Senjecas Sayings

Pronunciation table

p	b	f	v	ƿ	m			t	d	þ	ð	ł	l			c	ƶ	s	z	r	n			k	g	x	ᵹ	h	ȝ			š	ṡ			i	e	a	ɔ	o	u			ı	ɛ	y
/p/	/b/	/ɸ/	/β/	/m̊/	/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/

• se̋m kűȝo ȝe̋kam vą̋nu vų̋lu na̋mantum bűłe:

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

se̋m	kűȝ-om	ȝe̋k-am	vą̋n-u	vų̋l-u	na̋m-a-nt-um	bűł-e
one	method-ACC.SG	language-ACC.SG	create-SUP	there.be-SUP	believe-IND-AP-ACC.SG	pity-IMP

• tu-ƿenaþős 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-GEN.SG	beauty-ACC.SG	your=do-IND-PP-ACC.SG	be-SUP	allow-IMP

• méti tu-ǫ̋som t̬ı̋va. tu-me̋ina ð̣ą̋aþa ı̋lu mą̋ᵹa:

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

méti	tu=ǫ̋s-om	t̬ı̋v-a	tu=me̋in-a	ð̣ą̋-a-þ-a	ı̋l-u	mą̋ᵹ-a
whenever	your=mouth-ACC.SG	open-IND	your=mind-NOM.-SG	read-IND-PP-NOM.SG	become-SUP	be.able-IND

• są̋ra novt̬ǫ̋kim mą̋lom e̋su są̋ru e̋sa: są̋sta mąlme̋icom éna nim ðȩ̋u ne są̋ru e̋sa:

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

są̋r-a	novt̬ǫ̋k-im	mą̋l-om	e̋s-u	są̋r-u	e̋s-a	są̋st-a	mąl-me̋ic-om	éna	n-im	ðȩ̋-u	ne	są̋r-u	e̋s-a
knowledge-NOM.SG	tomato-ACC.SG	fruit-ACC.SG	be-SUP	know-SUP	be-IND	wisdom-NOM.SG	fruit-mix-ACC.SG	in	3-ACC.SG	put-SUP	not	know-SUP	be-IND

• őpu mą̋ᵹlu. þǫ́si őpu kı̋þa néxum. xą́l' ų̋þu vų̋a 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?

xą́lu	őp-u	mą̋ᵹ-l-u	þǫ́si	őp-u	kı̋þ-a	néxum	xą́l-'	u~űþ-u	vų̋-a
vote-SUP	be.able-AG-NOM.SG	but	vote-SUP	take.time-IND	never	how-EL	CPAR~fortunate-NOM.SG	be-IND

sómi	kísu	őp-u	áfa	sa̋b-a-þu-Ø	ı̋l-l-u
than	at.all	vote-SUP	from	prevent-IND-PP-ABS	become-AG-NOM.SG

• toą́lu sa̋ƿe. tą́di f̣únus tum ą̋ƿu pı̨̋ro: toą́lu ą̋ƿe. tą́di f̣únus tús o sa̋ƿu pı̨̋ro:

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

toą́l-u	sa̋ƿ-e	tą́di	án-us	t-um	ą̋ƿ-u	pı̨̋r-o	toą́l-u	ą̋ƿ-e	tą́di	án-us	t-ús	o	sa̋ƿ-u	pı̨̋r-o
such-ADV	speak-IMP	so.that	other-NOM.PL	2s-ACC	listen.to-SUP	desire-SBJ	such-ADV	listen.to-IMP	so.that	other-NOM.PL	2s-GEN	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-GEN	for	think-IMP	so	do-SUP	privilege-ACC.SG	enjoy-SUP	too	other-ACC.PL	let-IMP

• są̋ru vų̋u mǫ̋ƿon na̋mu áfa tı̨̋ðum sa̋ba ne: átu mąᵹta̋m ą̋ram ą̋ra:

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

są̋r-u	vų̋-u	mǫ̋ƿ-on	na̋m–u	áfa	tı̨̋ð-um	sa̋b-a	ne	átu	mąᵹt-a̋m	ą̋r-am	ą̋r-a
intelligent-NOM.SG	be-SUP	stupid-ACC.PL	believe-SUP	from	one-ACC.SG	prevent-IND	not	just	possibility-GEN.PL	realm-ACC.SG	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-GEN	above	be-IND-AP-ACC.PL	envy-IMP	not	2s-GEN	below	be-IND-AP-ACC.PL	despise-IMP	not-and

• ébi tu toda̋s áfa abélvǫᵹkőðom vǫ̋gu łe̋lo. toári sémtu alme̋ȝom nę̋ru 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-vǫᵹkőð-om	vǫ̋g-u	łe̋l-o	toári	sémt-u	alme̋ȝ-om	nę̋r-u	ke̋l-o
if	2s-NOM	start-GEN.SG	from	apple-pie-ACC.SG	bake-SUP	wish-SBJ	then	first-ADV	universe-ACC.SG	invent-SUP	must-SBJ

• są̋rantuk̬e num są̋ru ne są̋rantuk̬e še̋pa: num ze̋le:

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

• są̋rantuk̬e num są̋ru są̋rantuk̬e są̋ca: num da̋ge:

He who knows and knows he knows, (he) is wise. Follow him.

są̋r-a-nt-u=k̬e	n-um	są̋r-u	ne	są̋r-a-nt-u=k̬e	še̋p-a	n-um	ze̋l-e
know-IND-AP-NOM.SG=and	3-ACC.SG	know-SUP	not	know-IND-AP-NOM.SG=and	sleep-IND	3-ACC.SG	wake-IMP

są̋r-a-nt-u=k̬e	n-um	są̋r-u	są̋r-a-nt-u=k̬e	są̋ca	n-um	da̋g-e
know-IND-AP-NOM.SG=and	3-ACC.SG	know-SUP	know-IND-AP-NOM.SG=and	be.wise-IND	3-ACC.SG	follow-IMP

• tainősk̬e ƶirősk̬e áfa i-vę̋mom da̋bantu őr' angeḷa̋s ƶe̋naþu rę̋ᵹu ƿę́rvi e̋sa:

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

tain-ős=k̬e	ƶir-ős=k̬e	áfa	i=vę̋m-om	da̋b-a-nt-u	őr-'-Ø	angeḷ-a̋s	ƶe̋n-a-þ-u	rę̋ᵹ-u	ƿę́r-vi	e̋s-a
stone-GEN.SG=and	anvil-GEN.SG=and	from	this=sword-ACC.SG	pull-IND-AP-NOM.SG	all-EL-ABS	England-GEN.SG	be.born-IND-PP-NOM.SG	king-NOM.SG	right-ADV	be-IND

őr-'-Ø	angeḷ-a̋s	ƶe̋n-a-þ-u	rę̋ᵹ-u	ƿę́r-vi	e̋s-a
all-EL-ABS	England-GEN.SG	be.born-IND-PP-NOM.SG	king-NOM.SG	right-ADV	be-IND