Relay: 3. Eloshtan to Tokana

---------------------- Forwarded by Paul Bennett/Townsend/XNCorp on 12/10/99
09:59 AM ---------------------------


Matt Pearson <jmpearson@...> on 11/18/99 05:08:42 PM

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To:   Multiple recipients of list CONLANG <CONLANG@...>
cc:    (bcc: Paul Bennett/Townsend/XNCorp)

Subject:  Relay:  Eloshtan to Tokana




HERE'S WHAT I GOT FROM JOSH ROTH:

Pactet tec Slinyek ciik

Keze haufas cuu rive vill regipcectetcenuus.
Keze haufas cuu heleski vill tsenteritcenuus.
Keze haufaglas cuu watrol'llo sall tes nala rogapcoctotcon cuu.
Emlleriniisk, pec Pactet tec hafamnak klallk emlleriniisk lluuk!

Keze maufas cuu vatormommolto vill tes vatco tsenteritcenaarr.
Keze maufas cuu vi mosanto cuamzulluuc tes ragotcok joorrk hamnactotcon rruuk.
Keze maufas cuu tes hrelepce tell kuvru kuskal sarr tes tcere
antalactotconuuq.
Emlleriniisk, pec Pactet tec mafanyo klall emlleriniisk lluuk!


SMOOTH TRANSLATION OF THE ELOSHTAN:

Bastet's Proverbs

What you hear in the wind might make you healthy
What you hear in the stream might feed you
What you listen to through (by means of) a keyhole could sicken your soul
Give praise, give praise to Bastet's ears!

What you see in the forest might feed your family
What you see under your bed might scare your children (lit. The thing that
you see and is under your bed....)
What you see through your neighbor's little window could make your wife grow
cold
Give praise, give praise to Bastet's vision!


******

AND HERE'S HOW I RENDERED IT IN TOKANA:

        Ten Tokitsinna Pastet

        Itan maha olat suhoi uthma tsampatin
        Itan maha olat sihe uthma pamihati
        Itan maha teulat senina temouta soune
        Ifone, ifoneh nuliena Pastet!

        Itan maha hielat lokai kulah emok
        Itan maha hielat lomai tsol tehathuas pyi
        Itan maha skonat itan kihuiloiana nentsulhon
                lohka kaisuntoin sol
        Ifone, ifoneh iniena Pastet!


SMOOTH TRANSLATION OF THE TOKANA:

        The Proverbs of Bastet

        What (one) hears in the wind gives health
        What (one) hears in the stream gives nourishment
        What (one) listens to through the screen sickens the heart
        Praise, praise the ears of Bastet!

        What (one) sees in the woods feeds the household
        What (one) sees under the bed frightens the children
        What (one) looks at through the neighbour's little window
                makes one's spouse cold-and-distant
        Praise, praise the eyes of Bastet!


Note that "through the screen" is an idiom denoting privacy, so "listen
through the screen" means "eavesdrop".  The reference is to the fact
that Tokana houses consist of one big room; at night, special screens are
hung from the rafters to separate the room into private sleeping quarters.
So anything done in private is referred to as happening "behind the
screen".

Matt.




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