Lesson 69
Translation 10

Vocabulary

áal

minute [sháal (day)] {AB}

alehala

art [alehale (music)]

alehalahá

artist [alehala (art) + –á (doer/maker)]

dalehalel

musical instrument [dalel (made thing) + alehale (music)]

dedidelom

opera [dedide (story) + lom (song)] {YML}

déethel

flute

dínídin

toy

dóolon

violin

emathá

architect [emath (architecture) + –á (doer/maker)]

eyoná

administrator [eyon (administration) + –á (doer/maker)]

ezhohá

acoustics-scientist; acoustician [ezho (acoustics) + –á (doer/maker)]

hazh

cart; wagon [mazh (automobile)] {AB}

hiháal

second, moment [hi– (diminutive) + áal (minute)] {AB}

hoyo

tail {SH}

huhal

master-work (the project a journeyman completes and presents to the guild for their approval in order to be elevated to the rank of master) [hu (boss) + hal (work)] {AB}

lalen

guitar

olobedalehalel

percussion instrument [olob (blow; strike) + dalelehalel (musical instrument)] {AB}

sháa

hour [sháal (day)] {AB}

shelalen

dulcimer

wethemesh

crossroads; fig: a situation in which choice can/must be made [weth (way/path/road) + mesh (across)] {AB}

wilominabelid

theater [wilomina (perform) + belid (house)] {AB}

zhob

machine

zhomarenil

resonance chamber; sound chamber [zho (sound) + marenil (hollow)] {AB}

zhuth

piano

Láadan Text

Yáahalehalehá

²Bíide Mázhareth zha lethom, izh mezha with woho leth “Nem;” Nem lem hiwáan wa. Eríli, úyahú le háawithem, dibíili omá ledim rilrili thad alehale le thilida melashahé wa. Nin edeláad betho halehul lehé i bedi alehale lehé. Bedi alehale le dalehalelenan nedebe; ril thad alehale le zhuthenan i déethelenan i lalenenan i shelalenenan i dóolonenan. Íi eril bedi lalom le, izh thalehil neda—thalehul ra—dith letha.

³Bíide ril ham láad le hathóoletham thabeshin, i le yáahalehalehám wa. Dush nasháad le miwith lethade i dush nahin wohim wohalehalehám; úyahú dóon hath, el le wobun wodalehaleleth. Meloláad thul letha shamath, izh melothel bezh thad bedi le radal nidi nushahé. Meloláad omá letho thenath beróo aril bedi le thad bedi ra le dalehóoth menedebe nushaháa. Mehen ra lan letho; non hal benetho mebenem ben miwithesha hihé, izh razhe hal letho i hal benetho. Néde bel le dóoloneth, déetheleth i laleneth; thad wida le bezheth, i mehel bezh zhoth menedebe—i thad lalom le lalenehóoden.

⁴Bíide úyahú nosháad le wethemeshedim, dush bem le néde sháad le bebáasha óobe—wethesha nedabahée wa. Bithim le mehim alehalehá beyezh shidinaleháath ham le núushahéya obée. Di beye bezhethu ledim; Máthu zha bethom, i be déethelám. Methi bezh beth i déetheláth nidi, lalomá, i lalená shin. Di be merathi bezh dóolonáhé i dibáa be néde im le bezhedenehée, i dibáa lalomá íi. Therísha zha bethom, izh beth zhashub “Sha.” Dihem sháad le bezheden, i menasháad len henedim. Methi bezh wothemideth i hazheth; them wida ra le laleneth i dóoloneth nuya—íizha dódozhehal eril el thulid letha dimeth nedehóo laleneda i dóolonedaháa widath. Ril thi le edethi le imeth witheden nidi nedebeháa nuya wa. Medi i mededide i melalom i mehalehale len, i sháad hath ralóolonal hiwáan.

⁵Bíide úyahú menosháad len miwithedim, bel zhethaleshubá leneth shenidim úshahú ra len éhuhudem, i menawilomina len. Míi le; mehalehale len woho thadenal, izh mehesho bezh woho leth. Dush halehul le olob ra le alehalethehéwan. Áyathúul dith Sha bitha; nahen le nuya úwáanú bith zhashub Sha. Nédeshub bedi le menime mehom bezh daleth waha ledimeháa. Meban ilá lenedim methem len loshehóoth náwíiwaneháath; mebenem len núusha hathóoleya nedebe obe. Om Máyel—déethelá shineya—dal déethelethuth i dithehóothuth menedebe. Úyahú menáasháad len, benem Máyel miwithesha hi; nédeshub el be dedidelometh i beth dówilominashub wilominabelidesha núusha. Rilrili be huhal bethom. Ril ul il le beth beyeya. Thi Máyel wothemid i hazh, izh them ra be bezheth; ban be bezheth Sha bidim hiwáan. Menáasháad lezh henedim.

⁶Bíide mehim lezh miwithedim aril, i miwithedim shin aril wa. Mezhe bezh i miwith nedeya. Izh razhehal miwith bimeya. Meham meworahíyamesh woweth menedebe yáanineden hatham benethusha óobe. Melíithi i mehithel mewohíthiháalish woshumath menedebe rosh háasháalethunan. Úyahú menahen miwithá mehin lezh alehalehámehé, medam ben zhedam rano ohena i ohameháath lezhedim. Mehedeláad with miwithethu hi mehéeda alehale i alehalahé. Mehoth alehalahá, alehalehá, i emathá, i mehoth hu eyonethu; mehesho re nedeya re shineya edeláad benethonal. Melolin méwith mesháad lezh hothedim wohoháasha. Mehul ben mewilomina lezh benedahé; mehul mehalehale beyen lezheden. Íi mehul meshim beyezh lezheden. Ham huhelá dalehalelethu wa; éban dórawulúd be dalehalel lezhethoth. Nath betho neda mehalehale lezh lometh nedehóo onida bethadahém. Medihem lezh éban bethoth wi! Methal dalehalel letho eril wa; methalethúul bezh aril. Lothel dalehalelá dal ezhothuth menedebe; wil benem i ulanin le beden. I wil dóháya be dithehóo lethath, izh ril thad ra be—íizha om Sha ledim; thi le ul nedebe hiwáan. Menosháad lezh wozhedi wohothedim wozhedi wohatheya. Be wilominabelidem—worahíya wowilominabelidem, i ume be onida dalehaleláthanan. Menanédeshub mewilomina lezh thalenal benedim beda; zhethal neda hi beróo thóhaleháalish be lezheda. Mehalehale lezh lometh shanethab. Mebenem—i mehalehale i mebedi—lezh miwithesha wemaneya obe. Úyahú nosháad hath náasháadewan, anath baneshub lezhedim imeda, i methi lezh obeyaleth i yetheth dimod lezhethosha nil. Háya wowemen wosháal imewan, i methi lezh lam; meloláad lezh wenath. Menásháad lezh henedim.

⁷Bíide mesháad hathóoletham boó wa. Mehim lezh henedim, íizha medush mehim lezh e hunehenedim e hanehenedim bada. Menahim alehalehá menedebe nedenal i shinenal lezheden hath menedebe—i menóhim ben zhenal. Bedi le beyenede, i thad om le beyezhedim. Mesháad len miwithedim menedebe. Doól menosháad lezh shan miwithedim nodonisha; beth zhashub Meladith. Lezheth beleshub heshehothedim sheshihothesha thoma úshahú methad mewilomina lezh. Mehalehale lezh nusha wumaneya obe, id menéde menáasháad bezh. Náhozh alehale le thilida; nanédeshub benem le hiwan úyahú menáasháad bezh.

