Lottie Beck: "The Greedy Father" (1957)

Primary participants: Lottie Beck (speaker), William Bright (researcher)
Date: 1957
Project identifier: WB_KL-23
Publication details: William Bright, The Karok Language (1957), pp. 214-217, Text 23
Additional contributor: Erik Maier (annotator)

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Text display mode: paragraph | sentence | word | word components

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[1]	éexri	t-u-vîishrih
	rainbow	PERF-3s(>3)-come.down

Famine descended (on the people).

[2]	xás	vaa	uum	tá	kun-xúrihi-naa
	then	so	3.SG	PERF	3pl(>3s)-be.hungry-PL

And they were hungry.

[3]	u-píip	imáan	ni-kríhar-eesh
	3s(>3)-say	tomorrow	1s(>3)-go.fishing-FUT

(A man) said, "Tomorrow I'll go fishing."

[4]	xás	asúuxar	kun-'asíshriih-va
	then	fasting	3pl(>3s)-lie.down-PL.ACT

And they went to bed without eating.

[5]	imáankam	yáan	vúra	u-súpaahi-tih	u-vâaram
	next.day	recently	Intensive	3s(>3)-become.day-DUR	3s(>3)-go

The next day it was just dawn, (and) he went.

[6]	pa-kúusra	t-u-váruprav
	the-sun	PERF-3s(>3)-come.out

The sun was rising.

[7]	íshaha-k	t-óo	mkuuh-kurih
	water-Locative	PERF-3s(>3)	be.warm-into.water

It was shining on the water.

[8]	axmáy	u-múuyha
	suddenly	3s(>3)-quiver

Suddenly the string attached to the fishnet quivered.

[9]	víri	kún	amvá-kaam
	so	meaning.unknown	salmon-large

There was a big salmon (in the net).

[10]	xás	u-thyúruripaa
	then	3s(>3)-pull.out

So he hauled it out.

[11]	imvirá-maam	u-thárishrih
	fishery-behind	3s(>3)-put.down

He put it down in back of the fishery.

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[12]	xás	u-xús	tîi	kan-imnîish-i
	then	3s(>3)-think	let...	1s(>3)-cook-IMPER

Then he thought, "Let me cook it!

[13]	ayu'âach	vúra	uum	tá	na-xúriha
	it.was.because	Intensive	3.SG	PERF	1s-be.hungry

It's because I'm hungry."

[14]	ta'ítam	u-hvíth-aheen
	so	3s(>3)-clean.fish-ANT

So he cleaned it.

[15]	xás	pa-'ípun	u-tâatsur
	then	the-salmon.tail	3s(>3)-cut.off

And he cut off the tail.

[16]	xás	yôoram	u-thárish
	then	to.one.side	3s(>3)-put.down

He put it to one side.

[17]	xás	t-óo	mnish
	then	PERF-3s(>3)	cook

Then he cooked (the salmon).

[18]	víri	p-óo-'av	hínupa	vúra	t-u-tháfip	xás	ífuth	xás	ú-pxuuspa
	so	NOMZ-3s(>3)-eat	surprise	Intensive	PERF-3s(>3)-devour	then	afterward	then	3s(>3)-realize.what.one.is.doing

When he ate it, he devoured it (all), and (only) afterwards did he realize it.

---

[19]	yáas	u-pvâaramu-tih
	then	3s(>3)-go.back-DUR

Then he went home.

[20]	pa-'ípun	u-'êech-tih-ach
	the-salmon.tail	3s(>3)-carry-DUR-DIM.(verbs)

He was carrying just the tail.

[21]	yiimúsich	ú-hyiiv-ti	chú	páy	axíich	pipúniich	táay	íp	imafúnvaan-sa
	little.ways.off	3s(>3)-shout-DUR	here!	this	child	salmon.tail	much	PAST	salmon.beggar-PL

Some distance (from home) he was shouting, "Here, children, this is the tail! There were a lot of beggars."

(Bright: "pipúniich is a distorted diminutive of ípun 'salmon-tail.'")

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[22]	xás	p-aaxíich	tá	kun-ithvírip-rupuk
	then	the-child	PERF	3pl(>3s)-(two).run-outdoors

Then the children ran out.

[23]	kun-íhyiiv-tih
	3pl(>3s)-shout-DUR

They were shouting.

[24]	yôotva	nu-'áv-eesh	yôotva	nu-'áv-eesh
	hurray!	1pl(>3)-eat-FUT	hurray!	1pl(>3)-eat-FUT

"Hurray, we're going to eat, hurray, we're going to eat!"

---

[25]	imáan	kúkuum	u-p-ikríhar
	tomorrow	again	3s(>3)-ITER-go.fishing

The next day he went fishing again.

