

Nara zales kines luŋeta baŋibaŋi.

nara
nara
one
zales
zali=s
night=LOC
kines
kini=s
land=LOC
luŋeta
luŋi=ta
star=DOWN
baŋibaŋi
baŋibaŋi
unexpectedly
One night a star falls to earth.

Alaza kalatepe gohotepe lakatepe sara.

alaza
ala=za
now=PATH
kalatepe
kala-tepe
heat-less
gohotepe
goho-tepe
food-less
lakatepe
laka-tepe
hut-less
sa=ra
sa=ra
3SG.RA=GO
They go for a time, cold, hungry, and shelterless.

Sarunos pezes yutonda seleno.

sarunos
sa=runu=s
3SG.RA=eye=LOC
pezes
pezi=s
away=LOC
yutonda
yutu=nda
campfire=SRC
seleno
sele=no
light=COME
They see light from a campfire in the distance.

Nuvonda yutu selese.

Nuvonda
Nuvu=nda
Nuvu=SRC
yutu
yutu
campfire
selese
sele=se
light=STAY
The light is Nuvu’s campfire.

Hadas tanatana luŋera.

hadas
hada=s
3SG.IN=LOC
tanatana
tanatana
quick
luŋera
luŋi=ra
star=GO
The star hurries to it.

Luŋeya sorove, “Diya liyes tesi gohorahi?”

luŋeya
luŋi=ya
star=CAUS
sorove
soro=vi
word=OUT
diya
di=ya
2SG=CAUS
liyes
liye=s
1SG=LOC
tesi
tesi
few
gohorahi
goho=ra=hi
food=GO=POT
The star says, “Could you give me some food?”

Kumoya rusuve, “Be! Liyes harazidu linda viri gohose.”

kumoya
kumu=ya
man=CAUS
rusuve
rusu=vi
reply=OUT
be!
be!
no!
liyes
liye=s
1SG=LOC
harazidu
ha=ra=zi=du
3SG.IN=GO=FUT=GOAL
linda
li=nda
1SG=SRC
viri
viri
not.enough
gohose
goho=se
food=STAY
The man replies, “No! There is not enough of my food for me to eat.”

“Dinda yutoza tesi kalanen liŋinahi?”

dinda
di=nda
2SG=SRC
yutoza
yutu=za
campfire=PATH
tesi
tesi
few
kalanen
kala=nen
heat=COM
liŋinahi
li=ŋi=na=hi
1SG=MOVE=START=POT
“Could I make myself a little bit warm near your campfire?”

“Kalanen liŋizidu viri yutuse.”

kalanen
kala=nen
heat=COM
liŋizidu
li=ŋi=zi=du
1SG=MOVE=FUT=GOAL
viri
viri
not
yutuse
yutu=se
enough
“There is not enough campfire to make me warm.”

“Ŋiri kele muroza dika.

ŋiri
ŋiri
some
kele
kele
fine
muroza
muru=za
mat=PATH
dika
di=ka
2SG=TOUCH
“You have some fine mats.

Dinda yutoza tesi kalanen liŋinahido vene zeninen diŋi, liya lisataza nara mururazi.”

dinda
di=nda
2SG=SRC
yutoza
yutu=za
campfire=PATH
tesi
tesi
few
kalanen
kala=nen
heat=COM
liŋinahido
li=ŋi=na=hi=du
1SG=MOVE=START=POT=GOAL
vene
vene
none
zeninen
zeni=nen
expectation=COM
diŋi
di=ŋi
2SG=MOVE
liya
li=ya
1SG=CAUS
lisataza
li=sata=za
1SG=body=PATH
nara
nara
one
mururazi
muru=ra=zi
mat=GO=FUT
You did not allow that I could make make myself a little bit warm near your campfire; I will put one mat around my body.”

Nuvoya ruluve, “Enda pezes ira!

Nuvoya
Nuvu=ya
Nuvu=CAUS
ruluve
rulu=vi
shout=OUT
enda
e=nda
3PL.IN=SRC
pezes
pezi=s
away=LOC
ira
i=ra
3SG.AN=GO
Nuvu shouts, “Go away from those!

Lidu ese, kegevenen mape vekeve yendodo evu.”

lidu
li=du
1SG=GOAL
ese
e=se
3PL.IN=STAY
kegevenen
kegeve=nen
work=COM
mape
ma=pe
PL.AN=FAIL
vekeve
vekeve
lazy
yendodo
yenda=du
people=GOAL
evu
e=vu
3PL.IN=NOT
They are for me and not for lazy people who do not work.”

