Dundulanyä translations
A collection of translations as example texts for Dundulanyä
“Brif, bruf, braf” by Gianni Rodari
The first example text – more than one or two sentences – which I fully translated into Dundulanyä is the tale “Brif, bruf, braf” by Gianni Rodari, from Favole al telefono (Telephone Tales), 1962. I've always had a soft spot for Rodari's writing, add to that the inherent happiness and playfulness of this particular tale and the fact that it is about two children creating their own secret language — this felt like the perfect text to showcase a conlang in.
rirä epena chir̃ā hajirāmitā viṣkaṇai idumū śudai vaininenaikūvai buɂibī vikṣlotadīra ḫamfat nisākhūra.
brif, braf tati lumpyä epenē nīnī.
braf, brof tati hälinaikē nīnī – epeneve cai thiɂlikai gālora.
hälinaika mirābā bhāvaṭā samprātrat meṣra geṇṭha ṭarghe takūnī yiyūnīṅ itta pāmyūva śucislam meṣṛga va gorcaga tabon geṇṭha huline raudī.
āqna ī āna epeneve omulṣäḍa tati hulinē nīnī.
meṣra ṭarghe sā prānīgūvī va:
«śāṃgh va.»
«epenev vainayanūhin uśudam tati nīṣigūvī va itta īśa nīṣyūvī?»
«yaivū itta uśudam. laire ī lītana tati lumpyä epenē nīnī. prānilau didya didya lītaniṣya tati hälinaikē pānīnīṅ.»
huline viṣpriṣṭūnī, epeneve sā ḫamfīhin vainīkūvai sebāre gaulura himena hijrī.
maraski, barabaski, pippirimoski tati lumpyä nīnī.
bruf tati hälinaikē pānīnī. yāyukaneve cai sebāre ēthäɂligḍa.
didya kamīne yaivū uśudam tati naigū va tati idatvaḫa geṇṭha hulinē niqirblī.
yaivū itta uśudam tati p̃āja geṇṭha ṭarghē pānīnī. hine lilapā himena hulīce chläba tati lumpyä nīnī. lilapa lītanlītana tati hälinaikē pānīnīṅ.
lilapa ba sā raṅgrī lītanaś tati geṇṭha hulinē saṃśamī.
brif, bruf, braf tati geṇṭha ṭarghē pānīnī.
Original Italian:
Due bambini, nella pace del cortile, giocavano a inventare una lingua speciale per poter parlare tra loro senza far capire nulla agli altri.
- Brif, braf, - disse il primo.
Braf, brof, - rispose il secondo. E scoppiarono a ridere.
Su un balcone del primo piano c'era un vecchio buon signore a leggere il giornale, e affacciata alla finestra dirimpetto c'era una vecchia signora né buona né cattiva.
- Come sono sciocchi quei bambini, - disse la signora.
Ma il buon signore non era d'accordo:
- Io non trovo.
- Non mi dirà che ha capito quello che hanno detto.
- E invece ho capito tutto. Il primo ha detto: che bella giornata. Il secondo ha risposto: domani sarà ancora più bello.
La signora arricciò il naso ma stette zitta, perché i bambini avevano ricominciato a parlare nella loro lingua.
- Maraschi, barabaschi, pippirimoschi, - disse il primo.
- Bruf, - rispose il secondo. E giù di nuovo a ridere tutti e due.
- Non mi dirà che ha capito anche adesso, - esclamò indignata la vecchia signora.
- E invece ho capito tutto, - rispose sorridendo il vecchio signore. - Il primo ha detto: come siamo contenti di essere al mondo. E il secondo ha risposto: il mondo è bellissimo.
- Ma è poi bello davvero? - insisté la vecchia signora.
- Brif, bruf, braf, - rispose il vecchio signore.
English translation (source):
In the quiet of the courtyard, two children played by making up their own language to speak to one another without anyone else understanding what they said.
“Brif, braf,” said the first.
“Braf, brof,” answered the second. And they burst out laughing.
