Zakho, Christian: The Bridge of Dalale (in Zakho)

0:00

Transcribed by	Source	Speakers
Dorota Molin	Lourd Hanna fieldwork	Ameen Isa Shamoun

	Transcription	Translation
0:00	nixət sawi ʾamər ʾə́nnuhu qəsṣa bdèʾla...ˈ ʾə́nnuhu qabl ʾalpa u-ʾəšta ʾamma šə̀nne gu xa mánṭaqa šəmmaw Sāmàna.ˈ mánṭaqa šəmmaw Sāmàna.ˈ ʾə́twāle xa ʾamī̀r.ˈ ʾamirət mànṭaqa,ˈ ʾamī̀r gắlaka zangī̀n ʾiwa.ˈ ʾə́twāle təjara mən šarq u-mən ġàrb.ˈ nixət sawi ʾamər ʾə́nnuhu qəsṣa bdèʾla...ˈ ʾə́nnuhu qabl ʾalpa u-ʾəšta ʾamma šə̀nne gu xa mánṭaqa šəmmaw Sāmàna.ˈ mánṭaqa šəmmaw Sāmàna.ˈ ʾə́twāle xa ʾamī̀r.ˈ ʾamirət mànṭaqa,ˈ ʾamī̀r gắlaka zangī̀n ʾiwa.ˈ ʾə́twāle təjara mən šarq u-mən ġàrb.ˈ	My late grandfather used to say that the story began 1600 years ago in a region called Samana. The region was called Samana. It had a prince. The prince of the region was very rich. He had trade with East and West.
	fa-ʾətwa ṃaya,ˈ nằhar,ˈ benu u-bēn mumkən ʾoròppa,ˈ u-mumkən ʾàsya.ˈ fa-ʾabewa ʾawəd xa gə̀šra,ˈ xa tawàṣəl.ˈ gəšra yaʿni t-maṭe l-exdàde,ˈ xa məndi t-hawe ʿubū̀r,ˈ maʿbər təjara dìyu,ˈ mumkən maʿbər tawàbel,ˈ zəràʿa,ˈ ṣənàʿa,ˈ təjara,ˈ u-ma ʾitən maʿbère,ˈ lēn ʾamī̀r,ˈ dáʾəman ʾumarā̀ʾ=ilay,ˈ mulūk=ʾilai k-əbi təjara diyehən hàwya,ˈ u-bə-daw waqt diyèhən.ˈ fa-ʾətwa ṃaya,ˈ nằhar,ˈ benu u-bēn mumkən ʾoròppa,ˈ u-mumkən ʾàsya.ˈ fa-ʾabewa ʾawəd xa gə̀šra,ˈ xa tawàṣəl.ˈ gəšra yaʿni t-maṭe l-exdàde,ˈ xa məndi t-hawe ʿubū̀r,ˈ maʿbər təjara dìyu,ˈ mumkən maʿbər tawàbel,ˈ zəràʿa,ˈ ṣənàʿa,ˈ təjara,ˈ u-ma ʾitən maʿbère,ˈ lēn ʾamī̀r,ˈ dáʾəman ʾumarā̀ʾ=ilay,ˈ mulūk=ʾilai k-əbi təjara diyehən hàwya,ˈ u-bə-daw waqt diyèhən.ˈ	So, there was water, a river between him and—perhaps—Europe or Asia. So, he wanted to build a bridge, a connection. A bridge that [they could] reach each other, some-thing that creates passage, [so that] they could send traded goods. Perhaps spices, produce, industrial products, [other] trade or whatever was passing, because he was a prince. [Those who] are princes and kings always want their trade to work according to schedule.
	fa-ʾamirət manṭaqət Sāmàna... ʾe,ˈ ṭabʿān ʾən ratəx ʾəl-šəmmət Sāmàna,ˈ ṭabʿān lìθən hatxa məndi.ˈ bas ʾiθən xa ʿáʾəla hola biyət manṭaqət harbòle šəmmaw ʿáʾilət Sāmànu,ˈ Awa laysaA Sāmàna.ˈ Sāmànu.ˈ fa-ʾĭðan,ˈ ʾawwa mən ḥăḍər,ˈ mən ʾawwa mànṭaqa=ile.ˈ fa-ʾamirət manṭaqət Sāmàna... ʾe,ˈ ṭabʿān ʾən ratəx ʾəl-šəmmət Sāmàna,ˈ ṭabʿān lìθən hatxa məndi.ˈ bas ʾiθən xa ʿáʾəla hola biyət manṭaqət harbòle šəmmaw ʿáʾilət Sāmànu,ˈ Awa laysaA Sāmàna.ˈ Sāmànu.ˈ fa-ʾĭðan,ˈ ʾawwa mən ḥăḍər,ˈ mən ʾawwa mànṭaqa=ile.ˈ	So, the prince of the region, the Samana region... Of course, if we look at the name Samana, there certainly isn’t an-ything like that. However, there’s a family which lived in the Harboleh region called Samanu, not Samana, Samanu. So this person [perhaps] came from this region.
	fa-ʾamī̀r diyehən ṭləble ʾənnu ‘k-əbən banən xa gə̀šra.ˈ’ fa-bə-daw waqt mjumeʿle ʾə̀nnuhu ṭabʿān hade lətwa muhandəsī̀n,ˈ bas ʾətwa maha... ʾamrə̀xwāle Aṣaḥəb əs-ṣằnaʿaA.ˈ ʾanna d-palxi b-ana məndyàne hòsta y-amríwāle.ˈ fa-tele xa mənnu y-àmer ‘ʾana b-awdən kăða jə̀sr.ˈ’ fa-ʾamī̀r diyehən ṭləble ʾənnu ‘k-əbən banən xa gə̀šra.ˈ’ fa-bə-daw waqt mjumeʿle ʾə̀nnuhu ṭabʿān hade lətwa muhandəsī̀n,ˈ bas ʾətwa maha... ʾamrə̀xwāle Aṣaḥəb əs-ṣằnaʿaA.ˈ ʾanna d-palxi b-ana məndyàne hòsta y-amríwāle.ˈ fa-tele xa mənnu y-àmer ‘ʾana b-awdən kăða jə̀sr.ˈ’	So, their prince wanted to build a bridge. So, at that time, he collected... Of course, there weren’t engineers back then. But there were what we called craftsmen. Those who work with such things were called craftsmen. So, one of those came and said, ‘I want to build you such a bridge.
