Tatari Faran: the Legend of the Kutakaranim


Introduction

This children's tale about volcanoes, lava monsters, and giant mushrooms is a typical Tatari Faran legend that incorporates recurring themes in the oral tradition of the san faran. It contains the obligatory reference to the Quests of Teke­kuha­kira­kisan, a well-known collection of stories about the legendary ancestor of the san faran.

This tale is presented as follows. In the first section we provide the romanization of the original Tatari Faran text, followed by an interlinear in the second section. Finally, a smooth English translation of the tale is given in the last section.

Tatari Faran Text

maharan kutakaraniman.

fipe'an ma'asanan iti kibas diru jiras sei ham, minein sei kumbi ai. tara' sei airis nueri, sijini dam. asuen tara'an sa tapa nara keisa fifin nei bata, arap utu buneis sei ikat, paka sa tapa be umai mubun titiran eke beibata. amaa kei hena tsana kumbi nei e, asuen na mahinai huu kei kiki, simatsite' era dunan. tapa tsat bata, tsuni utu tara' na ira, e'aniin.

kumbi sei hena tapa ha keisa fifin nei, hena sei upitai marai nei dakat. kikia' titiran sei fafa upa' upau heinei, kikitsit tara' nei tsam. tara' kei antai sahu nei pika ara, saipam marai erui itan, hena sei upitai tun hiranas no dakat. tara' sei ues kana ihia, hena sei berana diti ham. tara' kei juerat anui tun dusa, henan dei hamra keisa fifin kei pata' titiran akun, hena kei tsana sahu nei e, huu kei kibas beman kibeiri sei beiham, tapa beman keisa nei beibata. sii so habat ta? aniin.

kibeiri iti parama ahi kara, tara' sei hena paritam utu'. heparat so turai kurat ko anan, kokaro'a atsam. kumbi nei kukai aha', hena sei saba anan, sipamra buja tunis ipi itan. diti akun dutan tara' nei apai sa inin. san ka bafa tara' nei e, sita' tse! huu sa upi ipai, eraa. tara' sei uine san na, henan dei hamra asuen ka hora ifi aram. hena kei dana e, asuen tse! sii so tse ka pai kukas mei ipai kakai? tapa kana buta' nei bata! aniin.

tara' ka tsana e, sita' tse! tapa tsat upau kana, kutakaranim so upitai dakat! aniin. tara' kei hena tsuta tara' na aibai, sitsana e, kutakaranim so kibas be! tsana be kakari so! aniin. asuen ka araf umai e, sita' tse! tapa tsat! fei so tse akun ai! eraa.

tara' sei uine akun, hena kei isi bafa ihai sei daa, isi nei hamra da'ue kuta' kero' ka. fei sa ekas parat ka akan, parat ka ena karo'a atsam. fei ka hamra pikutsa' basa-baasa sa aram, fei sa himas ei puru samat di'as na tutu. fei kisi tsuni kutsi mamaan ni'as sa ira, jam feis ka hamra ei saipia' daharan sa aram. tanta sa tafa irei buja feis ko hiu.

kumbi kei bafa e, matsai! kamat huu sei! aniin, hena sei pamra asuen na hora na itan. tara' sei asuen sa ei bama hora imi juju', kutakaranim so ati kuritas parat horan iri pini. paraf so tafa diin no dafan. kumbi kei tsana e, asuen tse! faan so matsite' upi ipai dunan! e'aniin. asuen ka paka tsana e, bai! fei so akitai anui, kinap era faan so. aniin. tara' kei hena tsana beman bahai so bei'aniin, kisuran jihe atan.

diin so berana pein duru eke nisue, mubun hena murimuun. diin no hamra epan sinasu kei hora ifi aram, fei sei ena karo'a parat ka atsam. kumbi kei buaha asuen na e, huu nei kukas aha', kura ei kuru. faan so matsite' dunan! e'atan. asuen ka tsana e, mahinai be, jat kutakaranim so akitai kana anui. ka'am buneis misei, tapa hena faan so upa', e'aniin. hena ka kira sita' nei buneis basa-baasa sei esan. tara' nei aha'ai beitata, kitsana e, sii ipai buneis baasa mei atai sei tsuni? aniin. asuen ka tsana e, jat kairatuhan teke'an i'i tsuni buneis basa-baasa sei kapi iri ira, kapi ipai ena kibas kutakaranim sa ham. aniin. diin no hena ka'am buneis sei tsa, hena so suhitai airan, hena so pamra hora ko fara erui mubun eke buta' nei asu.

