Senjecas Sayings

Pronunciation table

p	b	f	v	ṁ	m			t	d	þ	ð	ɫ	l			ṡ	ż	s	z	r	n			k	g	x	ƣ	h	ȝ			š	s̨			i	e	a	õ	o	u			ï	ë	ÿ
/p/	/b/	/ɸ/	/β/	/m̥/	/m/			/t/	/d/	/θ/	/ð/	/l̥/	/l/			/ʦ/	/ʣ/	/s/	/z/	/ɾ̥/	/n/			/k/	/g/	/ç/	/ʝ/	/j̊/	/j/			/sʷ/	/sʲ/			/i/	/e/	/ä/	/ɒ/	/o/	/u/			/ɪ/	/ɛ/	/ʊ/

Glossing abbreviations

• 2s/p = second person singular/plural
• 3s/p = third person singular/plural
• A(.s/p) = accusative (singular/plural)
• G(.s/p) = genitive (singular/plural)
• N(.s/p) = nominative (singular/plural)
• ABS = absolutive (an unmarked modifying adjective)
• ADV = adverb
• AG = agent
• AP = agent (active) participle
• ELIS = elision
• ELT = elative
• FUT = future
• IMP = imperative
• IND = indicative
• PP = patient (past) participle
• SBJ = subjunctive
• SUP = supine

Sayings

• þűn kűȝom ȝe̋kam va̋a̋nu vűűlu na̋mantum bűɫe⁝

Pity him who thinks there is only one way to make a language.

þűn	kűȝ-om	ȝe̋k-am	va̋a̋n-u	vűűl-u	na̋m-a-nt-um	bűɫ-e
one	method-A.s	language-A.s	create-SUP	there.be-SUP	believe-IND-AP-A.s	pity-IMP

• tu-ṁenaþős gővtam tu-kı̋aþom e̋su he̋ne⁝

Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.

tu=ṁen-a-þ-ős	gővt-am	tu=kı̋-a-þ-om	e̋s-u	he̋n-e
your=love-IND-PP-G.s	beauty-A.s	your=do-IND-PP-A.s	be-SUP	allow-IMP

• méti tu-őősom t̬ı̋va. tu-me̋ina ð̨a̋a̋aþa ı̋lu ma̋a̋ƣa⁝

Every time you open your mouth, people can read your mind.

méti	tu=őős-om	t̬ı̋v-a	tu=me̋in-a	ð̨a̋a̋-a-þ-a	ı̋l-u	ma̋a̋ƣ-a
whenever	your=mouth-A.s	open-IND	your=mind-N.s	read-IND-PP-N.s	become-SUP	be.able-IND

• sa̋a̋ra novt̬őőkim ma̋a̋lom e̋su sa̋a̋ru e̋sa: sa̋a̋sta maalme̋iṡom éna nim ðȩ̋u ne sa̋a̋ru e̋sa⁝

Knowledge is knowing that the tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.

sa̋a̋r-a	novt̬őők-im	ma̋a̋l-om	e̋s-u	sa̋a̋r-u	e̋s-a	sa̋a̋st-a	maal-me̋iṡ-om	éna	n-im	ðȩ̋-u	ne	sa̋a̋r-u	e̋s-a
knowledge-N.s	tomato-A.s	fruit-A.s	be-SUP	know-SUP	be-IND	wisdom-N.s	fruit-mix-A.s	in	3-A.s	put-SUP	not	know-SUP	be-IND

• őpu ma̋a̋ƣlu. þóósi őpu kı̋þa néxum. xáál' űűþu vűűa sómi kísu őpu áfa sa̋baþu ı̋l̨u⁝

How is a person who can vote, but who never takes time to do it, any better off than the person who is prevented from voting at all?

őp-u	ma̋a̋ƣ-l-u	þóósi	őp-u	kı̋þ-a	néxum	xáál-'	u~űþ-u	vűű-a	sómi	kísu	őp-u	áfa	sa̋b-a-þu-Ø	ı̋l-l-u
vote-SUP	be.able-AG-N.s	but	vote-SUP	take.time-IND	never	how-ELIS	ELT~fortunate-N.s	be-IND	than	at.all	vote-SUP	from	prevent-IND-PP-ABS	become-AG-N.s

• toáálu sa̋ṁe. táádi f̨únus tum a̋a̋ṁu pı̋ı̋ro: toáálu a̋a̋ṁe. táádi f̨únus tús o sa̋ṁu pı̋ı̋ro⁝

Speak in such a way that others love to listen to you. Listen in such a way that others love to speak to you.

