Key
Subject Phrases (A, S, CS) are double underlined. Object Phrases (O, CC) are single underlined. Peripheral Phrases are dashed. Verb Phrases are unmarked. Clauses are set off by vertical lines.
Setowa Wudu Nuwu Ŋedane (The Story of Nuwu)
Interlinear
Tene setowa wudu cumu ŋedane, sedetoda Nuwu bede wudune.
- tene
- sit
- -∅
- -NP
- =∅
- =3
- setowa
- traditional.story
- wudu
- wind
- cumu
- man
- ŋedane
- with.this.person
- sede
- stand
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =da
- =this.3A
- Nuwu
- Nuwu
- bede
- name
- wudune
- wind+via
This is the story of a man, he had the name Nuwu.
In the second clause, a more literal translation would be 'he was Nuwu by name'.
Sonoda basanu teneto wunnuda kadonu.
- sono
- head
- =da
- =this.3A
- basa
- bad
- =nu
- =N4
- tene
- sit
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =∅
- =3
- wunnu
- tongue
- =da
- =this.3A
- kado
- rough
- =nu
- =N4
His head was bad and his tongue, rough.
Here is a single verb with two CS (sono=da and wunnu=da) and two CC (basa and kado). Both CC carry a class marker nu rather than a classifier.
Gehe canno notatomo goli sedewape nikiyele dinine, deyetoda goli sedetoteda ŋehetepene.
- gehe
- good
- canno
- feel
- nota
- LESS
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =mo
- =this.3O
- goli
- long.time
- sede
- stand
- =wa
- =NOM
- =pe
- =from
- nikiyele
- neighbor
- dinine
- group+via
- deye
- leave
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =da
- =this.3A
- goli
- long.time
- sede
- stand
- -tote
- -DP+INF
- =da
- =this.3A
- ŋehetepe
- nobody
- =ne
- =via
He felt less and less happy dwelling with neighbors, and so he went away in order to dwell with nobody.
The use of an inferred evidential in clause 3 makes it a purpose for the previous clause.
Callotoda, yennadana ŋene goli sede sede dullole, dodu kadde kadde nolemona gohogoho nune callo canno sede dullodanace.
- callo
- think
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =da
- =this.3A
- yenna
- person+PL
- =dana
- =this+PL.3A
- ŋene
- person+via
- goli
- long.time
- sede
- stand
- sede
- PROG
- dullo
- ABLE
- -∅
- -NP
- =le
- =1SG.A
- dodu
- that
- kadde
- act
- kadde
- act
- no
- COME&
- -∅
- -NP
- =le
- =1SG.A
- =mona
- =this+PL.3O
- gohogoho
- all.kinds
- nune
- thing+via
- callo
- think
- canno
- feel
- sede
- PROG
- dullo
- ABLE
- -∅
- -NP
- =dana
- =this+PL.3A
- =ce
- =1SG.O
He thought, I can continue to dwell with these people, that I come and assist them with all kinds of things they can continue to expect of me.
The thought is in a direct quote complement clause construction. The expectation is in an indirect (with dodu complement clause construction.
Hadahada wusu ŋehetepene sedetoda, kiŋi nune kaddetoda deyewa wosodu.
- hadahada
- several
- wusu
- time+at
- ŋehetepe
- nobody
- =ne
- =via
- sede
- stand
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =da
- =this.3A
- kiŋi
- wished-for
- nune
- thing+via
- kadde
- act
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =da
- =this.3A
- deyewa
- leaving
- wosodu
- to.then
Before leaving, he was alone several times, and he did what he wanted.
Hadahada wune goli sedetoda ŋehetepene.
- hadahada
- several
- wune
- time+via
- goli
- long.time
- sede
- stand
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =da
- =this.3A
- ŋehetepe
- nobody
- =ne
- =via
Through several time periods, he dwelt solitary.