Nuvuza Tani 1

Text and Translation

Nuvu berenen kumoza zose tanise. Sama basa sonose, sama karu vususe. Ŋono alaza yendanen nikevas saŋiyinda samas etede piŋimeyi, pezes sara kodu, venendanen saŋena. Yendanen nikevas saŋiyihi, saya namanen ŋiri kegevemiyizeza namas zeninoheza samas delino. Goleza nara kumu saŋiye, saya kuŋinen zase ŋiri kegeveme. Goleza venendanen saŋiyinda sanda laka azis lenese. Kozos ŋono pobomoza ŋono pideza ŋono pereteza ŋono muroza saka.

This story is one which is about a man named Nuvu. He has a bad head and a rough tongue. Through more time spent in the vicinity of people he is filled with pain, so he goes away and lives with nobody. If he continues to stay near people, he thinks that they will expect that he will continue to make work with them. For a long time he lives as a solitary man, and he works as he wanted. After a long time living with nobody, there is a pile outside his hut. In there he has many spears, many baskets, many knives, and many mats.

Interlinear and Explanation

Nuvu berenen kumoza zose tanise.

Nuvu
nuvu
Nuvu
berenen
bere=nen
name=COM
kumoza
kumu=za
man=PATH
zose
zo=se
SGin=STAY
tanise
tani=se
story=STAY
The story is one which is about a man named Nuvu.

Sama basa sonose, sama karu vususe.

sama
sama
3SG.RA
basa
basa
bad
sonose
sono=se
head=STAY
sama
sama
3SG.RA
karu
karu
rough
vususe
vusu=se
tongue=STAY
He has a bad head and a rough tongue.

Ŋono alaza yendanen nikevas saŋiyinda samas etede piŋimeyi, pezes sara kodu, venendanen saŋena.

ŋono
ŋono
more
alaza
ala=za
time=PATH
yendanen
yenda=nen
people=COM
nikevas
nikeva=s
vicinity=LOC
saŋiyinda
sa=ŋi=yi=nda
3SG.RA=MOVE=CONT=SRC
samas
sama=s
3SG.RA=LOC
etede
etede
full
piŋimeyi
piŋi=me=yi
pain=IN=CONT
pezes
pezi=s
away=LOC
sara
sa=ra
3SG.RA=GO
kodu
kodu
so
venendanen
venenda=nen
nobody=COM
saŋena
sa=ŋi=na
3SG.RA=MOVE=START
Through more time spent in the vicinity of people he is filled with pain, so he goes away and lives with nobody.

Someday I am going to figure out why some time phrases take =s and some take =za. I know there is a reason, I am simply not quite sure how to explain it.

Yendanen nikevas saŋiyihi, saya namanen ŋiri kegevemiyizeza namas zeninoheza samas delino.

yendanen
yenda=nen
people=COM
nikevas
nikeva=s
vicinity=LOC
saŋiyihi
sa=ŋi=yi=hi
3SG.RA=MOVE=CONT=POT
saya
sa=ya
3SG.RA=CAUS
namanen
nama=nen
3PLra=COM
ŋiri
ŋiri
some
kegevemiyizeza
kegeve=mi=yi=zi=za
work=IN=CONT=FUT=PATH
namas
nama=s
3PLra=LOC
zeninoheza
zeni=no=hi=za
expectation=COME=POT=PATH
samas
sama=s
3SG.RA=LOC
delino
deli=no
idea=COME
If he continues to stay near people, he thinks that they will expect that he will continue to make work with them.

Goleza nara kumu saŋiye, saya kuŋinen zase ŋiri kegeveme.

goleza
goli=za
long.time=PATH
nara
nara
one
kumu
kumu
man
saŋiye
sa=ŋi=yi
3SG.RA=MOVE=CONT
saya
sa=ya
3SG.RA=CAUS
kuŋinen
kuŋi=nen
desire=COM
zase
za=se
3PL.IN=STAY
ŋiri
ŋiri
some
kegeveme
kegeve=me
work=IN
For a long time he lives as a solitary man, and he works as he wanted.

Goleza venendanen saŋiyinda sanda laka azis lenese.

goleza
goli=za
long.time=PATH
venendanen
venenda=nen
nobody=COM
saŋiyinda
sa=ŋi=yi=nda
3SG.RA=MOVE=CONT=SRC
sanda
sa=nda
3SG.RA=SRC
laka
laka
hut
azis
azi=s
outside=LOC
lenese
lene=se
pile=STAY
After a long time living with nobody, there is a pile outside his hut.

