A esin te Skakos
(A Story about Cougar)

This story is an original, and is, in fact, based on a true story. The text is in the usual interlinear format. A line number is given every five lines in parentheses on the right edge of that line.

Te tari, kasawen a Skakos ni keriyosir te wiwes i tir.

LOC time PROG-live ABS cougar COM boy LOC LOC.NMLZ-sleep GEN PROX.DEM

At one time, Cougar lived with a boy in his (the boy's) bedroom.

Esawen-ti ni kari-te soo tari rana.

PFV-live=3PL.NOM COM self=3PL.POSS ABL time large

They had lived together for a long time.

Eyan, te wek, eyowor a keriyosir.

S-linker LOC day PFV-out-go ABS boy

Then, one day, the boy left.

Katorat a Skakos — etasi a quee i wek, on koni equawor a keriyosir.

PROG-wait ABS cougar PFV-happen:PFV ABS many GEN day but NEG PFV-back-go ABS boy

Cougar waited — many days passed, but the boy did not return.

Soora a Skakos

be.sad ABS cougar

Cougar was sad. (5)

Etsen a Skakos ya Tsarin,

PFV-ask ABS cougar DAT beaver

Cougar asked Beaver,

«Hik-na-wa te wisa to eyowor a keriyosir ya tar?»

know=2SG.NOM=Q LOC place REL PFV-away-go ABS boy DAT DIST.DEM

“Do you know where the boy went?”

Ir eyik a Tsarin, «Eyowor a keriyosir? Koni-ha hik a tir!»

and PFV-say ABS beaver PFV-away-go ABS boy NEG=1SG.NOM know ABS PROX.DEM

And Beaver said, “The boy left? I didn't know that!”

Eyan, etsen a Skakos ya Yesir,

S-linker PFV-ask DAT wolf ABS cougar

Then, Cougar asked Wolf,

«Hik-na-wa te wisa to eyowor a keriyosir ya tar?»

know=2SG.NOM=Q LOC place REL PFV-away-go ABS boy DAT DIST.DEM

“Do you know where the boy went?” (10)

Ir eyik a Yesir, «Ye kihik-ha, koni-ha kiyik ya nen!»

and PFV-say ABS wolf if IRR-know=1SG.NOM NEG=1SG.NOM IRR-say DAT 2SG

And Wolf said, “If I did know, I wouldn't tell you!”

Kanis, etsen a Skakos ya Siniyosok,

finally PFV-ask ABS cougar DAT monkey-AUG

Finally, Cougar asked Big Monkey,

«Hik-na-wa te wisa to eyowor a keriyosir ya tar?»

know=2SG.NOM=Q LOC place REL PFV-away-go ABS boy DAT DIST.DEM

“Do you know where the boy went?”

Ir eyik a Siniyosok, «Koni-ha hik.

and PFV-say ABS monkey-AUG NEG=1SG.NOM know

And Big Monkey said, “I don't know.

On kahanan-ha a riyos wis te tseren tir.

but PROG-smell-TR=1SG.NOM ABS people new LOC home PROX.DEM

But I smell new people in this house. (15)

Etsin saa kitsen-na ya teken.»

PFV-be.possbile COMP IRR-ask=2SG.NOM DAT 3PL

You might ask them.”

«On kot?» equatsen a Skakos.

but how PFV-in-ask ABS cougar

“But how?” Cougar inquired.

«Torat ir roquatsaa-ti ya nen», eyoyik a Siniyosok.

wait[IMP] and FUT-in-go=3PL.NOM DAT 2SG PFV-out-say ABS monkey-AUG

“Wait and they will come to you,” Big Monkey replied.

Eyan, etorat a Skakos.

S-linker PFV-wait ABS cougar

So, Cougar waited.

Kiyes kaquii, equawor a weriyos wiyo ya wiwes i keriyosir.

when PROG-night PFV-in-go ABS woman old DAT LOC.NMLZ-sleep GEN boy

When it was nighttime, an old woman came into the boy's bedroom (20)

Etsen a Skakos, «Hik-na-wa te wisa to eyowor a keriyosir ya tar?»

