Maasai History: Laikipia Wars

   The following narrative tells a story of several Maasai warriors, during the decimation of the Il-Aikipia section.  The narrative was told in the home village of Jonathan Ololoso, by an elder talking to Jonathan Ololoso and four visitors.  The story was told without any particular preparation. In places it is quite repetitive, as would be characteristic of unplanned oral discourse.  Nevertheless, the story line is very clear.  The story is divided into about 148 lines, where a "line" consists of a verb and the participants (arguments) that go with it.

   The following interlinearized sample was initially prepared in Shoebox 4.0.   Each "line" (or record) consists of at least four fields of information: (1) a reference code to the particular story and clause within the story, (2) the Maasai form as it might be written in a story book, (3) an analysis of the meaning pieces (morphemes) within each word in their underlying form (though underlying tone patterns are still a matter of research), (4) a morpheme-by-morpheme gloss of the third field, and sometimes (5) additional comments.

  As of May 2000, the interlinearized text data base contains over thirty texts in various stages of analysis.  The text data base interacts with a lexicographic data base.

   This inter-linear text project has been partially supported by a Fulbright Foundation grant (1993-1994) to Doris Payne, a State of Oregon Global Graduates award to Cynthia Schneider (1998), and NSF grants SBR-9616482 (1987-1999) and SBR-9809387 (1998-ff) to Doris Payne.

Return to Maasai Language Project



The beginning of a story told by Oloseriân Ole Kipáyka of Esonoruwa, to Jonathan Ololoso. 1993.
Transcribed and analyzed by Jonathan Ololoso, Philip Koitalel, and Doris Payne.

Tape Maasai 1, beginning of second side. Transcribed in Data Book jo 1.42-61.

Record ok0003 was preceded by discussion between OS and JO as to what to talk about. It was followed by an interchange between JO and TP regarding the taperecorder.

ok0003
órè     dúó      apá         ánaa náyyólo
órè     dúó      apá         ánaa   -n  -á  -yyolo
now     then     long.ago    like FSG-REL-1SG-know
'As far as what I know'

ok0004
naá  órè   taá,    órè   taá   náají,   órè  dúó naa napákátá
naá  órè   taá     órè   taá   náají    órè  dúó naa n -apá     -kátá
and  now   FACT    now   FACT  MODAL    now  now like FSG-long.ago-time

arây,
-ara        -
3-fight.RECIP-PASS
'from a long time ago, like the time there was fighting'

ok0005
náa    káytrrshák               náají ìnè      wwéjì
n -áa  k    -á  -trrsh -ak(n)   náají ìnè      wwéjì
CN-be  DISCN-1SG-follow.up-DAT      MODAL that.PL  place
'I can remember a lot about that time'

ok0006
am         órè     apá,       ntây             apá,
am         órè     apá        n --ata -        apá
because     now     long.ago   CN-3-have-PASS     long.ago
'because a long time ago, there was...'

ok0007
ntây         apá       ltánì        ojî      apá        Inkimís.
n --ata -    apá       l -tánì      oj-     apá        Inkimís
CN-3-have-PASS long.ago  MSG-person.ACC  say-PASS long.ago   Inkimís
'At that time there was a person named Inkimis.'

ok0008
Ntây          apá      tpa      ltánì        apá  ojî      Inkimís,
n --ata -     apá      t -pá    l -tánì      apá  oj-     Inkimís
CN-3-have-PASS  long.ago OBL-former MSG-person:ACC  ago  say-PASS Inkimís
'A long time ago there was a person named Inkimis.'

ok0009
Ntây           apá      tpa        lmrránì        apá         ojî
n --ata -      apá      t -pá      l -mrránì      apá         oj-
CN-3-have-PASS   long.ago OBL-formerly MSG-warrior:ACC  long.ago    say-PASS

Inkimís.
Inkimís
Inkimís

'A long time ago there was a warrior named Inkimis.'

ok0010
Ntáy          apá      tpa         lmrránì          apá
n --ata -     apá      t -pá       l -mrránì        apá
CN-3-have-PASS  long.ago OBL-formerly  MSG-warrior:ACC    long.ago

l             rkkonyókie          apá      ojî       Mópel.
l     -       l -kk   -onyókie   apá      oj-      Mópel
M.POSD-PL.POSR  MPL-tree.PL-brown.red long.ago say-PASS  Mópél

jo: Mópel     os: Mópel.
    Mópél         Mópel
    Mópel         Mópel

'(and) Long ago there was a warrior of the Red-Tree clan named Mopel.' jo: Mopel.  os: Mopel.

