Appendix B: Shemspreg Texts

In this appendix I present three short texts in Shemspreg. Each text is presented first in Shemspreg, then in an idiomatic English translation (the Tower of Babel story uses the KJV text as the idiomatic English translation), and finally in an interlinear, morpheme-by-morpheme gloss. Notes accompany the first two texts to provide commentary on interesting grammatical features.

A Sheep and Horses

owi echwoskwe

ne wilna-wesent owi eskwi echwosom: sos gwer wezho-, sos mej gem-deukentom; soskwe oochu shem-ferentom. owi wekwes echwosom: me cherd es gwer shemos echwo-ajent sekwent. echwos spreges: chleu owi! cherdes es gwer seskwent shemos, potis, apo owis wilnam khwer westro-werjentom, adkwe owim ne es wilna. chechlunt owi weuri en arum.

A Sheep and Horses

A sheep without wool saw horses: one pulling a heavy wagon, one a large load, and one bearing a human quickly. The sheep said to the horses: “My heart is heavy, seeing the human driving horses.” The horses said: “Listen, sheep! Our hearts are heavy having seen the human, the master, making warm clothing from sheep’s wool, and the sheep has no wool.” Hearing this, the sheep turned away into the field.

owi echwoskwe

owi	echwo	-s	=kwe
sheep	horse	-PL	=and

A Sheep and Horses

ne wilna-wesent owi eskwi echwosom:

ne	wilna-	wes	-ent	owi	e-	skw	-i	echwo	-s	-om
not	wool-	wear	-PTC	sheep	IMPF-	see:0	PAST	horse	-PL	-OBL

A sheep without wool saw horses:

sos gwer wezho-, sos mej gem-deukentom;

so	-s	gwer	wezho-	so	-s	mej	gem-	deuk	-ent	-om
3s	-GEN	heavy	wagon-	3s	-GEN	large	load-	pull	-PTC	-OBL

one pulling a heavy wagon, one a large load,

soskwe oochu shem-ferentom.

so	-s	=kwe	oochu	shem-	fer	-ent	-om
3s	-GEN	=and	quickly	human-	bear	-PTC	-OBL

and one bearing a human quickly.

owi wekwes echwosom:

owi	wekw	-es	echwo	-s	-om
sheep	speak	-PRES	horse	-PL	-OBL

The sheep said to the horses:

me cherd es gwer shemos echwo-ajent sekwent.

me	cherd	es	gwer	shem	-os	echwo-	aj	-ent	sekw	-ent
1s:GEN	heart	be:PRES	heavy	human	-GEN	horse-	drive	-PTC	see	-PTC

“My heart is heavy, seeing the human driving horses.”

echwos spreges:

echwo	-s	spreg	-es
horse	-PL	speak	-PRES

The horses said:

chleu owi!

chleu	owi!
hear:IMP	sheep

“Listen, sheep!

cherdes es gwer seskwent shemos, potis,

cherd	-es	es	gwer	se-	skw	-ent	shem	-os	poti	-s
heart	-PL	be:PRES	heavy	PERF-	see:0	-PTC	human	-GEN	master	-GEN

Our hearts are heavy having seen the human, the master

apo owis wilnam khwer westro-werjentom,

apo	owi	-s	wilna	-m	khwer	westro-	werj	-ent	-om
from	sheep	-GEN	wool	-OBL	warm	clothing	make	-PTC	-OBL

making warm clothing from sheep’s wool,

adkwe owim ne es wilna.

ad	=kwe	owi	-m	ne	es	wilna
to	=and	sheep	-OBL	not	be:PRES	wool

and the sheep has no wool.”

chechlunt owi weuri en arum.

che-	chlu	-nt	owi	we-	wr	-i	en	aru	-m
PERF-	hear:0	-PTC	sheep	PERF-	turn.away:0	-PAST	in	field	-OBL

Hearing this, the sheep turned away into the field.

Small Light Shining

thévu léuk déyent

émlai sóyo’s thévu léuk déyent

kwim sékwes wé ne;

thé swe, thé swe.

