Re: TRANS: flutes in PIE
From: | Matt Pearson <jmpearson@...> |
Date: | Wednesday, February 2, 2000, 22:05 |
raccoon wrote:
>> Here's another example of Aredos (I'm sure Padraic will provide us with
>> another example of Tallarian if we ask nicely. What does Tallarian mean,
>> BTW?). This is one of many Aredos proverbs:
>> ne ommis cuí caenans habent, caenatores senti "Not all who have flutes are
>> flautists".
In Tokana:
Tun na yite paimo athpamota
paia
not the.ERG every(one) pipe-COMIT make.music-cannot-DEP pipe-INST
"Not all (those) with pipes can make music with pipes"
That seems the most natural way to translate it. 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.