	šəmma daw hosta màha=ile?ˈ šəmmu Tòma.ˈ hamka mere lèwe šəmmu Toma.ˈ šemmu ʿAbbā̀s ʾiwa.ˈ sằbab?ˈ meru ʾanahu bə-dàw waqt kut Toma maradəf diyu ʿAbbā̀s ʾiwa.ˈ dax Məḥammad ʾamrəx,ˈ y-amrile ʾĂbū Jàsəm.ˈ ʾAḥmad y-amrile ʾĂbū... ʾĂbū Šā̀b.ˈ šəmma daw hosta màha=ile?ˈ šəmmu Tòma.ˈ hamka mere lèwe šəmmu Toma.ˈ šemmu ʿAbbā̀s ʾiwa.ˈ sằbab?ˈ meru ʾanahu bə-dàw waqt kut Toma maradəf diyu ʿAbbā̀s ʾiwa.ˈ dax Məḥammad ʾamrəx,ˈ y-amrile ʾĂbū Jàsəm.ˈ ʾAḥmad y-amrile ʾĂbū... ʾĂbū Šā̀b.ˈ	What was the name of that craftsman? His name was Toma. Some people said that his name wasn’t Toma. It was Ab-bas. The reason? They said it was because at the time every Toma had the synonym Abbas, the same way as we say Mu-hamad is called Abu Jasim. Ahmad is called Abu Shab.
	yaʿni kut xa ʾətle maradəf šəmma dìyu.ˈ fa-šəmmət Toma maradəf diyu ʿAbbā̀s ʾiwa.ˈ ləʾán hamka y-amrile jəsr ʾəl-ʿAbbàsi.ˈ ham kamri ‘La.ˈ ʾaw jəsr kəm-bānele xa muhandəs suràya,ˈ šəmmu Tòma.ˈ’ Ahal hiya ḥaqìqa?ˈ ʾam xaràfa,ˈ ʾam wàqeʿA,ˈ ʾə́nnuhu qəṣṣa hàtxa ila mara.ˈ yaʿni kut xa ʾətle maradəf šəmma dìyu.ˈ fa-šəmmət Toma maradəf diyu ʿAbbā̀s ʾiwa.ˈ ləʾán hamka y-amrile jəsr ʾəl-ʿAbbàsi.ˈ ham kamri ‘La.ˈ ʾaw jəsr kəm-bānele xa muhandəs suràya,ˈ šəmmu Tòma.ˈ’ Ahal hiya ḥaqìqa?ˈ ʾam xaràfa,ˈ ʾam wàqeʿA,ˈ ʾə́nnuhu qəṣṣa hàtxa ila mara.ˈ	That’s to say that everybody has his own associated name. So, Toma’s associated name was Abbas, and therefore some also call it the Abbasi Bridge. Some others say, ‘No. This bridge was built by a Syriac-Christian architect called Toma. Is it true? Whether it’s a myth or reality, this is how the story is told.
	fa-ʾamī̀r ʾamer ta Tòma,ˈ ‘bni jə̀sr.ˈ u-xzi mà k-əbət mən pàre,ˈ mən dèhwa,ˈ mən kằða.ˈ əl-mŭhə̀m,ˈ k-əbən banət jəsr ḥatta naqlən təjara dìyi,ˈ lablənna mən ʾayya madina diyi ʾəllət mŭdən xène.ˈ’ fa-ʾamī̀r ʾamer ta Tòma,ˈ ‘bni jə̀sr.ˈ u-xzi mà k-əbət mən pàre,ˈ mən dèhwa,ˈ mən kằða.ˈ əl-mŭhə̀m,ˈ k-əbən banət jəsr ḥatta naqlən təjara dìyi,ˈ lablənna mən ʾayya madina diyi ʾəllət mŭdən xène.ˈ’	So, the prince said to Toma, ‘Build the bridge. See how much money, gold and such you’d like. Most importantly, I want you to build the bridge for the transportation of my goods from one town to another.’
	fa-bdeʾle Toma bə-bnayət jə̀sr.ˈ kəm-ʾāwədle b-sabʿa qanàṭər.ˈ sabʿa qanàṭər kəm-bānèle.ˈ kəm-ʾāwədle sabʿa qanàṭər.ˈ ṭábʿān,ˈ līt xa məndi ʾənu ʾàmer,ˈ ʾənu xa yòma,ˈ xa šàta,ˈ ʾəsrà šənne,ˈ bnele.ˈ là-yəðəx kma.ˈ ʾəl-mŭhəm bnele jə̀sr.ˈ ləʾán jəsr sabʿa qanàṭər.ˈ fa-bdeʾle Toma bə-bnayət jə̀sr.ˈ kəm-ʾāwədle b-sabʿa qanàṭər.ˈ sabʿa qanàṭər kəm-bānèle.ˈ kəm-ʾāwədle sabʿa qanàṭər.ˈ ṭábʿān,ˈ līt xa məndi ʾənu ʾàmer,ˈ ʾənu xa yòma,ˈ xa šàta,ˈ ʾəsrà šənne,ˈ bnele.ˈ là-yəðəx kma.ˈ ʾəl-mŭhəm bnele jə̀sr.ˈ ləʾán jəsr sabʿa qanàṭər.ˈ	So, Toma began building the bridge. He made it with seven arches, with seven arches he built it. He made seven arches. Of course, there’s nothing that says he built it in a day, a year or ten years. We don’t know how much time. The most significant thing is that he built the bridge because the bridge [had] seven arches.