Yeppomo yana muŋi yennisi yana yette gimi yana goso mudukibi yana todu kunotodanu wosape.
- yeppomo
- spear
- yana
- many
- muŋi
- handle
- yennisi
- knife
- yana
- many
- yette
- tool
- gimi
- basket
- yana
- many
- goso
- hollow
- mudukibi
- skinrug
- yana
- many
- todu
- surface
- kuno
- have
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =da
- =this.3A
- =nu
- =N4
- wosape
- from.then
Afterwards he had many spears, many knives, many baskets, and many skin rugs.
Datatobe luwu ŋebe kini xodu xebe wososu.
- data
- fall
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =be
- =that.3O
- luwu
- star
- ŋe
- N1
- =be
- =that.3O
- kini
- land
- xodu
- place+to
- xebe
- night
- wososu
- then
Then one night a star came down to earth.
Goli wune da-datobe calatepe gogotepe lakatepebe.
- goli
- long.time
- wune
- time+via
- da
- go
- da
- GO&
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =be
- =that.3O
- calatepe
- warm
- gogotepe
- hungry
- lakatepe
- shelterless
- =be
- =that.3O
He wandered for a long time cold, hungry, and shelterless.
Xokesu nolekopa Nuwu dunnotosanu, tannatanna datosa luwudu.
- xokesu
- place+yon+at
- noleko
- campfire
- =pa
- =POSS
- Nuwu
- Nuwu
- dunno
- see
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =sa
- =that.3A
- =nu
- =N4
- tannatanna
- quickly
- da
- go
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =sa
- =that.3A
- luwudu
- light+to
He saw in the distance the light of Nuwu’s campfire, and quickly he went to it.
“Kuno deye dullodice gone?” setosamo Nuwumo.
- kuno
- have
- deye
- LET
- dullo
- ABLE
- -∅
- -NP
- =di
- =2SG.A
- =ce
- =1SG.O
- gone
- food+via
- se
- say
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =sa
- =that.3A
- =mo
- =this.3O
- Nuwu
- Nuwu
- =mo
- =this.3O
He said to Nuwu, “Will you give me food?”
The use of dullo makes this a polite request.
Setodabe Nuwuda, “Ba! Kunolego ŋidi ŋewadu.”
- se
- say
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =da
- =this.3A
- =be
- =that.3O
- nuwu
- Nuwu
- =da
- =this.3A
- ba!
- no!
- kuno
- have
- -∅
- -NP
- =le
- =1SG.A
- =go
- =N3
- ŋidi
- enough
- ŋewa
- REFL
- =du
- =to
Nuwu said, “No. I have only enough food for myself.”
Setosamo, “Cala nolo nome dullodice nolekopadi luwusu?”
- se
- say
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =sa
- =that.3A
- =mo
- =this.3O
- cala
- warm
- nolo
- increase
- nome
- LET
- dullo
- ABLE
- -∅
- -NP
- =di
- =2SG.A
- =ce
- =1SG.O
- noleko
- campfire
- =pa
- =POSS
- =di
- =2SG.A
- luwusu
- light+at
He said, “Will you allow me to become warm at your campfire?”
“Kunolenu ŋidi ŋewadu.”
- kuno
- have
- -∅
- -NP
- =le
- =1SG.A
- =nu
- =N4
- ŋidi
- enough
- ŋewa
- REFL
- =du
- =to
“There is only enough for myself.”
Obviously, this is Nuwu's answer.
Setosamo, “Kunodinu hadahada mudu kele todu.
- se
- say
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =sa
- =that.3A
- =mo
- =this.3O
- kuno
- have
- -∅
- -NP
- =di
- =2SG.A
- =nu
- =N4
- hadahada
- several
- mudu
- mat
- kele
- fine
- todu
- surface
He said, “You have several fine rugs.
Nolekopadi luwusu cala nolo nome wodice, todu kuno kuttalenu wodosu.”