Kozos ŋono pobomoza ŋono pideza ŋono pereteza ŋono muroza saka.

kozos
kozo=s
here=LOC
ŋono
ŋono
many
pobomoza
pobomo=za
spear=PATH
ŋono
ŋono
many
pideza
pidi=za
basket=PATH
ŋono
ŋono
many
pereteza
perete=za
knife=PATH
ŋono
ŋono
many
muroza
muru=za
mat=PATH
saka
sa=ka
3SG.RA=TOUCH
In there he has many spears, many baskets, many knives, and many mats.

Linda Poboto, Part 4

And now the conclusion of the story…

Text and Translation

Saya evi, “Ŋaya kere ebes linda laki ira.” Naya kere ebes liye ira. Naya liye tene satanda pezes garanen piŋera. Yozonda erenara, naya zosos yereme.

Besariya marodo tonos liye ira. Maras lira, muros dahidahi liŋi, lidurunulona. Pobotonen rehela lipena.

He says, “Take my daughter to the sacred pool.” They take me to the sacred pool. They wash the pain from all of my body. The spirits go from there and play elsewhere.

Uncle sets me on the road to home. I go home, I am lying down on the mat, and my eyes open. I begin to not be sick afterwards.

Interlinear and Explanation

Saya evi, “Ŋaya kere ebes linda laki ira.”

saya
sa=ya
3SGra=CAUS
evi
e=vi
3PLin=OUT
ŋaya
ŋa=ya
2PL=CAUS
kere
kere
sacred
ebes
ebe=s
pool=LOC
linda
li=nda
1SG=SRC
laki
laki
daughter
ira
i=ra
3SGan=GO
He says, “Take my daughter to the sacred pool.”

Naya kere ebes liye ira.

naya
na=ya
3PLan=CAUS
kere
kere
sacred
ebes
ebe=s
pool=LOC
liye
liye
1SG
ira
i=ra
3SGan=GO
They take me to the sacred pool.

Naya liye tene satanda pezes garanen piŋera.

naya
na=ya
3PLra=CAUS
liye
liye
1SG
tene
tene
all
satanda
sata=nda
body=SRC
pezes
pezi=s
away=LOC
garanen
gara=nen
water=COM
piŋera
piŋi=ra
pain=GO
They wash the pain from all of my body.

Or, they made the pain go with water from all of my body.

Yozonda erenara, naya zosos yereme.

yozonda
yozo=nda
there=SRC
erenara
erena=ra
spirits=GO
naya
na=ya
3PLra=CAUS
zosos
zoso=s
somewhere=LOC
yereme
yere=me
game=IN
The spirits go from there and play elsewhere.

Besariya marodo tonos liye ira.

besariya
besari=ya
great-uncle=CAUS
marodo
mara=du
home=GOAL
tonos
tono=s
road=LOC
liye
liye
1SG
ira
i=ra
3SGan=GO
Uncle sets me on the road to home.

Maras lira, muros dahidahi liŋi, lidurunulona.

maras
mara=s
home=LOC
lira
li=ra
1SG=GO
muros
muru=s
mat=LOC
dahidahi
dahidahi
lying.down
liŋi
li=ŋi
1SG=MOVE
lidurunulona
li=durunu=lo=na
1SG=eyes=UP=START
I go home, I am lying down on the mat, and my eyes open.

My eyes open, or I wake up. And eyes is in the dual, too.

Pobotonen rehela lipena.

pobotonen
poboto=nen
sickness=COM
rehela
rehela
afterwards
lipena
li=pe=na
1SG=FAIL=START
I begin to not be sick afterwards.

Or, I begin to fail to be with sickness afterwards.

Linda Poboto, Part 3

Text and Translation

Lirunos linda besarino aŋaka. Linda tili arenda tili bese saŋi. Lidu luguradu sano. Erenaza saka, liyenen yeremeto.

Saya nadu evi, “Linda laki koyo yeleŋe. Samas dimidimi yakato! Sadu gehevanen yaŋi!” Liyes erena dimidimi nakato aŋaka.

And then I see my uncle. He is my late grandmother’s uncle. He comes to help me. He grasps the spirits and the game with me stops.

He says to them, “This person is my daughter. Stop hitting her! Be good to her!” And then the spirits stop hitting me.

Interlinear and Explanation

Lirunos linda besarino aŋaka.

lirunos
li=runu=s
1SG=eye=LOC
linda
li=nda
1SG=SRC
besarino
besari=no
great-uncle=COME
aŋaka
aŋaka
and.then
And then I see my uncle.

Technically, besari is mother’s mother’s brother.

Linda tili arenda tili bese saŋi.

linda
li=nda
1SG=SRC
tili
tili
past
arenda
ari=nda
grandmother=SRC
tili
tili
past
bese
bese
uncle
saŋi
sa=ŋi
3SGra=MOVE
He is my late grandmother’s uncle.