Interlinear

Legend

Orthography

Morpheme breakdown
IPA pronunciation
Gloss

English translation

maharan kutakaraniman.

maharan
maˈhaɾan
story
kutakaranim-an.
kuˈtakaɾaniman
Kutakaranim-GEN

The Legend of the Kutakaranim.

fipe'an ma'asanan iti kibas diru jiras sei ham,

fipe'an
ˈfipɛʔan
season
ma'asan-an
maˈʔasanan
ancestors-GEN
iti
ʔiti
at
kibas
kibas
breathe
diru
ˈdiɾu
girl
jiras
ʣiɾasej
one
sei
 
CVY:F
ham,
ham
exhale(FIN)

Once upon a time, there lived a girl,

minein sei kumbi ai.

minein
miˈnejn
name
sei
sej
CVY:F
kumbi
ˈkumbi
Kumbi
ai.
ʔaj
FIN

her name was Kumbi.

tara' sei airis nueri, sijini dam.

tara'
ˈtaɾaʔ
3SG
sei
sɛj
CVY:F
airis
ajˈɾis
young.and.fresh
nueri,
nɯɾi
small(FIN)
si-jini
siˈʣini
CONJ.CVY:F-thin.and.tall
dam.
dam
graceful(FIN)

She was young and fresh, and thin and tall.

asuen tara'an sa tapa nara keisa fifin nei bata,

asuen
asɯn
younger.brother
tara'-an
ˈtaɾaʔan
3SG-GEN
sa
sa
CVY:M
tapa
taˈpa
walk
nara
naɾa
PAST
keisa
kejsa
field
fifi-n
ˈfiˈfinej
geyser-GEN
nei
 
RCP:F
bata,
bata
walk(FIN)

Her younger brother went to the geyser fields

arap utu buneis sei ikat,

arap
aˈɾap
pick
utu
utu
with.goal.of
buneis
buˈnejsej
mushroom
sei
 
CVY:F
ikat.
ʔikat
take(FIN)

to pick mushrooms,

paka sa tapa be umai mubun titiran eke beibata.

paka
paˈka
but
sa
sa
CVY:M
tapa
taˈpa
walk
be
not
umai
ʔumaj
returning(ADV)
mubun
mubun
night
titiran
tiˈtiɾan
many
eke
ɛkɛ
for
bei-bata.
ˈbejbata
NEG-walk(FIN)

but did not return for many nights.*

*for many nights has the sense of for the length of many long days.

amaa kei hena tsana kumbi nei e,

amaa
ˈaˈmaː
mother
kei
kej
ORG:F
hena
hɛna
and
tsana
ʦana
said
kumbi
ˈkumbi
Kumbi
nei
nej
RCP:F
e,
ʔɛ
QUOT

And Mother said to Kumbi:

asuen na mahinai huu kei kiki, simatsite' era dunan.

asuen
aˈsɯna
younger.brother
na
 
RCP:M
mahinai
maˈhinaj
worry
huu
huː
1SG
kei
kej
ORG:F
kiki,
kiki
agitated(FIN)
si-matsite'
simaˈʦitɛʔ
CONJ.CVY:F-perish
era
ɛɾa
maybe
dunan.
dunan
expire(FIN)

I'm worried about younger brother; he may have perished in some calamity.

tapa tsat bata, tsuni utu tara' na ira, e'aniin.

tapa
taˈpa
walk
tsat
ʦat
quick
bata,
bata
FIN
tsuni
ˈʦuni
seek
utu
ʔutu
for
tara'
ˈtaɾaʔ
3SG
na
na
RCP:M
ira,
ʔiɾa
FIN
e-aniin.
ʔɛʔaniːn
END.QUOT

Go quickly to search for him.

kumbi sei hena tapa ha keisa fifin nei, hena sei upitai marai nei dakat.

kumbi
ˈkumbi
Kumbi
sei
sej
CVY:F
hena
hɛna
then
tapa
taˈpa
walk
ha
ha
begin
keisa
kejsa
field
fifi-n
fiˈfinej
geyser-GEN
nei,
 
RCP:F
hena
hɛna
and
sei
sej
CVY:F
upitai
ʔuˌpitaj
come
marai
maˈɾaj
forest
nei
nɛj
RCP:F
dakat.
dakat
come(FIN)

Then Kumbi started her way towards the geyser fields and came to a forest.

kikia' titiran sei fafa upa' upau heinei, kikitsit tara' nei tsam.