[26]	kúkuum	vúra	amvá-kaam	ú-ykar
	again	Intensive	salmon-large	3s(>3)-beat

Again he caught a big salmon.

[27]	xás	káan	vúra	u-'av
	then	there	Intensive	3s(>3)-eat

And he ate it there.

[28]	kúkuum	vúra	ú-hyiv	chú	páy	axíich	pipúniich	táay	íp	imafúnvaan-sa
	again	Intensive	3s(>3)-shout	here!	this	child	salmon.tail	much	PAST	salmon.beggar-PL

Again he shouted, "Here, children, this is the tail! There were a lot of beggars."

---

[29]	xás	pa-'asiktávaan	u-xús	naa	ni-xú-ti	kin-'áhachaku-tih
	then	the-woman	3s(>3)-think	1sg.	1s(>3)-think-DUR	3>1pl-withhold.from-DUR

And the woman thought, "I think he's holding out on us."

[30]	xás	kum-éemaankam	p-oo-p-ikríhar
	then	3sPOSS-next.day	NOMZ-3s(>3)-ITER-go.fishing

And it was the next day that he went fishing again.

[31]	pa-mu-túnviiv	ú-peen-vunaa	ôok	vúra	kíik-'iin-i
	the-3sPOSS-children	3s(>3)-say.to-PL	here	Intensive	2pl(>3)-(two).be-IMPER

She told her children, "You stay here.

[32]	tá	ni-'áharam
	PERF	1s(>3)-follow

I'm following him.

[33]	naa	ni-xú-ti	kin-'áhachaku-tih
	1sg.	1s(>3)-think-DUR	3>1pl-withhold.from-DUR

I think he's holding out on us."

[34]	xás	p-óo-'uum	víri	kún	amvá-kaam	t-óo	thyúruripaa
	then	NOMZ-3s(>3)-arrive	so	meaning.unknown	salmon-large	PERF-3s(>3)	pull.out

And when she arrived, there he had pulled out a big salmon.

[35]	xás	pa-'ípun	t-óo	tâatsur
	then	the-salmon.tail	PERF-3s(>3)	cut.off

And he cut off the tail.

[36]	yiivánihich	u-thárish
	little.farther.off	3s(>3)-put.down

He put it down a little ways off.

[37]	xás	aah	t-óo	kyav
	then	fire	PERF-3s(>3)	make

Then he made a fire.

[38]	ta'ítam	u-krîishrih-een
	so	3s(>3)-sit.down-ANT

Then he cooked (the salmon).

[39]	ch-u-'áv-eesh
	soon-3s(>3)-eat-FUT

He was about to eat it.

---

[40]	xás	u-p-ikvíriproov
	then	3s(>3)-ITER-run.upriver.from.here

Then she ran back upriver.

[41]	pa-mu-túnviiv	ú-peen-vunaa	t-u-'ifuyâach-ha
	the-3sPOSS-children	3s(>3)-say.to-PL	PERF-3s(>3)-that's.right-DENOM

She told her children, "It's really true.

[42]	hínupa	vúra	kin-'áhachaku-tih
	surprise	Intensive	3>1pl-withhold.from-DUR

He's holding out on us.

[43]	chími	nu-p-ikyáasiiprin	xasík	nu-pávyiihshipree-vish
	soon	1pl(>3)-ITER-begin	then.(future)	1pl(>3)-go.away.again.(pl.)-FUT

Let's get started, we're going to leave."

[44]	máruk	tá	kun-p-ifúk-raan
	uphill	PERF	3pl(>3s)-ITER-climb-here

They climbed uphill.

---

[45]	xás	kun-thítiv	sáruk	ú-hyiiv-tih	chú	páy	axíich	pipúniich	táay	íp	imafúnvaan-sa
	then	3pl(>3s)-hear	downhill	3s(>3)-shout-DUR	here!	this	child	salmon.tail	much	PAST	salmon.beggar-PL

Then they heard him, he was shouting downhill, "Here, children, this is the tail! There were a lot of beggars."

[46]	astáriish
	quiet

It was silent.

[47]	xás	kúkuum	vúra	ú-hyiv
	then	again	Intensive	3s(>3)-shout

Then he shouted again.

[48]	iinâak	u-kvíripfuruk
	indoors	3s(>3)-run.into.house

He ran indoors.

[49]	víri	kún	siit	kích	u-ksah-ár-ahi-tih
	so	meaning.unknown	mouse	only	3s(>3)-laugh-go.to-ESS-DUR

There only mice were squeaking.

[50]	xás	u-'árihrupuk
	then	3s(>3)-rush.outdoors

Then he jumped out.