Technically ari is mother’s mother’s and bese is mother’s brother. And the adjective tili, last seen modifying the noun lono ‘day’, can also modify kinship terms.

Lidu luguradu sano.

lidu
li=du
1SG=GOAL
luguradu
lugu=ra=du
help=GO=GOAL
sano
sa=no
3SGra=COME
He comes to help me.

Erenaza saka, liyenen yeremeto.

erenaza
erena=za
spirits=PATH
saka
sa=ka
3SGra=TOUCH
liyenen
liye=nen
1SG=COM
yeremeto
yere=me=to
game=IN=STOP
He grasps the spirits and the game with me stops.

Saya nadu evi, “Linda laki koyo yeleŋe.

saya
sa=ya
3SGra=CAUS
nadu
na=du
3PLra=GOAL
evi
e=vi
3PLin=OUT
linda
li=nda
1SG=SRC
laki
laki
daughter
koyo
koyo
this
yeleŋe
yele=ŋi
person=MOVE
He says to them, “This person is my daughter.

Technically, laki is a woman’s daughter or a man’s sister’s daughter.

Samas dimidimi yakato!

samas
sama=s
3SGra=LOC
dimidimi
dimidimi
with.force
yakato
ya=ka=to
3PLan=TOUCH=STOP
Stop hitting her!

Uncle does not use indirect, polite commands. He is direct, using the non-rational animate pronouns to convey an imperative.

Sadu gehevanen yaŋi!”

sadu
sa=du
3SGra=GOAL
gehevanen
geheva=nen
goodness=COM
yaŋi
ya=ŋi
3PLan=MOVE
Be good to her!”

Liyes erena dimidimi nakato aŋaka.

liyes
liye=s
1SG=LOC
erena
erena
spirits
dimidimi
dimidimi
with.force
nakato
na=ka=to
3PLra=TOUCH=STOP
aŋaka.
aŋaka
and.then
And then the spirits stop hitting me.

The conclusion will post on Monday. Have a good weekend!

Linda Poboto, Part 2

Text and Translation

Naya kureza kideza liye ira. Liye tene satas dimidimi eka. Liye tene satas piŋino, govogovo bavasano.

Liya nadu evi, “Ŋaŋitohi. Govogovo koyonen ŋaŋitohi. Lidu gehevanen ŋaŋinahi.” Linda sorodo erena sarape baŋibaŋi.

They take me across thorns and rocks. They (the thorns and rocks) hit all of my body. I feel pain on all of my body and all kinds of bad.

I say to them, “You could stop. You could stop doing all these kinds of things. You could start to be good to me.” But the spirits do not listen to my words.

Interlinear and Explanation

Naya kureza kideza liye ira.

naya
na=ya
3PLra=CAUS
kureza
kuri=za
thorn=PATH
kideza
kidi=za
rock=PATH
liye
liye
1SG
ira
i=ra
3SGan=GO
They take me across thorns and rocks.

Or, I am made to go (non-volitionally) by them across thorns and rocks.

Liye tene satas dimidimi eka.

liye
liye
1SG
tene
tene
all
satas
sata=s
body=LOC
dimidimi
dimidimi
with.force
eka
e=ka
3PLin=TOUCH
They (the thorns and rocks) hit all of my body.

Liye tene satas piŋino, govogovo bavasano.

liye
liye
1SG
tene
tene
all
satas
sata=s
body=LOC
piŋino
piŋi=no
pain=COME
govogovo
govogovo
all.kinds
bavasano
bavasa=no
badness=COME
I feel pain on all of my body and all kinds of bad.

Here’s another pair: basa ‘bad’ and bavasa ‘badness’.

Liya nadu evi, “Ŋaŋitohi.

liya
li=ya
1SG=CAUS
nadu
na=du
3PLra=GOAL
evi
e=vi
3PLin=OUT
ŋaŋitohi
ŋa=ŋi=to=hi
2PL=MOVE=STOP=POT
I say to them, “You could stop.

Our narrator is being polite and using indirect or polite commands here and in the following sentences.

Govogovo koyonen ŋaŋitohi.

govogovo
govogovo
all.kinds
koyonen
koyo=nen
this=COM
ŋaŋitohi.
ŋa=ŋi=to=hi
2PL=MOVE=STOP=POT
You could stop doing all these kinds of things.

Lidu gehevanen ŋaŋinahi.”

lidu
li=du
1SG=GOAL
gehevanen
geheva=nen
goodness=COM
ŋaŋinahi
ŋa=ŋi=na=hi
2PL=MOVE=START=POT
You could start to be good to me.”