kikia'
kiˌkjaʔ
black.fly
titiran
tiˈtiɾan
many
sei
sej
CVY:F
fafa
ˈfafa
fly
upa'
ʔupaʔ
hither
upau
upao
thither
heinei,
hejnej
airborne(FIN)
ki-kitsit
kikiˈʦit
CONJ.ORG:F-bite
tara'
taɾaʔ
3SG
nei
nej
RCP:F
tsam.
ʦam
bite(FIN)

Many black flies swarmed around and bit her.

tara' kei antai sahu nei pika ara,

tara'
ˈtaɾaʔ
3SG
kei
kej
ORG:F
antai
ʔantaj
defend
sahu
saˈhu
REFL
nei
nej
RCP:F
pika
ˈpika
hand
ara,
ʔaɾa
with

She defended herself with her hands

saipam marai erui itan,

s-aipam
ˌsajpam
CONJ.CVY-run
marai
maˈɾaj
forest
erui
ʔɛɾuj
through
itan,
ʔitan
stumbling(FIN)

and ran through the forest

hena sei upitai tun hiranas no dakat.

hena
hɛna
and
sei
sej
CVY:F
upitai
ʔuˌpitaj
come
tun
tun
flanks
hirana-s
ˈhiɾanas
volcano.mountain-PTV
no
RCP:N
dakat.
dakat
come(FIN)

and came to the flanks of a mountain.

tara' sei ues kana ihia,

tara'
ˈtaɾaʔ
3SG
sei
sej
CVY:F
ues
ˈɯs
tired
kana
kana
now
ihia,
ʔihja
out.of.breath(FIN)

She was now exhausted,

hena sei berana diti ham.

hena
hɛna
and
sei
sej
CVY:F
berana
ˈbeɾana
pause
diti
diti
little.while
ham.
ham
exhale(FIN)

and she paused for a little while.

tara' kei juerat anui tun dusa,

tara'
ˈtaɾaʔ
3SG
kei
kej
ORG:F
juerat
ʣɯˈɾat
look
anui
ʔanuj
upwards
tun
ˈtun
slope
dusa,
dusa
along

She looked up along the slope,

henan dei hamra keisa fifin kei pata' titiran akun,

hena
ˈhɛnandej
and
nei
 
RCP:F
hamra
ˈhamɾa
see
keisa
kejsa
field
fifi-n
ˈfifin
geyser-GEN
kei
kej
ORG:F
pata'
paˈtaʔ
step
titiran
tiʔtiɾan
many
akun,
ʔakun
behind

and saw the geyser fields a long way off,

hena kei tsana sahu nei e,

hena
ˈhɛna
and
kei
kej
ORG:F
tsana
ˈʦana
say
sahu
sahu
self
nei
nej
RCP:F
e,
ʔɛ
QUOT

and said to herself:

huu kei kibas beman kibeiri sei beiham,

huu
ˈhuː
1SG
kei
kej
ORG:F
kibas
ˈkibas
breathe
beman
bɛman
unable
kibeiri
kiˈbejɾi
breath
sei
sej
CVY:F
bei-ham
ˈbejham
NEG-breathe(FIN)

I'm out of breath,*

*This is an idiom for "I don't have the strength to ...".

tapa beman keisa nei beibata.

tapa
taˈpa
walk
beman
bɛman
not.able
keisa
ˈkejsa
field
nei
nej
RCP:F
bei-bata.
ˈbejbata
NEG-walk(FIN)

I cannot walk to the [geyser] fields.

sii so habat ta? aniin.

sii
ˌsiː
what
so
CVY:N
habat
ˈhabat
suitable(FIN)
ta?
ta
Q
aniin.
ʔaniːn
END.QUOT

What should I do?

kibeiri iti parama ahi kara,

kibeiri
kiˈbejɾj
breath
iti
ʔiti
at
parama
ˈpaɾama
earthquake
ahi
ʔahi
suddenly
kara,
kaɾa
shatter(FIN)

At that moment (in that breath), suddenly there was an earthquake,

tara' sei hena paritam utu'.

tara'
ˈtaɾaʔ
3SG
sei
sej
CVY:F
hena
hɛna
and
paritam
paˈɾitam
fall
utu'.
ʔutuʔ
sitting(FIN)

and she fell sitting down hard.

heparat so turai kurat ko anan, kokaro'a atsam.

he-parat
hɛpaˈɾat
PL-crater
so
CVY:N
turai
tuɾaj
sprout
kurat
kuˈɾat
ground
ko
ORG:N
anan,
ʔanan
upwards(FIN)
ko-karo'a
kɔkaˈɾɔʔa
CONJ.ORG:N-erupt.lava
atsam.
ʔaʦam
FIN

