CHAT: Escatological text

Here's a short text I wanted to share with you
simply because I laughed a lot when reading it --
it's a popular story in my part of the country,
as recorded by a field researcher. It may also be
an easy translation exercise, though the topic is
somewhat... hm... well, you read it.

It's in Spanish, so I'll translate line by line,
in two fashions.


Por qu=E9 los perros se huelen el trasero
        "Why dogs smell their butts"

Dicen que los perros antes se pod=EDan sacar el trasero.
Y cuando iban a un baile se sacaban el trasero y lo
dejaban en la puerta.
        "They say that dogs used to be able to take off
        their butts. And when they went to a dance, they
        took off their butts and left it at the door."


Resulta que una vuelta se hizo un baile de perros.
Los perros llegaban al baile, se sacaban el trasero y
lo dejaban a la entrada.
        "It happened one time that a dog dance was organized.
        The dogs would arrive at the dance, take off their
        butts and leave them at the entrance."

Resulta que se arm=F3 un l=EDo en el baile. Se arm=F3 un
desparramo y los perros tuvieron que salir corriendo.
Y en la corrida cada perro agarr=F3 el primer trasero que
encontr=F3.
        "It turns out that a mess happened at the dance.
        A terrible mess happened, and the dogs had to run
        away. And on the run, each dog took the first butt
        it found."

Por eso ning=FAn perro se qued=F3 con su propio trasero.
Todos tienen trasero ajeno.
        "That's why no dog stayed with its own butt.
        They all have another one's butt."

Por eso hasta el d=EDa de la fecha, cuando dos perros
se encuentran, se huelen el trasero. Es para ver si
alguno tiene el que era de =E9l y que perdiera en esa
corrida.
        "That's why up to this day, when two dogs meet,
        they smell their butts. That's to see if anyone
        of them has the one which used to be their own,
        the one they lost at that run."



Por qu=E9 los perros se  huelen el  trasero
why     the dogs   REC smell  the butt

Dicen  que  los perros antes  se pod=EDan  sacar  el  trasero.
say.3p that the dogs   before MV can.3pP remove the butt

Y   cuando iban   a  un baile se sacaban    el  trasero y   lo
and when   go.3pP to a  dance MV remove.3pP the butt    and it.ACC

dejaban   en la  puerta.
leave.3pP at the door

Resulta      que  una vuelta se hizo   un baile de perros.
it_turns_out that one time   MV do.3sP a  dance of dogs

Los perros llegaban   al     baile, se sacaban    el  trasero y
the dogs   arrive.3pP to_the dance  MV remove.3pP the butt    and

lo     dejaban   a  la  entrada.
it.ACC leave.3pP to the entrance

Resulta      que  se arm=F3     un l=EDo  en el  baile.
it_turns_out that MV form.3sP a  mess at the dance

Se arm=F3     un desparramo y   los perros=20
MV form.3sP a  dispersion and the dogs

tuvieron que salir   corriendo.
have_to.3pP  get_out running

Y   en la  corrida cada perro agarr=F3=20
and in the run     each dog   grab.3sP=20

el  primer trasero que  encontr=F3.
the first  butt    that find.3sP

Por    eso  ning=FAn perro se qued=F3    con  su  propio trasero.
due_to that no     dog   ** stay.3sP with its own    butt

Todos    tienen  trasero ajeno.
they_all have.3p butt    not_own

Por    eso  hasta el  d=EDa de la  fecha, cuando dos perros
due_to that until the day of the date   when   two dogs

se  encuentran, se  huelen el  trasero.=20
REC meet.3p     REC smell  the butt

Es    para ver si alguno tiene   el       que  era    de =E9l
be.3s to   see if anyone have.3s the(one) that be.3sP of he

y   que  perdiera en esa  corrida.
and that lose.3sP in that run



I bet you had never heard that explanation, huh? :)


--Pablo Flores