Chapter 7 Texts

7.0. Introduction

		Some typical folkloric texts are presented in this chapter from both Cuisnahuat and Santo Domingo de Guzman. These narratives are of interest because they illustrate Pipil oral literature show the language in use. Many of the examples cited in this book were taken from these texts, particularly those in the chapter on syntax (chapter 4).
	 	Each text bears a title and an abbreviation (or  letter  code) which identifies the texts from which examples are cited  in  the other chapters of this book.  These are:
	
	The Huracaneros      	=  H

	The Arch             	=  A 
	The Siguanaba        	=  S 
	The Sipitillo       	=  Sip 
	The King (Rey)       	=  R 
	The Nanahuatzin      	=  N

		Each sentence in the texts bears a number by which examples are cited.  These sentences are translated morpheme-by-morpheme to show which Pipil morphemes correspond to the forms of the interlinear English translation. A less literal, more narrative translation follows each text. Unassimilated Spanish words and phrases which appear in the Pipil texts are underlined and presented in Spanish orthography as it corresponds to local pronunciations. Nevertheless, Spanish infinitives which appear in the construction -chiwa + Spanish infinitive are written according to Pipil orthography in spite of the fact that they are not fully part of Pipil (cf. section 4.19). 
		The principal literary device of these texts is the paired couplet, called "difrasismo" (diphrasism) by some. This stylistic mechanism repeats the same notion in two distinct ways or presents two connected concepts coupled linguistically. Consider the example H-22:
		
	ka:n nemi ne plumas, ka:n naka-k ne i-uh-u:mi-yu?
	where is the feathers, where stay-PRET the its-PL-bone-INT POSS? 
	"Where are the feathers, where did its bones stay?" 

		What is essential is the parallelism; in the two (paired) clauses which have basically the same structure; "feathers" is parallel to "bones", and "is" to "stayed". In R-3, the parallelism is a total repetition of the same clause.  The sentence N-5 is a repetition of N-4 with additional elaboration.

	

Los Huracaneros
 (The Hurricaners)

(Santo Domingo de Guzman, June, 1975)
		
1) 	na  ni-k-elna:miki tay nech-ilwih nu-no:yah wan nu-tata-noy.
	I I-it-remember what me-told my-grandmother and my-grandfather.

2) 	En aquel tiempo wi:ts-et urakaneros tik se: te:chan de nombre chiltyupan.
	In that time come-PL hurricaners from a town of name Chiltiupan.

3) 	ke:man ina-t yehemet ka yawi panu urakan, segun yehemet ina-t ka tik ne eheka-t 	panu  ne: wi:ts-et hombres wan siwa:-tket al aire con tal de que wi:ts-et k-wi:ka-t 	e:lu-t pal yehemet ki-kwa-t.
	when say-PL they that go pass hurricane, according to they say-PL that in the 	wind-ABSOL pass there come-PL men and woman-PL on the wind with such of 	that come-PL it-take-PL corn for they it-eat-PL.

4) 	kunih ne mih-mi:l naka-k bien quebrado, bien aplastado, varias mazorcas 	desfigurados en un aspecto de, como buba.
	thus the PL-milpa remain-PRET very broken, very flattened, several ears of corn 	disfigured in an aspect of, like pustules.

5) 	yahane mazorcas k-wi:ka-t ne chiltyupanekos, segun nu-tata-noy wan nu-no:yah 	ki-chiw-ke-t kontar.
	That  ears  of corn it-take-PL the  Chiltiupanites,  according  my-grandfather and 	my-grandmother it-do-PRET-PL tell.

6) 	pero en ese casosiyuhti nemi-k se: ta:ka-t intelihenteh, wan mu-chiw-ki proponer 	ke era de mas tay wi:ts-et ki-chiwa-t nin tik tu18-te:chan.  
	but in that case once is-PRET a man-ABSOL intelligent, and REFLEX-do-PRET 	propose that was of much what come-PL it-do-PL here in our-town.

7) 	kunih yaha ki-chiw-ki se: trampah.
	then he it-do-PRET a trap.