On the second-floor balcony was a kind old man reading his newspaper, and looking down from the opposite window was an old woman who was neither good nor bad.
“How foolish these children are,” said the woman.
But the good man disagreed:
“I don’t think so.”
“Don’t tell me that you understood what they were saying.”
“Actually, I understood everything. The first said: ‘What a beautiful day.’ The second replied: ‘Tomorrow will be even better.’”
The woman turned up her nose but remained silent as the children began speaking in their own language once again.
“Maraschi, barabaschi, pippirimoschi,” said the first.
“Bruf,” replied the second. And both fell on the floor laughing once again.
“Don’t tell me that you understood them this time,” exclaimed the woman crossly.
“Actually, I understood everything,” answered the old man with a laugh. The first said: ‘How happy we are to be in this world.’ The second replied: ‘The world is so beautiful.’”
“But is it really so beautiful?” demanded the old woman.
“Brif, bruf, braf,” replied the old man.
Sentence-by-sentence gloss:
rirä epena chir̃ā hajirāmitā viṣkaṇai idumū śudai vaininenaikūvai buɂibī vikṣlotadīra ḫamfat nisākhūra.
rirä epen-a chir̃-ā hajirāmit-ā viṣkaṇ-ai idum-ū śud-∅-∅-ai vaininenā-∅-ikū-ai buɂib-ī vikṣlotadīr-∅-∅-a ḫamfa-t ni-sākh-∅-ū-ra
two.CARD. child-DIR.SG. courtyard-LOC.SG. quiet-LOC.SG. other.PERS-DIR.PL. nothing-ABL. understand-EXP-PAT-IMPF.3.SUBJ. talk.POT-EXP-REC-IMPF.3.SUBJ. game-ESS.SG. special-EXP-PAT-PRES.3SG.IND. language-ACC.SG. create-EXP-AG-PAST.3DU.IND.
In the quiet of the courtyard, two children played by making up their own language to speak to one another without anyone else understanding what they said.
brif, braf tati lumpyä epenē nīnī.
brif, braf tati lumpyä epen-ē nī-∅-∅-(n)ī
(asemic), (asemic) QUOT. first. child-ERG.SG. say-EXP.PAT-PAST.3SG.IND.
“Brif, braf,” said the first.
braf, brof tati hälinaikē nīnī – epeneve cai thiɂlikai gālora.
brif, braf tati hälinaik-ē nī-∅-∅-(n)ī – epen-eve cai thiɂl-∅-ik-ai gā-lo-∅-∅-ra
(asemic), (asemic) QUOT. second-ERG.SG. say-EXP-PAT-PAST.3SG.IND. – child-DIR.DU. and_so.EMPH. laugh-EXP-REFL-IMPF.3.SUBJ. into-walk-EXP-PAT-PAST.3DU.IND.
“Braf, brof,” answered the second. And they burst out laughing.
hälinaika mirābā bhāvaṭā samprātrat meṣra geṇṭha ṭarghe takūnī yiyūnīṅ itta pāmyūva śucislam meṣṛga va gorcaga tabon geṇṭha huline raudī.
hälinaika mirāb-ā bhāvaṭ-ā samprātra-t meṣr-∅-∅-a geṇṭh-∅-∅-a ṭarghe ta-kū-∅-∅-(n)ī yiy-∅-ū-(n)ī=ṅ itta pā-myū-∅-∅-a śucisl0m-∅ meṣr-∅-g-∅-a va gorc-∅-g-∅-a tabon geṇṭh-∅-∅-a huline rau-di-∅-∅-ī.
second. floor-LOC.SG. balcony-LOC.SG. newspaper-ACC.SG. kind-EXP-PAT-PRES.3SG.IND. old-EXP-PAT-PRES.3SG.IND. man.DIR.SG. PLACE-sit-EXP-PAT-PAST.3SG.IND. read-EXP-AG-PAST.3SG.IND=and. meanwhile. opposite-be.GENERIC_MASSES-EXP-PAT-PRES.3SG.IND. window-BOUND.SG. kind-EXP-IRR-PAT-PRES.3SG.IND. NEG. mean-EXP-IRR-PAT-PRES.3SG.IND. neither. old-EXP-PAT-PRES.3SG.IND. woman.DIR.SG. protruding-stay-EXP-PAT-PAST.3SG.IND.