Craters appeared in the ground, and erupted lava.

kumbi nei kukai aha', hena sei saba anan, sipamra buja tunis ipi itan.

kumbi
ˈkumbi
Kumbi
nei
nej
RCP:F
kukai
ˈkukaj
scare
aha',
ʔahaʔ
shock(FIN)
hena
hɛna
and
sei
sɛj
CVY:F
saba
ˈsaba
rise
anan,
ʔanan
up(FIN)
si-pamra
siˈpamɾa
CONJ.CVY:F-run
buja
buʣa
lower
tun-is
ˈtunis
flank-PTV
ipi
ʔipi
beside
itan.
ʔitan
stumbling(FIN)

Kumbi was frightened, and arose, and she ran along the foot of the slope.

diti akun dutan tara' nei apai sa inin.

diti
ˈditi
little.while
akun
ʔakun
afterwards
dutan
dutan
hear
tara'
ˈtaɾaʔ
3SG
nei
nej
RCP:F
apai
ʔaˈpaj
shout(N)
sa
sa
CVY:M
inin.
ʔinin
hear(FIN)

Soon, she heard a shout.

san ka bafa tara' nei e, sita' tse!

san
ˈsan
person
ka
ka
ORG:M
bafa
bafa
shout
tara'
ˈtaɾaʔ
3SG
nei
nej
RCP:F
e,
ʔɛ
QUOT
sita'
ˈsitaʔ
older.sister
tse!
ʦɛ
VOC

A person shouted to her: "Older Sister!

huu sa upi ipai, eraa.

huu
ˈhuː
1SG
sa
sa
CVY:M
upi
ʔuˈpi
here
ipai,
ʔipaj
at
e-daa.
ʔɛɾaː
END.QUOT-shout

I am over here!"

tara' sei uine san na,

tara'
ˈtaɾaʔ
3SG
sei
sej
CVY:F
uine
ʔujnɛ
turn
san
ˈsanːa
person
na,
 
RCP:M

She turned to the person,

henan dei hamra asuen ka hora ifi aram.

hena
hɛnandej
and
nei
 
RCP:F
hamra
ˈhamɾa
see
asuen
ʔaˈsɯn
younger.brother
ka
ka
ORG:M
hora
ˈhɔɾa
cave
ifi
ʔifi
outside
aram.
ʔaɾam
seen(FIN)

and saw [her] younger brother outside a cave.

hena kei dana e, asuen tse!

hena
hɛna
and
kei
kej
ORG:F
dana
ˈdana
answer
e,
ʔɛ
QUOT
asuen
ʔaˈsɯn
younger.brother
tse!
ʦɛ
VOC

And [she] answered: "Younger Brother!

sii so tse ka pai kukas mei ipai kakai?

sii
ˈsiː
what
so
CVY:N
tse
ʦɛ
2SG
ka
ka
ORG:M
pai
ˌpaj
place
kukas
kuˈkas
fearful
mei
mej
this
ipai
ʔipaj
at
kakai?
kaˌkaj
do

What are you doing in this awful place?

tapa kana buta' nei bata! aniin.

tapa
taˈpa
walk
kana
kana
now
buta'
buˈtaʔ
hut
nei
nej
RCP:F
bata!
bata
walk(FIN)
aniin.
ʔaniːn
END.QUOT

Come home right now!"

tara' ka tsana e, sita' tse!

tara'
ˈtaɾaʔ
3SG
ka
ka
ORG:M
tsana
ʦana
say
e,
ʔɛ
QUOT
sita'
ˈsitaʔ
older.sister
tse!
ʦɛ
VOC

He said: "Older Sister!

tapa tsat upau kana,

tapa
taˈpa
walk
tsat
ʦat
quick
upau
ʔupao
to.here
kana,
kana
now

Come over here quickly, now!

kutakaranim so upitai dakat! aniin.

kutakaranim
kuˈtakaɾanim
Kutakaranim
so
CVY:N
upitai
ʔuˈpitaj
come(V)
dakat!
dakat
come(FIN)
aniin.
ʔaniːn
END.QUOT

The Kutakaranim is coming!

tara' kei hena tsuta tara' na aibai,

tara'
ˈtaɾaʔ
3SG
kei
kej
ORG:F
hena
hɛna
and
tsuta
ˈʦuta
rebuke
tara'
ʔtaɾaʔ
3SG
na
na
RCP:M
aibai,
ʔajbaj
yes.no(FIN)

And she rebuked him,

sitsana e, kutakaranim so kibas be!