8) 	tik ne trampah weli-k ki-kutamima se: siwa:pil como de dieciocho anos.
	in the trap can-PRET it-catch a girl as of eighteen years.

9) 	pero ne siwa:pil al mumentuh ke wets-ki ta:lchi inmediatamente mu-kwep-ki se: 	chumpipi.
	but the girl at the moment that fall-PRET on ground immediately REFLEX-turn-	PRET a turkey.

10) 	kunih ne ta:ka-t ke ki-kutamin k-its-ki ne chumpipi, k-wi:ka ka i-chan.
	then the man-ABSOL that it-caught it-grab-PRET the turkey, it-take to his-house.
11) 	inmediatamente ki-chiw-ki ordinar i-siwa:-w ma: ki-mik-ti ne chumpipi pal ki-	kwa-t.
	immediately it-do-Pret order his-wife-POSS that it-kill the turkey for it-eat-PL.

12) 	entonces ne i-siwa:-w ki-mik-tih ne chumpipi, ki-chiw-ki desplumar, wan ki-	chiw-ki ne komidah wan ki-kwah-ke-t. 

	then the his-wife-POSS it-die-CAUS the turkey, it-do-PRET pluck, and it-do-	PRET the food and it-eat-PRET-PL.

13) 	pero, tay yehemet mu-chiw-ke-t afihar ka ne i-uh-u:mi-yu ne chumpipi, ne plumas 	te: ki-kwah pe:lu.
	but, what they REFLEX-do-PRET-PL notice that theits-PL-bone-INT POSS the 	turkey, the feathers no it-ate dog.

14) 	entonces naka-k pensativo muchi ne hwamilya tayika te: ki-kwah pe:lu ne uh-	u:mi-t ni ke ne plumah.
	then remain-PRET thoughtful all the family because no it-ate dog the PL-bone-	ABSOL nor the feather.  
	
15) 	a los tres dias ka panu-tuk ne urakan wan ki-kwah-tiwi-t ne chumpipi, wa:lah-ke-t 	u:me ta:ka-met wan se: siwa:-t ki-te:mua-t.
	at the three days that pass-PERF the hurricane and it-eat-PERF-PL the turkey, 	came-PRET-PL two man-PL and one woman-ABSOL it-seek-PL.

16) 	kunih ahsi-ke-t i-chan ne ta:ka-t kah ki-kutamin-ki porke yehemet poco mas o 	menos ki-matia-t-a katka kah ki-kutamin. 
	then arrive-PRET-PL  his-house  the man-ABSOL  that  it-catch-PRET because 	they little more or less it-know-PL-already BEFORE who  itcaught.

17) 	pero yehemet te: ina-ke-t la verdad sino ahsi-ke-t a:n k-ilwih-ke-t si por 	casualidad k-its-tuk se: siwa:pil panu-k ka ne: cerca i-kal ne di:yah panu-k ne 	urakanasoh.
	but they no say-PRET-PL the truth rather arrivePRET-PL today him-say-PRET-	PL  if by chance it-see-PERF a girl pass-PRET by there near his-house the day 	pass-PRET the hurricane.

18) 	yaha tay ki-chiw-ki kontestar kah siwa:pil tesu k-its-tuk.
	he what it-do-PRET answer that girl no her-see-PERF.

19) 	lo que si ya ki-ahsi-k en campo libre se: chumpipi.
	that which yes he it-find-PRET on ground free a turkey.

20) 	kunih yaha k-its-ki wan k-wi:ka-k ka i-chan wan k-ilwih i-siwa:-w ma:  ki-miktih  	wan  ki-chiw-ki se: komidah wan ki-kwah-ke-t.
	then he it-grab-PRET and it-take-PRET to his-house and her-say his-wife-POSS 	that it-kill and it-do-PRET a meal and it-eat-PRET-PL.
21) 	kunih ina-ke-t los tres, "pwes ye:k tay  ti-k-chiw-tuk, pero bien naha ni-k-neki xi-	k-chiwa nu-wan ne hwabor".
	then say-PRET-PL the three, "well good what you-it-do-PERF, but very I I-it-	want IMP-it-do me-with the favor". 