- noleko
- campfire
- =pa
- =POSS
- =di
- =2SG.A
- luwusu
- light+at
- cala
- warm
- nolo
- increase
- nome
- LET
- wo
- NEG
- -∅
- -NP
- =di
- =2SG.A
- =ce
- =1SG.O
- todu
- surface
- kuno
- have
- kutta
- FORCE
- -∅
- -NP
- =le
- =1SG.A
- =nu
- =N4
- wodosu
- now
You do not allow me to get warm at your campfire, (so) I will take one.”
Se-kuttatodabe Nuwuda, “Todudu da-seppedi, da!
- se
- say
- kutta
- FORCE
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =da
- =this.3A
- =be
- =that.3O
- Nuwu
- Nuwu
- =da
- =this.3A
- todudu
- surface+to
- da
- go
- seppe
- FAIL
- -∅
- -NP
- =di
- =2SG.A
- da!
- go!
Nuwu shouted, “Stay away from those!
An impolite command, using da!, the imperative of 'go'.
Todu noye nomelalenu ŋewadu, todu noye nome wolalenu wekebe kaddewowa ŋedu!”
- todu
- surface
- noye
- emerge
- nome
- LET
- -la
- -RP+DIR
- =le
- =1SG.A
- =nu
- =N4
- ŋewa
- REFL
- =du
- =to
- todu
- surface
- noye
- emerge
- nome
- LET
- wo
- NEG
- -la
- -RP+DIR
- =le
- =1SG.A
- =nu
- =N4
- wekebe
- lazy
- kaddewowa
- do-nothing
- ŋedu
- person+to
I made those for myself and not for lazy people who do nothing.”
Xosape siŋi yegi mededu luwu ŋesa datosa.
- xosape
- place+that+from
- siŋi
- tall
- yegi
- smooth
- mededu
- tree+to
- luwu
- star
- ŋe
- N1
- =sa
- =that.3A
- da
- go
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =sa
- =that.3A
The star went from there to a tall smooth tree.
Mede yegi wodusu nolo sedetosa, dunnotodabe callowa Nuwuda.
- mede
- tree
- yegi
- smooth
- wodusu
- vertical+at
- nolo
- increase
- sede
- PROG
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =sa
- =that.3A
- dunno
- see
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =da
- =this.3A
- =be
- =that.3O
- callowa
- wondering
- Nuwu
- Nuwu
- =da
- =this.3A
He was climbing the smooth trunk of the tree while wondering Nuwu watched him.
Kibi wono todu medepe kunotosanu yettene, todu tene deyetosanu ŋewa haŋŋidu.
- kibi
- skin
- =∅
- =3
- wono
- big
- todu
- surface
- medepe
- tree+from
- kuno
- have
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =sa
- =that.3A
- =nu
- =N4
- yettene
- tool+via
- todu
- surface
- tene
- sit
- deye
- LET
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =sa
- =that.3A
- =nu
- =N4
- ŋewa
- REFL
- haŋŋidu
- around+to
He took a large piece of bark from the tree with a knife, and put it around himself.
Wosape se-noyetosanu ximi kelekede wudune.
- wosape
- from.then
- se
- say
- noye
- START
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =sa
- =that.3A
- =nu
- =N4
- ximi
- song
- kelekede
- sacred
- wudune
- wind+via
Then he started to sing magic.
Wudu wudu noloto, xosodu keyodo yana todu kuttatonu, lada tenetene todu deggu kanneto.
- wudu
- wind
- wudu
- wind
- nolo
- increase
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =∅
- =3
- xosodu
- place+that+to
- keyodo
- cloud
- yana
- many
- todu
- surface
- kutta
- push
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =∅
- =3
- =nu
- =N4
- lada
- sky
- tenetene
- whole
- todu
- surface
- deggu
- cover
- kanne
- PASSIVE
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =∅
- =3
The wind increased, and pushed there many storm clouds there, and the whole sky was covered.