ok0011
Nélótú          apá      ltání,
n --lot-(n)   apá      l -tání
CN-3-go-HITHER  long.ago MSG-person:NOM
'Long ago a person came.'

ok0012
népoonu             lmrrân,          lmrrân         áare, n,
n --puo(n) -(n)   l -mrrân         l -mrrân       áare  n
CN-3-go.PL-HITHER   MPL-warriors:NOM   MPL-warriors:NOM two   HESITATION

Mópel,  lkây    mrránì,
Mópel     -lkây mrránì
Mópel   MSG-other warrior:ACC

'the warriors came, two warriors, um, Mopel and another warrior.'

ok0013
nya             eronkó,
n --ya  -(n)    e  -ronkó
CN-3-take-HITHER  FSG-dik.dik
'They brought a dik-dik'
[naa].  Definitely multi-moraic in the final syllable.

ok0014
áapoonu
áa    -puo(n) -(n)
INF.PL-go.PL-HITHER
'to come'

ok0015
áaun           t  b           Láykípiyak, ...,  
áa    -un      t  b           Láykípiyak  ....  
INF.PL-plant   OBL outside PL.POSR Láykípiyak  PL.POSR PL.POSR

lmrràn
l -mrràn
MPL-warriors:ACC

'to plant it outside [inside the kraal] of the Láykípiyak, of, of the warriors.'

ok0016
népoonunúi                    áapoonu             áapuo
n --puo(n)-(n)  -   -     áa    -puo(n) -(n) áa    -puo(n)
CN-3-go.PL-HITHER-REDUP-3PL   INF.PL-go.PL-HITHER INF.PL-go.PL
'They came and came and came

ok0017
áapuonu
áa    -puo(n) -(n)
INF.PL-go.PL-HITHER
'and came'

ok0018
áapuo
áa    -puo(n)
INF.PL-go.PL
'so that they could go'

ok0019
áaún
áa    -un
INF.PL-plant.erect
'to plant'

ok0020
áapoonu
áa    -puo(n) -(n)
INF.PL-go.PL-HITHER
'to come'

ok0021
áaun.          n,
áa    -un      n
INF.PL-plant   HESITATION
'to plant it.'

ok0022
Néjokí           Mópel lmrránì,
n --jo -ak(n)  Mópel l -mrránì
CN-3-say-DAT     Mópel MSG-warrior:ACC
'Mopel told the warrior,'

ok0024
"Shm
 shm
 go.PFTV
"Go,"
The subjunctive and perfective are historically connected.

ok0025
shm   iyyé,
shm   iyyé
go.PFTV 2SG
"You go,"

ok0026
"shm   iyyé
 shm   iyyé
 go.PFTV 2SG
"you go"

ok0027
paátúm          nan   aéu pny.
pa  -á  -tum    nán   a  -éu pny
COND-1SG-get    1SG    INF-come alone
"so that I can come alone."

ok0028
Néypú          apá      Mópel,
n --ipu       apá      Mópel
CN-3-go.out     long.ago Mópel
'Mopel went out.'
 OR: 'Mopel held'  nyb

ok0029
néypú        l     Magárrancho
n --ipu     l     Magárrancho
CN-3-go.out   son.of  Magárrancho
'Ole Magárrancho went out.'
 OR: 'Ole Magárrancho held' nyb

ok0030
nyb,
n --ib
CN-3-hold
'He held,'

ok0031
Nyb        Mópél mpls.
n --ib     Mópél m -pls
CN-3-hold     Mopel FSG-middle:ACC
'He held Mopel by the middle.'

ok0032
néytiíd,
n --itiid
CN-3-throw.over
'and threw him over,'

ok0033
néytiíd          nkají.
n --itiid       nk-ají
CN-3-throw.over  FSG-house:ACC
'and threw him over the house.'