émlai sóyo’s árjint khélsh méldent

kwim áwes wé ne;

stáa swe, stáa swe.

émlai sóyo’s ánju árdi púros

en chérdom égnint;

wér som wéskwe.

Small Light Shining

They say there’s a small light shining

that we don’t see;

be prepared, be prepared.

They say there’s a silver bell ringing

that we don’t hear;

stand up, stand up.

They say there’s a pinpoint of flame

burning in the heart;

heed it and live.

thévu léuk déyent

thevu	leuk	dei	-ent
small	light	shine	-PTC

Small Light Shining

émlai sóyo’s thévu léuk déyent

e-	ml	-a	-i	so	=yo	es	thevu	leuk	dei	-ent
IMPF-	say:0	-PASS	-PAST	3s:NOM	SUB	be:PRE	small	light	shine	-PTC

They say there’s a small light shining

kwim sékwes wé ne;

kwi	-m	sekw	-es	we	ne
REL	-OBL	see	-PRES	1p:NOM	not

that we don’t see;

thé swe, thé swe.

the	swe	the	swe
place:IMP	REFL	place:IMP	REFL

be prepared, be prepared.

émlai sóyo’s árjint khélsh méldent

e-	ml	-a	-i	so	=yo	es	arjint	khelsh	mel	-ent
IMPF-	say:0	-PASS	-PAST	3s:NOM	SUB	be:PRE	silver	bell	sound	-PTC

They say there’s a silver bell ringing

kwim áwes wé ne;

kwi	-m	au	-es	we	ne
REL	-OBL	perceive	-PRES	1p:NOM	not

that we don’t hear;

stáa swe, stáa swe.

staa	swe	staa	swe
stand:IMP	REFL	stand:IMP	REFL

stand up, stand up.

émlai sóyo’s ánju árdi púros

e-	ml	-a	-i	so	=yo	es	anju	ardi	pur	-os
IMPF-	say:0	-PASS	-PAST	3s:NOM	SUB	be:PRES	narrow	point	fire	-GEN

They say there’s a pinpoint of flame

en chérdom égnint;

en	cherd	-om	egni	-nt
in	heart	-OBL	burn	-PTC

burning in the heart;

wér som wéskwe.

wer	so	-m	wes	=kwe
pay.attention:IMP	3s	-OBL	become.animate	=and

heed it and live.

The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11: 1-9)

babas fersh

1 ad plino dezhomom esi oino dinju oinokwe spreg. 2 esikwe, toyo eyai apo ausom, toyo weuri pelitom en shinaros khertom; tokwe eusi cha. 3 tokwe emli oi ad alyo, gwem! so somes toyo kweres fog-achmo euskwe tom pilne. sokwe es fog-achmo enstel achmom, sokwe es sleeto enstel leyom. 4 tokwe emli, gwem! so somes toyo demes polim fershomkwe, kwis ardi antenes ad deyeum; so somes toyo thes tos nomenom, geye we ambistrewas an dezhomos pelitom. 5 potikwe nigwegumi sokwe seskwi polim ferzhomkwe kwim shemesos tekes edmi. 6 potikwe emli seku! shemia es oino, adkwe potes oino dinju; tokwe eres im: nukwe so ne somes, eyo apomiras apo tom, kwim to memni toyo kweres. 7 gwem! so somes weyo niyei chakwe semwers tos dinjum, soyo ne potes toyo semthes oi ad alyos spregent. 8 potikwe ambistetrui tom an dezhomos pelitom: tokwe nistatai polidement. 9 pro som nomenswe melas baba; ge poti semweursi cha plino dezhomos dinju: apokwe so stelom ambistetrui poti tom an dezhomos pelitom.