Tadatada gada data noyeto, laka lakodu Nuwuda datoda.
- tadatada
- rain
- gada
- water
- data
- fall
- noye
- START
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =∅
- =3
- laka
- hut
- lakodu
- shelter+to
- Nuwu
- Nuwu
- =da
- =this.3A
- da
- go
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =da
- =this.3A
Rain began to fall, and Nuwu went into the shelter.
Deni gada tana nolo noyeto, noleko todu deggu nolo kanneto.
- deni
- river
- gada
- water
- tana
- flowing
- nolo
- increase
- noye
- START
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =∅
- =3
- noleko
- campfire
- todu
- surface
- deggu
- cover
- nolo
- MORE
- kanne
- PASSIVE
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =∅
- =3
The river began to overflow and more and more of the campsite was covered.
A camp is a surface defined by a campfire.
Gada tana noloto laka haŋŋisu.
- gada
- water
- tana
- flowing
- nolo
- increase
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =∅
- =3
- laka
- hut
- haŋŋisu
- around+at
It overflowed around the shelter.
Yeppomo yana muŋi yennisi yana yette gimi yana goso mudu kele yana todu kuno kanneto.
- yeppomo
- spear
- yana
- many
- muŋi
- handle
- yennisi
- knife
- yana
- many
- yette
- tool
- gimi
- basket
- yana
- many
- goso
- hollow
- mudu
- mat
- kele
- fine
- yana
- many
- todu
- surface
- kuno
- have
- kanne
- PASSIVE
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =∅
- =3
The many spears, the many knives, the many baskets, and the many fine rugs were taken.
Gada tana noloto, laka kuno kanneto.
- gada
- water
- tana
- flowing
- nolo
- increase
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =∅
- =3
- laka
- shelter
- kuno
- have
- kanne
- PASSIVE
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =∅
- =3
It overflowed and the shelter was taken.
Mede wodupe wodudu tannatanna datoda Nuwuda, nolo seppetomo yegi wodusu.
- mede
- tree
- wodupe
- vertical+from
- wodudu
- vertical+to
- tannatanna
- quickly
- da
- go
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =da
- =this.3A
- Nuwu
- Nuwu
- =da
- =this.3A
- nolo
- increase
- seppe
- FAIL
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =mo
- =this.3O
- yegi
- smooth
- wodusu
- vertical+at
Nuwu went quickly from tree to tree, and failed to climb the smooth trunks.
Deni gada tana noloto, Nuwu kuno kanneto.
- deni
- river
- gada
- water
- tana
- flowing
- nolo
- increase
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =∅
- =3
- Nuwu
- Nuwu
- kuno
- have
- kanne
- PASSIVE
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =∅
- =3
The river overflowed and Nuwu was taken.
Luwu ŋesa xokedu deyedeyewa sadosadoda Nuwu wudu sada cammetosanu.
- luwu
- star
- ŋe
- N1
- =sa
- =that.3A
- xokedu
- place+yon+to
- deyedeyewa
- fading
- sadosado
- voice
- =da
- =this.3A
- Nuwu
- Nuwu
- wudu
- wind
- sada
- ear
- camme
- eat
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =sa
- =that.3A
- =nu
- =N4
The star listened to Nuwu’s voice fading into the distance.
Nuwu paca Nuwu ŋepe noye kanneto, nuwunuwu tenetene wodane se-tene tosese.
- nuwu
- owl
- paca
- animal
- Nuwu
- Nuwu
- ŋepe
- person+from
- noye
- emerge
- kanne
- PASSIVE
- -to
- -DP+REP
- =∅
- =3
- nuwunuwu
- mourning
- tenetene
- whole
- wodane
- through.now
- se
- say
- tene
- PROG
- -∅
- -NP
- =∅
- =3
- tosese
- reportedly
Nuwu was changed into an owl, speaking mournfully even now, so they say.