si-tsana
siˈʦana
CONJ.CVY:F-say
e,
ʔɛ
QUOT
kutakaranim
kuˈtakaɾanim
Kutakaranim
so
CVY:N
kibas
ˈkibas
breathe
be!
not

and said: "The Kutakaranim doesn't exist!

tsana be kakari so! aniin.

tsana
ˈʦana
say
be
not
kakari
kaˈkaɾi
nonsense
so!
CVY:N
aniin.
ʔaniːn
END.QUOT

Don't talk nonsense!"

asuen ka araf umai e, sita' tse!

asuen
aˈsɯn
younger.brother
ka
ka
ORG:M
araf
ʔaˈɾaf
shout
umai
ʔumaj
again
e,
ʔɛ
QUOT
sita'
ˈsitaʔ
older.sister
tse!
ʦɛ
VOC

Younger Brother shouted again: "Older sister!

tapa tsat! fei so tse akun ai! eraa.

tapa
taˈpa
walk
tsat!
ʦat
quick
fei
ˈfej
DIST
so
CVY:N
tse
ʦɛ
2SG
akun
aˈkun
behind
ai!
ʔaj
it.is.so.FIN
e-daa.
ʔeɾaː
END.QUOT

Come quickly! It is behind you!"

tara' sei uine akun,

tara'
ˈtaɾaʔ
3SG
sei
sej
CVY:F
uine
ˈujnɛ
turn
akun,
ʔakun
behind

She turned around,

hena kei isi bafa ihai sei daa,

hena
hɛna
and
kei
kej
ORG:F
isi
ʔisi
CNSQ
bafa
ˈbafa
scream(V)
ihai
ʔihaj
scream(N)
sei
sej
CVY:F
daa,
daː
scream(FIN)

and screamed loudly,

isi nei hamra da'ue kuta' kero' ka.

isi
isi
because
nei
nej
RCP:F
hamra
ˈhamɾa
see
da'ue
daʔɯ
terrible.being
kuta'
kuˈtaʔ
deformed
kero'
ˈkɛɾɔʔ
warped
ka.
ka
ORG:M

because she saw a deformed, warped monster.

fei sa ekas parat ka akan, parat ka ena karo'a atsam.

fei
ˈfej
DIST
sa
sa
CVY:M
ekas
ʔɛkas
emerge
parat
paˈɾat
crater
ka
ka
ORG:M
akan,
akan
come.out(FIN)
parat
paˈɾat
crater
ka
ka
ORG:M
ena
ʔɛna
REL:OBJ
karo'a
kaˈɾɔʔa
erupt
atsam.
aʦam
FIN

It was emerging from a crater which was erupting.

fei ka hamra pikutsa' basa-baasa sa aram,

fei
ˈfej
DIST
ka
ka
ORG:M
hamra
hamɾa
see
pikutsa'
pikuˈʦaʔ
spider
basa~baasa
basaˈbaːsa
very~large
sa
sa
CVY:M
aram,
ʔaɾam
appear(FIN)

It appeared as a huge spider,

fei sa himas ei puru samat di'as na tutu.

fei
ˈfej
DIST
sa
sa
CVY:M
himas
ˈhimas
tall
ei
ej
and
puru
puɾu
more
samat
samat
man
di'as
ˈdiʔas
three
na
na
RCP:M
tutu.
tutu
high.reaching(FIN)

and it was taller than three men.

fei kisi tsuni kutsi mamaan ni'as sa ira,

fei
ˈfej
DIST
kisi
kisi
attached.to
tsuni
ʦuni
find
kutsi
ˈkuˈʦi
leg
mamaan
mamaːn
mottled
ni'as
ˈniʔasa
four
sa
 
CVY:M
ira,
iɾa
found(FIN)

It had* four mottled legs,

*This is the usual idiom for description of body parts: "attached to it was found four mottled legs".

jam feis ka hamra ei saipia' daharan sa aram.

jam
ˈʣam
teeth
fei-s
fejs
DIST-PTV
ka
ka
ORG:M
hamra
ˈhamɾa
see
ei
ʔej
and
saipia'
sajpjaʔ
spear
dahara-n
daˈhaɾan
champion-GEN
sa
sa
CVY:M
aram.
ʔaɾam
seen(FIN)

and its teeth were like the spears of the champions.

tanta sa tafa irei buja feis ko hiu.

tanta
ˈtanta
embers
sa
sa
CVY:M
tafa
ˈtafa
drop
irei
ʔiɾej
continually
buja
ˈbuʣa
lower.part
fei-s
fejs
DIST-PTV
ko
ORG:N
hiu.
hju
falling(FIN)

