Senjecas Sayings

Pronunciation table

p	b	f	v	m̃	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

1s/p = first person singular/plural	V(.s/p) = vocative (singular/plural)	CAUS = causative	EQU = equative degree	IND = indicative	Q = interrogative particle
2s/p = second person singular/plural	ABS = absolutive (an unmarked modifying adjective)	DES = desiderative	F = feminine	M = masculine	QUOT = direct quotation
3 = third person	ADV = adverb	DIM = diminutive	FRQ = frequentative	PP = patient (past) participle	REL = relativizer, relative
4 = fourth person	AG = agent	ELIS = elision	FUT = future	PRF = perfect	RPRF = recent perfective
A(.s/p) = accusative (singular/plural)	AP = agent (active) participle	EP = epenthesis	IMP = imperative	PRV = privative prefix	SBJ = subjunctive
G(.s/p) = genitive (singular/plural)	AUG = augmentative	ELT = elative	INC = inchoative	PST = past	SUP = supine
N(.s/p) = nominative (singular/plural)

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-m̃enaþős gővtam tu-kı̋aþom e̋su he̋ne:

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

tu=m̃en-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 ı̋l̤u:

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 sa̋m̃e. táádi ánus tum a̋a̋m̃u piire̋ȝa: toáálu a̋a̋m̃m̃e. táádi ánus tús o sa̋m̃u piire̋ȝa:

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	sa̋m̃-e	táádi	án-us	t-um	a̋a̋m̃-u	piir-e̋ȝ-a	toáál-u	a̋a̋m̃-e	táádi	án-us	t-ús	o	sa̋m̃-u	piir-e̋ȝ-a
such-ADV	speak-IMP	so.that	other-N.p	2s-ACC	listen.to-SUP	desire-SBJ-IND	such-ADV	listen.to-IMP	so.that	other-N.p	2s-G	to	speak.to-SUP	desire-SBJ-IND

• 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 mőőm̃on 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	mőőm̃-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 vűűantun na̋ȝe ne. tús néra vűűantun va̋ise nek̬e:

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

t-ús	úpa	vűű-a-nt-un	na̋ȝ-e	ne	t-ús	néra	vűű-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 ɫele̋ȝa. toári tu alme̋ȝom ne̋e̋ru kele̋ȝa:

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	ɫel-e̋ȝ-a	toári	t-u	þúnt-u	alme̋ȝ-om	ne̋e̋r-u	kel-e̋ȝ-a
if	2s-N	start-G.s	from	apple-pie-A.s	bake-SUP	wish-SBJ-IND	then	2s-N	first-ADV	universe-A.s	invent-SUP	must-SBJ-IND

• 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 m̃éérvi 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	m̃éér-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