Lesson 41
Translation 6

Vocabulary

Láadan Text

Bóodan Máyel Bethu

²Bíide eríli meshóodehul with woho thenahalenal miwithesha bosha menedebenil diídineya wo. Mesháad ben nudim i núudim miwithesha o, i medibithimelan hin hinedim, i mehada shidinal. Melalom i mehalehale beyen. Meham mewoliri wodimilin menedebe; meliyen i melayun i melula ben. Mehel sháawith anath nedebe diídineda neda, i mehom ben bezheth hoshem benethadim. Hathal i háya hi; mehelahela with woho—rizh Máyel.

³Bíide loláad ra Máyel thenath wo. Merashi liri dimilinethu behideth. Rashe zholh méwithethu behideth. Di háawithizh behidedim, “Bíilan wil thena diídineya,” i nédid behid bedim; nadelishe behizh hiwáan, i nádelishe hathobéeya héedá thul betha beth i she beth.

⁴ Bíide medibáa with hin hinedim wo, “Báath ril loláad ra Máyel thenath bebáawáan?” En with raho. Id di beye Shósho bidim Máyel bethu doól.

⁵ Bíide bithim Shósho Máyel beth wethesha nédeshubewáan wo, i nóosháad diwan; di bi, “Wil sha, Máyel. Báa tháa ne?”

⁶ Bíide di Máyel bidim wo, “Wil sha, Shósho. Bíi tháahil le wa.”

⁷ Bíide dibáa Shósho behidedim wo, “Báa di ne ‘tháahil’ bebáawáan? Éeya ne? Loláad ne heyith?”

⁸ “Ra, Shósho. Bíi thi le lameth wa. Loláad le sholeth, hulehul.”

⁹ “I báa thi ne anath i ranath?”

¹⁰ “Bíi re yide re yada le wa.”

¹¹ “I báa thi ne betheth? Owa be wemaneya, i rahowahil wumaneya?”

¹² “Em, Shósho. Bíi habelid le wodo womathesha wa. Meshe shod bethu hathemeneya woho.”

¹³ “I bud; báa thi ne bud? She be neth? Shi be neth?”

*!*

¹⁴ “Em, Shósho. Bíi thi le mewothal wohoweth menedebe wa.”

¹⁵ “I báa thi ne laneth, i den be neth úyahú them ne deneth?”

¹⁶ “Em, Shósho. Bíi thi le laneth menedebe wa, i meden ben leth themeya waha.”

¹⁷ “I báa nime den ne lan nethoth themeya?”

¹⁸ “Em, Shósho. Bíi bere medibóo neda ben, ébere den le beneth hithenanal themehelewáan.”

¹⁹ ”Báa thad sháad ne nudim e núudim úyahú nédehel ne hith?”

²⁰ “Em, Shósho. Bíi sháad le dínonenal wahadim wa.”

²¹ “I báa thi ne haleth? Dóshóod be neth? Shub be thaleth witheda? Them nábedi ne beda?”

²² “Em, Shósho. Bíi hal le wa. Hi lethoth wothem wohalem. Mehathal mewohal wosháal woho rano mewoharathal wosháaleden nedebe neda. Izh báa dibáa ni daleth hin ledim bebáawan?”

²³ Bíide di Shósho wo, “Dóo, bíidi dubedi le beyeth wa.”

²⁴ “Báa néde lothel ni bebáath?”

²⁵ “Bíidi thi ne dal woho wothaleháalish wowída wáa. Rathi ne dal raho. Bóodi di ne ledim lu: báadi tháahul ra ne bebáanal?”

²⁶ Bíide láadom Máyel shadon dáanethu Shósho bithoth lishenal wo; di be, “Bíi eril lhele raláadám wa. Eril meban with menedebe binith menedebe lheledim, i loláad—i dam—lhele rawimath. Ril en lhele, doól, i loláad lhele wenaháalish, bishibenal.”