Embers were dropping from its lower half.

kumbi kei bafa e, matsai! kamat huu sei! aniin,

kumbi
ˈkumbi
Kumbi
kei
kej
ORG:F
bafa
ˈbafa
scream
e,
ʔɛ
QUOT
matsai!
maˈʦaj
calamity
kamat
ˈkamat
rescue
huu
huː
1SG
sei
sej
CVY:F
aniin,
aniːn
FIN

Kumbi screamed: Calamity! Save me!

hena sei pamra asuen na hora na itan.

hena
hɛna
and
sei
sej
CVY:F
pamra
ˌpamɾa
run
asuen
ʔaˈsɯna
younger.brother
na
 
RCP:M
hora
ˈhɔɾa
cave
na
na
RCP:M
itan.
ʔitan
stumbling(FIN)

and ran to Younger Brother, to the cave.

tara' sei asuen sa ei bama hora imi juju',

tara'
ˈtaɾaʔ
3SG
sei
sej
CVY:F
asuen
ʔaˈsɯn
younger.brother
sa
sa
CVY:M
ei
ej
and
bama
bama
hug
hora
ˈhɔɾa
cave
imi
ʔimi
in
juju',
ʣuʣuʔ
shivering(FIN)

She and Younger Brother hugged each other in the cave.

kutakaranim so ati kuritas parat horan iri pini.

kutakaranim
kuˈtakaɾanim
Kutakaranim
so
CVY:N
ati
ʔati
meanwhile
kuritas
kuˈɾitas
stomp
parat
paɾat
entrance
hora-n
ˈhɔɾan
cave-GEN
iri
ʔiɾi
near
pini.
pini
flatten(FIN)

Meanwhile, the Kutakaranim stomped around the cave entrance.

paraf so tafa diin no dafan.

paraf
ˈpaɾaf
volcanic.ash
so
CVY:N
tafa
tafa
drop
diin
ˈdiːn
3PL
no
RCP:N
dafan.
dafan
dusty(FIN)

Volcanic ash fell on them.

kumbi kei tsana e, asuen tse!

kumbi
ˈkumbi
Kumbi
kei
kej
ORG:F
tsana
ˈʦana
say
e,
ʔɛ
QUOT
asuen
aˈsɯn
younger.brother
tse!
ʦɛ
VOC

Kumbi said: "Younger Brother!

faan so matsite' upi ipai dunan! e'aniin.

faan
ˈfaːn
1PL.INCL
so
CVY:N
matsite'
maʦitɛʔ
perish
upi
uˈpi
here
ipai
ʔipaj
at
dunan!
dunan
expire(FIN)
e-'aniin.
ʔeʔaniːn
END.QUOT-say(FIN)

We will perish in this place!"

asuen ka paka tsana e, bai!

asuen
ʔaˈsɯn
younger.brother
ka
ka
ORG:M
paka
paka
however
tsana
ˈʦana
say
e,
ʔɛ
QUOT
bai!
ˈbaj
no

However, Younger Brother said: "No!

fei so akitai anui, kinap era faan so. aniin.

fei
ˈfej
DIST
so
CVY:N
akitai
ʔaˈkitaj
depart
anui,
ʔanuj
away(FIN)
kinap
ˈkinap
quieten
era
ʔeɾa
if
faan
faːn
1PL.INCL
so.
CVY:N
aniin.
ʔaniːn
END.QUOT

It will go away, if we keep quiet."

tara' kei hena tsana beman bahai so bei'aniin,

tara'
ˈtaɾaʔ
3SG
kei
kej
ORG:F
hena
hɛna
and.then
tsana
ˈʦana
say
beman
bɛman
unable
bahai
ˌbahaj
nothing
so
CVY:N
bei-'aniin,
ˈbejʔaniːn
NEG-say(FIN)

Then she could say nothing,

kisuran jihe atan.

ki-suran
kiˈsuɾan
CONJ.ORG:F-weep
jihe
ʣihɛ
only
atan.
ʔatan
sad(FIN)

and only wept.

diin so berana pein duru eke nisue, mubun hena murimuun.

diin
ˈdiːn
3PL
so
CVY:N
berana
beɾana
wait
pein
ˈpejn
time
duru
duɾu
long
eke
ʔeke
for
nisue,
nisɯ
anxious(FIN)
mubun
muˈbun
night
hena
hɛna
and
murimuun.
muɾimuːn
enveloping(FIN)

They waited anxiously for a long time, and night fell.

