Lesson 28
Your Turn 4

Vocabulary

The new suffix –din/–bin/–in (PROCof) is the formalization of an informal suffix used by those forming Láadan words ever since Suzette Haden Elgin, who used it in words such as boóbin (braid)—whose only official etymology is [boó (three)] which can now be expanded to [boó (three) + –din/–bin/–in (PROCof)]—and zháadin (menopause)—official etymology: [zháa (wrinkle, in skin)]; new etymology: [zháa– (SENIOR) + –din/–bin/–in (PROCof)]; note the second-generation’s extension of “zháa” (wrinkle) to a suffix covering the “senior” life-stage. Another form using the nascent suffix was Sharla Hardy’s “dashobin” (to chew) [dashobe (bite) + –din/–bin/–in (PROCof)]; regrettably, a syllable was dropped out in forming this word, whose strictly formal shape would have been “dashobebin.”

The etymology of “dórawulúd” (repair) references or suggests three more words: “wulúd” (be broken) [wud (part, as of a machine)], “dówulúd” (to break; cause to be broken), and “rawulúd” (be unbroken). Of course, either of the non-negated “wulúd” forms can be rendered with the pejorative “lh” in place of the “l,” giving “wulhúd” (be shattered) and “dówulhúd” (to shatter; cause to be shattered).

The etymology of “emahiná” (chef) also suggests “emahin” (cookery science) [e– (SCIof) + mahin (cooking pot)].

In the definition for “hathóoletham” (year), we see “hathóol” (month) [hath (time) + óol (moon)].

In the etymology for “óowathon” (pepper), we see “óowa” (fire) [owa (be warm)].

English Text

My Work

²My mother’s work is cleaning. She cleans many families’ houses. She also cleans workplaces. She uses brooms, mops, and cloths. She must be rigorous because peoples’ health might be in danger. The work is not fun, but it’s good work.

³My father is a teacher. He teaches using books, writing implements, and paper. He also uses games; he tries to make learning fun because it is very important.

⁴My uncle repairs automobiles and tractors using many tools and skills. If he does his work well, many people can come/go safely.

⁵My aunt is a chef. She cooks using many cooking implements, cooking pots, and baking dishes. She also uses refrigerators, stoves, and ovens. She cooks meat, beans, vegetables, and fruit using oil, spices, herbs, sugar, salt, and pepper. She really likes to create new foods; she often uses cheese.

⁶I’m sixteen, and I must now choose what my work will be.

My Láadan Translation with Morphemic Analysis & Retranslation into English

My Work

Hal Letho

My Work

²My mother’s work is cleaning. She cleans many families’ houses. She also cleans workplaces. She uses brooms, mops, and cloths. She must be rigorous because peoples’ health might be in danger. The work is not fun, but it’s necessary work.

²Bíi ril hal thulizhetho letha dóhéthem wa. Éthe ba belid onidathoth menedebe. Éthe ba hohaleth íi. Duth ba wusheth, iliwusheth, i odeth. Dush shel ba beróo rilrili merayom lam withetha. Bil ra hal, izh be wothem wohalem.

²My mother’s work is cleaning. Beloved-she cleans many family’s houses. Beloved-she cleans workplaces also. Beloved-she uses a broom and a mop and a cloth. Beloved-she must be rigorous because a person’s health might be unsafe. The work is not fun, but it’s needed work.

³My father is a teacher. He teaches using books, writing implements, and paper. He also uses games; he tries to make learning fun because it is very important.

³Bíi ril thulid letha omám wa. Om bi áabenan, thodinan, i melenan. Duth bi shidath íi; dudóbil bi bedi beróo othehul be.

³My father is a teacher. honored-he teaches with books, writing implements, and papers. honored-he uses games, also; honored-he tries to cause learning to be fun because it’s extremely important.

⁴My brother repairs automobiles and tractors using many tools and skills. If he does his work well, many people can come and go safely.

⁴Bíi ril dórawulúd henahid letha mazheth i demáazheth edenan i olothenan menedebe wa. Bere hal ba thalenal, ébere methad mesháad with menedebe yomenal.

⁴My brother causes cars and tractors to be unbroken with many tools and skills. If beloved-he works well, many people can come/go safely.

⁵My aunt is a chef. She cooks using many cooking implements, cooking pots, and baking dishes. She also uses refrigerators, stoves, and ovens. She cooks meat, beans, vegetables, and fruit using oil, spices, herbs, sugar, salt, and pepper. She really likes to create new foods; she often uses cheese.

⁵Bíi ril berídanizh emahinám wa. Mahinin bi thibebenan, mahinenan, i yamenan menedebe. Duth bi nithedimeth, dimóowath, i óobeth íi. Mahinin bi dehenith, edenith, medath, i yuth bomenan, lahebenan, theshenan, meénenan, máanenan, i óowathonenan. Shiháalish el mewobun wohanathu bith; duth bi ódoneth hath menedebe.

⁵My aunt is a chef. Honored-she cooks using many cooking implements, cooking pots, and baking dishes. Honored-she also uses a refrigerator, a stove, and an oven. Honored-she cooks meat, beans, vegetables, and fruit using oil, spices, herbs, sugar, salt, and pepper. Creating new foods pleases honored-her to an extraordinary degree; she often uses cheese.

⁶I’m sixteen, and I must now choose what my work will be.

⁶Bíi ril ham láad le hathóoletham bathethab, i ril dush bem úmú aril hal letho wa.

⁶I am now 16 years old, and I must choose what will be my work.

My Láadan Text

Hal Letho

²Bíi ril hal thulizhetho letha dóhéthem wa. Éthe ba belid onidathoth menedebe. Éthe ba hohaleth íi. Duth ba wusheth, iliwusheth, i odeth. Dush shel ba beróo rilrili merayom lam withetha. Bil ra hal, izh be wothem wohalem.

³Bíi ril thulid letha omám wa. Om bi áabenan, thodinan, i melenan. Duth bi shidath íi; dudóbil bi bedi beróo othehul be.

⁴Bíi ril dórawulúd berídanid letha mazheth i demáazheth edenan i oloth menedebe wa. Bere hal be thalenal, ébere methad mesháad with menedebe yomenal.

⁵Bíi ril berídanizh emahinám wa. Mahinin bi thibebenan, mahinenan, i yamenan menedebe. Duth bi nithedimeth, dimóowath, i óobeth íi. Mahinin bi dehenith, edenith, medath, i yuth bomenan, lahebenan, theshenan, meénenan, máanenan, i óowathonenan. Shiháalish el mewobun wohanathu bith; duth bi ódoneth hath menedebe.

⁶Bíi ril ham láad le hathóoletham bathethab, i ril dush bem úmú aril hal letho wa.

Comments

In the last sentence of the penultimate paragraph, the verb “shi” (to please) also covers the meaning “to enjoy.” To elicit this sense of the word, we simply have to consider that “we enjoy” that which “pleases us.” The Subject of a sentence using this verb will be the thing which pleases (in this case, “el mewobun wohanathu”—the making of new foods). The Object will be the one who is pleased (in this case, “bith”—honored-she).

Included here are two idioms we have not seen before:

The first: “ham láad S T #” (S is # Ts old) where S is the Subject, T is a unit of time (the Object), and # is a number or quantifier.

The second: “hath menedebe” (often) [hath (time) + menedebe (#>5)]. This idiom also suggests another: “hath nedebe” (seldom) [hath (time) + nedebe (#2-5)].