The Tower of Babel

1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3 And they said to one another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

babas fersh

baba	-s	fersh
babble	-GEN	tower

The Tower of Babel

1 ad plino dezhomom esi oino dinju oinokwe spreg.

ad	plino	dezhom	-om	e-	s	-i	oino	dinju
to	whole	earth	-OBL	IMPF-	be:0	-PAST	one	language

oino	=kwe	spreg
one	=and	speech

And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

2 esikwe, toyo eyai apo ausom, toyo weuri pelitom en shinaros khertom; tokwe eusi cha.

e-	s	-i	=kwe
IMPF-	be:0	-PAST	=and

to	=yo	e-	ya	-i	apo	aus	-om
3p:NOM	=SUB	IMPF-	journey:0	-PAST	from	east	-OBL

to	=yo	we-	wr	-i	pelit	-om	en	shinar	-os	kherto	-m
3p:NOM	=SUB	PERF-	find:0	-PAST	plain	-OBL	in	Shinar	-GEN	land	-OBL

to	=kwe	e-	ws	-i	cha
3p:NOM	=and	IMPF-	dwell	-PAST	there

And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

3 tokwe emli oi ad alyo, gwem! so somes toyo kweres fog-achmo euskwe tom pilne. sokwe es fog-achmo enstel achmom, sokwe es sleeto enstel leyom.

to	=kwe	e-	ml	-i	oi	ad	alyo	gwem
3p:NOM	=and	IMPF-	say:0	-PAST	one	to	other	come:IMP

so	som	-es	to	=yo	kwer	-es	fog	+	achmo
3s:NOM	should	-PRES	3p:NOM	=SUB	create	-PRES	bake	+	stone

eus	=kwe	to	-m	pilne
burn:IMP	=and	3p	-OBL	fully

so	=kwe	es	fog	+	achmo	enstel	achmo	-m
3s:NOM	=and	be:PRES	bake	+	stone	in.place.of	stone	-OBL

so	=kwe	es	slee	-to	enstel	lei	-om
3s:NOM	=and	be:PRES	slimy	-NML	in.place.of	mortar	-OBL

And they said to one another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.

4 tokwe emli, gwem! so somes toyo demes polim fershomkwe, kwis ardi antenes ad deyeum; so somes toyo thes tos nomenom, geye we ambistrewas an dezhomos pelitom.

to	=kwe	e-	ml	-i	gwem
3p:NOM	=and	IMPF-	say:0	-PAST	come:IMP

so	som	-es	to	=yo	dem	-es
3s:NOM	should	-PRES	3p:NOM	=SUB	build	-PRES

poli	-m	fersh	-om	=kwe
city	-OBL	tower	-OBL	=and

kwi	-s	ardi	an-	ten	-es	ad	deyeu	-m
REL	-GEN	point	towards-	stretch	-PRES	to	heaven	-OBL

so	som	-es	to	=yo	the	-s	to	-s	nomen	-om
3s:NOM	should	-PRES	3p:NOM	=SUB	place	-PRES	3p	-GEN	name	-OBL

ge	=ye	we	ambi-	streu	-a	-s
because	=if	1p:NOM	around-	scatter	-PASS	-PRES

an	dezhom	-os	pelit	-om
on	earth	-GEN	flat	-OBL

And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

5 potikwe nigwegumi sokwe seskwi polim ferzhomkwe kwim shemesos tekes edmi.

poti	=kwe	ni-	gwe-	gum	-i
master	=and	down-	PERF-	come:0	-PAST

so	=kwe	se-	skw	-i	poli	-m	ferzh	-om	=kwe
3s:NOM	=and	PERF-	see:0	-PAST	city	-OBL	tower	-OBL	=and

kwi	-m	shem	-es	-os	tek	-es	e-	dm	-i
REL	-OBL	person	-PL	-GEN	child	-PL	IMPF-	build:0	-PAST

And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

6 potikwe emli seku! shemia es oino, adkwe potes oino dinju; tokwe eres im: nukwe so ne somes, eyo apomiras apo tom, kwim to memni toyo kweres.