²⁷ Bíide lámála Shósho Máyel beth onasha wo i di, “Bóoli zha ra na nayóoth ‘lhele’ lu; bíili ril na wothalehil woyáawithidem; aril náwí na wothal wosháawithem thomaya wa. Bíilan wil thena diídineya,” i náasháad be.

²⁸ Bíide dithedelan Máyel Shósho bidim wo, “Wil thena diídineya! I áalaháalish!”

²⁹ Bíide di Shósho behidedim wo, “Oho,” úyahú obée násháad bi, i biyóodim, “Bíilan aril ba wu woshi wowith wa.”

³⁰ Bíide sháalede hi aril wo, úyahú woho di beye behidedim, “Wil thena diídineya,” di behid wenanal hadihad, “Wil thenaháalish diídineya i sháaleya woho!”

My English Translation with Morpheme-by-Morpheme Analysis

Bóodan Máyel Bethu

The Rescue of Michael

²Bíide eríli ham diídin miwithesha bosha menedebenil wáa. Meshóod with woho thenanal. Mesháad ben nudim i núudim miwithesha o, i medilan, i mehada. Melalom i mehalehale beyen. Meham mewoliri wodimilin menedebe; meliyen i melayun i melula ben. Mehel with anath menedebe diídineda neda. Hathal i háya hi; mehelahela with woho—rizh Máyel.

²Once upon a time long ago, everyone was extremely and joyfully busy in the town among the many mountains at holiday time. They came and went hither and thither around the town, and greeted each other in celebration and laughed together. Many sang and made music. There were many colorful ornaments; they were green and orange and purple. The old people made a few foods only for the holiday, and they taught them to their grandchildren. This was a good and beautiful time; everyone celebrated—except Michael.

³Bíide loláad ra Máyel thenath wo. Merashi liri dimilinethu behideth. Rashe zholh méwithethu behideth. Di háawithizh behidedim, “Bíilan wil thena diídineya,” i nédid behid bedim; nadelishe behizh hiwáan, i nádelishe hathobéeya héedá thul betha beth i she beth.

³Michael wasn’t joyful. The colors of the ornaments displeased him. The noise of the crowd tormented him. A child said to him in celebration, “Happy holiday!” and he answered her angrily; she began to cry because of this and continued to cry until her parent picked her up and comforted her.

⁴Bíide medibáa with hin hinedim wo, “Báath ril loláad ra Máyel thenath bebáawáan?” En with raho. Id di beye Shósho bidim Máyel bethu doól.

⁴Many people asked each other, pained, “Why does Michael feel no joy?” Not one person understood. And then, at last, someone spoke to Magic Granny about Michael.

⁵Bíide bithim Shósho Máyel beth wethesha nédeshubewáan wo, i nóosháad diwan; di bi, “Wil sha, Máyel. Báa tháa ne?”

⁵Magic Granny met Michael, per intention, in the street and paused to talk; she said, “Hello, Michael. How are you?”

⁶Bíide di Máyel bidim wo, “Wil sha, Shósho. Bíi tháahil le wa.”

⁶Michael answered her, “Hello, Magic Granny. I’m… just okay.”

⁷Bíide dibáa Shósho behidedim wo, “Báa di ne ‘tháahil’ bebáawáan? Éeya ne? Loláad ne heyith?”

⁷Magic Granny asked him, “Why do you say ‘okay’? Are you ill? Are you in pain?”

⁸“Ra, Shósho. Bíi thi le lameth wa, i loláad le sholeth, hulehul.”

⁸“No, Magic Granny. I have my health, and I’m free of pain, for-sure.”

⁹“I báa thi ne anath i ranath?”

⁹“And do you have food and drink?”

¹⁰“Bíi re yide re yada le wa.”

¹⁰“I neither hunger nor thirst.”

¹¹“I báa thi ne betheth? Owa be wemaneya, i rahowahil wumaneya?”

