Phoebe Maddux: "Coyote Starts for Klamath Lakes, East Roasted Grasshoppers, Floats Down River and Marries Two Girls" (1930)

Primary participants: Phoebe Maddux (speaker), John P. Harrington (researcher)
Date: 1930
Project identifier: JPH_KT-05
PDF of published text: http://linguistics.berkeley.edu/~karuk/text-pdfs/JPH_KT-05.pdf
Additional contributors: Line Mikkelsen (editor), Zeynep Özselçuk (annotator), Michelle Park (annotator), Sayre Sherrill (annotator)

Note: This text has been retranscribed in current spelling and some translations have been changed to better reflect Karuk sentence structure and the meaning of certain Karuk kinship terms.

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[1]	uknîi
	once.upon.a.time

Uknîi.

[2]	ataháriva	kun-'áraarahi-tih-anik
	always	3pl(>3s)-live.(pl.)-DUR-ANC

They were living (there).

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[3]	xás	úum	vúra	hitíhaan	p-oo-pí-tih	"kahyúras	ni-vâaram-eesh	íshpuk	ni-pachnútar-eesh
	then	3.SG	Intensive	always	NOMZ-3s(>3)-say-DUR	"Klamath.Lakes	1s(>3)-go-FUT	dentalium.shells	1s(>3)-go.to.suck-FUT

Then he (Coyote) said all the time: "I am going to go to the Klamath Lakes to suck out dentalia."

[4]	xás	u-vâaram	pihnêefich	kahyúras	u-vâaram
	then	3s(>3)-go	coyote	Klamath.Lakes	3s(>3)-go

Then Coyote went. Coyote went to Klamath Lakes.

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[5]	xás	vúra	v-oo-'áhoo-tih
	then	Intensive	so-3s(>3)-go-DUR

He was walking along.

[6]	chavúra	vaa	káan	u-'úum	pa-xath-ímtup	kun-ikyâa-tih-irak	pa-kun-ikyâa-tih-irak	pa-xath-ímtup
	finally	that	there	3s(>3)-arrive	NOMZ-grasshopper-cooked	3pl(>3s)-make-DUR-where	NOMZ-3pl(>3s)-make-DUR-where	the-grasshopper-cooked

Then he reached the place where they fix cooked grasshoppers, where they fix roasted grasshoppers.

(According to Harrington, the last word in this sentence can also be said without pa- as xathímtup.)

[7]	xás	u-xus	"vúra	pu-na-'áv-eesh-ara	xáy	áas	née-xrah
	then	3s(>3)-think	"Intensive	NEG-1s(>3)-eat-FUT-NEG	let.not	water	1s-thirst.for

Then he thought: "I am not going to eat it, I shouldn't get thirsty for water."

(Harrington's translation is "Then he thought: "I am not going to eat it. I might want to drink water."" It has been changed here to better reflect the Karuk sentence structure.)

[8]	kári	xás	u-xus	"tîi	yítha	kán-'ám	pa-xath-ímtup
	then	then	3s(>3)-think	"let...	one	1s(>3)-eat	the-grasshopper-cooked

Then he thought: "Let me eat one of the roasted grasshoppers."

[9]	xás	kúnish	vúra	t-óo	xus	"vúra	ni-'av-eesh	kóova	t-u-víshtar	p-óo-muustih
	then	sort.of	Intensive	PERF-3s(>3)	think	"Intensive	1s(>3)-eat-FUT	so	PERF-3s(>3)-like.(food)	NOMZ-3s(>3)-look.at

He was thinking as it were: "I'll have to eat it," he got such an appetite for it as he looked at it.

[10]	chavúra	tá	xánahishich	tíik	mûuk	vúra	t-u-mutváraa-tih
	finally	PERF	little.while	hand	with.(by.means.of)	Intensive	PERF-3s(>3)-put.in.mouth.by.handfuls-DUR

Then a little while after he was just feeding it into his mouth by the handful.

[11]	vúra	t-u-víshtar
	Intensive	PERF-3s(>3)-like.(food)

He liked it.