	ma maʿnaha sabʿa qanàṭer?ˈ ʾə́nnuhu ʾaw năhar ṛàbe ywa.ˈ Ləʾán sabʿa qanaṭer k-əbe šaqli maṣàḥa,ˈ ʾənnu l-ʾay mànṭaqa.ˈ mumkən bəš ʾiwa maṣaḥət ʾaw năhar rabta mən Xabur dăha ʾile diyan b-Zàxo.ˈ mumkən,ˈ mumkən max də̀jla ʾiwa.ˈ zen,ˈ fa,ˈ kəm-bānele jə̀sr.ˈ xləṣle mən jə̀sr,ˈ Aʾawwal mən nawʿhi fiA ʾaw tāríx,ˈ zaman diyehən.ˈ Zamàn diyehən,ˈ bə-daw tārìx.ˈ ma maʿnaha sabʿa qanàṭer?ˈ ʾə́nnuhu ʾaw năhar ṛàbe ywa.ˈ Ləʾán sabʿa qanaṭer k-əbe šaqli maṣàḥa,ˈ ʾənnu l-ʾay mànṭaqa.ˈ mumkən bəš ʾiwa maṣaḥət ʾaw năhar rabta mən Xabur dăha ʾile diyan b-Zàxo.ˈ mumkən,ˈ mumkən max də̀jla ʾiwa.ˈ zen,ˈ fa,ˈ kəm-bānele jə̀sr.ˈ xləṣle mən jə̀sr,ˈ Aʾawwal mən nawʿhi fiA ʾaw tāríx,ˈ zaman diyehən.ˈ Zamàn diyehən,ˈ bə-daw tārìx.ˈ	What is the meaning of seven arches? It is because the river was large. [Those] seven arches have to carry [the trade for an entire] region, that is for that region. Perhaps the area of the river was larger than Khabur, our own river here in Zakho. It’s possible that it was as large as the Tigris. Well, he built the bridge. He finished the bridge, the first of a kind in his-tory, in their time. In their time, in that period.
	fa-mà ʾədyo,ˈ ʾamī̀r diyan?ˈ ʾiman xləṣle jə̀sr,ˈ gắlaka pṣə̀xle,ˈ ləʾannu wədle xa məndi tāríx b-maḥke ʾəllu.ˈ b-amer ʾənu ‘ʾawwa jəsr tele bnaya b-Aʾaḥad flān ʾamī̀rA.ˈ’ fa-mà ʾədyo,ˈ ʾamī̀r diyan?ˈ ʾiman xləṣle jə̀sr,ˈ gắlaka pṣə̀xle,ˈ ləʾannu wədle xa məndi tāríx b-maḥke ʾəllu.ˈ b-amer ʾənu ‘ʾawwa jəsr tele bnaya b-Aʾaḥad flān ʾamī̀rA.ˈ’	So, what about our prince today? When the bridge was finished, he was very happy, because he had done something which history would talk about. [Someone] will say, ‘This bridge was built in the time of prince so-and-so.’
	ʾokey, ʾə́nnuhu b-zale u-ati u-šula palxi b-rəš jə̀sr,ˈ fa-mà wədle ʾamir?ˈ ḥatta ʾə́nnuhu ʾāwedwa xa hadiya ṛabta ṭa ʾawwa muhàndəs,ˈ Tòma,ˈ mkārə̀mwāle,ˈ mà wədle biyu?ˈ ʾokey, ʾə́nnuhu b-zale u-ati u-šula palxi b-rəš jə̀sr,ˈ fa-mà wədle ʾamir?ˈ ḥatta ʾə́nnuhu ʾāwedwa xa hadiya ṛabta ṭa ʾawwa muhàndəs,ˈ Tòma,ˈ mkārə̀mwāle,ˈ mà wədle biyu?ˈ	So then people were coming and going, working on the bridge. So, what did the prince do? Instead of giving this archi-tect Toma, a huge gift to honour him, what did he do?
	kəm-qārele l-gèbu.ˈ kəm-qāṭela ʾidu d-yàmne.ˈ fa-ʾàmri,ˈ ‘l-ma b-qaṭət ʾay ʾidu d-yàmne?ˈ’ ʾàmər,ˈ ‘ḥatta là-ʾawəd xa jəsr xena nafs dàwwa.ˈ făqaṭ ʾàwwa jəsr,ˈ d-wədle ʾàwwa,ˈ kəm-ʾāwədle ṭàli.ˈ u-ʾawwa p-pàyəš,ˈ ḥatta payəš šəmma diyi ʿabra tārìx,ˈ ʾənnu ʾamri Afi ʾaḥad ʾəl-ʾamī̀rA,ˈ flan tele bnaya ʾaw jə̀sr.ˈ’ kəm-qārele l-gèbu.ˈ kəm-qāṭela ʾidu d-yàmne.ˈ fa-ʾàmri,ˈ ‘l-ma b-qaṭət ʾay ʾidu d-yàmne?ˈ’ ʾàmər,ˈ ‘ḥatta là-ʾawəd xa jəsr xena nafs dàwwa.ˈ făqaṭ ʾàwwa jəsr,ˈ d-wədle ʾàwwa,ˈ kəm-ʾāwədle ṭàli.ˈ u-ʾawwa p-pàyəš,ˈ ḥatta payəš šəmma diyi ʿabra tārìx,ˈ ʾənnu ʾamri Afi ʾaḥad ʾəl-ʾamī̀rA,ˈ flan tele bnaya ʾaw jə̀sr.ˈ’	He summoned him to his side and cut his right hand. So, it was said, ‘Why did you cut his right hand?’ He said, ‘so that he doesn’t make the same bridge like this one. He has made only this bridge that he built for me. This one will remain so that my name enters history, that [people might say that] this bridge was built at the time of prince so-and-so.