ok0034
Nymanyák                lmrraní         l         l
n --imanyá       -ak(n) l -mrraní       l         l     -
CN-3-take.pride.in-DAT    MSG-warrior:NOM   this.M      M.POSD-PL.POSR

lmaáti
l -maáti
MPL-enemies:ACC
'This warrior (O.M.) of the enemies proudly boasted,'

ok0035
ajó    "[árá] l          Magárrancho.[árá]   l     Magárrancho."
ajó      á  -rá l        Magárrancho  á  -rá l     Magárrancho
COMP     1SG-be son.of     Magárrancho  1SG-be son.of  Magárrancho
that "I am Mr. Magárrancho. I am Mr. Magárrancho."
J.O. says words in brackets should be there, though they were not in the original.

ok0036
mtábâ     ánaa     n        nélo
mtábâ     ánaa     n        n --lo(t)
until       like     HESITATION CN-3-go
'until the time when he went'

ok0037
néjo
n --jo
CN-3-say
'and said,'

ok0038
"óórèrè     ntooruwóki                 lmáátintá!"
 órèrè      n     -ta  -oru    -ák(n) l -máátintá
 people:ACC 2PL.IMP-PFTV-deprive-DAT    MSG-enemy:ACC
"People! Rescue (me) from the enemy!"

ok0039
Nyá      apá,
n --ya   apá
CN-3-take long.ago
'They took,'

ok0040
nyá      apáá
n --ya   apá
CN-3-take long.ago
'they took,'

ok0041
nyá         apá      lmrránì
n --ya      apá      l -mrránì
CN-3-take    long.ago MSG-warrior:ACC
'they took the warrior (O.M.),'

ok0042
nyá         apá      Mópel lmrránì       mwa mányátá.
n --ya      apá      Mópel l -mrránì     mwa n  -mányátá
CN-3-take    long.ago Mópel MSG-warrior:ACC up.to  FSG-warrior.village:ACC
'Mopel took the warrior up to the warriors' village.'

ok0043
óre    aké     peyyê    ya,     n
óre    aké     peyyê    -ya     n
now    then    so.that  3-take   HESITATION
'After he took (him),'
[ya]

ok0044
néjo        tny,
n --jo     tny
CN-3-say    mother:NOM
'(his) mother said,'

ok0045
"Kóreé  apá      Mópel?"
 k-óre  apá      Mópel
 Q-now  long.ago Mópel
"Where is Mopel?"

ok0046
Néjo     intóyyê         mányátá,
n --jo  n -tóyyê       -n       -mányátá
CN-3-say FPL-girls:NOM   FSG.POSR-warrior.village:ACC
'The girls of the warrior.village said,'

ok0047
"T  nélótú    taá  knyá     Mópel,
 t  n --lotú taá  knyá     Mópel
 OBL CN-3-come FACT some.day  Mópel
"When (indefinite time in the future?) Mopel comes,"

ok0048
nmm...             náa    pkn...ncho
n-m  --m  -(n)     náa    pkn    -sh(r)
CN-NEG-3-pass-HITHER   and    all      3-give
"He will not pass through (towards us)..., and the only... what to do"

ok0049
ntdl                 Mópél
n     -tV  -dl-(n)    Mópel
2PL.IMP-PFTV-see-HITHER  Mópel
"You (pl.) watch out for Mopel,"

ok0050
am     tenérikito              lka tánì,     naaa...
am     t -n --rik -ta       lkây tánì      naaa
because OBL-CN-3-lead-PR.IMPF   other person:ACC  HESITATION
"because if he is bringing another person,"

ok0051
kélotú                 alotú
k    --lo(t)-(n)     a  -lo(t)-(n)
DISCN-3-go-HITHER      SG:INF-go-HITHER
"and he will come"

ok0052
am.
a  -m  -(n)
INF-pass-HITHER
"to pass through (hither)."

ok0053
Mm               ewwâs,
m -m  -(n)       n  -wwâs
NEG-pass-HITHER     FSG-open.place:ACC
"He will not pass through an open place,"

ok0054a
jo: a'a.  os: entím           m,
    a'a       n -tîm         -m  -(n)
    no        FSG-forest:ACC  3-pass-HITHER
'No.' "A forest he will pass through (coming hither)."

ok0054b
jo: entím            mu
          n -tîm          -m  -(n)
    SG-forest:ACC    3-pass-HITHER
jo: 'He will come through the forest.'

ok0055
Ndl        peê  m          ntîm.
n --dl-    peê  -m  -(n)   n -tîm
CN-3-see-PASS when 3-pass-HITHER FSG-forest:ACC
When he was seen coming through the bush.'