¹¹“And do you have a home? Is it warm in winter and cool in summer?”

¹²“Em, Shósho. Bíi habelid le wodo womathesha wa. Meshe shod bethu hathemeneya woho.”

¹²“Yes, Magic Granny. I dwell in a strong building. Its rooms are comfortable in all seasons.”

¹³“I bud; báa thi ne bud? She be neth? Shi be neth?”

¹³“And clothes; do you have clothes? Do they comfort you? Do they please you?”

¹⁴“Em, Shósho. Bíi thi le wothal wohoweth menedebe wa.”

¹⁴“Yes, Magic Granny. I have many good garments.”

¹⁵“I báa thi ne laneth, i den be neth úyahú them ne deneth?”

¹⁵“And do you have a friend, and do they help you when you need help”?

¹⁶“Em, Shósho. Bíi thi le laneth menedebe wa, i meden ben leth themeya waha.”

¹⁶“Yes, Magic Granny. I have many friends, and they help me in any time of need.”

¹⁷“I báa nime den ne lan nethoth themeya?”

¹⁷“And are you willing to help your friends in time of need?”

¹⁸“Em, Shósho. Bíi bere medibóo neda ben, ébere den le beneth hithenanal themehelewáan.”

¹⁸“Yes, Magic Granny. If they only ask, then I happily help them with the slightest need.”

¹⁹”Báa thad sháad ne nudim e núudim úyahú nédehel ne hith?”

¹⁹“Can you go hither or thither when you have a whim to?”

²⁰“Em, Shósho. Bíi sháad le dínonenal wahadim wa.”

²⁰“Yes, Magic Granny. I freely come and go anywhither ”

²¹“I báa thi ne haleth? Dóshóod be neth? Shub be thaleth witheda? Them nábedi ne beda?”

²¹“And do you have work? Does it keep you busy? Does it do good for people? Do you need to keep learning for it?”

²²“Em, Shósho. Bíi hal le wa. Hi letho wothem wohalem. Mehathal mewohal wosháal woho rano mewoharathal wosháaleden nedebe neda. Izh báa dibáa ni daleth hin ledim bebáawan?”

²²“Yes, Magic Granny. I work. Mine is necessary work. Almost all work-days are good with only a few bad days. But to what end do honored-you ask me these things?”

²³Bíide di Shósho wo, “Dóo, bíidi dubedi le beyeth wa.”

²³Magic Granny said, didactically, “Well, I am trying to learn something.”

²⁴“Báa néde lothel ni bebáath?”

²⁴“What do honored-you want to know?”

²⁵“Bíidi thi ne dal woho wothaleháalish wowída wáa. Rathi ne dal raho. Bóodi di ne ledim lu: báadi tháahul ra ne bebáanal?”

²⁵“You have everything for an excellent life. You lack abolutely nothing. Tell me, please: in what way are you not doing very well indeed?

²⁶Bíide láadom Máyel shadon dáanethu Shósho bithoth lishenal wo; di be, “Bíi eril lhele raláadám wa. Eril meban with menedebe binith menedebe lheledim, i loláad—i dam—lhele rawimath. Ril en lhele, doól, i loláad lhele wenaháalish, bishibenal.”

²⁶Michael vividly recognized the truth of Magic Granny’s words; he said, “I have been deaf, blind, and wrong-headed. Many people have given me many gifts, and I was ungrateful. Now I understand, finally, and suddenly I’m so very grateful.”

²⁷Bíide lámála Shósho Máyel beth onasha wo i di, “Bóoli zha ra na nayóoth ‘lhele’ lu; bíili ril na wothalehil woyáawithidem; aril náwí na wothal wosháawithem thomaya wa. Bíilan wil thena diídineya,” i náasháad be.

²⁷Magic Granny caressed Michael’s face and said, lovingly, “Please do not name yourself ‘despised;’ you are a decent youth; you will soon grow into a good adult. Happy holiday!” and resumed her progress.