⁸Bíide nalith le alehale le thilida bebáananehée wa. Alehale le déethel lethonan sheshihothesha sháaleya menedebe, i lith i ulanin le. Olob ili melathu dalehaleleth waha wi. I wida ra ili zho dalehalelethuth dóonenal. Habelid ezhohá miwithesha wa; dídibáa be leth daleth waha bedim. Izh an ra be rilrili dalehaleleth waha olob ra ili melathushubeháa. Hiya thoma, láad le elash háawith el dínídinehóo zhoth úyahú beth olobeshubeháanan. Báade rilrili wida ili zho wozhe wodalelethuth dóonenal? Beth thadeshub el udenan e badazhenan úwanú thad olob ra ili melathu beth? Bíide ril dibáa le ezhohádim, i dibé ulanin be dibáath.

⁹Bíide ril nédibíidi ezhohá ledim híyahatheya shin aril wa. “Em, bíidi wida ili zho in olobedalehaleleth eleshub e udenan e badazhenaneháathuth—berehóo íi ume zhomarenil ilinan wa,” di be ledim. “Rilrili olobedalehaleleth menedebe methadeshub mehel. Methi ben woho meworazhe wohíyath; ban hi meworazhe wozhoth benedim woho wi. Methi mewohíya wobeyen mewohíthi wozhoth, i methi meworahíya wobeyen meworahíthi wozhoth. Mezhedam zhobehóo i zhutheháath thadeshub el wa. Hinal, thad olob alehalehá olobedalehaleleth nede waha úyahú néde be; thad alehale be. Ril lothel ra le rilrili shi alehale hi thilithehée.”

¹⁰Bíide ril duth le hathóoletham boó úwanú bedi el le daleleth badazhenan wa. Aril el ra le huhal badazhenan rahadihad wa, izh ril thad el le olobedalehaleleth. Duth le hathóolethameth shin rano úwanú el le olobedalehaleleth thabenib i nib. Id duth le hathóoleth nidi bath úwanú el le zhobeth. Medam with menedebe yidelotheleth shub le bebáathehéethu. Duth le mewodo wobeyezheth; memina lezh zhobeth nameladim. Neril le sháaya nedebe obe mehume olobedalehalel woho ilinanehéya hathobéeya. Nahalehale le eril thod le alehaleth hatheda hiháath “ilizhuthenan,” i ril shóo radal. Mehil ra thili. Náhalehale le hi rawáan beróo lith le rilrili methem ben hath nidi naláadewanehé. Izh ril náshóo radal. Náhalehale le hi rawáan; alehale le sháaya boóyishin obe. Id nosháad mémelamid réeledim; mehoób i mehelash ben. Hahodimi le, i nóohalehale le hiwáan. Medam mehahod melamid, i menahilisháad ben réelede. Náahalehale le, i menéhilisháad ben. I mehamedara ben hoyonan ilisha nol nuya. Alehale le i mehamedara ben mehóohahul len wohohéya hathobéeya.

¹¹Bíide háahalehaleháth norishub shod lethodim háasháaleya nedehóo aril wa. Di be ledim meneril huhalehalehá lethehé. Bud le leyóoth ralóolonal, i yime le lolinebelidedim. Úyahú nosháad le, redeb le huhalehalehá miwithethuth woho—i eril mehom ezhohá i hubadazhelá letheháath. Ril medibáa bin daleth menedebe ledim. Leth dibáashub alehale le bebáawan i bebáawáanehée. Nédi le loláad le ath alehaledimehé. Leth dibáashub alehale le melamideda bebáawanehée. Nédi le hinal: “Bíi alehale le melamidedaá; alehale le thilihóoda wa. Alehale le thilidahé ozh lethom háawitheya. Izh mehil ra thili alehale lethoth; medam melamid shi alehale letho benethehé. Rilrili alehale le shi alehale letho ilátheháadáa.” Menádibáa bin daleth nidi menedebe ledim; doól, di biye ledim bineda, “Bíi beróo eril im in ne yáahalehalehámehé, beróo eril el ne wobun wodalehaleleth, i beróo eril thod ne wobun wohalehale mewobun woméhiláda, ril mezheláad len in neth dinimeshub zha huhalehalehámehé wa. Báa néde di ne daleth waha?” Di le binedim, “Bíilan ril thad áala neda le ninedim wa.”

My English Translation with Morpheme-by-Morpheme Analysis

Yáahalehalehá

TEEN + Music + DOER = Musician = JourneymanMusician

Journeyman Musician

²Bíide

DECL + NARR

Mázhareth

Margaret

zha

Name

lethom,

I + POSS + IDENT

izh

But

mezha

PL + Name

with

Person

woho

#All

leth

I + OBJ

“Nem;”

Pearl

Nem

Pearl

lem

I + IDENT

hiwáan

Demo1 + COZ = Therefore

wa.

MYPERC

Eríli,

FARPAST

úyahú

CONJtime

háawithem,

Child + IDENT

dibíili

Say + DECL = Declare + LOVE

omá

Teach + DOER = Teacher

ledim

I + GOAL

rilrili

HYPOTH

thad

BeAble

alehale

Music

thilida

Fish + BENEF

melashahé

Ocean + PLC + EMBED

wa.

MYPERC

Nin

Cause

edeláad

Believe

betho

X1 + POSS

halehul

Work + DEGextreme

lehé

I + EMBED

And

bedi

Learn

alehale

Music

lehé.

I + EMBED

Bedi

Learn

alehale

Music

dalehalelenan

Instrument + INSTR

nedebe;

#2-5

ril

PRES

thad

BeAble

alehale

Music

zhuthenan

Piano + INSTR

And

déethelenan

Flute + INSTR

And

lalenenan

Guitar + INSTR

And

shelalenenan

Dulcimer + INSTR

And

dóolonenan.

Violin + INSTR

Íi

Also

eril

PAST

bedi

Learn

lalom

Sing

le,

izh

But

thalehil

BeGood + DEGminor

neda

Only

—thalehul

BeGood + DEGextreme

ra—

NEG

dith

Voice

letha.

I + POSSbirth

²My name is Margaret, but everyone calls me “Pearl;” so Pearl am I. Long ago, when I was a child, a teacher lovingly told me that I would BeAble to play music for the fish in the ocean. Her belief caused me to work extremely hard and learn to play music. I learned to play several instruments; I can play the piano, the flute, the guitar, the dulcimer and the violin. I also learned to sing, but my voice is just okay—not great.

³Bíide

DECL + NARR

ril

PRES

ham

láad

BePresent

Perceive

Be # Old

hathóoletham

Time + Moon = Month + Circle = Year

thabeshin,

#10 + #2 = #20

And

yáahalehalehám

JourneymanMusician + IDENT

wa.

MYPERC

Dush

Must

nasháad

BEGIN + ComeGo = Depart

miwith

Town

lethade

I + POSSbirth+ SRC

And

dush

Must

nahin

BEGIN + Exist

wohim

REL + Travel

wohalehalehám;

REL + Musician + IDENT

úyahú

CONJtime

dóon

BeCorrect

hath,

Time

Make

wobun

REL + New

wodalehaleleth.