ok0056
nélótú           apá,  nélótú          apá,
n --lo(t)-(n)  apá   n --lo(t)-(n) apá
CN-3-go-HITHER   EMPH  CN-3-go-HITHER  EMPH
'he kept coming and coming.'

ok0057
Néjokí...        néjokiní             l    Magárrancho,
n --jo -ak(n)  n --jo -ak(n)-    l    Magárrancho
CN-3-say-DAT     CN-3-say-DAT -PASS   son.of Magárrancho
'Ole Magárrancho was told,'

ok0058
"Tólimú      naápá     mbáa            nkp          inyî."
 tV  -limu   naápá     m -báa         -n -kp      inyî
 SUBJ-tell   that.time FPL-affairs:ACC FPSR-FSG-land  your.PL
"Tell us the news of your (pl.) country."

ok0059
Néjo,
n --jo
CN-3-say
'He said,'

ok0060
"óre lmrránì       ojî      Inkimís     mydmny."
 óre l -mrránì     oj-     Inkimís     m  --dmn  -      -y
 now MSG-warrior:ACC say-PASS Inkimís     NEG-3-overcome-MIDDLE-ABLE
"The warrior who is named Inkimís is unconquerable."

ok0061
"Máta    nchére."
 m -ata  nchére
 NEG-have that
"Not at all."

ok0062
Néjo     Mópel,
n --jo  Mópel
CN-3-say Mópel
'Mopel said,'

ok0063
"Nán aké  ár."
 nán aké      -ar
 1SG  only M.REL-kill
"I am the one who will kill him."

ok0064
óre   knyá     ná    l        naapoonú            áapoonu
óre   knyá     ná    l        naa -puo(n) -(n)   áa    -puo(n) -(n)
now   some.day  this.F day:ACC     REL.PL-go.PL-HITHER INF.PL-go.PL-HITHER
'Now on the arrival day, when these enemies of the Maasai came

ok0065
áapuo         lmáatí          dúó  kl   l             lmáásây
áa    -puo(n) l -maáti        dúó  kl   l     -       l -máásây
INF.PL-go.PL  MPL-enemies:NOM   then these  M.POSD-PL.POSR  MPL-Maasai
to go'

ok0066
apá         áapuo
apá         áa    -puo(n)
long.ago    INF.PL-go.PL
'to keep on going,'

ok0067
áapuo
áa    -puo(n)
INF.PL-go.PL
'to keep on going,'

ok0068
áar         kl  maáti,
áa    -ar   kl  maáti
INF.PL-kill these enemies:ACC
'to fight these enemies,'

ok0069
nysh         aké  Mópel,
n --sh(r)   aké  Mópel
CN-3-give      only Mópel
What Mopel did,'

ok0070
nysh       eramatishôy,
n --sh(r) n  -rámáte      -sh(r)-
CN-3-give    FSG-manage.cattle-give-3PL
'while the animals were being taken care of,'

ok0071
nélótú
n --lo(t)-(n)
CN-3-go-HITHER
'he came'

ok0072
aj          osínkírá        l    lkây.
a  -j       o  -sínkírá     l    lkây
INF-enter     MSG-central.hut of    other
'and entered the hut of the other one.'

ok0073
áta,
-ata
3-have
'He had,'

ok0074
áta    l    mrraní     ojíi           Inkimís,
-ata   l    mrráni     o    -jo -    Inkimís
3-have  this.M warrior     M.REL-say-PASS Inkimís
'this warrior who was named Inkimis had,'

ok0075
áta    intóyye      uní.
-ata   in -tóyye    uní
3-have  FPL-girls    three
'he had three girls.'

ok0076
áta   entító             lkeékonyókíé,   éntító            
-ata  en -títo           l -keékonyókíé en -títo          
3-have FSG-daughter PL.POSR MPL-Keékonyókíé POSR.FSG-daughter PL.POSR

lprk,    wénê       nkp     ny.
l-prkó   o  -enê    n -kp  ny
MPL-Purko  and-here   FSG-land their

'He had a girl of Keékonyókíé, a girl of Purko, and a girl of  his/their own land.'

ok0077
Népóónú             aké      kl      mrràn        l           Prk,
n --puo(n) -(n)   aké      kl      mrràn        l     -     Prk,
CN-3-go.PL-HITHER   then     these     warriors:NOM  M.POSD-FSG   Purkó
'Then these warriors of Purko came'

ok0078
am      késhláy                     naápá      nna  katitín,
am      k    --shla        -      naápá      nna  katitín
because  DISCN-3-live.together-3PL    that.time  those periods
'because (people) lived together in those days.'

