Yaas: "How Grizzly Bear Got his Ears Burnt Off" (1930)
Primary participants: Yaas (speaker), John P. Harrington (researcher)
Date: 1930
Project identifier: JPH_KT-01a
PDF of published text: http://linguistics.berkeley.edu/~karuk/text-pdfs/JPH_KT-01a.pdf
Additional contributors: Line Mikkelsen (editor), Neil Lawrence (annotator), Michelle Park (annotator), Shi Shu (annotator)
Note: This text has been retranscribed in current spelling and some translations have been changed to better reflect Karuk sentence structure.
Text display mode: paragraph | sentence | word | word components
| [1] | uknîi |
| once.upon.a.time |
| Uknîi. |
| [2] | ataháriva | kun-'áraarahi-tih-anik |
| always | 3pl(>3s)-live.(pl.)-DUR-ANC |
| They were living (there). |
| [3] | xás | uumkun | váa | vúra | kích | kun-kupí-tih-anik | pa-kun-pakurîihva-naa-tih-anik | pa-'ávans-as | pa-kun-pakurîihva-naa-tih-anik | ikriripan-'ikmaháchraam |
| then | they | so | Intensive | only | 3pl(>3s)-do-DUR-ANC | NOMZ-3pl(>3s)-sing.songs-PL-DUR-ANC | the-man-PL | NOMZ-3pl(>3s)-sing.songs-PL-DUR-ANC | placename-sweathouse |
| All they did was sing songs, the men, they used to sing in Amekyaram sweathouse. |
| (Harrington's note on "ikriripan'ikmaháchraam": "The rancheria on the NW. side of Klamath river at Yutimin Falls." Harrington's translation of this sentence is "And they used to sing, the menfolks, used to sing in Amekyaram sweathouse." It has been changed here to better reflect the Karuk sentence structure.) |
| [4] | xás | vúra | uumkun | hitíhaan | pa-kaan | kun-ivyíihmu-tih-anik | p-eekxaréeyav | váa | kumá'ii | pa-kun-'úuhyana-tih-anik | hûut | áta | pa-kun-kupí-tih-eesh | yaas'ára |
| then | Intensive | they | always | NOMZ-there | 3pl(>3s)-go.to.(pl.)-DUR-ANC | the-spirit.person | so | because.of | NOMZ-3pl(>3s)-speak-DUR-ANC | how | maybe | NOMZ-3pl(>3s)-do-DUR-FUT | rich.person |
| The First People went in there all the time, since they were talking over what humans were going to do. |
| (Harrington's note on "peekxaréeyav": "The First People, the people of mythic times."Harrington's translation of this sentence is "... what Human was going to do." It has been changed here to better reflect the Karuk sentence structure.) |
| [5] | chavúra | pâanpay | pirishkâarim | káan | u-thivkêe-v-anik | pa-kun-'úuhyana-tih-irak | xás | vúra | uum | kun-vîiha | pa-kaan | u-'uum |
| finally | after.while | grizzly | there | 3s(>3)-go.along-PL.ACT-ANC | NOMZ-3pl(>3s)-speak-DUR-where | then | Intensive | 3.SG | 3pl(>3s)-hate | NOMZ-there | 3s(>3)-arrive |
| Then later on Grizzly Bear went in there with them, where they were talking (it) over, and they did not like it when he arrived. |
| (Harrington's translation is "Then later on Grizzly Bear went in there with them, when they were talking (it) over, and they did not like it when he arrived." It has been changed here to better reflect the Karuk sentence structure.) |
| [6] | xás | kun-ipêer | nuu | chími | nu-vyîihshipree-vish | chími | nu-'ákunvan-v-eesh |
| then | 3pl(>3s)-say.to | we | soon | 1pl(>3)-go.away.(pl.)-FUT | soon | 1pl(>3)-go.hunting-PL.ACT-FUT |
| Then they told him: "We are going out, we are going hunting." |
| [7] | xás | pirishkâarim | u-píip | náa | pu-na-vâaram-eesh-ara | náa | ni-pshaan-eesh |