REL + Instrument + OBJ

Meloláad

PL + PerceiveInt

thul

Parent

letha

I + POSSbirth

shamath,

Grief(Ext,–,–) + OBJ

izh

But

melothel

PL + Know

bezh

X2-5

thad

BeAble

bedi

Learn

radal

Nothing + (OBJ)

nidi

Add’l

nushahé.

Here + PLC + EMBED

Meloláad

PL + PerceiveInt

omá

Teacher

letho

I + POSS

thenath

JoyGood + OBJ

beróo

Because

aril

FUT

bedi

Learn

thad

BeAble

bedi

Learn

NEG

dalehóoth

Thing + FOCUS + OBJ

menedebe

#>5

nushaháa.

Here + PLC + EMBEDrel

Mehen

PL + Understand

NEG

lan

Friend

letho;

I + POSS

non

Allow

hal

Work

benetho

X>5 + POSS

mebenem

PL + Stay

ben

X>5

miwithesha

Town + PLC

hihé,

Demo1 + EMBED

izh

But

razhe

NON + BeAlike = BeDifferent

hal

Work

letho

I + POSS

And

hal

Work

benetho.

X>5 + POSS

Néde

Want

bel

BringTake

dóoloneth,

Violin + OBJ

déetheleth

Flute + OBJ

And

laleneth;

Guitar + OBJ

thad

BeAble

wida

Carry

bezheth,

X2-5 + OBJ

And

mehel

PL + Make

bezh

X2-5

zhoth

Sound + OBJ

menedebe

#>5

—i

And

thad

BeAble

lalom

Sing

lalenehóoden.

Guitar + FOCUS + ASSOC

³Now I am twenty years old and a journeyman musician. I have to leave the town I was born in and become an itinerant musician; when the time is right, I’ll make a new musical instrument. My parents are grieving—and they have cause, though there is no-one to blame and no remedy—but they know that I cannot learn anything more here. My teachers are joyful—with good reason—because I shall learn many things that I cannot here. My friends don’t understand; their work allows them to stay in this town, but my work is not like their work. I’m taking a violin, a flute and a guitar; I can carry them, and they make a lot of sound—and with the guitar I can sing.

⁴Bíide

DECL + NARR

úyahú

CONJtime

nosháad

FINISH + ComeGo = Arrive

wethemeshedim,

Path + Across = Crossroads + GOAL

dush

Must

bem

Choose

néde

Want

sháad

ComeGo

bebáasha

Qprn + PLC

óobe

Along

—wethesha

Path + PLC

nedabahée

Which + EMBEDq

wa.

MYPERC

Bithim

Meet

mehim

PL + Travel

alehalehá

Musician

beyezh

Indef2-5

shidinaleháath

BeTogether + MANN + EMBEDrel+ OBJ

ham

BePresent

núushahéya

There + PLC + EMBED + TIME

obée.

During

Speak

beye

Indef1

bezhethu

X2-5 + PARTV

ledim;

I + GOAL

Máthu

Matthew

zha

Name

bethom,

X1 + POSS + IDENT

And

déethelám.

Flute + DOER = Flautist + IDENT

Methi

PL + Have

bezh

X2-5

beth

X1 + OBJ

And

déetheláth

Flautist + OBJ

nidi,

Add’l

lalomá,

Sing + DOER = Singer

And

lalená

Guitar + DOER = Guitarist

shin.

Speak

merathi

PL + NON + Have = Lack

bezh

X2-5

dóolonáhé

Violin + DOER = Violinist + EMBED

And

dibáa

Speak + Q = Question

néde

Want

Travel

bezhedenehée,

X2-5 + ASSOC + EMBEDq

And

dibáa

Question

lalomá

Singer

íi.

Also

Therísha

Teresa

zha

Name

bethom,

X1 + POSS + IDENT

izh

But

beth

X1 + PATIENT

zhashub

Name + PASSV

“Sha.”

Harmony

Dihem

Speak + Yes = Accept

sháad

ComeGo

bezheden,

X2-5 + ASSOC

And

menasháad

PL + Depart

len

We>5

henedim.

East + GOAL

Methi

PL + Have

bezh

X2-5

wothemideth

Wisdom + Creature = Mule + OBJ

And

hazheth;

Cart + OBJ

them

Need

wida

Carry

NEG

laleneth

Guitar + OBJ

And

dóoloneth

Violin + OBJ

nuya

Here + TIME = Now

—íizha

Although

dódozhehal

CAUSEto + BeEasy + DEGunusual

eril

PAST

Make

thulid

Parent + Male = Father

letha

I + POSSbirth

dimeth

Container + OBJ

nedehóo

#1 + FOCUS

laleneda

Guitar + BENEF

And

dóolonedaháa

Violin + BENEF + EMBEDrel

widath.

Carry + OBJ

Ril

PRES

thi

Have

edethi

imeth

Travel + OBJ

witheden

Person + ASSOC

nidi

Add’l

nedebeháa

#2-5 + EMBEDrel + (OBJ)

nuya

Now

wa.

MYPERC

Medi

PL + Speak

And

mededide

PL + Story

And

melalom

PL + Sing

And

mehalehale

PL + Music

len,

We>5

And

sháad

ComeGo

hath

Time

ralóolonal

NON + BeSlow = BeQuick + MANN

hiwáan.

Therefore

⁴When I arrive at a crossroads, I must choose which road I want to go along. While I’m there, I meet some musicians who are traveling together. One of them speaks to me; Matthew is his name, and he’s a flautist. They have him and one more flautist, a singer and two guitarists. He says they lack a violinist and asks whether I want to travel with them, and the singer asks, too. Teresa is her name, but she is called “Harmony.” I agree to travel with them, and we depart eastward. They have a mule and cart; now I don’t neet to carry the guitar and the violin—although the single container my father made for the guitar and the violin makes the carrying pretty easy. I have several more people with whom to share the journey now. We talk and tell stories and sing, and so the time passes quickly.

⁵Bíide

DECL + NARR

úyahú

CONJtime

menosháad

PL + Arrive

len

We>5

miwithedim,

Town + GOAL

bel

BringTake

zhethaleshubá

BeAlike + BeGood = BeJust + Do = Police + DOER = PoliceOfficer

leneth

We>5 + OBJ

shenidim

Intersection + GOAL

úshahú

CONJplc

NEG

len

We>5

éhuhudem,

POTENTIAL + Nuisance + IDENT

And

menawilomina

PL + BEGIN + Perform

len.

We>5

Míi

BeAmazed

le;

mehalehale

PL + Music

len

We>5

woho

#All

thadenal,

BeAble + MANN

izh

But

mehesho

PL + Surpass

bezh

X2-5

woho

#All

leth.

I + OBJ

Dush

Must

halehul

Work + DEGextreme

olob

BlowTrauma

NEG

alehalethehéwan.

Music + OBJ + EMBED + PURP

Áyathúul

BeBeautiful + DEG+magnif

dith

Voice

Sha

Harmony

bitha;

XHon1 + POSSbirth

nahen

BEGIN + Understand

nuya

Now

úwáanú

CONJcoz

bith

XHon1 + PATIENT

zhashub

Name + PASSV

Sha.