ok0079
áay. Néjo,
áay  n --jo
oh.  CN-3-say
'Oh [self-correction]. She said,'

ok0080
Néjo     téípa    entitó,
n --jo  téípa    en -titó
CN-3-say evening  FSG-girl:NOM
'In the evening a girl said,'

ok0081
"ámaâ       akntáy,   naíjó  kéygirígíró   nkáji,    káínyo?"
 ámaâ       akntáy    naíjó  k--igirigíro nk-ají    k-áínyo
 even.if    ***        why    Q-3-shake     FSG-house  Q-why
"Why is it so that the house is/seems to be shaking? Why?"
This sentence needs further work.

ok0082
Néjokí           Inkimís,
n --jo -ak(n)  Inkimís
CN-3-say-DAT     Inkimís
Inkimís told her,'

ok0083
"áá,          médamú
 áa           mé -damu(n)
 EXCLAMATION  NEG-remember
"Oh, don't worry"

ok0084
am      ámaâ       náají nny   tenéygirígíró     nkájì
am      ámaâ       náají nny   t-n --igirigiro nk-ájì
because  even.if    MODAL 3SG     OBL-CN-3-shake    FSG-house:NOM
"because even if the house shakes"

ok0085
mará         nan   áywes?
-m  -a  -ra  nán   áy     -wes
Q-NEG-1SG-be  1SG    another-beast
"am I not another beast?"

ok0086
Néjo     aké     ná    titó
n --jo  aké     ná    titó
CN-3-say again   this.F girl:NOM
'This girl asked again,'

ok0087
"Káynyoó  naíjó táatá    kéygirígíró   nkájì?"
 k-áynyo  naíjó táatá    k--igirigiro nk-ájì
 Q-why    why   now      Q-3-shake     FSG-house:NOM
"Why is it that the house shaking today?"

ok0088
Néjokí,
n --jo -ak(n)
CN-3-say-DAT
'He told her,'

ok0089
"á'a     ménjali,    â     míuréysho
 a'a     ménjali     â     m  -í-ure -sh(r)
 no      don't.mind  ah    NEG-2-fear-ANTIPASS
"Don't worry, oh don't be afraid."

ok0090
néníí         olórere
n --ni -    ol -órere
CN-3-hear-PASS MSG-people
'The people were heard'

ok0092
ritây       táatá    ánaa     Imbárbálí
-rita  -    táatá    ánaa     Imbárbálí
3-attack-PASS now      like     Imbárbálí
'while  being attacked as far as Imbárbál'

ok0093
am     néyja      apá      bâ             manyát
am     né-ija     apá      -bâ            n  -manyát
because CN-that    long.ago 3-be.as.big.as  FPL-warrior.villages
because ... warrior villages were ... in those days.'

ok0094
néjokiní           ína      títo           lkeékonyókie     Inkímís
n --jo -akn-    na      títo           l-keékonyókie   Inkímís
CN-3-say-DAT -PASS that.F   girl:ACC PL.POSR MPL-Keékonyókie ..  Inkímis
'That girl from Ilkeékonyókie was told by Inkimis,'

ok0095
"ínyô      siî   íyyé mpaá",
 í-nyô     siî   iyyé -n   -pa  -a
 2-get.up  also  2SG  2-EPEN-go.out-SUBJN
"You just get up and go out,"

ok0096
mpaá,
-n   -pa  -a
2-EPEN-go.out-SUBJN
"go out,"

ok0097
shm   sií     íyyé,
shm   siî     iyyé
go.PFTV also    2SG
"You go,"

ok0098
"táyyoló    entóki    nayshrta."
tá  -yyolo  en -tóki  na -ishr-ta
PFTV-know   FSG-thing REL-weep -PR.IMPF
"(and) find out what is screaming."

ok0099
Néypa            aké     entitó,
n --ipa  -(n)   aké     en -titó
CN-3-go.out-HITHER then    FSG-girl:NOM
'The girl came out,'

ok0100
néjokí,
n --jo -ak(n)
CN-3-say-DAT
'and said to him/them,'

ok0101
"âysh. mta       nkra          náaygurân."
 âysh  m  --ata   n -kra        na -iguran
 ah    NEG-3-have  FPL-children    REL-play.PL
"Ah. It is nothing (but) the children who are playing."