	fa-hosta Tòma,ˈ ʾaw ʾamrəx muhàndəs,ˈ lè-ʾamrəx mu-handəs Toma.ˈ hòsta y-amríwāle,ˈ bànaya Toma,ˈ gắlaka mqoḥère.ˈ ʾidu kəm-qāṭìla,ˈ u-ʾawwa mən hostàwata,ˈ u-mən banayət ʾay mànṭaqa,ˈ u-ʾaw ʾaḥad dìyu ʾiwa,ˈ fa-gắlaka mqoḥère.ˈ fa-hosta Tòma,ˈ ʾaw ʾamrəx muhàndəs,ˈ lè-ʾamrəx mu-handəs Toma.ˈ hòsta y-amríwāle,ˈ bànaya Toma,ˈ gắlaka mqoḥère.ˈ ʾidu kəm-qāṭìla,ˈ u-ʾawwa mən hostàwata,ˈ u-mən banayət ʾay mànṭaqa,ˈ u-ʾaw ʾaḥad dìyu ʾiwa,ˈ fa-gắlaka mqoḥère.ˈ	So, craftsman Toma, or, shall we say ‘architect’... We won’t say ‘architect’. He was called a craftsman, builder Toma. He was greatly upset. His hand was severed. He was one of the builders of that region, he was one of their own. He was very upset.
	mere ṭa ʿàʾəla diyu,ˈ ʾamer, ‘ʾana ʾawwa məndi wədli ṭa ʾamī̀r,ˈ u-ʾawwa mkarəmli bə-l-muqabel qaṭe ʾida dìyi,ˈ fa-ʾĭ̀ðan,ˈ ʾana baʿd là-piš ʾətli dəkta gawa daya manṭaqa.ˈ lazem ʾana mhajrən m-ʾaya manṭaqa,ˈ u-palṭən mə̀nna.ˈ’ mere ṭa ʿàʾəla diyu,ˈ ʾamer, ‘ʾana ʾawwa məndi wədli ṭa ʾamī̀r,ˈ u-ʾawwa mkarəmli bə-l-muqabel qaṭe ʾida dìyi,ˈ fa-ʾĭ̀ðan,ˈ ʾana baʿd là-piš ʾətli dəkta gawa daya manṭaqa.ˈ lazem ʾana mhajrən m-ʾaya manṭaqa,ˈ u-palṭən mə̀nna.ˈ’	He told his family, ‘For what I made for the prince, he rewarded me by cutting my hand. Well then, I no longer have a place in this region. I must emigrate, move away.’
	fa-ʾamī̀r šmèʾle,ˈ ʾə́nnuhu Toma p-paləṭ mən madìna.ˈ ʾamer ‘qrùnle Toma ṭali.ˈ’ zəlle gèbu.ˈ ʾamer, ‘làlu,ˈ ʾayət har b-zàlux,ˈ u-jə̀sr wədlux ṭali.ˈ bas mòdi?ˈ mà ʾawdət l-jə̀sr,ˈ ḥatta jəsr payəš l-ʿumū́r kùllu?ˈ’ fa-ʾamī̀r šmèʾle,ˈ ʾə́nnuhu Toma p-paləṭ mən madìna.ˈ ʾamer ‘qrùnle Toma ṭali.ˈ’ zəlle gèbu.ˈ ʾamer, ‘làlu,ˈ ʾayət har b-zàlux,ˈ u-jə̀sr wədlux ṭali.ˈ bas mòdi?ˈ mà ʾawdət l-jə̀sr,ˈ ḥatta jəsr payəš l-ʿumū́r kùllu?ˈ’	Well, the prince heard that Toma would move out of the town. He said, ‘summon Toma for me.’ He went to him. He said ‘Brother, you are going anyway, and you have built abridge for me. But what? What would you do for the bridge, that the bridge would last throughout time?’
	Toma gắlak ðằki wa.ˈ ʾamer ṭàlu,ˈ ‘maytət šawá,ˈ y-amrəxle, màške.ˈ’ qurrā̀d y-amrile b-ʿắrabi.ˈ maške ʾad ʾùrba,ˈ ʾad ʾurba kòma.ˈ ʾad t-ʾurba kòma.ˈ ‘ṃaḷətle xəlya ʾad ʾurba kòma.ˈ ʾurba yaʿni t-wàne, mù ʾəzze.ˈ sabʿa qurrā́d ʾad ʾaswàd,ˈ ʾad t-ʾurba kòma.ˈ u-bayzətla ʾellət jə̀sr.ˈ jə̀sr diyux p-payəš l-ʿumū́r kùllu.ˈ ʾằbad la-y-napəl.ˈ’ Toma gắlak ðằki wa.ˈ ʾamer ṭàlu,ˈ ‘maytət šawá,ˈ y-amrəxle, màške.ˈ’ qurrā̀d y-amrile b-ʿắrabi.ˈ maške ʾad ʾùrba,ˈ ʾad ʾurba kòma.ˈ ʾad t-ʾurba kòma.ˈ ‘ṃaḷətle xəlya ʾad ʾurba kòma.ˈ ʾurba yaʿni t-wàne, mù ʾəzze.ˈ sabʿa qurrā́d ʾad ʾaswàd,ˈ ʾad t-ʾurba kòma.ˈ u-bayzətla ʾellət jə̀sr.ˈ jə̀sr diyux p-payəš l-ʿumū́r kùllu.ˈ ʾằbad la-y-napəl.ˈ’	Toma was very clever. He said to him, ‘Get seven of—what we call—skin [flasks]. They are called qurad in Arabic. The skins of rams, black rams. Fill them with the milk of black rams. By rams I mean sheep, not goats. Seven hides of the black rams. Pour them on the bridge. Your bridge will last forever. It will never fall.’