toáál-u	sa̋ṁ-e	táádi	án-us	t-um	a̋a̋ṁ-u	pı̋ı̋r-o	toáál-u	a̋a̋ṁ-e	táádi	án-us	t-ús	o	sa̋ṁ-u	pı̋ı̋r-o
such-ADV	speak-IMP	so.that	other-N.p	2s-ACC	listen.to-SUP	desire-SBJ	such-ADV	listen.to-IMP	so.that	other-N.p	2s-G	to	speak.to-SUP	desire-SBJ

• mi-tús éra me̋ine: ítu kı̋u boþı̋tom ba̋ȝu étu ánun he̋ne⁝

Think for yourself (and) let others enjoy the privilege of doing so, too.

mi=t-ús	éra	me̋in-e	ítu	kı̋-u	boþı̋t-om	ba̋ȝ-u	étu	án-un	he̋n-e
self=2s-G	for	think-IMP	so	do-SUP	privilege-A.s	enjoy-SUP	too	other-A.p	let-IMP

• sa̋a̋ru vűűu mőőṁon na̋mu áfa tı̋ı̋ðum sa̋ba ne: átu maaƣta̋m a̋a̋ram a̋a̋ra⁝

Being intelligent doesn't prevent one from believing in stupid things, it just expands the realm of possibilities.

sa̋a̋r-u	vűű-u	mőőṁ-on	na̋m–u	áfa	tı̋ı̋ð-um	sa̋b-a	ne	átu	maaƣt-a̋m	a̋a̋r-am	a̋a̋r-a
intelligent-N.s	be-SUP	stupid-A.p	believe-SUP	from	one-A.s	prevent-IND	not	just	possibility-G.p	realm-A.s	expand-IND

• tús úpa vűantun na̋ȝe ne. tús néra vűantun va̋ise nek̬e⁝

Do not envy those above you, nor despise those below you.

t-ús	úpa	vű-a-nt-un	na̋ȝ-e	ne	t-ús	néra	vű-a-nt-un	va̋is-e	né-k̬e
2s-G	above	be-IND-AP-A.p	envy-IMP	not	2s-G	below	be-IND-AP-A.p	despise-IMP	not-and

• ébi tu toda̋s áfa abélvooƣkőðom vőőgu ɫe̋lo. toári tu alme̋ȝom ne̋e̋ru ke̋lo⁝

If you wish to bake an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe. (Carl Sagan)

ébi	t-u	tod-a̋s	áfa	abél-vooƣkőð-om	vőőg-u	ɫe̋l-o	toári	t-u	þúnt-u	alme̋ȝ-om	ne̋e̋r-u	ke̋l-o
if	2s-N	start-G.s	from	apple-pie-A.s	bake-SUP	wish-SBJ	then	2s-N	first-ADV	universe-A.s	invent-SUP	must-SBJ

• sa̋a̋rantuk̬e num sa̋a̋ru ne sa̋a̋rantuk̬e še̋pa: num ze̋le: sa̋a̋rantuk̬e num sa̋a̋ru sa̋a̋rantuk̬e sa̋a̋ṡa: num da̋ge⁝

He who knows and knows not he knows, (he) is asleep. Wake him. He who knows and knows he knows, (he) is wise. Follow him.

sa̋a̋r-a-nt-u=k̬e	n-um	sa̋a̋r-u	ne	sa̋a̋r-a-nt-u=k̬e	še̋p-a	n-um	ze̋l-e	sa̋a̋r-a-nt-u=k̬e	n-um	sa̋a̋r-u	sa̋a̋r-a-nt-u=k̬e	sa̋a̋ṡa	n-um	da̋g-e
know-IND-AP-N.s=and	3-A.s	know-SUP	not	know-IND-AP-N.s=and	sleep-IND	3-A.s	wake-IMP	know-IND-AP-N.s=and	3-A.s	know-SUP	know-IND-AP-N.s=and	be.wise-IND	3-A.s	follow-IMP

• tainősk̬e żirősk̬e áfa i-ve̋e̋mom da̋bantu őr' angel̨a̋s że̋naþu re̋e̋ƣu ṁéérvi e̋sa⁝

Whoso pulleth out this sword of the stone and anvil is rightwise king born of all England. Lord Tennyson

tain-ős=k̬e	żir-ős=k̬e	áfa	i=ve̋e̋m-om	da̋b-a-nt-u	őr-'-Ø	angel̨-a̋s	że̋n-a-þ-u	re̋e̋ƣ-u	ṁéér-vi	e̋s-a
stone-G.s=and	anvil-G.s=and	from	this=sword-A.s	pull-IND-AP-N.s	all-ELIS-ABS	England-G.s	be.born-IND-PP-N.s	king-N.s	right-ADV	be-IND