Harmony

Nédeshub

Intention

bedi

Learn

menime

PL + BeWilling

mehom

PL + Teach

bezh

X2-5

daleth

Thing + OBJ

waha

#Any

ledimeháa.

I + GOAL + EMBEDrel

Meban

PL + Give

ilá

PayAttn + DOER = Spectator

lenedim

We>5 + GOAL

methem

PL + Need

len

We>5

loshehóoth

Money + FOCUS + OBJ

náwíiwaneháath;

CONT + Be alive = Survive + PURP + EMBEDrel + OBJ

mebenem

PL + Stay

len

We>5

núusha

There + PLC

hathóoleya

Month + TIME

nedebe

#2-5

obe.

Through

Teach

Máyel

Michael

—déethelá

Flautist

shineya—

#2 + TIME = Second

dal

Thing

déethelethuth

Flute + PARTV + OBJ

And

dithehóothuth

Voice + FOCUS + PARTV + OBJ

menedebe.

#>5

Úyahú

CONJtime

menáasháad

PL + RESUME + ComeGo

len,

We>5

benem

Stay

Máyel

Michael

miwithesha

Town + PLC

hi;

Demo1

nédeshub

Intention

Make

dedidelometh

Story + Song = Opera + OBJ

And

beth

X1 + PATIENT

dówilominashub

CAUSEto + Perform + PASSV

wilominabelidesha

Perform + House = Theater + PLC

núusha.

There + PLC

Rilrili

HYPOTH

huhal

Boss + Work = Masterwork

bethom.

X1 + POSS + IDENT

Ril

PRES

Hope

PayAttn

beth

X1 + OBJ

beyeya.

Indef1 + TIME

Thi

Have

Máyel

Michael

wothemid

Mule

And

hazh,

Cart

izh

But

them

Need

NEG

bezheth;

X2-5 + OBJ

ban

Give

bezheth

X2-5 + OBJ

Sha

Harmony

bidim

XHon1 + GOAL

hiwáan.

Therefore

Menáasháad

PL + RESUME + ComeGo

lezh

We2-5

henedim.

East + GOAL

⁵When we get to a city, a police officer takes us to an intersection where we won’t be a nuisance, and we begin to perform. I’m amazed; they all play more ably than I. I have to work extremely hard lest I harm the music. Harmony’s voice is magnificently beautiful; now I begin to understand why she’s called Harmony. I intend to learn anything they’re willing to teach me. The audience give us the money we need to live; we stay there a few months. Michael—the second flautist—teaches me a lot about the flute—and the voice. When we continue on our way, Michael stays in that city; he intends to write an opera and have it performed in the theatre there. It would be his master-work. I hope to see it sometime. Michael owns the mule and cart, but he doesn’t need them; so he gives them to Harmony. We continue eastward.

⁶Bíide mehim lezh miwithedim aril, i miwithedim shin aril wa. Mezhe bezh i miwith nedeya. Izh razhehal miwith bimeya. Meham meworahíyamesh woweth menedebe yáanineden hatham benethusha óobe. Melíithi i mehithel mewohíthiháalish woshumath menedebe rosh háasháalethunan. Úyahú menahen miwithá mehin lezh alehalehámehé, medam ben zhedam rano ohena i ohameháath lezhedim. Mehedeláad with miwithethu hi mehéeda alehale i alehalahé. Mehoth alehalahá, alehalehá, i emathá, i mehoth hu eyonethu; mehesho re nedeya re shineya edeláad benethonal. Melolin méwith mesháad lezh hothedim wohoháasha. Mehul ben mewilomina lezh benedahé; mehul mehalehale beyen lezheden. Íi mehul meshim beyezh lezheden. Ham huhelá dalehalelethu wa; éban dórawulúd be dalehalel lezhethoth. Nath betho neda mehalehale lezh lometh nedehóo onida bethadahém. Medihem lezh éban bethoth wi! Methal dalehalel letho eril wa; methalethúul bezh aril. Lothel dalehalelá dal ezhothuth menedebe; wil benem i ulanin le beden. I wil dóháya be dithehóo lethath, izh ril thad ra be—íizha om Sha ledim; thi le ul nedebe hiwáan. Menosháad lezh wozhedi wohothedim wozhedi wohatheya. Be wilominabelidem—worahíya wowilominabelidem, i ume be onida dalehaleláthanan. Menanédeshub mewilomina lezh thalenal benedim beda; mehalehale lezh lometh shanethab. Zhethal neda hi beróo thóhaleháalish be lezheda. Mebenem—i mehalehale i mebedi—lezh miwithesha wemaneya obe. Úyahú nosháad hath náasháadewan, anath baneshub lezhedim imeda, i methi lezh obeyaleth i yetheth dimod lezhethosha nil. Háya wowemen wosháal imewan, i methi lezh lam; meloláad lezh wenath. Menásháad lezh henedim.

⁶Bíide

DECL + NARR

mehim

PL + Travel

lezh

We2-5

miwithedim

aril,

Town + GOAL

FUT

Next Town + GOAL

And

miwithedim

shin

aril

Town + GOAL

FUT

Town After Next + GOAL

wa.

MYPERC

Mezhe

PL + BeAlike

bezh

X2-5

And

miwith

Town

nedeya.

#1 + TIME = First

Izh

But

razhehal

NON + BeAlike = BeDifferent + DEGunusual

miwith

Town

bimeya.

Four + TIME = Fourth

Meham

PL + BePresent

meworahíyamesh

PL + REL + NON + BeSmall + Across = BeWide

woweth

REL + Path

menedebe

<#>5/span>

yáanineden

Tree + ASSOC

hatham

Center

benethusha

X>5 + PARTV + PLC

óobe.

Along

Melíithi

PL + BeWhite

And

mehithel

PL + Light + Make = Shine

mewohíthiháalish

PL + REL + BeHigh + DEGextraord

woshumath

REL + Air + Building = Tower

menedebe

#>5

rosh

Sun

háasháalethunan.

Child + Day = Morning + PARTV + INSTR

Úyahú

CONJtime

menahen

PL + BEGIN + Understand

miwithá

Town + DOER = TownDweller

mehin

PL + Exist

lezh

We2-5

alehalehámehé,

Musician + IDENT + EMBED

medam

PL + Manifest

ben

X>5

zhedam

BeAlike + Manifest = Resemble

rano

NON + FINISH = Almost

ohena

RespectGood

And

ohameháath

LoveHoly + EMBEDrel + OBJ

lezhedim.

We2-5 + GOAL

Mehedeláad

PL + Believe

with

Person

miwithethu

Town + PARTV

Demo1

mehéeda

PL + BeHoly

alehale

Music

And

alehalahé.

Art + EMBED

Mehoth

PL + BeImportant

alehalahá,

Art + DOER = Artist

alehalehá,

Musician

emathá,

SCIof + Building = Architecture + DOER = Architect

And

mehoth

PL + BeImportant

Boss

eyonethu;

SCIof + Gov’t = Administration + PARTV

mehesho

PL + Surpass

Neither…

nedeya

First

…Nor

shineya

Second

edeláad

benethonal.

Believe

X>5 + POSS + MANN

According to Their Belief

Melolin

PL + Gather

méwith

Crowd

mesháad

PL + ComeGo

lezh

We2-5

hothedim

Place + GOAL

wohoháasha.