poti	=kwe	e-	ml	-i	seku	shem	-ia	es	oino
master	=and	PERF-	say:0	-PAST	see:IMP	person	-COLL	be:PRES	one

ad	=kwe	to	-m	es	oino	dinju
to	=and	3p	-OBL	be:PRES	one	language

to	=kwe	er	-es	im
3p:NOM	=and	begin	-PRES	this:OBL

nu	=kwe	so	ne	pot	-es
now	=and	3s:NOM	not	possible	-PRES

e	=yo	apo-	mir	-a	-s	apo	to	-m
anything	=SUB	from-	hold	-PASS	-PRES	from	3p	-OBL

kwi	-m	to	me-	mn	-i	to	=yo	kwer	-es
REL	-OBL	3p:NOM	PERF-	think:0	-PAST	3p	=SUB	create	-PRES

And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

7 gwem! so somes weyo niyei chakwe semwers tos dinjum, soyo ne potes toyo semthes oi ad alyos spregent.

gwem	so	som	-es	we	=yo	ni-	ei
come:IMP	3s:NOM	should	-PRES	1p:NOM	=SUB	down-	go:IMP

cha	=kwe	sem-	wers	to	-s	dinju	-m
there	=and	together-	pour:IMP	3p	-GEN	language	-OBL

so	=yo	ne	pot	-es	to	=yo	sem-	the	-s
3s:NOM	=SUB	not	possible	-PRES	3p:NOM	=SUB	together-	put	-PRES

oi	ad	alyo	-s	spreg	-ent
one	to	other	-GEN	speak	-PTC

Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

8 potikwe ambistetrui tom an dezhomos pelitom: tokwe nistatai polidement.

poti	=kwe	ambi-	ste-	tru	-i	to	-m
master	=and	around-	PERF-	scatter:0	-PAST	3p	-OBL

an	dezhom	-os	pelit	-om
on	earth	-GEN	flat	-OBL

to	=kwe	ni-	sta-	ta	-i	poli-	dem	-ent
3p:NOM	=and	down-	PERF-	stand:0	-PAST	city-	build	-PTC

So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

9 pro som nomenswe melas baba; ge poti semweursi cha plino dezhomos dinju: apokwe so stelom ambistetrui poti tom an dezhomos pelitom.

pro	so	-m	nomen	-swe	mel	-a	-s	baba
for	3s	-OBL	name	-REFL	say	-PASS	-PRES	babble

ge	poti	sem-	we-	wrs	-i	cha
because	master	together-	PERF-	scatter:0	-PAST	there

plino	dezhom	-os	dinju
all	earth	-GEN	language

apo	=kwe	so	stel	-om	ambi-	ste-	tru	-i	poti
from	=and	that	place	-OBL	around-	PERF-	scatter:0	-PAST	master

to	-m	an	dezhom	-os	pelit	-om
3p	-OBL	on	earth	-GEN	flat	-OBL

Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

Notes

1. ^  The subject noun phrase contains an example of a participle phrase used as a prenominal modifier.
2. ^  The pronoun is in the genitive case since it is the subject in a participle phrase.
3. ^  Both wezho- and gem- are incoporated objects of the verb deuk-; the first instance of the verb has been elided.
4. ^  This sentence contains nested participle phrases; the phrase shemos echwo-ajent is incorporated as an object of the participle sekwent.
5. ^  This is another example of nested participle phrases. Note that in this case, the embedded participle phrase follows rather than precedes the participle of which it is an object. This is because the embedded participle phrase is lengthy and is grammatically rather complex.
6. ^  The text of the poem uses acute accents to mark stressed syllables.
7. ^  The verbal word emlai is technically a passive ‘it is said’, but it has been translated into English by ‘they say’ in this and parallel lines.
8. ^  The contraction of the verb es to ’s is done for metrical reasons.
9. ^  In normal prose, the verb awes would more likely have been rendered aus, but the full form of the tense suffix was used in consideration of the meter.

Index

1. Introduction to Shemspreg
2. Shemspreg sounds
3. Shemspreg nouns
4. Shemspreg pronouns and other particles
5. Shemspreg verbs
6. Shemspreg adjectives
7. Shemspreg sentences

• Proto-Indo-European to Shemspreg
• Shemspreg texts
• Glossary of grammatical terms
• Shemspreg-English Lexicon