ok0102
Néjokí          nâ       títo                Prk,
n --jo -ak(n) ná       títo                Prk
CN-3-say-DAT    this.F    girl:ACC FSG.POSR    Purkó
He told this girl from the Purko clan,'

ok0103
"ínyô      sií     íyyé
 í-nyô     siî     iyyé
 2-get.up  also    2SG
"You also get up"

ok0104
shm
shm
go.PFTV
"(and) go"

ok0105
mpaá."
-n   -pa  -a(k)
2-EPEN-go.out-PFTV
"(and) go out."

ok0106
éjokí,
n --jo -ak(n)
CN-3-say-DAT
'She said,'

ok0107
"máta      nkra       náaygurân."
 m -ata    n -kra     naa -iguran
 NEG-have   FPL-children REL.PL-play.PL
"It is nothing (but) the children playing."

ok0108
Néjokí         n      nkp     ny,
n --jo -ak(n)n      n -kp  ny
CN-3-say-DAT   FSG.POSD FSG-land their
'He told the one [girl] from his/their homeland,'

ok0109
"ínyô     sií     íyyé
 í-nyô    siî     iyyé
 2-get.up also    2SG
"You also get up"

ok0110
mpaá."
-n   -pa  -a(k)
2-EPEN-go.out-PFTV
"(and) go out."

ok0111
Néjokí,
n --jo -ak(n)
CN-3-say-DAT
'She said to him,'

ok0112
"óóóí! óí! oloshô       l                 papâ   o     yyeyyô.  óoi!
 óóóí  óí  ol -oshô     l     -           papâ   o     yyeyyô   óoi
 óóóí  óí  MSG-country  M.POSD-FSG.POSR    father and   mother   óoi

éydáytie
-daytíé
3-exterminate

"óóóí! My beloved country of my father and my mother, óoi!. They have exterminated them!"

ok0113
Bási       néjokí          éwes,
bási       n --jo -ak(n) n-wês
thereafter CN-3-say-DAT    FSG-beast
'Then the beast said to her,'
Some speakers think of  bási as a borrowing from Swahili.

ok0114
néjokí           Inkímís, lmrraní,
n --jo -ak(n)  Inkimís  l -mrraní
CN-3-say-DAT     Inkimís  MSG-warrior:NOM
'Inkimis, the warrior, said to her,'

ok0115
ây  entíto,
ây  en -títo
aye FSG-girl:ACC
'no, the girl'

ok0116
"mpaá               siî   íyyé",
  -n   -pa  -a(k)  siî   iyyé
 2-EPEN-go.out-PFTV  also  2SG
"You just go out",

ok0117
"mpayé              sií     íyyé nâ        l."
  -n   -pa  -ie(k) siî     iyyé ná        l
 2-EPEN-go.out-INST  also    2SG  this.F     shield:ACC
"You just take this shield out."
Inkimis is talking to the girl, now.

ok0118
Néypaye.
n --pa  -ie(k)
CN-3-go.out-INST
'She took it out.'

ok0119a
Etií    Mópel lál.
-tií   Mópel l -ál
3-be.at Mópel MSG-calf.pen:ACC
'Mopel was in the calf pen.'

ok0119b
jo:  Etií       Mópel lál
            -tií      Mópel l -ál
     3-be.at    Mópel MSG-calf.pen:ACC
jo:  'Mópel was in the calf pen.'

ok0120
os: . néjokí,
            n --jo -ak(n)
        yes CN-3-say-DAT
os: 'Yes. He told her,'

ok0121
"mpayé               ná       l."
  -n   -pa  -ie(k)  ná       l
 2-EPEN-go.out-INST   this.F    shield:ACC
"You take this shield outside."

ok0122
"nyáak        mpayé              eremét."
 nyáak        -n   -pa  -ie(k) n-remét
 do.again.IMP  2-EPEN-go.out-INST  FSG-spear:ACC
"Again take the spear outside."

ok0123
nyáak        mpayé              l    owwarú
nyáak        -n   -pa  -ie(k) l    owwarú
do.again.IMP  2-EPEN-go.out-INST  this.M beast.of.prey:ACC
"Again take this lion mane outside."