#All + EMBEDrel + PLC

Mehul

PL + Hope

ben

X>5

mewilomina

Perform

lezh

We2-5

benedahé;

X>5 + BENEF + EMBED

mehul

PL + Hope

mehalehale

PL + Music

beyen

Indef>5

lezheden.

We2-5 + ASSOC

Íi

Also

mehul

PL + Hope

meshim

PL + SexAct

beyezh

Indef2-5

lezheden.

We2-5 + ASSOC

Ham

BePresent

huhelá

Boss + Make + DOER

dalehalelethu

Instrument + PARTV

wa;

MYPERC

éban

Potential + Give = Offer

dórawulúd

CAUSEto + NON + BeBroken = Repair

dalehalel

Instrument

lezhethoth.

We2-5 + POSS + OBJ

Nath

Price

betho

X1 + POSS

neda

Only

mehalehale

PL + Music

lezh

We2-5

lometh

Song + OBJ

nedehóo

#1 + FOCUS

onida

Family

bethadahém.

X1 + POSSbirth + BENEF + EMBED + IDENT

Medihem

PL + Speak + Yes = Accept

lezh

We2-5

éban

Offer

bethoth

X1 + POSS + OBJ

wi!

SELFEVID

Methal

PL + BeGood

dalehalel

Instrument

letho

I + POSS

eril

PAST

wa;

MYPERC

methalethúul

PL + BeGood + DEG+magnif

bezh

X2-5

aril.

FUT

Lothel

Know

dalehalelá

InstrumentMaker

dal

Thing

ezhothuth

SCIof + Sound = Acoustics + PARTV + OBJ

menedebe;

#>5

wil

OPTV

benem

Stay

And

ulanin

Study

beden.

X1 + ASSOC

And

wil

OPTV

dóháya

CAUSEto + BeBeautiful

dithehóo

Voice + FOCUS

lethath,

I + POSSbirth + OBJ

izh

But

ril

PRES

thad

BeAble

NEG

—íizha

Although

Teach

Sha

Harmony

ledim;

I + GOAL

thi

Have

Hope

nedebe

#2-5

hiwáan.

Therefore

Menosháad

PL + Arrive

lezh

We2-5

wozhedi

REL + AgreeWord

wohothedim

REL + Place + GOAL

wozhedi

REL + AgreeWord

wohatheya.

REL + Time + TIME

wilominabelidem

Theater + IDENT

—worahíya

REL + BeLarge

wowilominabelidem,

REL + Theater + IDENT

And

ume

BeFull

onida

Family

dalehaleláthanan.

InstrumentMaker + POSSbirth + INSTR

Menanédeshub

PL + BEGIN + Intention = Decide

mewilomina

PL + Perform

lezh

We2-5

thalenal

BeGood + MANN

benedim

X>5 + GOAL

beda;

X1 + BENEF

zhethal

BeJust

neda

Only

Demo1

beróo

Because

thóhaleháalish

JUST + Work + DEGextraord

lezheda.

We2-5 + BENEF

Mehalehale

PL + Music

lezh

We2-5

lometh

Song + OBJ

shanethab.

#5 + #10 = #15

Mebenem

PL + Stay

—i

And

mehalehale

PL + Music

And

mebedi—

PL + Learn

lezh

We2-5

miwithesha

Town + PLC

wemaneya

Winter + TIME

obe.

Through

Úyahú

CONJtime

nosháad

Arrive

hath

Time

náasháadewan,

RESUME + ComeGo + PURP

anath

Food + PATIENT

baneshub

Give + PASSV

lezhedim

We2-5 + GOAL

imeda,

Travel + BENEF

And

methi

PL + Have

lezh

We2-5

obeyaleth

Gold + OBJ

And

yetheth

Silver + OBJ

dimod

Container + Cloth = Bag

lezhethosha

We2-5 + POSS + PLC

nil.

Inside

Háya

BeBeautifulTime

wowemen

REL + Spring = BeVernal

wosháal

REL + Day

imewan,

Travel + PURP

And

methi

PL + Have

lezh

We2-5

lam;

Health

meloláad

PL + PerceiveInt

lezh

We2-5

wenath.

GratitudeGood

Menásháad

PL + CONT + ComeGo

lezh

We2-5

henedim.

East + GOAL

⁶We travel to the next city, and the one after that. They are like the first city. But the fourth is quite different. There are many broad boulevards with trees along their centers. The many tall, tall towers are white and shining in the morning sun. When the city-dwellers discover that we are musicians, they show us respect that almost resembles love-for-the-holy. The people of this city believe that music and art are holy. Artists, musicians, and architects are just as important, according to their beliefs, as high administration officials. Crowds gather everywhere we go. They hope we’ll play for them; some hope to play with us. Also, some few hope to sleep with us. There’s a master-instrument-maker; she offers to repair our instruments. Her only price is that we play a single song for her family. Of course we accept her offer! My instruments were good before, but they’re magnificent afterward. The instrument-maker knows a lot about acoustics; I wish to stay and study with her. And I wish she could make my voice beautiful, but she cannot—although Harmony is teaching me; so I have some small hope. We arrive at the agreed-upon place and time. It’s a theater—a big theater, and it’s full of the instrument-maker’s family. We decide to give them a good performance for her sake; we play fifteen songs. It’s only fair because she had worked extraordinarily hard on our behalf. We stay in the city, playing and learning, through the winter. When the time comes for going on, we are given food for the journey, and we have gold and silver in our purses. It’s a beautiful spring day for traveling, and we have our health; we are grateful. We continue to the east.

⁷Bíide

DECL + NARR

mesháad

hathóoletham

boó

PL + ComeGo

Year

Three Years Pass

wa.

MYPERC

Mehim

PL + Travel

lezh

We2-5

henedim,

East + GOAL

íizha

Although

medush

PL + Must

mehim

PL + Travel

lezh

We2-5

Either…

hunehenedim

North + East + GOAL

…Or

hanehenedim

South + East + GOAL

bada.

REPrand

Menahim

PL + BEGIN + Travel

alehalehá

Musician

menedebe

#>5

nedenal

#1 + MANN

And

shinenal

#2 + MANN

lezheden

We2-5 + ASSOC

hath

menedebe

Time

#>5

Often

—i

And

menóhim

PL + Stop + Travel

ben

X>5

zhenal.

BeAlike + MANN

Bedi

Learn

beyenede,

Indef>5 + SRC

And

thad

BeAble

Teach

beyezhedim.

Indef2-5 + GOAL

Mesháad

PL + ComeGo

len

We>5

miwithedim

Town + GOAL

menedebe.

#>5

Doól

AtLast

menosháad

PL + Arrive

lezh

We2-5

shan

miwithedim

Town + GOAL

nodonisha;

FINISH + Earth = Coast + PLC

beth

X1 + PATIENT

zhashub

Name + PASSV

Meladith.

Sea + Voice

Lezheth

We2-5 + PATIENT

beleshub

BringTake + PASSV

heshehothedim

Park + GOAL

sheshihothesha

Sand + Place = Beach + PLC

thoma

BeNear

úshahú

CONJplc

methad

PL + BeAble

mewilomina

PL + Perform

lezh.