	fa-ʾawwa mère,ˈ ‘ʾoke, mù mə́škəla.ˈ’ Afa-θàni yōm,ˈ θàləθ yōm, Aˈ Toma šqəlle ʿáʾəla dìyu,ˈ u-yalu u-beta diyu u-mə̀ndi diyu.ˈ u-qəmle mhojere mən Tə̀rkiya,ˈ tele l-Zàxo.ˈ fa-ʾawwa mère,ˈ ‘ʾoke, mù mə́škəla.ˈ’ Afa-θàni yōm,ˈ θàləθ yōm, Aˈ Toma šqəlle ʿáʾəla dìyu,ˈ u-yalu u-beta diyu u-mə̀ndi diyu.ˈ u-qəmle mhojere mən Tə̀rkiya,ˈ tele l-Zàxo.ˈ	So, this one said, ‘Okey, no problem.’ Well, the next day, or the third day, Toma took his family, children and belongings and immigrated from Turkey. He came to Zakho.
	fa-mà wədle ʾamī́r?ˈ ʾamī̀r mà wədle?ˈ ʾamer, ‘ʾana waṣiyət mere Toma ṭàli,ˈ b-awdə̀nna.ˈ b-awdə̀nna,ˈ mḥaqeqə̀nna.ˈ’ mà wədle?ˈ mətele sabʿa qurrā́d mən xəlyət wane kòme,ˈ ʾərba kòma.ˈ kəm-bāyəzle rəš jəsr b-làyle.ˈ fa-mà wədle ʾamī́r?ˈ ʾamī̀r mà wədle?ˈ ʾamer, ‘ʾana waṣiyət mere Toma ṭàli,ˈ b-awdə̀nna.ˈ b-awdə̀nna,ˈ mḥaqeqə̀nna.ˈ’ mà wədle?ˈ mətele sabʿa qurrā́d mən xəlyət wane kòme,ˈ ʾərba kòma.ˈ kəm-bāyəzle rəš jəsr b-làyle.ˈ	And what did the prince do? What did the prince do? He said, ‘I will implement the recommendation which Toma had given me. I will carry it out.’ What did he do? He got seven skins filled with the milk of black sheep, black rams. He poured them onto the bridge at night.
	θani yōm qə̀mle,ˈ le jəsr hole kulle mpìla,ˈ ləʾán wədle Ata-faʿəl kimyàwiA.ˈ ʾawwa xəlya ʾamət mà hāwewa də̀rya,ˈ jàṣ ʾiwa,ˈ ʾə̀pre wa,ˈ xzi bə-daw waqt màhe wa.ˈ fa-jəsr,ˈ kul jəsr mpə̀lle,’ ʾamer ʾiman mpəlle jə̀sr.ˈ ṭábʿān, baʿd kùllu,ˈ xazəx Toma mà wədle.ˈ θani yōm qə̀mle,ˈ le jəsr hole kulle mpìla,ˈ ləʾán wədle Ata-faʿəl kimyàwiA.ˈ ʾawwa xəlya ʾamət mà hāwewa də̀rya,ˈ jàṣ ʾiwa,ˈ ʾə̀pre wa,ˈ xzi bə-daw waqt màhe wa.ˈ fa-jəsr,ˈ kul jəsr mpə̀lle,’ ʾamer ʾiman mpəlle jə̀sr.ˈ ṭábʿān, baʿd kùllu,ˈ xazəx Toma mà wədle.ˈ	The next day, he woke up. The bridge was down because [the milk] had caused a chemical reaction. As if this milk was poured on something, plaster, soil, see what it was at the time. ‘The bridge, all of the bridge, had fallen!’ he said after the bridge had fallen. Of course, now we see what Toma accomplished after all.
	fa-Toma pləṭle mən madinət Sāmàna.ˈ xà yoma,ˈ trè,ˈ ʾəsbùʿ,ˈ kằða,ˈ xa fatra zamán=iya mṭele l-Zàxo.ˈ ʾiman mṭele Zàxo,ˈ ʾamirət manṭaqət Bahdinā̀n bə-daw waqt,ˈ ʾaw d-iwa b-Amèdiya,ˈ b-Zàxo wa.ˈ fa-Toma pləṭle mən madinət Sāmàna.ˈ xà yoma,ˈ trè,ˈ ʾəsbùʿ,ˈ kằða,ˈ xa fatra zamán=iya mṭele l-Zàxo.ˈ ʾiman mṭele Zàxo,ˈ ʾamirət manṭaqət Bahdinā̀n bə-daw waqt,ˈ ʾaw d-iwa b-Amèdiya,ˈ b-Zàxo wa.ˈ	Meanwhile, Toma moved away from the town of Samana. It took him a day or two, a week or so, he arrived in Zakho. When he arrived in Zakho... the prince of the region of Bahdi-nan, who would [later] be in Amedia, was in Zakho at that time.