| then | grizzly | 3s(>3)-say | 1sg. | NEG-1s(>3)-go-FUT-NEG | 1sg. | 1s(>3)-keep.the.house-FUT |
| Then Grizzly Bear said: "I am not going, I will keep the house." |
| [8] | xás | kun-píip | chôora |
| then | 3pl(>3s)-say | let's.go |
| They they said: "All right." |
| [9] | mâaka | kích | u-vôonipaa-ti | ma'tîimich |
| in.other.room | only | 3s(>3)-crawl.toward.back-DUR | back.corner.of.sweathouse |
| He (Grizzly Bear) only moved back against the wall in the back part of the sweathouse. |
| (Harrington's note on "ma'tîimich": "The section of the floor of the sweathouse opposite the roof hatchway.") |
| [10] | xás | kun-ipêer | chími | man |
| then | 3pl(>3s)-say.to | soon | why... |
| Then they told him: "Do your own way." |
| [11] | xás | mâam-vanih-ich | tá | kun-'írunaa |
| then | uphill-toward-DIM | PERF | 3pl(>3s)-go.(pl.) |
| Then they traveled up slope a little ways. |
| [12] | xás | káan | xás | kun-chúuphi-naa | váa | káan | âapun | kun-ivyíhishrih-anik | pa-kun-chúuphi-naa-tih-anik |
| then | there | then | 3pl(>3s)-speak-PL | so | there | on.the.ground | 3pl(>3s)-get.there.(pl.)-ANC | NOMZ-3pl(>3s)-speak-PL-DUR-ANC |
| And there they talked, and there they all sat down on the ground talking. They said: "What did we leave him there for in the sweathouse?" |
| [13] | kun-píip | fâat | kumá'ii | p-eekmaháchraam | tá | nu-p-sáamkir |
| 3pl(>3s)-say | what | because.of | the-sweathouse | PERF | 1pl(>3)-ITER-be.left |
| They said: "What did we leave him there for in the sweathouse?" |
| [14] | chavúra | tá | xánahich | koovúra | kun-paratánmaahpa-naa |
| finally | PERF | after.while | all | 3pl(>3s)-turn.back-PL |
| Then after a while they all turned back. |
| [15] | kári | xás | kun-píip | fâat | kumá'ii | pa-vaa | kaan | su' | ú-krii |
| then | then | 3pl(>3s)-say | what | because.of | NOMZ-so | there | inside | 3s(>3)-live |
| They said: "What is he in there for?" |
| [16] | vúra | tá | kun-'ay |
| Intensive | PERF | 3pl(>3s)-fear |
| It was that they feared him. |
| [17] | táma | vúra | kun-pavyíhuk | koovúra | xás | ikmaháchraam | kun-pavyíhivrath |
| then | Intensive | 3pl(>3s)-come.back.(pl.) | all | then | sweathouse | 3pl(>3s)-go.back.into.sweathouse.(pl.) |
| Then all got back down, and went back into the sweathouse. |
| [18] | kári | xás | ikmaháchraam | kun-pavyíhish |
| then | then | sweathouse | 3pl(>3s)-gather.again.(pl.) |
| Then all sat down in the sweathouse. |
| [19] | xás | pirishkâarim | u-píip | hûut | tá | ku-kúupha |
| then | grizzly | 3s(>3)-say | how | PERF | 2pl(>3)-do |
| Then Grizzly Bear said: "What is the trouble?" |
| [20] | xás | yítha | îin | kun-ipêer | tá | nu-paratánmaahpa |
| then | one | TOPIC | 3pl(>3s)-say.to | PERF | 1pl(>3)-turn.back |
| Then one of them told him: "We have turned back." |
| [21] | xás | yítha | u-'árihish |
| then | one | 3s(>3)-sing |
| Then one started to sing. |
| [22] | xás | koovúra | kun-pakúriihva-naa | kun-ipêer | ôok | ichvánihich | tá | nú-fchuy |
| then | all | 3pl(>3s)-sing.songs-PL | 3pl(>3s)-say.to | here | little.bit | PERF | 1pl(>3)-be.crowded |
| Then all sang. They told him: "Come a little this way, we are crowded." |
| [23] | mâaka | kích | u-vafnúuchripaa-ti | pirishkâarim |
| in.other.room | only | 3s(>3)-shrug-DUR | grizzly |