On the second-floor balcony was a kind old man reading his newspaper, and looking down from the opposite window was an old woman who was neither good nor bad.
āqna ī āna epeneve omulṣäḍa tati hulinē nīnī.
āqna ī āna epen-eve omulṣä-∅-∅-ḍa tati hulin-ē nī-∅-∅-(n)ī
QUANTITY.DISTAL. indeed. that.DISTAL. child.DIR.DU. silly-EXP-PAT-PRES-3DU.IND. QUOT. woman-ERG.SG. say-EXP.PAT-PAST.3SG.IND.
“How foolish these children are,” said the woman.
meṣra ṭarghe sā prānīgūnī va: «śāṃgh va».
meṣr-∅-∅-a ṭarghe sā prānī-∅-g-ū-(n)ī va: «śām-∅-g-∅-h va»
kind-EXP-PAT-PRES.3SG.IND. man.DIR.SG. but.EMPH. agree-EXP-IRR-AG-PAST.3SG.IND. NEG. think-EXP-IRR-PAT-PRES.1SG.IND. NEG.
But the good man disagreed: “I don’t think so.”
epenev vainayanūhin uśudam tati nīṣigūvī va itta īśa nīṣyūvī?
epen-ev vainayan-ū=hin uśud-∅-∅-m tati nī-ṣy-∅-g-ū-ī va itta īśa nī-ṣy-∅-ū-ī
child-BOUND.DU. conversation-ABL.SG=3DU.POSS. understand.PERF-EXP-PAT-1SG.IND. QUOT. say-FUT-EXP-IRR-AG-2SG.IND. NEG. while. POLAR_INTERR.EMPH. say-FUT-EXP-AG-2SG.IND.
Don’t tell me that you understood what they were saying.
yaivū itta uśudam. laire ī lītana tati lumpyä epenē nīnī. prānilau didya didya lītaniṣya tati hälinaikē pānīnīṅ.
yaiv-ū itta uśud-∅-∅-m. laire ī lītan-∅-∅-a tati lumpyä epen-ē nī-∅-∅-(n)ī. prānilau didya didya lītan-iṣy-∅-∅-a tati hälinaik-ē pānī-∅-∅-(n)ī=ṅ
all-ABL. meanwhile. understand.PERF-EXP-PAT-1SG.IND. day.DIR.SG. indeed. beautiful-EXP-PAT-PRES.3SG.IND. QUOT. first. child-ERG.SG. say-EXP.PAT-PAST.3SG.IND. tomorrow. more. more. beautiful-FUT-EXP-PAT-3.IND. QUOT. second-ERG.SG. answer-EXP.PAT-PAST.3SG.IND=and.
Actually, I understood everything. The first said: "What a beautiful day." The second replied: "Tomorrow will be even better."
huline viṣpriṣṭūnī, epeneve sā ḫamfīhin vainīkūvai sebāre gaulura himena hijrī.
huline viṣpriṣṭ-∅-ū-(n)ī, epen-eve sā ḫamf-ī=hin vainī-∅-ikū-ai sebāre gā-ulu-∅-∅-ra himena hijr-∅-∅-ī
woman.DIR.SG. frown_away-EXP-AG-PAST.3SG.IND. child-DIR.DU. but.EMPH. language-INSTR.SG=3DU.POSS. talk-EXP-REC-IMPF.3.SUBJ. again. into-walk.PERF-EXP-3.IND. herefore. be_silent-EXP-PAT-PAST.3SG.IND.
The woman turned up her nose but remained silent as the children began speaking in their own language once again.
maraski, barabaski, pippirimoski tati lumpyä nīnī.
maraski, barabaski, pippirimoski tati lumpyä nī-∅-∅-(n)ī
(asemic), (asemic), (asemic) QUOT. first.ERG.SG. say-EXP.PAT-PAST.3SG.IND.