	šmeʾle ʾə́nnuhu tele xa hòsta.ˈ u-ʾawwa hosta ʾile xùš hosta.ˈ hole benya hatxa jə̀sr.ˈ jəsr ʿəmlaq fi flā̀n manṭaqa,ˈ u-kăða u-kằða, ʾe.ˈ fa-ʾamīr mà mere,ˈ ʾad Zàxo?ˈ šmeʾle ʾə́nnuhu tele xa hòsta.ˈ u-ʾawwa hosta ʾile xùš hosta.ˈ hole benya hatxa jə̀sr.ˈ jəsr ʿəmlaq fi flā̀n manṭaqa,ˈ u-kăða u-kằða, ʾe.ˈ fa-ʾamīr mà mere,ˈ ʾad Zàxo?ˈ	He heard that there’s a craftsman. This craftsman is good. He has built such a bridge. The bridge was a great [one] in the region called so-and-so, and so on and so forth.
	mère,ˈ ‘ʾaḥsan ši ʾənnu ʾawwa bane xa jəsr ṭaleni gawət mditət Zàxo,ˈ ləʾán lə́twāle ču ràbṭ benatehən.ˈ ʾamrəx ʾənnu ʾad t-àra.ˈ fa-ʾawwa b-bane ṭaleni xa jə̀sr.ˈ’ ʾən ʾamrəx xa gə̀šra.ˈ mère,ˈ ‘ʾaḥsan ši ʾənnu ʾawwa bane xa jəsr ṭaleni gawət mditət Zàxo,ˈ ləʾán lə́twāle ču ràbṭ benatehən.ˈ ʾamrəx ʾənnu ʾad t-àra.ˈ fa-ʾawwa b-bane ṭaleni xa jə̀sr.ˈ’ ʾən ʾamrəx xa gə̀šra.ˈ	So, what did the prince of Zakho say? He said, ‘The best thing is that this man builds a bridge for us inside the town of Zakho, because there was no connection between the two sides, that is, a land [connection]. So, this one is a bridge for us,’ let’s call [it] a ‘bridge’.
	fa-qrele ʾellət Tòma.ˈ ʾamer ṭàle,ˈ ‘hàyyu Toma.ˈ k-əbən mənnux banətli hàtxa məndi.ˈ’ ʾamer ṭàlu,ˈ ‘mà y-xaləf.ˈ’ fa-bdeʾle Toma bə-bnàya.ˈ ʾamri babawàtan,ˈ ʾamri ʾənnu ‘Toma bdeʾle bə-bnaya b-jə̀sr.ˈ ham là-yedəx xa yoma,ˈ ʾesbùʿ,ˈ šàhr,ˈ sằna,ˈ kằða,ˈ ʾaw hole bə-bnaya.ˈ’ bə-ṭlata bène,ˈ bə-ṭlata bène,ˈ kəm-bānele jə̀sr.ˈ fa-qrele ʾellət Tòma.ˈ ʾamer ṭàle,ˈ ‘hàyyu Toma.ˈ k-əbən mənnux banətli hàtxa məndi.ˈ’ ʾamer ṭàlu,ˈ ‘mà y-xaləf.ˈ’ fa-bdeʾle Toma bə-bnàya.ˈ ʾamri babawàtan,ˈ ʾamri ʾənnu ‘Toma bdeʾle bə-bnaya b-jə̀sr.ˈ ham là-yedəx xa yoma,ˈ ʾesbùʿ,ˈ šàhr,ˈ sằna,ˈ kằða,ˈ ʾaw hole bə-bnaya.ˈ’ bə-ṭlata bène,ˈ bə-ṭlata bène,ˈ kəm-bānele jə̀sr.ˈ	So, he summoned Toma. He said to him, ‘Come, Toma. I want you to build me such a thing.’ He said to him, ‘Well then.’ So, Toma began constructing. Our forefathers have said that Toma began constructing the bridge. But we don’t know for how long he was building—a day, a week, a month, a year or so. He built the bridge in three attempts.
	y-maṭe Anihaya l-ʾaxer qànṭaraA.ˈ wədle jəsrət Dalā́l b-xamšà qanaṭer,ˈ mù šawwa.ˈ Sāmana wədle šàwwa.ˈ bas ʾawwa kəm-bānèle,ˈ xamšà qanaṭər wədle ṭa jəsr.ˈ bnele ʾəllət jəsrət Dalā́l gawət mditət Zàxo.ˈ ʾamri ʾənnu ṭlata bene mṭele Toma nihayət rabəṭle jə̀sr,ˈ y-napəl jə̀sr.ˈ y-maṭe Anihaya l-ʾaxer qànṭaraA.ˈ wədle jəsrət Dalā́l b-xamšà qanaṭer,ˈ mù šawwa.ˈ Sāmana wədle šàwwa.ˈ bas ʾawwa kəm-bānèle,ˈ xamšà qanaṭər wədle ṭa jəsr.ˈ bnele ʾəllət jəsrət Dalā́l gawət mditət Zàxo.ˈ ʾamri ʾənnu ṭlata bene mṭele Toma nihayət rabəṭle jə̀sr,ˈ y-napəl jə̀sr.ˈ	He got to the last arch. He made Dalale Bridge with five arches, not seven, [though] Samana bridge he had built with seven. But he built this one with five arches, he made five [arches] for the bridge. He constructed [them for] Dalale Bridge inside Zakho. It is said that Toma reached the end to connect the bridge three times, but [every time,] the bridge fell.