²⁸Bíide dithedelan Máyel Shósho bidim wo, “Wil thena diídineya! I áalaháalish!”

²⁸Michael called, in celebration, to Magic Granny, “Happy holiday! And thank you so much!”

²⁹Bíide di Shósho behidedim wo, “Oho,” úyahú obée násháad bi, i biyóodim, “Bíilan aril ba wu woshi wowith wa.”

²⁹Magic Granny said to him, “You’re welcome,” while continuing on her way and, to herself, “Beloved-he will be such a pleasant person.”

³⁰Bíide sháalede hi aril wo, úyahú woho di beye behidedim, “Wil thena diídineya,” di behid wenanal hadihad, “Wil thenaháalish diídineya i sháaleya woho!”

³⁰From that day forward, whenever someone said to him, “Happy holiday”, he always gratefully said, “Greatest joy at the holiday and every day!”

Free Translation

The Rescue of Michael

²Once upon a time long ago, everyone was extremely and joyfully busy in the town among the many mountains at holiday time. They came and went hither and thither around the town, and greeted each other in celebration and laughed together. Many sang and made music. There were many colorful ornaments; they were green and orange and purple. The old people made a few foods only for the holiday, and they taught them to their grandchildren. This was a good and beautiful time; everyone celebrated—except Michael.

³Michael wasn’t joyful. The colors of the ornaments displeased him. The noise of the crowd tormented him. A child said to him in celebration, “Happy holiday!” and he answered her angrily; she began to cry because of this and continued to cry until her parent picked her up and comforted her.

⁴Many people asked each other, pained, “Why does Michael feel no joy?” Not one person understood. And then, at last, someone spoke to Magic Granny about Michael.

⁵Magic Granny met Michael, per intention, in the street and paused to talk; she said, “Hello, Michael. How are you?”

⁶Michael answered her, “Hello, Magic Granny. I’m… just okay.”

⁷Magic Granny asked him, “Why do you say ‘just okay’? Are you ill? Are you in pain?”

⁸“No, Magic Granny. I have my health, and I’m free of pain, for-sure.”

⁹“And do you have food and drink?”

¹⁰“I neither hunger nor thirst.”

¹¹“And do you have a home? Is it warm in winter and cool in summer?”

¹²“Yes, Magic Granny. I dwell in a strong building. Its rooms are comfortable in all seasons.”

¹³“And clothes; do you have clothes? Do they comfort you? Do they please you?”

¹⁴“Yes, Magic Granny. I have many good garments.”

¹⁵“And do you have a friend, and do they help you when you need help”?

¹⁶“Yes, Magic Granny. I have many friends, and they help me in any time of need.”

¹⁷“And are you willing to help your friends in time of need?”

¹⁸“Yes, Magic Granny. If they only ask, then I happily help them with the slightest need.”

¹⁹“Can you go hither or thither when you have a whim to?”

²⁰“Yes, Magic Granny. I freely come and go anywhither.”

²¹“And do you have work? Does it keep you busy? Does it do good for people? Do you need to keep learning for it?”

²²“Yes, Magic Granny. I work. Mine is necessary work. Almost all work-days are good with only a few bad days. But to what end do honored-you ask me these things?”

²³Magic Granny said, didactically, “Well, I am trying to learn something.”

²⁴“What do honored-you want to know?”

²⁵“You have everything for an excellent life. You lack absolutely nothing. Please, tell me: in what way are you not doing very well indeed?

²⁶Michael vividly understood the truth of Magic Granny’s words; he said, “I have been deaf, blind, and wrong-headed. Many people have given me many gifts, and I was ungrateful. Now I understand, finally, and suddenly I’m so very grateful.”

²⁷Magic Granny caressed Michael’s face and said, lovingly, “Please do not name yourself ‘despised;’ you are a decent youth; you will soon grow into a good adult. Happy holiday!” and resumed her progress.