| Grizzly Bear only shrugged back. |
| [24] | xás | kun-ipêer | íim | úm | vúra | pu-'ip-vôonupuk-eesh-ara |
| then | 3pl(>3s)-say.to | 2sg. | or | Intensive | NEG-ITER-leave.house-FUT-NEG |
| Then they told him: "Aren't you going to go out?" |
| [25] | pûuhara | náa | vúra | ôok | ni-krêe-vish |
| no | 1sg. | Intensive | here | 1s(>3)-live-FUT |
| "No, I'm going to stay here." |
| [26] | xás | yíth | u-píip | áthiik | t-u-vîish | chími | nu-ptaamáax-i |
| then | other | 3s(>3)-say | cold | PERF-3s(>3)-come.down | soon | 1pl(>3)-stoke.(fire)-IMPER |
| Then one said: "It is getting cold, let's scrape up the coals." |
| [27] | xás | áhup | kun-íyuunkir | ikmahachram'áhup |
| then | wood | 3pl(>3s)-put.(long.object).in.fire | sweathouse.wood |
| They they put wood on the fire, sweathouse-wood. |
| [28] | chavúra | pâanpay | imfir | t-u-vîish |
| finally | after.while | hot | PERF-3s(>3)-come.down |
| Then after a while it got hot. |
| [29] | su' | kun-'íxuprim-va |
| inside | 3pl(>3s)-prostrate.self-PL.ACT |
| They all got down face on the floor. |
| [30] | uum | vúra | kích | a' | ú-krii | ma'tîimich | pirishkâarim | púxay | vúra | kêena-tih-ara |
| 3.SG | Intensive | only | above | 3s(>3)-live | back.corner.of.sweathouse | grizzly | not.yet | Intensive | move-DUR-NEG |
| Grizzly Bear alone was sitting up in the back part of the sweathouse, he never moved. |
| [31] | chavúra | koovúra | kun-pakúriihva-naa | kúkuum |
| finally | all | 3pl(>3s)-sing.songs-PL | again |
| Then they were all singing again. |
| [32] | vúra | uum | puxich | imfir | t-u-vîish |
| Intensive | 3.SG | very.much | hot | PERF-3s(>3)-come.down |
| Then it got awfully hot. |
| [33] | váa | vúra | kun-ímuus-ti | pirishkâarim |
| so | Intensive | 3pl(>3s)-look.at-DUR | grizzly |
| They kept looking at Grizzly Bear. |
| [34] | chavúra | tá | pâanpay | pa-mu-tiiv | kúnish | ta-tûupichas | t-oo | mxurukúvraan | pa-mu-tiiv | t-óo | mtaránkoo |
| finally | PERF | after.while | the-3sPOSS-ear | sort.of | PERF-small.ones | PERF-3s(>3) | become.melted.down | the-3sPOSS-ear | PERF-3s(>3) | swelter |
| Then after a while his ears seemed to be small, his ears melted down, he was sweltering. |
| [35] | chavúra | tá | xánahishich | chími | axmáy | u-'áasish | patápriha-k | vúra | t-óo | mchax | tá | pu-kunish | kêena-tih-ara |
| finally | PERF | little.while | soon | suddenly | 3s(>3)-lie.down | paved.floor-Locative | Intensive | PERF-3s(>3) | get.hot | PERF | NEG-sort.of | move-DUR-NEG |
| Then after a while all at once he lay down on the pavement, he was hot, it was like he couldn't move. |
| ("he was hot" has been added to Harrington's translation to better reflect the Karuk sentence structure.) |
| [36] | úma | vúra | vaa | kun-pakúriihva-naa-ti | imfira-yâak |
| emphatic(?) | Intensive | so | 3pl(>3s)-sing.songs-PL-DUR | heat-good.place |
| Just the same they kept on singing in the heat. |
| [37] | vúra | pu-kúnish | xu-tih-ap | hûut | tá | kun-'áapunma | t-óo | mkuhiruv |
| Intensive | NEG-sort.of | think-DUR-NEG | how | PERF | 3pl(>3s)-know | PERF-3s(>3) | get.sweltered |
| They paid no attention to him, they knew that he was getting sweltered. |
| [38] | tá | pu-'imtaranáamhi-tih-ara | pa-mu-tiiv | p-oo-p-vôonsip |