	fa-hole wila ʾaḥadət ʾamirət Zàxo,ˈ ʾinu... ʾàwwa,ˈ ʾamirət Bahdinā̀n,ˈ ʾinu ‘ʾən la-bane jəsr b-qaṭə̀lle.ˈ’ ʾawwa y-amer ‘ʾàna,ˈ ʾawwa kəm-qaṭe ʾìdi u-ʾawwa b-qaṭe rèši.ˈ ʾe, ʿàdi.ˈ u-ana mà ʾawdənna?ˈ’ fa-hole wila ʾaḥadət ʾamirət Zàxo,ˈ ʾinu... ʾàwwa,ˈ ʾamirət Bahdinā̀n,ˈ ʾinu ‘ʾən la-bane jəsr b-qaṭə̀lle.ˈ’ ʾawwa y-amer ‘ʾàna,ˈ ʾawwa kəm-qaṭe ʾìdi u-ʾawwa b-qaṭe rèši.ˈ ʾe, ʿàdi.ˈ u-ana mà ʾawdənna?ˈ’	So, someone of the prince of Bahdinan had given [a warning] that he, [that is,] the prince of Zakho would kill him if he doesn’t build the bridge. The man said ‘That one had severed my hand; and this one will cut my head, [to them, it’s] normal. [But] what shall I do?’
	fa-b-layle ṭləble mən ʾalaha u-mṣolèle.ˈ u-mère,ˈ ‘ya ʾalàhi,ˈ ʾinu ṭalbən mənnux ʾawdətli xa ḥā̀l,ˈ ʾinu mà ʾawdən.ˈ ʾana b-xa ʾìde=wən.ˈ u-b-idət č̣aple holi bə-plàxa.ˈ’ fa-b-layle ṭləble mən ʾalaha u-mṣolèle.ˈ u-mère,ˈ ‘ya ʾalàhi,ˈ ʾinu ṭalbən mənnux ʾawdətli xa ḥā̀l,ˈ ʾinu mà ʾawdən.ˈ ʾana b-xa ʾìde=wən.ˈ u-b-idət č̣aple holi bə-plàxa.ˈ’	So during the night, he pleaded with God and prayed. He said ‘Oh, God, I ask you for some solution. What should I do? I am with one hand, I am working with my left hand.’
	mən ʿamàle,ˈ u-har Tòma tama y-daməxwa.ˈ yaʿni gəb šula dìyu,ˈ ḥatta dārewa bala l-šula dìyu,ˈ mən ganàwe,ˈ mən kằða,ˈ mən zala u-ati ḥatta dare bala l-šula diyu.ˈ ləʾán ʾakíd ʾə́nnuhu—y-amri—Toma gắlak wa mùxləṣ b-šula diyu.ˈ fa-yomət ṭlàta,ˈ mpə̀lle.ˈ mà ʾawəd baʿd?ˈ mən ʿamàle,ˈ u-har Tòma tama y-daməxwa.ˈ yaʿni gəb šula dìyu,ˈ ḥatta dārewa bala l-šula dìyu,ˈ mən ganàwe,ˈ mən kằða,ˈ mən zala u-ati ḥatta dare bala l-šula diyu.ˈ ləʾán ʾakíd ʾə́nnuhu—y-amri—Toma gắlak wa mùxləṣ b-šula diyu.ˈ fa-yomət ṭlàta,ˈ mpə̀lle.ˈ mà ʾawəd baʿd?ˈ	[Toma was] with the workers and even slept there. That is, he was near his construction site to watch over his building [against] thieves and passers-by, to look after his build-ing. That was also because—it was said—Toma was very loyal to his work. So [when the bridge] fell on the third day, what was he going to do?
	dmə̀xle.ˈ mṣolele u-dmə̀xle.ˈ b-layle tele xa ròya, roya, mà?ˈˈ malàxa tele ʾamer ṭalu,ˈ ‘Tòma,ˈ lazem ʾawwa jəsr ʾiða ʾən pàyəš,ˈ Aḥày yəbqaA,ˈ lazem darət xa rū̀ḥ gawu.ˈ ʾĭðan rūḥ hawe barnaša ʾən hawe ḥàywan.ˈ mŭhə́m,ˈ Arū̀ḥ ḥayyaA.ˈ darətla gawu ʾaw ḥày,ˈ yaḷḷa jəsr diyux b-θàbət.ˈ’ fa-Toma mṣolele u-dmə̀xle.ˈ dmə̀xle.ˈ mṣolele u-dmə̀xle.ˈ b-layle tele xa ròya, roya, mà?ˈˈ malàxa tele ʾamer ṭalu,ˈ ‘Tòma,ˈ lazem ʾawwa jəsr ʾiða ʾən pàyəš,ˈ Aḥày yəbqaA,ˈ lazem darət xa rū̀ḥ gawu.ˈ ʾĭðan rūḥ hawe barnaša ʾən hawe ḥàywan.ˈ mŭhə́m,ˈ Arū̀ḥ ḥayyaA.ˈ darətla gawu ʾaw ḥày,ˈ yaḷḷa jəsr diyux b-θàbət.ˈ’ fa-Toma mṣolele u-dmə̀xle.ˈ	So he slept. He prayed and slept. He had a vision during the night. What was it? An angel came and said to him, ‘Toma, if this bridge is to stand and remain, you must put a living soul in-side it, either of a human being or an animal. But the important thing is that you put a living soul inside it while still living so that the bridge will stand firm.’ So, Toma prayed and slept.