²⁸Michael called, in celebration, to Magic Granny, “Happy holiday! And thank you so much!”

²⁹Magic Granny said to him, “You’re welcome,” while continuing on her way and, to herself, “Beloved-he will be such a pleasant person.”

³⁰From that day forward, whenever someone said to him, “Happy holiday”, he always gratefully said, “Greatest joy at the holiday and every day!”

Comments

At various points in this story, we’ve seen “with raho” (no person) or “dal raho” (no thing) when we could more easily have said “rawith” (nobody) or “radal” (nothing). The combined forms carry the same denotation (there is no person/thing that fulfills the function), but the connotations of the structure using the quantifier “raho” (zero) are more emphatic—just as English sequences including the phrases “zero people” or “zero things” would be much more emphatic than ones that made use only of “no-one” or “nothing.” An apt English translation for the “raho” sequences might be “absolutely no-one” or “absolutely nothing.”

In this story we’re introduced to the word “shol” (absence of pain). It is very interesting to note that, among languages, what may be a negative concept (deriving only from its opposition to a positive) in one language may very well be a positive concept in some other language. “Shol” is a clear example of such a word: in Láadan, “shol” is a positive statement; it requires nothing to negate; in English, the nearest we can come to this concept is “the absence of pain”.

At one point Magic Granny asks Michael whether he has a friend. The usual formation of this question in English would be “Do you have (any) friends?” Láadan is not so concerned with number, as evidenced by the lack of plural forms for nouns. In the situation Magic Granny finds herself in—asking about the existence of something and then asking particulars about that thing, never having learned how many of the thing there might be—the singular verb (and pronoun, if any) is appropriate. The answerer will correct the number if appropriate, and then the questioner can proceed with that new information.

We see internal reference for the first time in this story, in the phrase “…úyahú nédehel ne hith…” (…when you ever-so-slightly-want to…). The word “hi” in this construction refers to the previous clause (about coming/going hither and thither). It’s useful to note that, while this example is instructive of how to form this type of structure, Láadan’s case structures would make it much more succinct to render this meaning “nédeheleya” (at the time of merest wanting).

Magic Granny opines that Michael will grow (náwí) from a decent youth to a good adult. The case assignment here is the same as that for “nahin” (to become). The “before” version is rendered in the Subject case, and the “after” version is in the Identifier case. The reasons for these case assignments will be made clear in a future lesson.

We’ve seen the word “thoma” (to be near) before. However, it is used here in what may be an unexpected way: in a sentence set in the past, “thomaya” (be near + TIME) would mean “recently;” however, in one set, as this one is, in the future, “soon” is the proper translation.

In paragraphs #29 and #30, we see the conjunction “úyahú” (CONJtime) modified by postpositions. In English we have many words to introduce adverbial phrases of time (“when,” “whenever,” “before,” “during,” “after,” “while,” and so on). In Láadan, we have postpositions that work very well in modifying a time case element, but we haven’t seen up ‘til now how they might modify a clause introduced by the conjunction “úyahú.” The postposition is placed directly after the conjunction and modifies the generic “when” according to its meaning.

In paragraphs #12, #22, and #29, we see transitive verbs (verbs that usually take an Object) “she” (to comfort), “them” (to need), and “shi” (to please) used without Objects. In the latter two of these cases, the verbs are half of a Relativized verb-noun pair that brings a stative (what would, in English, be an adjectival) sense. This is routine; we’ve seen this many times. However, in #12, the verb “she” (to comfort) is used as the main verb in its clause to describe the rooms Michael inhabits—without stating whom or what is comforted. This use is perfectly acceptable in Láadan; it’s simply the reverse of using a stative verb with an Object to imply an active verb’s meaning. However, for the purposes of translating into English, we’d have to find an appropriate adjective to use. The English adjectival ending “–able” is usually helpful in forming such an adjective: “…meshe shol…” (…the rooms are comfortable…).