PFV-ask ABS cougar know=2SG.NOM=Q LOC place REL PFV-away-go ABS boy DAT DIST.DEM

Lion asked, “Do you know where the boy went?”

Eyoyik a ter, «Eyowor ya wisa te akik ori i tinirak.»

PFV-out-say ABS MED.DEM PFV-out-go DAT place LOC side other GEN COLL-mountain

She replied, “He went off to a place on the other side of the mountain range.”

«Ir etowetina-wa sati?»

and PFV-abandon-1SG.ACC=Q here

“And he left me here?”

«Resar.»

appear[3SG]

“It appears so.”

«Soo queyon ser? Koni-ha aket», etete a Skakos.

ABL reason which NEG=1SG.NOM understand PFV-mumble ABS cougar

“Why? I don't understand.” Cougar mumbled. (25)

«Tor-na-wa saa yoquos-na ya wisa te akik ori i tinirak?»,

want=2SG.NOM=Q COMP out-go=2SG.NOM DAT place LOC side other GEN COLL-mountain

“Do you want to go to the place on the other side of the mountain range?”

esten a weriyos.

PFV-ask ABS woman

the woman asked.

«Rii! Hiira!»

yes exceedingly

“Yes! Very much so!”

«Sik-ha nara.»

be.able=1SG.NOM help

“I can help.”

«Oo! Kinara-na-wa ya hen?» eyik a Skakos.

oh IRR-help=2SG.NOM=Q DAT 1SG PFV-say ABS cougar
“Oh! Would you help me?” said Cougar. (30)

«Rii.»

yes

“Yes.”

Ir tsoo equii, eketiisa tsa weriyos,

and after PFV-night PFV-take-3SG.ACC ERG woman

And in the morning (lit. after nighttime), the woman took him,

ir eriiqueratiisa ya wisa te akik ori i tinirak.

and PFV-CAUS-travel-3SG.ACC DAT place LOC side other GEN COLL-mountain

and made him travel to the place on the other side of the mountain range.

Kiyes equeyi sata, eke’okan a keriyosir.

When PFV-arrive there PFV-AC-be.surprised ABS boy

When he (Cougar) arrived there, the boy was surprised.

On riiko ii has i teken.

But be.happy very two GEN 3PL

But the two of them were very happy. (35)

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Te	tari,	kasawen	a	Skakos	ni	keriyosir	te	wiwes	i	tir.
LOC	time	PROG-live	ABS	cougar	COM	boy	LOC	LOC.NMLZ-sleep	GEN	PROX.DEM
At one time, Cougar lived with a boy in his (the boy's) bedroom.

Esawen-ti	ni	kari-te	soo	tari	rana.
PFV-live=3PL.NOM	COM	self=3PL.POSS	ABL	time	large
They had lived together for a long time.

Eyan,	te	wek,	eyowor	a	keriyosir.
S-linker	LOC	day	PFV-out-go	ABS	boy
Then, one day, the boy left.

Etsen	a	Skakos	ya	Tsarin,
PFV-ask	ABS	cougar	DAT	beaver
Cougar asked Beaver,

«Hik-na-wa	te	wisa	to	eyowor	a	keriyosir	ya	tar?»
know=2SG.NOM=Q	LOC	place	REL	PFV-away-go	ABS	boy	DAT	DIST.DEM
“Do you know where the boy went?”

Ir	eyik	a	Tsarin,	«Eyowor	a	keriyosir?	Koni-ha	hik	a	tir!»
and	PFV-say	ABS	beaver	PFV-away-go	ABS	boy	NEG=1SG.NOM	know	ABS	PROX.DEM
And Beaver said, “The boy left? I didn't know that!”

Ir	eyik	a	Yesir,	«Ye	kihik-ha,	koni-ha	kiyik	ya	nen!»
and	PFV-say	ABS	wolf	if	IRR-know=1SG.NOM	NEG=1SG.NOM	IRR-say	DAT	2SG
And Wolf said, “If I did know, I wouldn't tell you!”