diin no hamra epan sinasu kei hora ifi aram

diin
ˈdiːnːɔ
3PL
no
 
RCP:N
hamra
ˈhamɾa
see
epan
ʔɛpan
able
sinasu
ˈsinasu
lava
kei
kej
ORG:F
hora
hɔɾa
cave
ifi
iˈfi
outside
aram
aɾam
FIN

They could see lava outside the cave,

fei sei ena karo'a parat ka atsam.

fei
ˈfej
DIST
sei
sej
CVY:F
ena
ɛna
REL:OBJ
karo'a
karɔʔa
erupt
parat
ˈpaɾat
crater
ka
ka
ORG:M
atsam.
aʦam
FIN

erupting from the craters.

kumbi kei buaha asuen na e,

kumbi
ˈkumbi
Kumbi
kei
kej
ORG:F
buaha
ˈbwaha
sob
asuen
ʔaˈsɯnːa
younger.brother
na
 
RCP:M
e,
ʔɛ
QUOT

Kumbi sobbed to Younger Brother:

huu nei kukas aha', kura ei kuru.

huu
ˈhuː
1SG
nei
nej
RCP:F
kukas
kuˈkas
scare
aha',
ʔahaʔ
shock(FIN)
kura
ˈkuɾa
hunger
ei
ʔej
and
kuru.
kuɾu
hungry(FIN)

"I'm scared and hungry.

faan so matsite' dunan! e'atan.

faan
ˈfaːn
1PL.INCL
so
CVY:N
matsite'
maˈʦitɛʔ
perish
dunan!
dunan
expire(FIN)
e-'atan.
ʔɛʔatan
END.QUOT-sob(FIN)

We are perishing!"

asuen ka tsana e, mahinai be,

asuen
ʔaˈsɯn
younger.brother
ka
ka
ORG:M
tsana
ˈʦana
say
e,
ʔɛ
QUOT
mahinai
maˈhinaj
worry
be,
not

Younger Brother said, "Don't worry;

jat kutakaranim so akitai kana anui.

jat
ˈʣat
behold
kutakaranim
kuˈtakaɾanim
Kutakaranim
so
CVY:N
akitai
ʔaˈkitaj
leave
kana
kana
now
anui.
ʔanuj
away(FIN)

behold, the Kutakaranim is leaving now.

ka'am buneis misei,

ka'am
ˈkaʔam
eat
buneis
buˈnejs
mushroom
mei-sei,
misej
PROX-CVY:F

Eat this mushroom,

tapa hena faan so upa', e'aniin.

tapa
taˈpa
walk
hena
hɛna
and.then
faan
ˈfaːn
1PL.INCL
so
CVY:N
upa',
ʔupaʔ
away
e-'aniin.
ʔɛʔaniːn
END.QUOT

then we will leave!"

hena ka kira sita' nei buneis basa-baasa sei esan.

hena
hɛna
and
ka
ka
ORG:M
kira
kiɾa
give
sita'
ˈsitaʔ
older.sister
nei
nej
RCP:F
buneis
buˈnejs
mushroom
basa~baasa
basaˈbaːsa
very~large
sei
sej
CVY:F
esan.
ʔɛsan
hand.over(FIN)

and he gave [his] older sister a very huge mushroom.

tara' nei aha'ai beitata, kitsana e,

tara'
ˈtaɾaʔ
3SG
nei
nej
RCP:F
aha'ai
ʔaˈhaʔaj
surprise
beitata,
bejtata
speechless(FIN)
ki-tsana
kiˈʦana
CONJ.ORG:F-say
e,
ʔɛ
QUOT

She was [very] surprised, and said:

sii ipai buneis baasa mei atai sei tsuni? aniin.

sii
ˈsiː
what
ipai
ʔipaj
place
buneis
buˈnejs
mushroom
baasa
ˈbaːsa
huge
mei
mej
PROX
atai
ataj
similar.to
sei
sej
CVY:F
tsuni?
ˈʦuni
find
aniin.
ʔaniːn
END.QUOT

"Where did [you] find a mushroom as huge as this?"

asuen ka tsana e,

asuen
ʔaˈsɯn
younger.brother
ka
ka
ORG:M
tsana
ʦana
say
e,
ʔɛ
QUOT

Younger brother said,

jat kairatuhan teke'an i'i tsuni buneis basa-baasa sei pai iri ira,

jat
ˈʣat
DEM
kairatuhan
kajɾaˌtuhan
epic
teke-an
ˈtɛˈkɛʔan
Teke-GEN
i'i
ʔiʔi
according.to
tsuni
ˈʦuni
find
buneis
bunejs
mushroom
basa~baasa
basaˈbaːsa
very~large
sei
sej
CVY:F
pai
ˈpaj
place
iri
ʔiɾi
near
ira,
iɾa
FIN

"See, according to the Quests of Teke­kuha­kira­kisan,* very large mushrooms are found near the place ...