[12]	a'	v-eehyarih-ara	vúra	p-oo-'áam-tih
	above	so-stand-having.been.-ed	Intensive	NOMZ-3s(>3)-eat-DUR

He was even standing up when he was eating it.

[13]	káruma	íp	íshpuk	u-pachnútan-tih-at
	in.fact	PAST	dentalium.shells	3s(>3)-go.to.suck-DUR-PAST

He was going to suck dentalia, he was on the way.

[14]	káruma	v-oo-kúpi-ti	p-oo-'áhoo-tih
	in.fact	so-3s(>3)-do-DUR	NOMZ-3s(>3)-go-DUR

He was walking, that was what he was doing.

[15]	xás	kúkuum	tá	kun-ipêer	"hôoy	t-i-vâaram	pihnêefich
	then	again	PERF	3pl(>3s)-say.to	"where	PERF-2s(>3)-go	coyote

Then they asked him again: "Where are you going, Coyote?"

(Harrington's note: "They had been asking him this all along the road, and he had always answered: "I am going up to Klamath Lakes," adding "to suck dentalia."')

[16]	naa	íshpuk	tá	ni-pachnutar
	1sg.	dentalium.shells	PERF	1s(>3)-go.to.suck

"I am going to suck dentalia."

[17]	xás	u-xús-anik	"if	táay	tá	ni-'av	pa-xath-ímtup
	then	3s(>3)-think-ANC	"truly	much	PERF	1s(>3)-eat	the-grasshopper-cooked

Then he thought: "What a lot of roasted grasshoppers I have eaten."

[18]	tíik	mûuk	vúra	p-oo-mutváraa-tih
	hand	with.(by.means.of)	Intensive	NOMZ-3s(>3)-put.in.mouth.by.handfuls-DUR

He was eating it a handful at a time.

[19]	xás	u-xus	"íshaha	tá	née-xra
	then	3s(>3)-think	"water	PERF	1s-thirst.for

Then he thought: "I am thirsty for water."

[20]	ta'ítam	u-pátumkurih-een	p-eeshkêesh-ak
	so	3s(>3)-put.mouth.in.water-ANT	the-river-Locative

Then he was drinking with his mouth to the water in the river.

[21]	púva	uum	pa-káan	u-pachnut-eesh
	not.yet	arrive	NOMZ-there	3s(>3)-suck.at-FUT

He did not get there yet where he was going to suck (dentalia).

[22]	hínupa	vúra	uum	vaa	t-óo	p-thívruhvarak
	surprise	Intensive	3.SG	so	PERF-3s(>3)	ITER-float.down.from.upriver

He floated down the river.

[23]	chavúra	tá	yiiv	t-óo	p-thívruhvarak
	finally	PERF	far	PERF-3s(>3)	ITER-float.down.from.upriver

He floated a long ways down.

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[24]	xás	u-píip	"ahúp-yaamach	vúra	kan-'árihish
	then	3s(>3)-say	"wood-pretty	Intensive	1s(>3)-become

Then he said: "I will be a nice-looking piece of wood.

[25]	vaa	uum	ifápiit-ich	îin	na-tâatripaa-vish
	so	3.SG	young.unmarried.woman-DIM	TOPIC	2s/3s>1s-hook.toward.land-FUT

Then a young girl can hook me out.

[26]	íshaha	uh-i	kíri	u-sah'áhup-ha
	water	rise.(water)-IMPER	I.wish	3s(>3)-driftwood-DENOM

May the river rise, so there will be lots of driftwood."

[27]	xás	áxak	ifápiit-ich-as	sah'áhup	kun-turar	astiip
	then	two	young.unmarried.woman-DIM-PL	driftwood	3pl(>3s)-go.gather.wood	shore

Then two girls went to the river to get driftwood."

[28]	ée	if	páy	ahup-yâamachich
	oh!	truly	this	wood-pretty.(dimin.)

"Oh, what nice wood this is!"

[29]	xás	púraan	tá	kun-'êe	pa-'áhup	kun-íkshaah-tih	"if	yâamachich	pa-'áhup
	then	each.other	PERF	3pl(>3s)-give	the-wood	3pl(>3s)-laugh-DUR	"truly	pretty.(dimin.)	the-wood

They handed the wood to each other, they were laughing: "What nice wood!"