22) 	xi-nech-ilwiti siquiera ka:n nemi ne plumas, ka:n naka-k ne  i-uh-u:mi-yu, pal ni-	yaw ni-k-ita ka:n nemi.
	IMP-me-show at least where is the feathers, where stay-PRET the it-PL-bone-INT 	POSS, so I-go I-it-see where is.

23)	kunih ne ta:ka-t yah-ki k-ilwitia.

	then the man-ABSOL go-PRET it-show.

24)	los tres ahsi-ke-t ka:n nemi ne plumas wan ne weh-we:suh ka te: ki-kwah-tuk 	pe:lu.
	the three arrive-PRET-PL where is the feathers and the PL-bone that no it-eat-	PERF dog.

25)	kunih ye(:)met ki-a:n-ke-t ne we:suh, ki-chiw-ke-t se: punyuh wan ki-tahtan-ke-t 	se: bateya wan se: buen punyuh a:-t wan se: karreton ilerah2, ki-mi:n-ke-t ka 	ikahku.
	then they it-gather-PRET-PL the bone, it-do-PRET-PL a bunch and it-request-	PRET-PL a tray and a good bunch water-ABSOL and a spool thread, it-throw-	PRET-PL to up.

26) 	al ratito tikwini.

	in little while thunder.

27) 	ka:n tikwini-k yaha k-ita-k ka maya ki-mak bweltah. 
	where thunder-PRET he it-see-PRET only it-gave turn.

28)  	en la vuelta que ki-maka mu-chiw-ke-t elebar wan  mu-chiw-ke-t desapareser.
	in the turn that it-give REFLEX-do-PRET-PL rise and REFLEX-do-PRET-PL.

29) 	kieneh k-wi:ka-ke-t ne siwa:pil porke ne ta:ka-t en el momento que k-ita-k ke ki-	chiw-ke-t la prueba k-ita-k perfectamente ka se: siwa:pil hermosa ki:s-ki  tik ne 	we:sus  wan ne plumah.
	well it-take-PRET-PL the girl because the man-ABSOL in the moment that it-see-	PRET that it-do-PRET-PL the proof it-see-PRET perfectly that a girl beautiful 	leave-PRET from the bones and the feathers. 
		
30)  	yahika ne urakaneros en realidad wi:ts-et de chiltyupan, wi:ts-et k-wi:ka-t e:lu-t 	pal ki-kwa.
	therefore the hurricaners in reality come-PL from Chiltiupan, come-PL it-take-PL 	corn for it-eat.

31) 	pero kunih mu-chiw-ke-t hregar porke ki-miktih-ke-t se: siwa:pil wan ki-kwah-	ke-t.
	but then REFLEX-do-PRET-PL screw because her-kill-PRET-PL a girl and it-	eat-PRET-PL.

32) 	kieneh nech-chiw-tuk kontar nu-tata-noy wan nu-no:yah, wan esta fecha siempre 	panu urakan pero tehemet te:-ya ke:man ti-k-ita-ke-t su wal-ku-wetsi se:.
	thus me-do-PERF tell my-grnd-father and my-grandmother, and this date always 	pass hurricane but we no-now when we-it-see-PRET-PL if DIR-head-fall one.

33) 	yahika a:n ni-k-chiwa kontar nu-amiguh pal k-wi:ka como recuerdo ini kwentuh.
	therefore today I-him-do tell my-friend so it-take as remembrance this story.