*Here Younger Brother uses the short form of the name, Teke. The formal title of the Quests uses the full name, but in colloquial speech this is rarely done.

kapi ipai ena kibas kutakaranim sa ham.

kapi
kaˈpi
there
ipai
ʔipaj
at
ena
ɛna
REL.OBJ
kibas
kibas
breathe
kutakaranim
kuˈtakaɾanim
Kutakaranim
sa
sa
CVY:M
ham.
ham
FIN

... where the Kutakaranim lives.

diin no hena ka'am buneis sei tsa,

diin
ˈdiːnːɔ
3PL
no
 
RCP:N
hena
hɛna
and
ka'am
kaʔam
eat
buneis
buˈnejsːej
mushroom
sei
 
CVY:F
tsa,
ʦa
eaten(FIN)

And they ate the mushroom(s),

hena so suhitai airan,

hena
hɛna
and
so
CVY:N
suhitai
suˈhitaj
strengthen
airan,
ʔajɾan
refresh(FIN)

and were refreshed,

hena so pamra hora ko fara erui mubun eke buta' nei asu.

hena
hɛna
and
so
CVY:N
pamra
pamɾa
run
hora
ˈhɔɾa
cave
ko
ORG:N
fara
ˈfaɾa
plains
erui
ʔɛɾuj
across
mubun
muˈbun
night
eke
ʔɛkɛ
through
buta'
buˈtaʔ
hut
nei
nej
RCP:F
asu.
ʔasu
swiftly(FIN)

and ran from the cave across the plains through the night back home.

Smooth English Translation

The Legend of the Kutakaranim.

Once upon a time, there lived a girl, her name was Kumbi. She was young and fresh, and thin and tall. Her younger brother went to the geyser fields to pick mushrooms, but did not return for many nights. And Mother said to Kumbi: I'm worried about younger brother; he may have perished in some calamity. Go quickly to search for him.

Then Kumbi started her way towards the geyser fields and came to a forest. Many black flies swarmed around and bit her. She defended herself with her hands and ran through the forest and came to the flanks of a mountain. She was now exhausted, and she paused for a little while. She looked up along the slope, and saw the geyser fields a long way off, and said to herself: I'm out of breath, I cannot get to the geyser fields. What should I do?

At that moment, suddenly there was an earthquake, and she fell sitting down hard. Craters appeared in the ground, and erupted lava. Kumbi was frightened, and arose, and she ran along the foot of the slope. Soon, she heard a shout. A person shouted to her: Older Sister! I am over here! She turned to the person, and saw Younger Brother outside a cave. And she answered: Younger Brother! What are you doing in this awful place? Come home right now!

He said: Older Sister! Come over here quickly! The Kutakaranim is coming! And she rebuked him, and said: The Kutakaranim doesn't exist! Don't talk nonsense! Younger Brother shouted again: Older sister! Come quickly! It is behind you!

She turned around, and screamed loudly, because she saw a deformed, warped monster. It was emerging from a crater which was erupting. It appeared as a huge spider, and it was taller than three men. It had four mottled legs, and its teeth were like the spears of the champions. Embers were dropping from its lower half.

Kumbi screamed: Calamity! Save me! and ran to Younger Brother, to the cave. She and Younger Brother hugged each other in the cave. Meanwhile, the Kutakaranim stomped around the cave entrance. Volcanic ash fell on them. Kumbi said: Younger Brother! We will perish in this place! However, Younger Brother said: No! It will go away, if we keep quiet. Then she could say nothing, and only wept.

They waited anxiously for a long time, and night fell. They could see lava outside the cave, erupting from the craters. Kumbi sobbed to Younger Brother: I'm scared and hungry. We are perishing! Younger Brother said, Don't worry; behold, the Kutakaranim is leaving now. Eat this mushroom, then we will leave! and he gave Older Sister a very huge mushroom. She was very surprised, and said: Where did you find a mushroom as huge as this? Younger brother said, See, according to the Quests of Teke­kuha­kira­kisan, very large mushrooms are found near the place where the Kutakaranim lives. And they ate the mushroom, and were refreshed, and ran from the cave across the plains through the night back home.


Last updated 21 Apr 2023.

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