(Harrington's translation is "They handed it to each other, they were laughing: "What nice wood!"" It has been changed here to better reflect the Karuk sentence structure.Harrington's note: "The Coyote was making them feel good, but they did not know it.")

[30]	ishvitá-va	aaxkúnish
	piece-INDEF	red

Part of it was red colored.

[31]

xás

axmáy

vúra

kúnish

u-kéen

xás

yíth

u-píip

atafâat

pihnêefich

ããx

atafâat

pihnêefich

then

suddenly

Intensive

sort.of

3s(>3)-move

then

other

3s(>3)-say

maybe

coyote

ugh!

maybe

coyote

Then all at once it kind of moved, and one said: "Maybe it's Coyote. Oh, maybe it's Coyote."

[32]	tá	kun-imshákar
	PERF	3pl(>3s)-smell.(something)

They smelled it.

[33]	imxathakêem
	bad-smelling

It stank.

[34]	xás	úuth	kun-pí-paathkar
	then	out.to.water	3pl(>3s)-ITER-throw.into.river

Then they threw it back out into the water.

[35]	xás	puráan	kun-pímuustih	pa-'ifápiit-ich-as
	then	each.other	3pl(>3s)-look.at.again	the-young.unmarried.woman-DIM-PL

Then they looked at each other, those young girls did.

[36]	xás	kun-íp-tuunsip
	then	3pl(>3s)-ITER-load.up

Then they packed their wood in their packbaskets.

[37]	víri	ûum	vúra	kun-'íipma	pa-mukun-ikrívraam
	so	barely	Intensive	3pl(>3s)-return	the-3plPOSS-house

They got home with difficulty.

[38]	xás	pa-puráan	kun-pímuustih
	then	NOMZ-each.other	3pl(>3s)-look.at.again

They they looked at each other.

[39]	yánava	xákaan	vúra	t-eemúutar-as
	visible	both	Intensive	PERF-pregnant-PL

Behold they were in a family way.

[40]	hínupa	pihnêefich	áxak	vúra	axiich	t-óo	kyéehi-naa
	surprise	coyote	two	Intensive	child	PERF-3s(>3)	make.for-PL

The Coyote had made two babies for them.

(Harrington's translation is "The Coyote had made two babies." It has been changed here to better reflect the Karuk sentence structure.)

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[41]	kári	xás	pihnêefich	yúras	u-thívruuhramnih-anik	kúkuum	yuras-'ástiip	xás	u-thivrúuhripaa-nik
	then	then	coyote	ocean	3s(>3)-float.into-ANC	again	ocean-shore	then	3s(>3)-float.toward.shore-ANC

Then Coyote floated down river again, he floated down out by the ocean.

[42]	yánava	káan	áxak	avansáxiich-as	kun-'íipithvu-tih	yúras-'astiip
	visible	there	two	boy-PL	3pl(>3s)-walk.around.(two)-DUR	ocean-shore

Behold two boys were walking around, by the shore.

[43]

xás

pihnêefich

u-píip

tá

kun-chúuphi-naa

pa-'avansáxiich-as

kóova

tá

kun-chúuphi-naa

kóova

pa-'avansáxiich-as

xás

u-píip

"hôoy

mikun-'ákah

then

coyote

3s(>3)-say

PERF

3pl(>3s)-speak-PL

the-boy-PL

so

PERF

3pl(>3s)-speak-PL

so

the-boy-PL

then

3s(>3)-say

"where

2plPOSS-father

Then Coyote said, the boys talked with him, they talked to him, the boys talked with him, and he said: "Where is your father?"

[44]	támit	u-'ív-at
	already.in.the.past	3s(>3)-die-PAST

"He died."

[45]	ishávaas	ishávaas
	child.of.deceased.sibling	child.of.deceased.sibling

"Nephew, nephew!"

[46]	ta'ítam	u-yupastáran-heen	"ishávaas	ishávaas
	so	3s(>3)-weep-ANT	"child.of.deceased.sibling	child.of.deceased.sibling

Then Coyote cried (for his brother): "Nephew, nephew!"