Here we have the noun geheva formed from the adjective gehe and the nominalizer -va. Mostly because the partially reduplicated form of gehe would be gehehe and that just didn’t sound right.

Linda sorodo erena sarape baŋibaŋi.

linda
li=nda
1SG=SRC
sorodo
soro=du
word=GOAL
erena
erena
spirits
sarape
sara=pe
ear=FAIL
baŋibaŋi
baŋibaŋi
unexpected
But the spirits do not listen to my words.

Generally one hears something with the construction A sara=s X=no. But one can listen for something, too, with X=du A sara=ra. This works for other senses as well.

Linda Poboto Part 1

Text and Translation

Ŋasaras linda pobotoza zisirinohe. Ŋono poto liŋi, yatayatavadu lira. Poto liŋiye, muros dahidahi liŋi, morono.

Moronen muros dahidahi liŋiye, uri erenano. Liyeza naka, liyenen yiri buros nara. Koyo erenaya yiri erenanen yereme. Erenaya keruvelime. Naya ŋarunos ŋono pezes ebeno, naya ŋarunos yozos tileya ŋarahidu hape aŋaka.

You may have heard news of my sickness. I was very sick, almost to death. While I was sick, I lay on the mat, and a dream came.

With the dream, while I am lying on the mat, the wind spirits come. They grasp me and take me to the mouth of a dry wash. These spirits play with the dry wash spirits. The dry wash spirits create dust devils. They make a distant pool of water appear to you and then before you can reach it they make it fail to appear.

Interlinear and Explanation

Ŋasaras linda pobotoza zisirinohe.

ŋasaras
ŋa=sara=s
2PL=ear=LOC
linda
li=nda
1SG=SRC
pobotoza
poboto=za
sickness=PATH
zisirinohe
zisiri=no=hi
news=COME=POT
You may have heard news of my sickness.

Ŋono poto liŋi, yatayatavadu lira.

ŋono
ŋono
much
poto
poto
sick
liŋi
li=ŋi
1SG=MOVE
yatayatavadu
yatayatava=du
death=GOAL
lira
li=ra
1SG=GO
I was very sick, almost to death.

Note that poto is an adjective and poboto is a derived noun. A similar pair was encountered before: zeye ‘dark’ and zeseye ‘darkness’. Also, =du marks an unattained destination, so somewhere on the path to death. Speaking of death, yalata is the adjective ‘dying’ and yatayata is the adjective ‘dead’, and death is formed from the latter by adding the nominalizing suffix -va. The word yata no longer exists.

Poto liŋiye, muros dahidahi liŋi, morono.

poto
poto
sick
liŋiye
li=ŋi=yi
1SG=MOVE=CONT
muros
muru=s
mat=LOC
dahidahi
dahidahi
lying.down
liŋi
li=ŋi
1SG=MOVE
morono
moro=no
dream=COME
While I was sick, I lay on the mat, and a dream came.

Moronen muros dahidahi liŋiye, uri erenano.

moronen
moro=nen
dream=COM
muros
muru=s
mat=LOC
dahidahi
dahidahi
lying.down
liŋiye
li=ŋi=yi
1SG=MOVE=CONT
uri
uri
wind
erenano
erena=no
spirits=COME
With the dream, while I am lying on the mat, the wind spirits come.

I guess N N compound phrases are allowed. Usually N N is whole part, and I suppose this compound could be read that way, too—the wind’s spirits. Or maybe it is only whole part when the part is obviously a part.

Liyeza naka, liyenen yiri buros nara.

liyeza
liye=za
1SG=PATH
naka
na=ka
3PLra=TOUCH
liyenen
liye=nen
1SG=COM
yiri
yiri
dry.wash
buros
buru=s
mouth=LOC
nara
na=ra
3PLra=GO
They grasp me and take me to the mouth of a dry wash.

The motion particle =ka is used with =za to convey physical possession or ownership. This is an extension of its use here, as a way to convey grasping something.

Also note that =za, =nen, and =s glom onto full pronouns only, while =nda, =du, and =ya glom onto pronominal particles.

Koyo erenaya yiri erenanen yereme.

koyo
koyo
this
erenaya
erena=ya
spirits=CAUS
yiri
yiri
dry.wash
erenanen
erena=nen
spirits=COM
yereme
yere=me
game=IN
These spirits play with the dry wash spirits.

Erenaya keruvelime.

erenaya
erena=ya
spirits=CAUS
keruvelime
keruveli=me
dust.devil=IN
The dry wash spirits create dust devils.