The Hurricaners
(Los Huracaneros, English narrative translation)
	
		(1) I remember what my grandmother and my grandfather told me. (2) In those days there came "hurricaners" from a town called Chilteopan. (3) When they say there is going to be a big storm, so they say, in the wind that comes by there come men and women in the wind such that they come to carry off ears of corn for them to eat. (4) Thus the milpas were left broken, quite flattened, with many ears of corn disfigured with a look like pustules. (5) Those were the ears of corn that the Chilteopaners took, according to my Grandfather and my grandmother.  
		(6) But in this case, once there was a smart man who held that what the came to do in our town was too much. (7) So he made a trap. (8) In the trap he was able to catch a girl of about eighteen. (9) But at the moment she fell to the ground, immediately the girl changed into a turkey. (10) Then the man who caught and grabbed the turkey took it to his house. (11) Immediately he ordered his wife to kill the turkey so they could eat it. (12) So his wife killed the turkey, plucked it, and made the food, and they ate it. (13) But what they noticed was that the dog did not eat the turkey's bones and feathers. (14) Then the whole family was left puzzled because the dog wouldn't eat the bones or the feathers. (15) On the third day after the storm had passed and they had eaten the turkey, there came two men and a woman to look for it. (16) They arrived at the house of the man who had caught it because they more or less already knew who had caught it. (17) But  the did not tell the truth, but rather arrived asking if  by chance he had seen a girl pass near his house the day of the big storm. (18) What he answered was that he had not seen a girl. (19) What he had found on open ground was a turkey. (20) Then he caught it and took it home and told his wife to kill it and make the food, and they ate it. (21) Then the three said, "Well, what you have done is all right, but I want you to do me a favor. (22) Show me, at least, where the feathers are, where the bones were left, so I can go see where they are. (23) Then the man went to show them. (24) The three came to where the feathers and bones were that the dog had not eaten. (25) Then they picked up the bones, made a pile, and asked for a trough and a lot of water and a spool of thread, and they throw it into the air. (26) Soon it thundered. (27) When it thundered he saw that it just turned around. (28) In the turn that it made it raised and disappeared. (29) Actually, they took the girl because at the moment the man saw that they tried this, he saw perfectly (well) that a beautiful girl came out of the bones and feathers.  
		(30) So, the "hurricanes" in reality come from Chilteopan; they come to take ears of corn to eat. (31) But they were screwed up, because they killed the girl and ate her. (32) That's what my grandfather and grandmother told me, and big storms always come, but we never saw if one came to fall. (33) So, today I am telling this  to my friend  so  he can take this  story  with  him  as  a remembrance.

El Arco
(The Arch)
(Santo Domingo de Guzman, July, 1975)

1) 	a:n trece de julio y dia de San Antonio, nin ni-nemi nu-chan ti-se:n-nemi-t a la par 	wan se: nu-amiguh, wi:ts ka wehka.
	today thirteenth of July and day of St. Anthony, here I-am my-house we-together-	are-PL on the level with a my-friend, come from far.

2) 	yaha  ki-neki  ki-kaki cuentos tay tik  nu-te:chan  ki-chiw-tuk suseder.
	he it-want it-hear stories what in my-town it-do-PERF happen.

3) 	a:n ni-yaw ni-k-chih kontar ka nin nemi se: chu:le-t  ke yaha propio yaha nech-	ilwih-tuk  ka i-na:n wan i-te:ku ne:  tik  arkuh nemi-t.
	today I-go I-it-do tell that here is an old man who he himself he me-tell-PERF that 	his-mother and his-father in arch is-PL.

4) 	yahika ke:man yaha mayana, ina i-se:l, "por el ultimo ni-k-mati ka:n nemi nu-	te:ku, ka:n nemi nu-na:n". 
	therefore when he hunger, say him-self, "at the last I-it-know where is my-father, 	where is my-mother". 

5) 	ni-yaw ni-k-tahtani tay ni-k-kwa, porque yehemet ki-piya-t deber nech-maka-t a:n 	ka ni-mayana.
	I-go I-it-request what I-it-eat, because they it-have-PL must me-give-PL now that 	I-hunger.

6) 	kunih ki-kwih i-kalabo:s wan i-ma:ta-w, yawi ka ne: arkuh. 
	then it-grabbed his-machete and his-net-POSS, go to there.

