Re: Fabian's translation exercise

Fabian <rhialto@...> wrote:

> Father, what are those lights?
>=20
> That is the city of the Goyanim. They are a strange people. They light =
their
> cities at night, as if the stars weren't sufficient for their needs. Th=
ey
> fight and kill eachother, not realising the greater danger beyond their
> small world. And they do not hunt eachother with bows and arrows. No, t=
hey
> have strange devices that kill from far away without arrows. And take c=
are
> near their strange iron horses they use to travel. They travel faster t=
han
> any natural beast ought to, and ignore the strength of the bow and arro=
w.
> Best if you avoid their cities, my son.
>=20
> Father, whats a city?
In Drasel=E9q:

----------------------------------------------------
Uli, qeik donth h=E0f qenth?

Onq=E1i Goi=E1nhadhes arsom. Ausef i b=FCrth pios.
Lu=E0m=FCr endinek b=FCn arsmonth, br=F9n anth, br=F9n
imaldnien b=FCn pongarth fraramumek d=EDniashadh.
B=E1itakarek taus thr=FAmbotek b=FCrth, fratentiarsel
b=FCrth qlonval smasin dhit b=FCn =F3lmon=FCr t=E0qlonval
fr=E0n. Th=E4n haiks=E1uth na vel b=FCrthadh fras=E4ner,
tadh. I =E1useftel nomath ladhek, nef ars=E8n frith=20
staud=EDkst thrumek b=FCtth. Mi nafik ars=E8n maqek
=E1useftel br=E8famp sr=F9kthn en b=FCtth oumb=E9motek.
Soldrel p=F2 s=E4'nerek th=FC`gth, t=E0soldrel oumb=E9motsel
s=E4nek b=FCrth, mi farnualek haiks=E1utonges konans.
Franavrrover nafik b=FCn arsmonth, burs a san teus.

Uli, qes arsom qenth?
----------------------------------------------------


Interlinear:

OBJ =3D objective form of a verb, "in order to"
REL =3D relative pronoun
GRP =3D group plural
MV  =3D middle voice
SUBJ=3D subjunctive

----------------------------------------------------

Uli,   qeik donth h=E0f    qenth?
father are  those lights what?

_uli_ is a short-form vocative of _uldid_ "father"
The verb _qeik_ is in actual present tense.


Onq=E1i  Goi=E1nhadhes   arsom. =C1usef      i b=FCrth pios.
that's Goyan.GRP.GEN city   strange.3s * they  people

_onq=E1i_ is a compound verb of _onth_ (distal reference)
plus _qai_, 3s actual present of _qesten_ "to be".

* is the multifunctional particle _i_, here as a kind
of genitive.


Lu=E0m=FCr   endinek  b=FCn   arsmonth,  br=F9n anth, br=F9n
in-night light.3s their cities.ACC how  this  how

_br=F9n ... br=F9n_ "how ... how" means "in such a way
that" and also "as if".


imaldnien b=FCn   pongarth fraramumek    d=EDniashadh.
fill.OBJ  their lacks    NEG.enough.3s stars.GRP

B=E1itakarek taus thr=FAmbotek b=FCrth, fratentiarsel
argue.3p   and  kill.MV.3p they   NEG.realising


b=FCrth qlonval smasin dhit  b=FCn   =F3lmon=FCr   t=E0qlonval
they  great   beyond small their world.LOC AUG.great

Note the comparative structure: first the adjective in
normal form _qlonval_ "great", then the augmentative.


fr=E0n.  Th=E4n haiks=E1uth na vel   b=FCrthadh fras=E4ner,
danger with bows      to among they.GRP NEG.go.2p

Lit: "with bows (to) among them go" =3D=20
=3D "go hunting them with bows" (or "go for them")


tadh.   I =E1useftel nomath  ladhek, nef ars=E8n   frith
however * strange  gadgets have.3p far staying without

staud=EDkst thrumek b=FCtth.   Mi  nafik ars=E8n   maqek
arrows    kill.3p they.REL and near  staying protect.3p

=E1useftel br=E8famp   sr=F9kthn    en b=FCtth    oumb=E9motek.
strange  iron-made horses.ACC by they.REL transport.MV.3p

Soldrel p=F2 s=E4'nerek   th=FC`gth, t=E0soldrel oumb=E9motsel
fast    so go.SUBJ.3p animals  AUG.fast  transported.MV

Lit: "fast as animals may go, they go (being transported) faster"
There's no real way to translate "ought to" in Drasel=E9q.


s=E4nek b=FCrth, mi  farnualek haiks=E1utonges konans.
go.3p they   and ignore.3p bow.GEN       strength.ACC

_haiks=E1utonges_ actually has _haiks=E1ut_ "hunting bow"
plus a group/equipment suffix -ong (plus the GEN -es).


Franavrrover nafik  b=FCn   arsmonth,  burs   a  san teus.
NEG.near.2s  around their cities.ACC say.1s oh my  son

Lit: "You don't go near their cities I tell you, son."

Uli,   qes arsom qenth?
father is  city  what?

----------------------------------------------------

This one was tough. No new roots, though.


--Pablo Flores

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