[51]	vúrava	kári	ú-hyiiv-ti	chú	páy	axíich	pipúniich	táay	íp	imafúnvaan-sa
	just	then	3s(>3)-shout-DUR	here!	this	child	salmon.tail	much	PAST	salmon.beggar-PL

He was still shouting like that, "Here, children, this is the tail! There were a lot of beggars."

[52]	víri	máruk	p-oo-trâa-tih
	so	uphill	the-3s(>3)-look.upward-DUR

He looked uphill.

[53]	víri	kún	káan	tá	kun-p-ifúk-raan
	so	meaning.unknown	there	PERF	3pl(>3s)-ITER-climb-here

There they had climbed up there.

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[54]	xás	pa-mu-hrôoha	ú-hyiv	káan	pátha	áam-tih
	then	the-3sPOSS-wife	3s(>3)-shout	there	alone	eat-DUR

And his wife shouted, "Eat alone there!"

[55]	vaa	kúth	kin-'áhachaku-tih
	so	because.of	2>1pl-withhold.from-DUR

For that purpose you held out on us."

---

[56]	hínupa	ník	t-u-'áharamu-naa
	surprise	a.little	PERF-3s(>3)-follow-PL

He was following them.

[57]	káruma	yáan	u-'áhachak-vunaa-tih
	in.fact	recently	3s(>3)-withhold.from-PL-DUR

The truth was that he had just been holding out on them.

[58]	páanpay	vúra	tá	ûumukich
	after.while	Intensive	PERF	near

Finally he was close.

[59]	kári	vúra	ú-hyiiv-tih
	then	Intensive	3s(>3)-shout-DUR

He was still shouting.

[60]	xás	p-oo-páhariith-vunaa	pa-mu-hrooha-'îin	kun-ipêer	yaxéek	iim	vaa	kích	i-kupí-tih-eesh
	then	NOMZ-3s(>3)-catch.up.with-PL	the-3sPOSS-wife-TOPIC	3pl(>3s)-say.to	you'll.see	2sg.	so	only	2s(>3)-do-DUR-FUT

And when he caught up with them, his wife told him, "You're going to be doing nothing but this.

[61]	saamvároo-k	aratváraf	kích	i-'áam-tih-eesh
	creek-Locative	black.mud	only	2s(>3)-eat-DUR-FUT

You'll be eating nothing but mud in the creeks

[62]	kúna	nuu	yaas'arará-'uuthkam	kích	nu-'iru-kúunpiithvu-tih-eesh
	in.addition	we	humankind-seaward	only	1pl(>3)-PL-sit.around-DUR-FUT

But we will be sitting around only in front of rich people."

---

[63]	xás	u-xús	pa-niinamichtâapas	kan-íkfuukiraa
	then	3s(>3)-think	the-smallest	1s(>3)-grab

And he thought, "Let me grab the littlest one."

[64]	panyúrar	xás	u-píkriivrihva
	beargrass	then	3s(>3)-be.transformed

And (the child) turned into the bear-lily.

[65]	xás	pa-yítha	kúna	u-xús	ní-kfuukiraa
	then	the-one	in.addition	3s(>3)-think	1s(>3)-grab

And he thought, "I'm grabbing the other one."

[66]	súrip	xás	u-píkriivrihva
	hazel.bush	then	3s(>3)-be.transformed

And it turned into a hazel-bush.

[67]	pa-mu-hrôoha	kúna	ú-kfuukiraa
	the-3sPOSS-wife	in.addition	3s(>3)-grab

He grabbed his wife in turn.

[68]	ishvírip	xás	u-pihyárihish
	Jeffrey.pine	then	3s(>3)-be.transformed

She turned into a pine tree.

[69]	kúna	uum	vaa	vúra	káan	ú-ksuusur
	in.addition	3.SG	so	Intensive	there	3s(>3)-swoop.down

He, in turn, swooped down there.

[70]	vaa	vúra	payêem	ku-máh-eesh
	so	Intensive	now	2pl(>3)-see-FUT

You will see him like that now.

[71]	saamvaróo-tiim	aratváraf	u-'áam-tih
	creek-edge	black.mud	3s(>3)-eat-DUR

He eats mud on the edge of creeks.

[72]	pa-mu-hrôoha	káru	pa-mu-túnviiv	pa-t-u-vuhvúhi-naa-haak	yaas'arará-'uuthkam	kun-chivít-ahi-tih
	the-3sPOSS-wife	also	the-3sPOSS-children	NOMZ-PERF-3s(>3)-do.jump.dance-PL-when	humankind-seaward	3pl(>3s)-line.up-ESS-DUR

(But) his wife and his children, when there is a deerskin dance, are lined up in front of rich people.

(Bright: "The father became asaxvanish'ámvaanich 'moss-eater, i.e., the water ouzel.' The woman and the children turned into the materials used for making baskets.")