Naya ŋarunos ŋono pezes ebeno, naya ŋarunos yozos tileya ŋarahidu hape aŋaka.

naya
na=ya
3PLra=CAUS
ŋarunos
ŋa=runu=s
2PL=eye=LOC
ŋono
ŋono
much
pezes
pezi=s
away=LOC
ebeno
ebe=no
pool=COME
naya
na=ya
3PLra=CAUS
ŋarunos
ŋa=runu=s
2PL=eyes=LOC
yozos
yozo=s
there=LOC
tileya
tileya
before
ŋarahidu
ŋa=ra=hi=du
2PL=GO=POT=GOAL
hape
ha=pe
3SGin=FAIL
aŋaka.
aŋaka
and.then
They make a distant pool of water appear to you and then before you can go there they make it fail to appear.

Can you think of a better way to explain mirages?

The South Wind and the Sun 2

The rest of the sentences from the South Wind and the Sun…

Lohoya kehimena, saselevena.

lohoya
loho=ya
sun=CAUS
kehimena
kehi=me=na
task=IN=START
saselevena
sa=sele=vi=na
3SGra=light=OUT=START
The sun started the task, they started to emit light.

Light is a body part of the sun, at least in this case.

Sama ŋono seleve, sama ŋono kalave, mede banas dahidahi keneŋiyi baŋibaŋi.

sama
sama
3SGra
ŋono
ŋono
more
seleve
sele=vi
light=OUT
sama
sama
3SGra
ŋono
ŋono
more
kalave
kala=vi
heat=OUT
mede
mede
tree
banas
bana=s
foot=LOC
dahidahi
dahidahi
lying.down
keneŋiyi
kene=ŋi=yi
woman=MOVE=CONT
baŋibaŋi
baŋibaŋi
unexpectedly
They emitted more light, they emitted more heat, and still the woman was lying down under the tree.

Light and heat are body parts of the sun here, and modified by an adjective. The adjective comes between the possessor and the body part. The final clause has =yi for a continuing situation and baŋibaŋi to express that this situation is contrary to expectation.

Lohoya kehimeto, elekenda ureya kehimena aŋaka, saderelevina.

lohoya
loho=ya
sun=CAUS
kehimeto
kehi=me=to
task=IN=STOP
elekenda
eleke=nda
south=SRC
ureya
uri=ya
wind=CAUS
kehimena
kehi=me=na
task=IN=START
aŋaka
aŋaka
and.then
saderelevina
sa=derele=vi=na
3SGra=breath=OUT=START
The sun stopped, and the south wind started, they started to emit breath (blow).

Breath is a partially reduplicated noun, but the unreduplicated noun is not in the current lexicon. It is cognate with Kēlen rēl ‘breath’.

Saya elekenda sakanda mede sonos oloŋira, pezes kalara.

saya
sa=ya
3SGra=CAUS
elekenda
eleke=nda
south=SRC
sakanda
saka=nda
mountain=SRC
mede
mede
tree
sonos
sono=s
head=LOC
oloŋira
oloŋi=ra
cloud=GO
pezes
pezi=s
away=LOC
kalara
kala=ra
heat=GO
He made clouds go from the southern mountains to over the tree, and made the heat go away.

Lamana layisena, lamana tene selese, zeseyelo.

lamana
lamana
hidden
layisena
layi=se=na
sky=STAY=START
lamana
lamana
hidden
tene
tene
all
selese
sele=se
light=STAY
zeseyelo
zeseye=lo
darkness=UP
The sky started to be hidden, all the light was hidden, and the darkness increased.

Earlier there was a conjunction aŋaka glossed as “and then”. It is generally only used for emphasis. Sequence of clauses is usually assumed. The motion particle=lo UP is used here to convey an increase in an entity made of water, air, light, or sound. =ta DOWN can be used to convey a decrease.

Ŋono zeye layisenahiza kenes delino.

ŋono
ŋono
more
zeye
zeye
dark
layisenahiza
layi=se=na=hi=za
sky=STAY=START=POT=PATH
kenes
kene=s
woman=LOC
delino
deli=no
idea=COME
The woman thought that the sky would start to become darker.

An idea came to the woman, and =za marks the idea: ŋono zeye layisenahi or more dark the sky potentially starts to be.

Mede bananda pezes kenera, maras sara.

mede
mede
tree
bananda
bana=nda
foot=SRC
pezes
pezi=s
away=LOC
kenera
kene=ra
woman=GO
maras
mara=s
home=LOC
sara
sa=ra
3SGra=GO
The woman went away from under the tree and went home.

