Re: Fadawana si Buruda

Joseph Fatula wrote:
>     I'm working on a translation of some of Aesop's Fables.  Here's the
> start of one that some of you might find interesting.  It's actually
> taking a rather circuitous route, as I'm starting with a Spanish
> translation (of what are originally Greek fables), translating them into
> my language, then back out into English for you to read.
>
>     Any feedback on the grammar, syntax, feel of the language overall
> would be very appreciated.  When pronouncing words, all the spellings
> should be quite straightforward.  "ng" represents a velar nasal.  "r" is
> an alveolar tap.  Stress tends to be on the last syllable, especially in
> longer words, and the stress generally is raised in pitch as well.  I'm
> aiming for something a bit unusual...
The actual sound of the language doesn't seem all that unusual, although
from the look of it I would have guessed stress on the next-to-last
syllable. Certainly some of the morphological changes are unusual (e.g.
miyafa < tinta-[infinitive]-ka-[patient])!

Aesop's fables could make good translation exercises; I've done a couple
of them (The North Wind and the Sun in Olaetian, The Fox and the Grapes
in Jaghri). Here's a link to a Greek version if anyone wants to try a
more direct translation. (It's all Greek to me, so I'll try one of the
English versions.)

http://mythfolklore.net/aesopica/chambry/254.htm

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