We2-5

Mehalehale

PL + Music

lezh

We2-5

nusha

Here + PLC

wumaneya

Summer + TIME

obe,

Through

AndThen

menéde

PL + Want

menáasháad

PL + RESUME + ComeGo

bezh.

X2-5

Náhozh

CONT + Dream

alehale

Music

thilida;

Fish + BENEF

nanédeshub

Decide

benem

Stay

hiwan

Demo1 + PURP = ToThisEnd

úyahú

CONJtime

menáasháad

PL + RESUME + ComeGo

bezh.

X2-5

⁷Three years pass. We travel eastward, although occasionally we have to travel northeast or southeast. Many musicians join us in our travels by ones and twos�and they leave us the same way. I learn from many of them, and I am able to teach a few of them. We go to many cities. Finally we five arrive at a city at the shore; it�s called Meladith. We are taken to a park near the beach where we can perform. We play here through the summer, and then they want to go on. I still dream of playing for the fish; to that end, I decide to stay when they go on.

⁸Bíide nalith le alehale le bebáanan thilidahée wa. Alehale le déethel lethonan sheshihothesha sháaleya menedebe, i lith i ulanin le. Olob ili melathu dalehaleleth waha wi. I wida ra ili zho dalehalelethuth dóonenal. Habelid ezhohá miwithesha wa; dídibáa be leth daleth waha bedim. Izh an ra be rilrili dalehaleleth waha olob ra ili melathushubeháa. Hiya thoma, láad le elash háawith zho dínídinehóo úyahú beth olobeshubeháanan. Báade rilrili wida ili zho wozhe wodalelethuth dóonenal? Beth thadeshub el udenan e badazhenan úwanú thad olob ra ili melathu beth? Bíide ril dibáa le ezhohádim, i dibé ulanin be dibáath.

⁸Bíide

DECL + NARR

nalith

BEGIN + Think

alehale

Music

bebáanan

Qprn1 + INSTR

thilidahée

Fish + BENEF + EMBEDq

wa.

MYPERC

Alehale

Music

déethel

Flute

lethonan

I + POSS + INSTR

sheshihothesha

Beach + PLC

sháaleya

Day + TIME

menedebe,

#>5

And

lith

Think

And

ulanin

Study

le.

Olob

BlowTrauma

ili

Water

melathu

Ocean + PARTV

dalehaleleth

Instrument + OBJ

waha

#Any

wi.

SELFEVID

And

wida

Carry

NEG

ili

Water

zho

Sound

dalehalelethuth

Instrument + PARTV + OBJ

dóonenal.

BeCorrect + MANN

Habelid

Dwell

ezhohá

SCIof + Sound = Accoustics + DOER = Acoustician

miwithesha

Town + PLC

wa;

MYPERC

dídibáa

ALLOW + Question

leth

I + OBJ

daleth

Thing + OBJ

waha

#Any

bedim.

X1 + GOAL

Izh

But

BeAcquainted

NEG

rilrili

HYPOTH

dalehaleleth

Instrument + PATIENT

waha

#Any

olob

BlowTrauma

NEG

ili

Water

melathushubeháa.

Ocean + PARTV + AGENT + EMBEDrel

Hiya

Demo1 + TIME

thoma,

BeNear

láad

Perceive

elash

Play

háawith

Child

zho

Sound

dínídinehóo

Toy + FOCUS

úyahú

CONJtime

beth

X1 + PATIENT

olobeshubeháanan.

BlowTrauma + PASSV + EMBEDrel + INSTR + EMBED

Báade

Q + NARR

rilrili

HYPOTH

wida

Carry

ili

Water

zho

Sound

wozhe

REL + BeAlike

wodalelethuth

REL + Object + PARTV + OBJ

dóonenal?

BeCorrect + MANN

Beth

X1 + PATIENT

thadeshub

BeAble + PASSV

Make

udenan

Stone + INSTR

badazhenan

Metal + INSTR

úwanú

CONJpurp

thad

BeAble

olob

BlowTrauma

NEG

ili

Water

melathu

Ocean + PARTV

beth?

X1 + OBJ

Bíide

DECL + NARR

ril

PRES

dibáa

Question

ezhohádim,

Acoustician + GOAL

And

dibé

Promise

ulanin

Study

dibáath.

Question + OBJ

⁸I begin to think how I’m to play for the fish. I play my flute on the beach for many days, and I think and study. Clearly, seawater is going to damage any instrument. And water doesn’t carry the sound of an instrument properly. An acoustics-scientist lives in the city; he allows me to ask him any question. But he isn’t acquainted with any musical instrument that wouldn’t be harmed by seawater. Around this time, I perceive a child playing with a toy that makes a sound when it is struck. Might water carry the sound of such an object properly? Could it be made of stone or of metal so that seawater cannot harm it? I ask the acoustician, and he promises to study the question.

⁹Bíide

DECL + NARR

ril

PRES

nédibíidi

BACK + Declare + DIDACT

ezhohá

Acoustician

ledim

I + GOAL

híyahatheya

shin

aril

Week + TIME

FUT

Two Weeks Later

wa.

MYPERC

“Em,

Yes

bíidi

DECL + DIDACT

wida

Carry

ili

Water

zho

Sound

Exist

olobedalehaleleth

BlowTrauma + Instrument = PercussionInstrument + PATIENT

eleshub

Make + PASSV

udenan

Stone + INSTR

…Or

badazhenaneháathuth

Metal + INSTR + EMBEDrel + PARTV + OBJ

—berehóo

If + FOCUS

íi

Also

ume

BeFull

zhomarenil

Sound + Hollow = ResonanceChamber

ilinan

Water + INSTR

wa,”

MYPERC

Speak

ledim.

I + GOAL

“Rilrili

HYPOTH

olobedalehaleleth

PercussionInstrument + PATIENT

menedebe

#>5

methadeshub

PL + BeAble + PASSV

mehel.

PL + Make

Methi

PL + Have

ben

X>5

woho

#All

meworazhe

PL + REL + BeDifferent

wohíyath;

REL + BeSmall + OBJ

ban

Give

Demo1

meworazhe

PL + REL + BeDifferent

wozhoth

REL + Sound + OBJ

benedim

X>5 + GOAL

woho

#All

wi.

SELFEVID

Methi

PL + Have

mewohíya

PL + REL + BeSmall

wobeyen

REL + Demo>5

mewohíthi

PL + REL + BeHigh

wozhoth,

REL + Sound + OBJ

And

methi

PL + Have

meworahíya

PL + REL + BeLarge

wobeyen

REL + Demo>5

meworahíthi

PL + REL + NON + BeHigh = BeLow

wozhoth.

REL + Sound + OBJ

Mezhedam

PL + Resemble

zhobehóo

Machine + FOCUS

And

zhutheháath

Piano + OBJ + EMBEDrel + PATIENT

thadeshub

BeAble + PASSV

Make

wa.

MYPERC

Hinal,

Demo1 + MANN = Thus

thad

BeAble

olob

BlowTrauma

alehalehá

Musician

olobedalehaleleth

PercussionInstrument + OBJ

nede

waha

#Any

úyahú

CONJtime

néde

Want

be;

thad

BeAble

alehale

Music

be.

Ril

PRES

lothel

Know

NEG

rilrili

HYPOTH

shi

Please

alehale

Music

Demo1

thilithehée.”