Nenenda ŋono takaka elekenda uriŋe kodu.

nenenda
nene=nda
pair=SRC
ŋono
ŋono
more
takaka
takaka
strong
elekenda
eleke=nda
south=SRC
uriŋe
uri=ŋi
wind=MOVE
kodu
kodu
so
And so the south wind is the stronger of the pair.

Next week I start a longer story in four parts…

The South Wind and the Sun 1

Text: Elekenda Uri, Loho

Text and Translation

Elekenda ureya lohoya nenenda ŋono takaka ŋeŋeza keŋikeŋime. Narunos mede banas dahidahi ŋeŋi keneno. Ŋeya mede bananda pezes keneradu kehimehi, ŋono takaka saŋihe. Lohoya kehimena, saselevena. Sama ŋono seleve, sama ŋono kalave, mede banas dahidahi keneŋiyi baŋibaŋi. Lohoya kehimeto, elekenda ureya kehimena aŋaka, saderelevina. Saya elekenda sakanda mede sonos oloŋira, pezes kalara. Lamana layisena, tene lamana selese, zeseyelo. Ŋono zeye layisenahiza kenes delino. Mede bananda pezes kenera, maras sara. Nenenda ŋono takaka elekenda uriŋe kodu.

The south wind and the sun were discussing who of the pair was stronger. They saw a woman lying down under a tree. Whoever made the woman move away from under the tree, they would be the stronger. The sun started the task, they started to emit light. They emitted more light, they emitted more heat, and still the woman was lying down under the tree. The sun stopped, and the south wind started, they started to emit breath (blow). He made clouds go from the southern mountains to over the tree, and made the heat go away. The sky started to be hidden, all the light was hidden, and the darkness increased. The woman thought that the sky would start to become darker. The woman went away from under the tree and went home. And so the south wind is the stronger of the pair.

Interlinear and Explanation

Elekenda ureya lohoya nenenda ŋono takaka ŋeŋeza keŋikeŋime.

elekenda
eleke=nda
south=SRC
ureya
uri=ya
wind=CAUS
lohoya
loho=ya
sun=CAUS
nenenda
nene=nda
pair=SRC
ŋono
ŋono
more
takaka
takaka
strong
ŋeŋeza
ŋe=ŋi=za
ANsg=MOVE=PATH
keŋikeŋime
keŋikeŋi=me
inquiry=IN
The south wind and the sun were discussing who of the pair was stronger.

All the conjunctions I have mentioned so far have been clausal conjunctions. Here is an example of phrasal conjuction by simple juxtaposition and the repeating of the rational agent particle =ya. They are both agents creating (use of =me IN) an inquiry (or argument or discussion or any sort of talking with one another to come to a conclusion about a question or situation). The topic of the inquiry is marked with=za and includes all of nenenda ŋono takaka ŋeŋi or of the pair, more strong, who is.

Narunos mede banas dahidahi ŋeŋi keneno.

narunos
na=runu=s
3PLra=eye=LOC
mede
mede
tree
banas
bana=s
foot=LOC
dahidahi
dahidahi
lying.down
ŋeŋi
ŋe=ŋi
ANsg=MOVE
keneno
kene=no
woman=COME
They saw a woman lying down under a tree.

Here is an example of runu in the singular despite having a plural possessor. This is very common, especially when the plural possessors are sensing at the same time. What is sensed is the subject of the motion particle =no COME, a woman, along with the relative clause describing her, one who is lying down.

In mede bana is an example of a body part being used for a non-animate entity. Here bana is essentially the bottom of something. Likewise sono ‘head’ is the top of something.

Ŋeya mede bananda pezes keneradu kehimehi, ŋono takaka saŋihe.

ŋeya
ŋe=ya
ANsg=CAUS
mede
mede
tree
bananda
bana=nda
foot=SRC
pezes
pezi=s
away=LOC
keneradu
kene=ra=du
woman=GO=GOAL
kehimehi
kehi=me=hi
task=IN=POT
ŋono
ŋono
more
takaka
takaka
strong
saŋihe
sa=ŋi=hi
3SGra=MOVE=POT
Whoever made the woman move away from under the tree, they would be the stronger.

Here we have two clauses, both suffixed with the potential =hi. This is a common way to convey a hypothetical situation and consequence. The first clause also has an indefinite agent ŋe making the task.

More sentences coming!

Runulodu Yere 3

Continuing from previously, the last batch of sentences in Runulodu Yere.

Tabuninda indaya rinive, samas rinirinive.

Tabuninda
Tabuni=nda
Cottontail=SRC
indaya
inda=ya
children=CAUS
rinive
rini=vi
laughter=OUT
samas
sama=s
3SGra=LOC
rinirinive
rinirini=vi
mockery=OUT
Cottontail’s children laughed, they mocked him.

