Re: A Charyan Brothel Song in Teonaht

Sally Caves <scaves@...> wrote:
>=20
> Traltan!  (Greetings!)
Hi, Issytra.

>=20
> I regret to put before you tired ones another conlang
> translation challenge, but there it is, as Sally would say.
>=20
Yes, Sally's always giving us homework to do. :)

Well, this is the second time I write this message
(I lost the first version just an hour ago -- there
was a blackout!) so I won't say anything else. Here
is the Drasel=E9q text:


VAIDH
fingers

Vaidh,  famp a  dorth=E4ts vaidh,
fingers now  oh drunken  fingers

        _dorth_ "alcohol, fermented drink"


drasin  san tursnes       pases    sl=E0m
through my  loved_one.GEN skin.GEN garden

        _sl=E0m_ "garden" or "tree park"


tr=E9satir   san vaidhadh!
walk.2pFUT my  fingers.GRP

Kiant=E8n s=E4n a  san vaidhadh,
parting go  oh my  fingers.GRP

        Here _s=E4n a_ is "go!" (imperative)


ki=E1natir   san tursnes       pas=FCr    hiln!
part.2pFUT my  loved_one.GEN skin.LOC grass.ACC

San vaidh   p=F2 rin  turas=20
my  fingers so with loving_feelings

D=F3rth=E4tsil h=FCrramik,
drunkenly  tremble.3pACT

fnana    p=F2 s=E4nik    entrestel
downward so go.3pACT combing

        _en-tresten_ (causative) + "walk" =3D
        =3D "make to walk, mark a specific path"


gian dhuabadh  i   kasal i   imb=E4nonth
your hairwaves PRT wheat PRT farms.ACC

        Genitive/compositive _i_:
        "the farms of wheat of your hairlocks"


Gian =ECres      dhit   m=E9rianth=FCr  n=E9mevik
your smile.GEN little valleys.LOC dance.3pACT

Rin  dandas na tamal gian v=E1rsmalkadh
with height to white your shoulders.GRP

        _dandas_ "moral height, noble feelings"


fna  s=E4nik    mi  th=E4sil     mevik
down go.3pACT and pleasantly grasp.3pACT

dhrithk urthalthes rirm   t=F2thn
firm    hills.GEN  smooth weight.ACC

        _dhrithk_ "firm, solid, consistent"
        (same root as _dhrith_ "earth, dry land")
        _urth=E1l_ "hill" is a Pantato borrowing.


Lif  na giad i   tur  ratsot     san pos=F3v,
from to you  PRT love rise.MV.3s my  column

        Ok, not much room left for imagination...


tadh famp i   vaidh,  m=FCl  on  vaidh,
but  now  PRT fingers only all fingers

sonheql=FCr suek gian dhidmer adarsel,
belly.LOC over your navel   wandering

        _dhid-mer_ lit. "little mouth"
        (biologically quite correct!)
        _ad-arsel_ "un-staying, wandering"


k=F3thandel tokumerg   kinklival.
feeling   stick.COMP stammering

        You dirty-minded! A "feeling stick" is a
        wooden stick used to test the firmness of
        ground in swampy areas and such.=20
        (The Dr=E1selhadh don't use divining rods.)

        _kinklival_ =3D qin- "continuous, time after
        time" > kin- + _klival_ "beginning" =3D
        =3D "beginning time after time, never going
        past the beginning"


Aqrim    na melps  mien  dunsadhdel,
suddenly to hidden water searching

        _na X dunsadhden_ "search for X, making a
        mess of the place if necessary, until you
        find it"


famp enfoltots,   nolmar   s=E4nel,
now  submerged.MV (to)home going

        _nolmar_ =3D _na olmar_ "to home"


lif  b=FCn mi=E9nedanth dhenrrarsel grais!
from its streams    growing     mountain

        _dhenrrarsel_ "growing, upsurging; moving
        and shaking upwards". Used for water sources
        and growing plants.


Tenf=E1dh  a! Gian aov=FCr,   a  rin  tiull,
RFX.open oh your well.LOC oh with lust

        _tenf=E1dh a!_ "open yourself!" (let yourself get=20
        into the mood). The root FADH means "open", "trust",
        and "accept".
        _a=F3v_ "well, deep hole"
        _tiull_ "erotic feelings" (not pejorative)


b=FC'navir   thasant,      tenf=E1dh  a  k=E8m!
feel.2sFUT waterfall.ACC RFX.open oh woman

        _thasat_ "waterfall, cascade" is used metaphorically
        for very strong sensations.


I hope I've preserved some of the spirit of the song...
Such intimate stuff is very difficult to translate.


--Pablo Flores