| PERF | NEG-be.visible-DUR-NEG | the-3sPOSS-ear | NOMZ-3s(>3)-ITER-get.up |
| His ears were invisible when he got up again. |
| [39] | vúra | ta-tûupichas | pa-mu-tiiv | t-oo | mxurukúvraan | p-eemfíra-muuk |
| Intensive | PERF-small.ones | the-3sPOSS-ear | PERF-3s(>3) | become.melted.down | the-heat-with.(by.means.of) |
| They were little, his ears, they were melted with the heat. |
| [40] | kári | xás | ú-kvuunupuk-anik |
| then | then | 3s(>3)-stagger.outdoors-ANC |
| Then he staggered out. |
| [41] | kári | xás | ú-paanik | p-oo-pítithun-anik | xáyfaat | ík | vúra | váa | náa | ni-thítiim-ti | pa-mikun-pákurih | náa | pú-vaa | naní-vaa-hara | pa-mikun-pákurih |
| then | then | 3s(>3)-say.(ancient) | NOMZ-3s(>3)-look.back-ANC | don't! | must | Intensive | so | 1sg. | 1s(>3)-hear-DUR | the-2plPOSS-song | 1sg. | NEG-so | 1sPOSS-so-NEG | the-2plPOSS-song |
| Then he said looking back: "I must never hear your song any more; your song will not do for me." |
| (Harrington: "The words are medicine, and are said while one pounds on a dry tree when surprised by a grizzly bear, to drive him away.") |
| [42] | pirishkâarim | váa | ú-paanik | xáyfaat | ík | vúra | váa | náa | ni-thítiim-ti | pa-mikun-pákurih |
| grizzly | so | 3s(>3)-say.(ancient) | don't! | must | Intensive | so | 1sg. | 1s(>3)-hear-DUR | the-2plPOSS-song |
| Grizzly Bear said it: "I must never hear your song any more. |
| [43] | náa | tá | ni-'ahoo |
| 1sg. | PERF | 1s(>3)-go |
| I am going to travel." |
| [44] | xás | ú-kfuukraa-nik | ikurâa-k |
| then | 3s(>3)-climb.up.from.downhill-ANC | ridge.heading.upward-Locative |
| Then he climbed up slope. |
| [45] | uum | vúra | kun-xúseen-tih-anik | kíri | hûuk | u-'uum | vúra | kun-vîih-anik |
| 3.SG | Intensive | 3pl(>3s)-think.about-DUR-ANC | I.wish | to.where | 3s(>3)-arrive | Intensive | 3pl(>3s)-hate-ANC |
| They had been wishing for him to go off, for they disliked him. |
| [46] | xás | uum | vúra | váa | p-óo-kfuukraa-nik | pirishkâarim | u-párihishrih-anik |
| then | 3.SG | Intensive | so | NOMZ-3s(>3)-climb.up.from.downhill-ANC | grizzly | 3s(>3)-be.transformed-ANC |
| And when he climbed up slope he was metamorphosed into the grizzly bear. |
| [47] | víri | payváheem | vúra | kárivarih | u-vîihi-ti | ikriripan-pákurih |
| so | nowadays | Intensive | still | 3s(>3)-hate-DUR | placename-song |
| He still dislikes those songs now. |
| [48] | pa-'áraar | t-u-pakurîihva-haak | ikriripan-pákurih | máruk-ninay | váa | xás | vúra | u-kvíip-tih | payváheem | váa | u-kupí-tih |
| the-human | PERF-3s(>3)-sing.songs-when | placename-song | uphill-around | so | then | Intensive | 3s(>3)-run-DUR | nowadays | so | 3s(>3)-do-DUR |
| Whenever a person sings Amekyaram sweathouse songs in mountain places anywhere, he runs away, he does so now. |
| [49] | kárivarih | vúra | váa | u-'áay-ti | pa-pákurih |
| still | Intensive | so | 3s(>3)-fear-DUR | the-song |
| He still fears those songs. |
| [50] | váa | vúra | payváheem | ú-thvuuy-ti | pirishkaarim-'áhasur-ar | p-eekriripan-pákurih |
| so | Intensive | nowadays | 3s(>3)-be.named-DUR | grizzly-drive.away-INST | the-placename-song |
| It is still called grizzly-bear drive-away-medicine, those Amekyaram sweathouse songs. |
| (Harrington: "Meaning: songs of Ikríripan, name of the Amakyaram sweathouse.") |