“Maraschi, barabaschi, pippirimoschi,” said the first.
bruf tati hälinaikē pānīnī. yāyukaneve cai sebāre ēthäɂligḍa.
bruf tati hälinaik-ē pānī-∅-∅-(n)ī. yāyukan-eve cai sebāre ēthäɂl-∅-ik-ḍa
(asemic) QUOT. second-ERG.SG. reply-EXP-PAT-PAST.3SG.IND. – both-DIR.DU. and_so.EMPH. again. laugh.INTENS-EXP-REFL-IMPF.3DU.
“Bruf,” replied the second. And both fell on the floor laughing once again.
didya kamīne – yaivū uśudam tati naigū va tati idatvaḫa geṇṭha hulinē niqirblī.
didya kamīne – yaiv-ū uśud-∅-∅-m tati nai-g-ū-∅ va tati id-tvaḫ-∅-∅-a geṇṭh-∅-∅-a hulin-ē niqirbl-∅-∅-ī
more. now. all-ABL. understand.PERF-EXP-PAT-1SG.IND. QUOT. say.IMP-IRR-AG-3. NEG. QUOT. down-beat.PERF-EXP-PAT-3.IND. old-EXP-PAT-PRES.3SG.IND. woman-ERG.SG. exclaim-EXP.PAT-PAST.3SG.IND.
“Don’t tell me that you understood them this time,” exclaimed the woman crossly.
yaivū itta uśudam tati p̃āja geṇṭha ṭarghē pānīnī. hine lilapā himena hulīce chläba tati lumpyä nīnī. lilapa lītanlītana tati hälinaikē pānīnīṅ.
yaiv-ū itta uśud-∅-∅-m tati p̃āj-∅-∅-a geṇṭh-∅-∅-a ṭargh-ē pānī-∅-∅-(n)ī. hine lilap-ā himena hulīce chlä-∅-∅-ba tati lumpyä nī-∅-∅-(n)ī. lilapa lītan-lītan-∅-∅-a tati hälinaik-ē pānī-∅-∅-(n)ī=ṅ
all-ABL. meanwhile. understand.PERF-EXP-PAT-1SG.IND. QUOT. smile-EXP-PAT-PRES.3SG.IND. old-EXP-PAT-PRES.3SG.IND. man-ERG.SG. answer.IMP-IRR-AG-3. this. world-LOC.SG. herefore. this_way. happy-EXP-PAT-PRES.1DU.IND. QUOT. first-ERG.SG. say-EXP.PAT-PAST.3SG.IND. world.DIR.SG. beautiful-beautiful-EXP.PAT-PRES.3SG.IND. QUOT. second-ERG.SG. answer-EXP.PAT-PAST.3SG.IND=and.
“Actually, I understood everything,” answered the old man with a laugh. The first said: ‘How happy we are to be in this world.’ The second replied: ‘The world is so beautiful.’”
lilapa ba sā raṅgrī lītanaś tati geṇṭha hulinē saṃśamī.
lilapa ba sā raṅgr-ī lītan-∅-∅-a=ś tati geṇṭh-∅-∅-a hulin-ē saṃśam-∅-∅-ī
world.DIR.SG. TOPIC. but.EMPH. truth-ESS.SG. beautiful-EXP-PAT-PRES.3SG.IND=POLAR_INTERR. QUOT. old-EXP-PAT-PRES.3SG.IND. woman-ERG.SG. insist-EXP.PAT-PAST.3SG.IND.
“But is it really so beautiful?” demanded the old woman.
brif, bruf, braf tati geṇṭha ṭarghē pānīnī.
brif, bruf, braf tati geṇṭh-∅-∅-a ṭargh-ē pānī-∅-∅-(n)ī
(asemic) (asemic) (asemic) QUOT. old-EXP-PAT-PRES.3SG.IND. man-ERG.SG. answer.IMP-IRR-AG-3.
“Brif, bruf, braf,” replied the old man.