Here are two uses of =vi OUT. The first was seen before, an emitting of noise, in this case laughter. The second, with an attained destination is used to convey covering the destination with a substance (the subject). This usage is then applied metaphorically to mockery. It is also used for cursing and blessing.

Nurunen Peyaŋina, naŋakadu dimidimi sarana.

nurunen
nuru=nen
anger=COM
Peyaŋina
Peya=ŋi=na
Coyote=MOVE=START
naŋakadu
na=ŋaka=du
3PLra=back=PATH
dimidimi
dimidimi
with.force
sarana
sa=ra=na
3SGra=GO=START
Coyote started to move with anger, he started to chase after them.

A basic usage of =du: the goal or not yet attained destination.

Nadu sapenda pezes sara.

nadu
na=du
3PLra=GOAL
sapenda
sa=pe=nda
3SGra=FAIL=SRC
pezes
pezi=s
away=LOC
sara
sa=ra
3SGra=GO
Since he failed to get them, he left.

This is one clause, with an embedded clause marked with =nda. Here =pe is probably negating =ra GO or even =ka TOUCH.

Saya ŋuyanda sama talile duruno hame.

saya
sa=ya
3SGra=CAUS
ŋuyanda
ŋuya=nda
sap=SRC
sama
sama
3SGra
talile
talili
new
duruno
durunu
eye+DU
hame
ha=me
3SGin=IN
He made new eyes out of sap.

The main verb is =me IN, used to convey making the subject, or rather the coming into being of the subject. The subject is his two new eyes. Note that the adjective comes between the possessor and the body part. The thing the subject is made out of or made from is marked with =nda as the source.

The word ŋuya is borrowed from Dirk.

Alas ŋuyago Peya durunuseye kodu.

alas
ala=s
now=LOC
ŋuyago
ŋuyago
like.sap
Peya
Peya
Coyote
durunuseye
durunu=se=yi
eye.DU=STAY=CONT
kodu
kodu
so
And so Coyote’s eyes are like sap (yellowish) now.

And the end of the story continues into the present. The conjunction kodu is ko= (like in koyo, earlier) and =du: ‘for this’.

Next text is the South Wind and the Sun

Runulodu Yere 2

Continuing from previously, the next batch of sentences in Runulodu Yere.

Peyas koyo yeredo kuŋino.

Peyas
Peya=s
Coyote=LOC
koyo
koyo
this
yeredo
yere=du
game=GOAL
kuŋino
kuŋi=no
desire=COME
Coyote desired to play this game.

In addition to sensory experience, COME is also used for certain mental and emotional experiences as well, such as kuŋi ‘desire’. The intention of the desire is marked with =du.

Zeye luvunen sadurunuse.

zeye
zeye
dark
luvunen
luvu=nen
shine=COM
sadurunuse
sa=durunu=se
3SGra=eye.DU=STAY
His eyes were dark and shiny.

Shiny is composed of the noun luvu ‘reflected light’ and the comitative =nen. And, here is a dual of ‘eye’, for emphasis.

Sakemeya sataronda sadurunora, udures halo.

sakemeya
sa=keme=ya
3SGra=finger=CAUS
sataronda
sa=taru=nda
3SGra=face=SRC
sadurunora
sa=durunu=ra
3SGra=eye.DU=GO
udures
uduri=s
air=LOC
halo
ha=lo
3SGin=UP
He took his two eyes from his face with his fingers and tossed them up into the air.

This is the equivalent of the first two clauses of sentence #9, but with a singular rather than a plural possessor throughout. Also, dual items take singular reference on the verb, hence ha= to refer to the pair of eyes rather than e=.

Sekotas hatato.

sekotas
sekota=s
sekota=LOC
hatato
ha=ta=to
3SGin=DOWN=STOP
They stopped on a sekota tree.

Saya ranarana sekoteŋe, sadurunu atada hape baŋibaŋi.

saya
sa=ya
3SGra=CAUS
ranarana
ranarana
shaking
sekoteŋe
sekota=ŋi
sekota=MOVE
sadurunu
sa=durunu
3SGra=eye.DU
atada
atada
downwards
hape
ha=pe
3SGin=FAIL
baŋibaŋi
baŋibaŋi
unexpected
He shook the sekota tree, but his eyes did not come down.

An example of vowel decay in the verb of the first clause, a more literal translation of which is ‘he made the sekota tree be shaking’. And another example of =pe FAIL as the negative of =ta this time. Since that information is lost, the directional adverb atada is used. The equivalent for =lo is oloyo.

The word sekota is borrowed from Dirk.