Kanis,	etsen	a	Skakos	ya	Siniyosok,
finally	PFV-ask	ABS	cougar	DAT	monkey-AUG
Finally, Cougar asked Big Monkey,

Ir	eyik	a	Siniyosok,	«Koni-ha	hik.
and	PFV-say	ABS	monkey-AUG	NEG=1SG.NOM	know
And Big Monkey said, “I don't know.

On	kahanan-ha	a	riyos	wis	te	tseren	tir.
but	PROG-smell-TR=1SG.NOM	ABS	people	new	LOC	home	PROX.DEM
But I smell new people in this house.								(15)

Etsin	saa	kitsen-na	ya	teken.»
PFV-be.possbile	COMP	IRR-ask=2SG.NOM	DAT	3PL
You might ask them.”

«On	kot?»	equatsen	a	Skakos.
but	how	PFV-in-ask	ABS	cougar
“But how?” Cougar inquired.

«Torat	ir	roquatsaa-ti	ya	nen»,	eyoyik	a	Siniyosok.
wait[IMP]	and	FUT-in-go=3PL.NOM	DAT	2SG	PFV-out-say	ABS	monkey-AUG
“Wait and they will come to you,” Big Monkey replied.

Eyan,	etorat	a	Skakos.
S-linker	PFV-wait	ABS	cougar
So, Cougar waited.

Kiyes	kaquii,	equawor	a	weriyos	wiyo	ya	wiwes	i	keriyosir.
when	PROG-night	PFV-in-go	ABS	woman	old	DAT	LOC.NMLZ-sleep	GEN	boy
When it was nighttime, an old woman came into the boy's bedroom										(20)

Etsen	a	Skakos,	«Hik-na-wa	te	wisa	to	eyowor	a	keriyosir	ya	tar?»
PFV-ask	ABS	cougar	know=2SG.NOM=Q	LOC	place	REL	PFV-away-go	ABS	boy	DAT	DIST.DEM
Lion asked, “Do you know where the boy went?”

Eyoyik	a	ter,	«Eyowor	ya	wisa	te	akik	ori	i	tinirak.»
PFV-out-say	ABS	MED.DEM	PFV-out-go	DAT	place	LOC	side	other	GEN	COLL-mountain
She replied, “He went off to a place on the other side of the mountain range.”

«Ir	etowetina-wa	sati?»
and	PFV-abandon-1SG.ACC=Q	here
“And he left me here?”

«Soo	queyon	ser?	Koni-ha	aket»,	etete	a	Skakos.
ABL	reason	which	NEG=1SG.NOM	understand	PFV-mumble	ABS	cougar
“Why? I don't understand.” Cougar mumbled.								(25)

«Tor-na-wa	saa	yoquos-na	ya	wisa	te	akik	ori	i	tinirak?»,
want=2SG.NOM=Q	COMP	out-go=2SG.NOM	DAT	place	LOC	side	other	GEN	COLL-mountain
“Do you want to go to the place on the other side of the mountain range?”

A esin te Skakos (A Story about Cougar)

A esin te Skakos
(A Story about Cougar)

«Rii!	Hiira!»
yes	exceedingly
“Yes! Very much so!”

«Sik-ha	nara.»
be.able=1SG.NOM	help
“I can help.”

«Oo!	Kinara-na-wa	ya	hen?»	eyik	a	Skakos.
oh	IRR-help=2SG.NOM=Q	DAT	1SG	PFV-say	ABS	cougar
“Oh! Would you help me?” said Cougar.							(30)

Ir	tsoo	equii,	eketiisa	tsa	weriyos,
and	after	PFV-night	PFV-take-3SG.ACC	ERG	woman
And in the morning (lit. after nighttime), the woman took him,

ir	eriiqueratiisa	ya	wisa	te	akik	ori	i	tinirak.
and	PFV-CAUS-travel-3SG.ACC	DAT	place	LOC	side	other	GEN	COLL-mountain
and made him travel to the place on the other side of the mountain range.

Kiyes	equeyi	sata,	eke’okan	a	keriyosir.
When	PFV-arrive	there	PFV-AC-be.surprised	ABS	boy
When he (Cougar) arrived there, the boy was surprised.

On	riiko	ii	has	i	teken.
But	be.happy	very	two	GEN	3PL
But the two of them were very happy.						(35)