7) 	ahsi-k ne: tik ne pwertah, mu-ketsa a media puerta, k-ilwia, "nu-na:n, nu-te:ku, x-	al-ki:sa, nah ni-mayana, ni-k-neki ni-ta-kwa".
	arrive-_PRET there in the door, REFLEX-stand at half door, it-say, "my-mother, 	my-father, IMP-DIR-leave, I I-hunger, I-it want I-something-eat". 

8) 	al ratito ki:sa ne siwa:-t.

	after a while leave the woman-ABSOL.

9) 	"ti-mayana, no:y?"
	"you-hunger, boy?"

10)	"ni-mayana nu-na:n; yahika ni-wi:ts". 
	"I-hunger my-mother; therefore I-come".

11) 	"kunih xi-k-kwa siquiera pan porke tamal te: kanah; xi-k-kwa pan pal panu mu-	maya."
	"then IMP-it-eat anyway bread because tortilla no is; IMP-it-eat bread so pass 	your-hunger."

12) 	kunih yaha k-ilwia, "ti-k-piya we:y pan?"

	then he her-say, "you-it-have lots bread?"

13) 	"ah, pan nemi we:y".
	"Oh, bread is lots".

14) 	"kunih x-al-kwi uk se:yuk tortah"; "nah ni-k-ta:lia tik nu-ma:ta-w pal ni-k-kwa 	mu:sta".
	then IMP-DIR-grab even other bun"; "I I-it-place in my-net-POSS for I-it-eat 	tomorrow."

15) 	kunih ne i-na:n kalaki.

	then the his-mother enter.

16) 	mientras ne i-na:n kalaki k-al-wi:ka mas pan yaha pe:h-ki ki-kwa ne tortah ki-	maka-tuk i-na:n.
	while the his-mother enter it-DIR-take more bread he begin-PRET it-eat the bun 	it-give-PERF his-mother. 

17)	k-al-wi:ka i-na:n uk na:wi pan ombron.

	it-DIR-take his-mother other four bread large.

18) 	ki-ta:lih tik i-ma:ta-w wan wa:lah.
	it-placed in his-net-POSS and came.

19) 	pero la fregada, tay orah ehku-k i-chan k-i:xtia tik i-ma:ta-w tamanos plastas, i-	kwit turuh, tesu pan.
	but the bitch, what hour arrive-PRET his-house it-remove from his-net-POSS 	large cowpies, its-excrement cow, not bread.

20)	kunih ina, "ah jodido".

	then say, "oh son-of-a-bitch". 
21) 	"entonces ne tesu tamal ne tay ni-k-kwah-tuk,  ni ke pan, mas bien i-kwit turuh ni-	k-kwah."
	"then this no tortilla this what I-it-eat-PERF, nor bread, but rather its-excrement 	cow I-it-ate." 

22) 	"desde luego ka nin tik nu-ma:ta-w oh-ombron plastas pal turuh wi:ts, yaha ni-k-	kwah, tesu pan."
	"certainly in here in my-net-POSS PL-big cowpies of cow come, this I-it-ate, not 	bread."

23) 	"pero ke:man ni-yaw ni-mu-kwepa ni-yawi ni-yaw ni-k-ahwa ne nu-na:n tayika 	yaha nech-maka-tuk."
	"but when I-go I-REFLEX-turn I-go I go I-her-scold the my-mother because she 	me-give-PERF."

24) 	"yehemet ka ki-piya-t tumin."
	"they that it-have-PL money."

25) 	yahika ne: yah-ke-t ki-maka-t fin tik arkuh.
	therefore there go-PRET-PL it-give-PL end in arch.

26) 	"wan nah te: nech-ahkaw-ilih-ke-t tumin, maya pobresah."
	"and I no me-leave-APPLIC-PRET-PL money, only poverty."

27) 	"nah su te: ni-tekiti, te: ni-ta-kwa."
	"I, if no I-work, no I-something-eat."

28) 	"yahika wak ni-yaw ni-mu-kwepa ni-yawi ka arkuh, ni-yaw ni-k-nu:tsa nu-te:ku 	pal ni-k-ahwa."
	"therefore when I-go I-REFLEX-return I-go in arch, I-go I-him-speak my-father 	so I-him-scold." 
	
