Re: TRANS: flutes in PIE

On Wed, 2 Feb 2000, Matt Pearson wrote:

I think the latter might be the case. I took it mean don't judge a
book by it's cover. In other words, just because someone presents
himself as being able to do something doesn't neccesarily mean that
he can actually do that thing.

Padraic.

>However, I'm a bit unclear on the meaning.  If the proverb is
>supposed to be about identity (as opposed to ability), then a better
>translation might be:
>
>   Tun na         yite           paimo          hotia           athpaka paia
>   not the.ERG every(one) pipe-COMIT is-NEG-DEP player   pipe-INST
>   "Not all (those) with pipes are players (of) pipes"
>
>The first translation connotes:  "Merely possessing pipes is no guarantee
>that you'll be able to play them."  The second one connotes:  "Merely
>possessing pipes is no guarantee that you'll have the right to call yourself
>a piper."
>
>Matt.
>