Fish + OBJ + EMBEDq

⁹The acoustician answers me two weeks later. “Yes, water carries the sound of a percussion instrument that is made of stone or metal—if the resonance chamber is also full of water,” he tells me didactically. “Many percussion instruments might be made. Each of them would have a different size; this would, of course, give each each of them a different sound. Small ones would have a high sound; the large ones would have a low sound. A machine that resembles a piano could be built. In this way the musician could strike any individual percussion instrument when she wanted; she could play music. I don’t know whether this music would please fish.”

¹⁰Bíide

DECL + NARR

ril

PRES

duth

Use

hathóoletham

Year

boó

úwanú

CONJpurp

bedi

Learn

Make

daleleth

MadeThing + OBJ

badazhenan

Metal + INSTR

wa.

MYPERC

Aril

FUT

Make

NEG

huhal

MasterWork

badazhenan

Metal + INSTR

rahadihad

NON + Always = Never

wa,

MYPERC

izh

But

ril

PRES

thad

BeAble

Make

olobedalehaleleth.

PercussionInstrument + OBJ

Duth

Use

hathóolethameth

Year + OBJ

shin

rano

Almost

úwanú

CONJpurp

Make

olobedalehaleleth

PercussionInstrument + OBJ

thabenib

#10 + #8 = #80

And

nib.

AndThen

duth

Use

hathóoleth

Month + OBJ

nidi

Add’l

bath

úwanú

CONJpurp

Make

zhobeth.

Machine + OBJ

Medam

PL + Manifest

with

Person

menedebe

#>5

yidelotheleth

Curiosity + OBJ

shub

bebáathehéethu.

Qprn1 + OBJ + EMBEDq + PARTV

Duth

Use

mewodo

PL + REL + BeStrong

wobeyezheth;

REL + Indef2-5 + OBJ

memina

PL + Move

lezh

We2-5

zhobeth

Machine + OBJ

nameladim.

BEGIN + Ocean + GOAL

Neril

Wait

sháaya

Hour + TIME

nedebe

#2-5

obe

Through

mehume

PL + BeFull

olobedalehalel

PercussionInstrument

woho

#All

ilinanehéya

Water + INSTR + EMBED + TIME

hathobéeya.

Until

Nahalehale

BEGIN + Music

eril

PAST

thod

Write

alehaleth

Music + OBJ

hatheda

Time + BENEF

hiháath

Demo1 + EMBEDrel + OBJ

“ilizhuthenan,”

Water + Piano + INSTR

And

ril

PRES

shóo

Happen

radal.

Nothing

Mehil

PL + PayAttn

NEG

thili.

Fish

Náhalehale

CONT + Music

rawáan

Demo1

NON + COZ

beróo

Because

lith

Think

rilrili

HYPOTH

methem

PL + Need

ben

X>5

hath

Time + (OBJ)

nidi

Add’l

naláadewanehé.

BEGIN + Perceive + PURP + EMBED

Izh

But

ril

PRES

náshóo

CONT + Happen

radal.

Nothing

Náhalehale

CONT + Music

rawáan;

Demo1

NON + COZ

Nevertheless

alehale

sháaya

Hour + TIME

boóyishin

#3 + FRAC + #2

obe.

Through

AndThen

nosháad

Arrive

mémelamid

COLLV + Dolphin

réeledim;

Harbor + GOAL

mehoób

PL + Jump

And

mehelash

PL + Play

ben.

X>5

Hahodimi

ConsState + AmazeBewilderGood

le,

And

nóohalehale

PAUSE + Music

hiwáan.

Therefore

Medam

PL + Manifest

mehahod

PL + ConsState + Neutral

melamid,

Dolphin

And

menahilisháad

PL + BEGIN + Water + ComeGo = Swim

ben

X>5

réelede.

Harbor + SRC

Náahalehale

RESUME + Music

le,

And

menéhilisháad

PL + BACK + Swim

ben.

X>5

And

mehamedara

PL + Dance

ben

X>5

hoyonan

Tail + INSTR

ilisha

Water + PLC

nol

Upon

nuya.

Here + TIME

Alehale

Music

And

mehamedara

PL + Dance

ben

X>5

mehóohahul

PL + BeWeary + DEGextreme

len

We>5

wohohéya

#All + EMBED + TIME

hathobéeya.

Until

¹⁰I spend three years learning to make things out of metal. I shall never make a master-work in metal, but I can make the percussion instruments. I spend almost two years making eighty-eight percussion instruments. And then I spend another six months building the machine. Many people are curious about what I’m doing. I employ a few strong ones; we move the machine to the shallows. I wait a few hours until all the percussion instruments are full of water. I begin to play music I wrote for this occasion on the “water piano,” and nothing happens. The fish pay no attention. I continue playing anyway because I think they may need more time to notice. But still nothing happens. I continue playing nonetheless; I play for an hour and a half. And then a pod of dolphins arrives in the harbor; they jump and play. I’m astonished, and so I pause in playing. The dolphins show signs of no longer being excited, and they begin to swim from the harbor. I resume playing and they swim back. And now they’re dancing on their tails on the water. I play and they dance until we’re all extremely tired.

¹¹Bíide

DECL + NARR

háahalehaleháth

CHILD + Musician = ApprenticeMusician + PATIENT

norishub

Send + PASSV

shod

Room

lethodim

I + POSS + GOAL

háasháaleya

nedehóo

aril

CHILD + Day = Morning + TIME

#1 + FOCUS

Future

The Very Next Morning

wa.

MYPERC

ledim

I + GOAL

meneril

PL + Wait

huhalehalehá

Boss + Musician = MasterMusician

lethehé.

I + OBJ + EMBED

Bud

Clothing

leyóoth

I + Reflexive + OBJ

ralóolonal,

BeQuick + MANN

And

yime

Run

lolinebelidedim.

Gather + House + GOAL

Úyahú

CONJtime

nosháad

Arrive

le,

redeb

Find

huhalehalehá

MasterMusician

miwithethuth

Town + PARTV + OBJ

woho

#All

—i

And

eril

PAST

mehom

PL + Teach

ezhohá

Acoustician

And

hubadazhelá

Boss + Metal + Make + DOER = MasterSmith

letheháath.

I + OBJ + EMBEDrel + OBJ

Ril

PRES

medibáa

PL + Question

bin

XHon>5

daleth

Thing + OBJ

menedebe

#>5

ledim.

I + GOAL

Leth

I + PATIENT

dibáashub

Question + PASSV

alehale

Music

bebáawan

Qprn1 + PURP

And

bebáawáanehée.

Qprn1 + COZ + EMBEDq

Nédi

BACK + Speak = Answer

loláad

PerceiveInt

ath

LoveInanim + OBJ

alehaledimehé.

Music + GOAL + EMBED

Leth

I + PATIENT

dibáashub

Question + PASSV

alehale

Music

melamideda

Dolphin + BENEF

bebáawanehée.

Qprn1 + PURP + EMBEDq

Nédi

Answer

hinal:

Demo1 + MANN = Thus

“Bíi

DECL

alehale

Music

melamidedaá;

Dolphin + BENEFaccid

alehale

Music

thilihóoda

Fish + FOCUS + BENEF

wa.

MYPERC

Alehale

Music

thilidahé

Fish + BENEF + EMBED

ozh

Dream

lethom

I + POSS + IDENT

háawitheya.