29) 	yaha propio ne chu:le-t nech-chiw-tuk kontar.
	he himself the old man me-do-PERF tell.

30) 	yaha i-tu:kay Lorenzo Lopez.
	he his-name Lorenzo Lopez.

31) 	ki-piya-tu-ya u:me i-pila-wan.

	it-have-PERF-IMPERF two his-son-PL POSS.

32) 	k-ilwia los dos pi:pil, "taha ti-mayordomoh, pero maya taha". 
	it-say the two boys, "you you-steward, but only you".

33) 	"mu-manuh mas vivo; yaha alvolario."
	"your-brother more smart; he wizard."
34) 	"yaha oficio; yaw a:n weli-t."
	"this position; go now can-PL."

35)	kieneh k-ilwia katka ne i-pila-wan.

	thus him-say BEFORE the his-son-PL POSS.

36) 	al fin ke:man yaha ki-neki miki ka mayana wan te: ki-piya, k-i:xtia se: espehuh 	tay orah takipi:ni.
	at the end when he it-want die that (he) hunger and no it-have, it-remove a mirror 	what hour lightening.

37)  	"ah diabloh, x-al-ki:sa, xi-nech-mikti!"

	"oh devil, IMP-DIR-come out, IMP-me-kill!"

38) 	ta-ta:wilua wan i-espehuh, pero ne tesu yaha i-destinuh; te: ke:man ki-miktih.
	REDUP-shine with his-mirror, but this no that his-fate; no when him-kill. 

The Arch
(El Arco)
	
		(1) Today, the 13th of July and St. Anthony's day, I am here in my house together with my friend who comes from far away. (2) He likes to hear stories about what has taken place in my town. (3) Today I'm going to tell him that there is an old man here who himself has told me that his mother and his father are there in the arch. (There is a natural rock-arch very near Santo Domingo de Guzman.)  
		(4) So when he was hungry, he said to himself, "Finally I know where my father is, where my mother is". (5) I'm going to ask them for something to eat, because they have to give it to me now that I'm hungry. (6) Then he grabbed his machete and his net-bag, and went there to the arch. (7) He came there to the door, stood in the middle of the door, and said, "mother, father, come out, I'm hungry, I want to eat". (8) In a little while the woman came out. (9) "Are you hungry, boy?" (10) "I'm hungry, mother; that's why I've come." (11) Then at least eat some bread, because there are no tortillas; eat bread so your hunger will go away." (12) Then he said, "Do you have lots of bread?" (13) "Oh, there's a lot of bread." (14) "Then bring me some more sandwiches; I'll put them in my bag to eat tomorrow." (15) Then his mother went inside. (16) While his mother was going in to bring more bread, he began to eat the sandwich his mother had given him. (17) His mother brought four more big buns. (18) He put them in his bag and left.  
		(19) But the bitch, when he got home he took big cow pies out of his bag, cow manure, not bread. (20) Then he said, "oh son-of-a bitch". (21) "So this was not a tortilla I have eaten, nor bread, rather it was cow shit that I ate. (22) Therefore, here in my bag are big cow pies; that's what I ate, not bread. (23) But when I go back there, I'm going to chew out my mother for what she has given me. (24) They are the ones who have money. (25) That's why they went there to end up in the arch. (26) And they didn't leave me money, just poverty. (27) As for me, if I don't work, I don't eat. (28) Therefore when I go back to the arch, I'm going to speak to my father to chew him out."  
		(29) The old man himself has told me this. (30) His name was Lorenzo Lopez. (31) He had two sons. (32) He said to the two boys, "You are a steward, but only you. (33) Your brother is smarter; he is a wizard. (34) These are your professions; go and learn them." (35) This is what he told them. (36) Finally, when he wanted to die because he was hungry and because he had nothing, he got out a mirror while it was lightning. (37) "Oh devil, come out, kill me!" (38) He shined with his mirror, but that was not to be his fate; he never killed him.