Lottie Beck: "Old Man Turtle Dances" (1957)

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[1]	kahyúras	tá	kun-yíchaachha
	Klamath.Lakes	PERF	3pl(>3s)-get.together

They gathered at Klamath Lakes.

[2]	ayu'âach	páy	pa-saamnúp-ahi-tih-an	chí	kun-'íihrupaa-vish
	it.was.because	this	NOMZ-flow.downstream.from.here-ESS-DUR-Participial	soon	3pl(>3s)-dance.from.the.lake-mouth-FUT

It was because they were going to dance downriver that way the stream flows.

[3]	xás	pa-yáan'iiftihan-sa	tá	kun-ívyiihma	káru	pa-'asiktávaan-sas
	then	the-young.person-PL	PERF	3pl(>3s)-go.to.(pl.)	also	the-woman-PL

And the young men and the women arrived.

[4]	víri	tá	kári	pa-chí	kun-'íihrupaa-vish	xás	asaxvuhpihnîich	tó-o	thvoonha
	so	PERF	then	NOMZ-soon	3pl(>3s)-dance.from.the.lake-mouth-FUT	then	Old.Man.Turtle	PERF-3s(>3)	be.eager.(to.do)

It was time for them to dance down, and then Old Man Turtle wanted to.

[5]	víri	kun-ipêer	hôoy íf	yaxéek	i-'úum-eesh
	so	3pl(>3s)-say.to	no.way	you'll.see	2s(>3)-arrive-FUT

They told him, "You can't get there.

[6]	ayu'âach	pa-'asiktávaan	uum	yáan'iiftihan-sa
	it.was.because	the-woman	3.SG	young.person-PL

It's because the women are young."

[7]	asaxvuhpihnîich	vúra	tó-o	thvoonha
	Old.Man.Turtle	Intensive	PERF-3s(>3)	be.eager.(to.do)

Old Man Turtle just wanted to.

[8]	naa	vúra	kóo	yáv	pa-'akâayva	kuma-yáan'iiftihan
	1sg.	Intensive	as.much.as	good	the-anyone	3sPOSS-young.person

"I'm just as good as any young man."

[9]	pâanpay	vúra	tá	kun-chímiha
	after.while	Intensive	PERF	3pl(>3s)-agree

Finally, they agreed.

[10]	ta'ítam	tá	kun-káriha
	so	PERF	3pl(>3s)-be.ready

So they were ready.

[11]	asuxvuypihnîich	áachip	tó-o	hyárihish
	Old.Man.Turtle	middle	PERF-3s(>3)	stand.still

Old Man Turtle stood in the middle.

[12]	u-'aakrúprih-tih	pa-'asiktávaan
	3s(>3)-lock.arms-DUR	the-woman

He locked arms with the women.

[13]	xás	tá	kun-'íihvarak
	then	PERF	3pl(>3s)-dance.down.from.upriver

Then they danced down from upriver.

[14]	pâanpay-vari	asaxvuhpihnîich	tó-o	kfuuyshur
	after.while-toward	Old.Man.Turtle	PERF-3s(>3)	be.tired

Finally Old Man Turtle got tired.

[15]	víri	u-'arihishrîih-vu-ti	matêe kéeyish âapun
	so	3s(>3)-sing-PL.ACT-DUR	matêe kéeyish âapun

He was singing "matêe kéeyish âapun".

(Bright: "matêe 'wait a moment!'; kéeyish, no meaning; âapun '(down) on the ground.'")

[16]	vúra	vaa	kun-'íih-tih
	Intensive	that	3pl(>3s)-dance-DUR

They kept dancing that way.

[17]	pâanpay	vúra	tó-o	xrára-tih
	after.while	Intensive	PERF-3s(>3)	weep-DUR

Finally he was weeping.

[18]	matêe kéeyish âapun
	matêe kéeyish âapun

"matêe kéeyish âapun

[19]	tá	n-éekfuuyshur
	PERF	1s-be.tired

I'm tired."

[20]	vúra	vaa	kun-'íih-tih
	Intensive	that	3pl(>3s)-dance-DUR

They kept dancing that way.

[21]	pâanpay	vúra	tá	kun-ithyúru-tih
	after.while	Intensive	PERF	3pl(>3s)-drag-DUR

Finally they were dragging him.

[22]	káan	ník	u-xrarâa-vu-tih
	there	a.little	3s(>3)-weep-PL.ACT-DUR

He gave a cry now and then.

[23]	vúra	vaa	áachip	tá	kun-'íihvarak
	Intensive	that	middle	PERF	3pl(>3s)-dance.down.from.upriver

They danced down from upriver that way to the middle (of their course).

[24]	pa-mú-traax	vúra	kích	tá	kun-'áaphu-tih
	the-3sPOSS-arm	Intensive	only	PERF	3pl(>3s)-carry.(two.objects)-DUR

They were just carrying his arms.

[25]	vaa	vúra	káan	asaxvuhpihnîich	u-pkêevish	asánaamkarak
	that	Intensive	there	Old.Man.Turtle	3s(>3)-be.transformed	placename

Old Man Turtle was transformed there at asánaamkarak.

[26]	uum	pa-'asiktávaan	vúra	vaa	kun-'íihrupu-tih
	3.SG	the-woman	Intensive	that	3pl(>3s)-dance.away.downriver-DUR

The women kept dancing downriver that way.

[27]	kun-'áaphu-ti	asaxvuhpihnîich	mú-traax
	3pl(>3s)-carry.(two.objects)-DUR	Old.Man.Turtle	3sPOSS-arm

They were carrying Old Man Turtle's arms.

[28]	xás	pa-yúras-ak	kun-'íkakurih	kári	vaa	vúra	kun-'áaphu-ti	pa-mú-traax
	then	NOMZ-ocean-Locative	3pl(>3s)-jump.into.water.(pl.)	then	that	Intensive	3pl(>3s)-carry.(two.objects)-DUR	the-3sPOSS-arm

And when they jumped into the ocean, they were still carrying his arms.