Child + TIME

Izh

But

mehil

PL + PayAttn

NEG

thili

Fish

alehale

Music

lethoth;

I + POSS + OBJ

medam

PL + Manifest

melamid

Dolphin

shi

Please

alehale

Music

letho

I + POSS

benethehé.

X>5 + OBJ + EMBED

Rilrili

HYPOTH

alehale

Music

shi

Please

alehale

Music

letho

I + POSS

ilátheháadáa.”

Spectator + OBJ + EMBEDrel + BENEFduty

Menádibáa

PL + CONT + Question

bin

XHon>5

daleth

Thing + OBJ

nidi

Add’l

menedebe

#>5

ledim;

I + GOAL

doól,

AtLast

Speak

biye

IndefHon1

ledim

I + GOAL

bineda,

XHon>5 + BENEF

“Bíi

DECL

beróo

Because

eril

PAST

Travel

Exist

You

yáahalehalehámehé,

JourneymanMusician + IDENT + EMBED

beróo

Because

eril

PAST

Make

You

wobun

REL + New

wodalehaleleth,

REL + Instrument + OBJ

And

beróo

Because

eril

PAST

thod

Write

You

wobun

REL + BeNew

wohalehale

REL + Music

mewobun

PL + REL + BeNew

woméhiláda,

REL + COLLV + Spectator = Audience + BENEF

ril

PRES

mezheláad

PL + BeAlike + Perceive = Consensus

len

We>5

Exist

neth

You1 + PATIENT

dinimeshub

BeBeholden + PASSV

zha

Name

huhalehalehámehé

MasterMusician + IDENT + EMBED

wa.

MYPERC

Báa

néde

Want

Speak

You1

daleth

Thing

waha?”

#Any

Speak

binedim,

XHon>5 + GOAL

“Bíilan

DECL + CELEB

ril

PRES

thad

BeAble

áala

Thank

neda

Only

ninedim

YouHon>5 + GOAL

wa.”

MYPERC

¹¹The very next morning an apprentice-musician is sent to my room. She tells me that the master-musicians are waiting for me. I clothe myself hurriedly and run to the guild-house. When I arrive, I find every master-musician in the city—and the acoustician and the master-smith who taught me. They ask me many questions. I’m asked why and wherefore I play music. I answer that I love music. I’m asked why I play for the dolphins. I reply thus: “I don’t intend to play for the dolphins—they just happened to benefit—it’s the fish I play for. To play for the fish was my childhood dream. But the fish pay no attention to my music; my music appears to please the dolphins. Maybe I ought to play for the audience that my music pleases.” They continue asking me many things; at last, one speaks to me on their behalf, “Because you have traveled as a journeyman, and because you have built a new musical instrument, and because you have written new music for a new audience, we now consense that you ought to be named master-musician. Do you wish to say anything?” I said to them, in celebration, “Right now, I can only thank you all.”

My English Translation

The Journeyman Musician

²My name is Margaret, but everyone calls me “Pearl;” so Pearl am I. Long ago, when I was a child, a teacher lovingly told me that I would be able to play music for the fish in the ocean. Her belief caused me to work extremely hard and learn to play music. I learned to play several instruments; I can play the piano, the flute, the guitar, the dulcimer and the violin. I also learned to sing, but my voice is just okay—not great.

⁶We travel to the next city, and the one after that. They are like the first city. But the fourth is quite different. There are many broad avenues with trees along their centers. The many tall, tall towers are white and shining in the morning sun. When the city-dwellers discover that we are musicians, they show us respect that resembles almost love-for-the-holy. The people of this city believe that music and art are holy. Artists, musicians, and architects are just as important to them as high administration officials. Crowds gather everywhere we go. They hope we’ll play for them; some hope to play with us. Also, some few hope to sleep with us. There’s a master-instrument-maker; she offers to repair our instruments. The only price she wants is that we play a single song for her family. Of course we accept her offer! My instruments were good before, but they’re magnificent afterward. The instrument-maker knows a lot about acoustics; I wish to stay and study with her. And I wish she could make my voice beautiful, but she cannot—although Harmony is teaching me; so I have some small hope. We arrive at the agreed-upon place and time. It’s a theater—a big theater, and it’s full of the instrument-maker’s family. We decide to give them a good performance for her sake; we play fifteen songs. It’s only fair because she had worked extraordinarily hard on our behalf. We stay in the city, playing and learning, through the winter. When the time comes for going on, we are given food for the journey, and we have gold and silver in our purses. It’s a beautiful spring day for traveling, and we have our health; we are grateful. We continue to the east.

⁸I begin to think how I’m to play for the fish. I play my flute on the beach for many days, and I think and study. Clearly, seawater is going to damage any instrument. And water doesn’t carry the sound of an instrument properly. An acoustics-scientist lives in the city; he allows me to ask him any question. But he isn’t acquainted with any musical instrument that wouldn’t be harmed by seawater. Around this time, I perceive a child playing with a toy that makes a sound when it is struck. Does water carry the sound of such an object properly? Can it be made of stone or of metal so that seawater cannot harm it? I ask the acoustician, and he promises to study the question.

¹⁰I spend three years learning to make things out of metal. I shall never make a master-work in metal, but I will be able to make the percussion instruments. I spend almost two years making eighty-eight percussion instruments. And then I spend another six months building the machine. Many people are curious about what I’m doing. I employ a few strong ones; we move the machine to the shallows. I wait a few hours until all the percussion instruments are full of water. I begin to play music I wrote for this occasion on the “water piano,” and nothing happens. The fish pay no attention. I continue playing anyway because I think they may need more time to notice. But still nothing happens. I continue playing nonetheless; I play for an hour and a half. And then a pod of dolphins arrives in the harbor; they jump and play. I’m astonished, and so I pause in playing. The dolphins show signs of no longer being excited, and they begin to swim from the harbor. I resume playing and they swim back. And now they’re dancing on their tails on the water. I play and they dance until we’re all extremely tired.

¹¹The very next morning an apprentice-musician is sent to my room. She tells me that the master-musicians are waiting for me. I clothe myself hurriedly and run to the guild-house. When I arrive, I find every master-musician in the city—and the acoustician and the master-smith who taught me. They ask me many questions. I’m asked why—from what cause and to what end—I play music. I answer that I love music. I’m asked why I play for the dolphins. I reply thus: “I don’t intend to play for the dolphins—they just happened to benefit—it’s the fish I play for. To play for the fish was my childhood dream. But the fish pay no attention to my music; my music appears to please the dolphins. Maybe I ought to play for the audience that my music pleases.” They continue asking me many things; at last, one speaks to me on their behalf, Because you have traveled as a journeyman, and because you have built a new musical instrument, and because you have written new music for a new audience, we now consense that you ought now to be named master-musician. Do you wish to say anything?” I said to them, in celebration, “Right now, I can only thank you all.”

Comments

In paragraph 10, there’s a somewhat unorthodox fraction: boóyishin [boó (three) + –yi– (FRAC) + shin (two)]. “Three-halves” is another way to say “one-and-a-half”.

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Lesson 69 Translation 10

Vocabulary

Láadan Text

My English Translation with Morpheme-by-Morpheme Analysis

My English Translation

Comments

Lesson 69
Translation 10