ok0124
táatá  maypirrípíró,            nánkân
táatá  m   -a  -ipirripir-a(k)  n -ánkân
now    SUBJN-1SG-shake-PFTV     FPL-silky.cloth
"now let me shake my silky clothes."

ok0125
"pa     ápukú."
 pa     á  -puku
 COND   SG-come.out
"then I (will) come out."

ok0126
órè  aké  nâ     naypirrípir
órè  aké  ná     na -ipirripir
now  then this.F  F.REL-shake
'The moment he has (finished) shaking,'

ok0127
eypirripirúnye          Inkímís.           jo: Inkímís  ójo?
-ipirripir-(n) -ie(k) Inkímís                Inkimis  ó    -jo
3-shake    -HITHER-INST Inkímís                Inkimis  M.REL-say
'Inkimis came shaking himself (trotting) out.' JO:'Is it Inkímís  who is saying?'

ok0128
, eypirripiríto     nánkân
     -ipirripir-ta   n -ánkân
yes 3-shake    -IMPF  FPL-silky.cloth
'Yes, (while) shaking the silky clothes,'

ok0129
népúkú        Mópel
n --puku     Mópel
CN-3-come.out Mópel
'Mopel came out,'

ok0130
aytashé.
a  -tashe
INF-stand
'and stood.'

ok0131
Néypaák           entíto        t  ktkají.
n --pa  -ak(n)  en -títo      t  ktk-ají
CN-3-go.out-DAT     FSG-girl:ACC  OBL mouth-house
'He went out encountering the girl at the door.'

ok0132
Néylaykínó     naá   entitó        anyáák,
n --ilaykino  naá   en -títo      a  -nyaak
CN-3-be.unable and   FSG-girl:NOM  INF-do.again
'The girl was unable to do it again,'

ok0133
anyáák
a  -nyaak
INF-do.again
'to do again'

ok0134
atushukúnye
a  -tu  -shuku(n)  -ie
INF-PFTV-return.TRN-**
'to return'

ok0136
atólíkí         lkây.
a  -tV  -liki     -lkây.
INF-PFTV-tell   MSG-other
'to tell the other guy.'

ok0137
Népúkú         lkay.
n --puku        -lkây
CN-3-come.out  MSG-other
'The other one came out.'

ok0138
kéytáshe        lkáy    t  ndârr     ktkají
k    --itashe    -lkây t  ndârr     ktk-ají
DISCN-3-stand   MSG-other OBL right FPSR mouth-house
'The other was standing right at the door.'

ok0139
nrm       Mópel lkây
n --rm    Mópel   -lkây
CN-3-pierce Mópel MSG-other
'Mopel pierced the other.'

ok0140
Npk        eremét.
n --pk     n-remét
CN-3-put.in  FSG-spear
'He put him the spear.'

ok0141
Néjokí,
n --jo -ak(n)
CN-3-say-DAT
'He (Ole Magarrancho) told him,'

 ok0142
"Mópél, aah! l!   l! áyyólo    apá     aké
 Mópel  aah  l    l  á  -yyolo apá     aké
 Mópel  aah  l    l  1SG-know  EMPH    then
"Mopel, aah!, l    l, I knew,"

ok0143
ajó, iyyé líkíar.                       Jo: "ahíyá!"
ajó  iyyé l  -kí    -ar
COMP SG   M.REL-INV.FUT-kill
"that you were the one to kill me."

ok0144
áyyólo    apá  aké
á  -yyolo apá  aké
1SG-know  EMPH then
"I knew"

ok0145
ajó,  iyyé líkíar.
ajó   iyyé l    -kí    -ar
COMP  2SG  M.REL-INV.FUT-kill
"that you were the one to kill me."

ok0146
áási, n         néjí           taá
bási  n         n --jo -     taá
then  HESITATION  CN-3-say-PASS  FACT
'Then it was said,'

ok0147
súutî naá  ndááyye
súutî naá  -n   -daayie
trash then 2-EPEN-destroyed
"Disreputed kraal, you are finished/destroyed."
("Let the dying kraal die." = more idiomatic translation)

ok0148
néjútí          apá     l        órere.
n --jut  -    apá     l        órere
CN-3-erase-PASS EMPH    that.M     people
'That group of people was wiped out.'

Return to top
Return to Maasai Language Project


This page prepared by Doris L. Payne.