[47]	chavúra	pa-'avansáxiitich-as	tá	kun-tápkuup	mukun-párahvaas
	finally	the-boy-PL	PERF	3pl(>3s)-like	3plPOSS-uncle.(through.deceased.father)

Then the boys liked their uncle through mourning.

[48]	tá	kun-mah	mukun-párahvaas
	PERF	3pl(>3s)-see	3plPOSS-uncle.(through.deceased.father)

They saw that he was their uncle through mourning.

(Harrington's translation: "—through mourning.")

[49]	xás	kun-ipêer	"chôora	chími	nanu-kríivram
	then	3pl(>3s)-say.to	"let's.go	soon	1plPOSS-house

Then they told him: "Let's go to our house."

[50]	hôoy	nani-kâarim	ú-krii
	where	1sPOSS-in-law.after.death.of.connecting.relative	3s(>3)-live

"Where does my sister-in-law through mourning live?"

(Harrington's translation: "Where does my sister-in-law live?")

[51]	xás	u-vôonfuruk
	then	3s(>3)-enter.a.house

Then he went in.

[52]	ii	nani-kâarim
	oh!	1sPOSS-in-law.after.death.of.connecting.relative

"Oh, my sister-in-law through mourning!

(Harrington's translation: "Oh, my sister-in-law!")

[53]	ii	nani-kâarim
	oh!	1sPOSS-in-law.after.death.of.connecting.relative

Oh, my sister-in-law through mourning!"

(Harrington's translation: "Oh, my sister-in-law!")

[54]	xás	u-'íhivrik	"ee
	then	3s(>3)-answer	"oh!

Then she answered: "Yes!"

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[55]	chavúra	káan	xára	t-óo	krii
	finally	there	long.time	PERF-3s(>3)	live

Then he stayed there a long time.

[56]	p-oo-'oonvá-thuna-ti	pa-mu-savás-iivsha
	NOMZ-3s(>3)-take.(people)-around-DUR	the-3sPOSS-child.of.deceased.sibling-PLUR

Coyote took his nephews through mourning around all the time.

(Harrington's translation: "Coyote took his nephews around all the time.")

[57]	chavúra	tá	pâanpay	axmáy	pihnêefich	u-p-vôonfuruk
	finally	PERF	after.while	suddenly	coyote	3s(>3)-ITER-enter.a.house

Then after a while once Coyote came back into the house.

[58]	hínupay	t-óo	kfúukiraa	pa-keechxâach
	surprise	PERF-3s(>3)	grab	the-widow.(old)

And he caught hold of the shave-head (widow).

[59]	hínupay	kúkuum	úuth	tá	kun-páathkar	kúkuum
	surprise	again	out.to.water	PERF	3pl(>3s)-throw.into.river	again

And then they threw the Coyote into the river again.

[60]	púya	uum	v-oo-kúpha-anik	pihnêefich
	and.so	3.SG	so-3s(>3)-do-ANC	coyote

That's the way Coyote did.

[61]	uum	pihnêefich	koovúra	mu-savás-iivsha
	3.SG	coyote	all	3sPOSS-child.of.deceased.sibling-PLUR

Coyote was nephew through mourning to everybody.

(Harrington's translation: "Coyote was nephew to everybody.")

[62]	púya	uum	v-oo-kúpha-anik	pihnêefich
	and.so	3.SG	so-3s(>3)-do-ANC	coyote

Coyote did thus.

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[63]	kupanakanakana
	the.end

Kupanakanakana.

[64]	chéemyaach	ík	vúr	ishyâat	i-mshîinaa-vish
	quickly	must	Intensive	king.salmon	2s(>3)-shine.this.way.upriver-FUT

Shine early, Spring Salmon, hither up river.

[65]	nani-vási	vúrava	ikinayâach
	1sPOSS-back	just	straight

My back is straight.

[66]	chéemyaach	ík	vúra	ataychúkinach	i-'uunúprav-eesh
	quickly	must	Intensive	young.brodiaea.plant	2s(>3)-sprout.up-FUT

Grow up early, Spring Cacomite.