	qəmle qadàmta.ˈ mère,ˈ ‘yà ʾalahi.ˈ’ qadamta dàʾəman,ˈ ʾə́twāle kalta.ˈ hàmka qŭṣaṣ,ˈ ḥəkayat y-màḥkiwa.ˈ xa y-amri bràtu ʾiwa.ˈ xa y-amri kàltu ʾiwa.ˈ kut xa xa məndi y-amèrwa,ˈ ḥăsab mà.ˈ ʾana holi šəmya ʾinu y-amri kàltu wa.ˈ šəmmaw Dàlle,ˈ Dàlle,ˈ mù Dalale.ˈ šəmmaw Dàlle.ˈ qəmle qadàmta.ˈ mère,ˈ ‘yà ʾalahi.ˈ’ qadamta dàʾəman,ˈ ʾə́twāle kalta.ˈ hàmka qŭṣaṣ,ˈ ḥəkayat y-màḥkiwa.ˈ xa y-amri bràtu ʾiwa.ˈ xa y-amri kàltu ʾiwa.ˈ kut xa xa məndi y-amèrwa,ˈ ḥăsab mà.ˈ ʾana holi šəmya ʾinu y-amri kàltu wa.ˈ šəmmaw Dàlle,ˈ Dàlle,ˈ mù Dalale.ˈ šəmmaw Dàlle.ˈ	He woke up in the morning. He said, ‘Oh, God.’ In the morning, he had a daughter-in-law, some of the stories, that is, the tales they used to tell. [But] some say she was his daughter. Some [others] say she was his daughter-in-law. Each one said something different, it depends. According to what I have heard, she was his daughter-in-law. Her name was Dalle, not Dalale. Her name was Dalle.
	fa-Dàlle,ˈ kaltət ʿaman Toma,ˈ ʾăbū l-bnaya jə̀sr,ˈ fa,ˈ yomiya qadamta y-matyawa fə̀ṭra,ˈ yaʿni fṭàrta,ˈ ṭa xəmyàna.ˈ fa-ʾə́twāləhən mənnaw... ʾə́twāle b-beta xa kàlwa.ˈ tə̀kram,ˈ xa kalwa u-kòme wa.ˈ kòme wa.ˈ fa-y-matyawale mənnaw u-rajʿàwa.ˈ u-ham mumkən ʿal mud ʾùrxa.ˈ u-kalwa y-ātewa mə̀nnaw.ˈ hole lìpa ʾəl,ˈ ʾəllət Dalàle.ˈ ʾəllət Dàlle, ʾamrəx.ˈ fa-Dàlle,ˈ kaltət ʿaman Toma,ˈ ʾăbū l-bnaya jə̀sr,ˈ fa,ˈ yomiya qadamta y-matyawa fə̀ṭra,ˈ yaʿni fṭàrta,ˈ ṭa xəmyàna.ˈ fa-ʾə́twāləhən mənnaw... ʾə́twāle b-beta xa kàlwa.ˈ tə̀kram,ˈ xa kalwa u-kòme wa.ˈ kòme wa.ˈ fa-y-matyawale mənnaw u-rajʿàwa.ˈ u-ham mumkən ʿal mud ʾùrxa.ˈ u-kalwa y-ātewa mə̀nnaw.ˈ hole lìpa ʾəl,ˈ ʾəllət Dalàle.ˈ ʾəllət Dàlle, ʾamrəx.ˈ	So, Dalle, daughter-in-law of our uncle Toma, the builder of the bridge, brought him breakfast daily in the morning, that is, breakfast, for her father-in-law. They had a dog at home. It was a black dog. It was black. She would bring it along with her and go back. Perhaps, it came with her for the road or got used to Dalale, let’s say, Dalle.
	fa-qadamta xzèle...ˈ bə-daw wàqt,ˈ daw wàqt,ˈ Zaxo y-amriwa dàʾəman,ˈ yaʿni, bas daw jə̀sr,ˈ ʾə́nnuhu y-amríwāle jəsra mazə̀n,ˈ Kpərá mazə̀nK,ˈ jəsr ʾaw ṛàba.ˈ y-amri l-màhi?ˈ fa-qadamta xzèle...ˈ bə-daw wàqt,ˈ daw wàqt,ˈ Zaxo y-amriwa dàʾəman,ˈ yaʿni, bas daw jə̀sr,ˈ ʾə́nnuhu y-amríwāle jəsra mazə̀n,ˈ Kpərá mazə̀nK,ˈ jəsr ʾaw ṛàba.ˈ y-amri l-màhi?ˈ	So, he saw in the morning... At the time, Zakho was always called, I mean, the bridge was called the great passage, the great bridge, the great bridge. Why was that said?
	ləʾan, y-àmri,ˈ ʾaykət ʾawrət daxel ʾeprət Zàxo,ˈ y-mbayən jəsrət Dalàl,ˈ ləʾán jəsrət Dalā́l ʿàli yewa,ˈ u-ărət Zàxo kulla ʿàdəl iwa,ˈ ləʾán Zàxo mašhúr=la b-Asăhəl əs-Sə̀ndi.ˈ săhəl əs-SendiA u-Zàxo dàʾəman ʾarḍ diya,ˈ ʾənu ʾăra ʿàdəl=ila.ˈ fa-ʾaykət pàlṭi,ˈ ʾaykət xàzi,ˈ gărək xazile jəsrət Dalàl.ˈ ləʾan, y-àmri,ˈ ʾaykət ʾawrət daxel ʾeprət Zàxo,ˈ y-mbayən jəsrət Dalàl,ˈ ləʾán jəsrət Dalā́l ʿàli yewa,ˈ u-ărət Zàxo kulla ʿàdəl iwa,ˈ ləʾán Zàxo mašhúr=la b-Asăhəl əs-Sə̀ndi.ˈ săhəl əs-SendiA u-Zàxo dàʾəman ʾarḍ diya,ˈ ʾənu ʾăra ʿàdəl=ila.ˈ fa-ʾaykət pàlṭi,ˈ ʾaykət xàzi,ˈ gărək xazile jəsrət Dalàl.ˈ	Because—they say—when you enter Zakho, the Dalale Bridge is visible, as this bridge is high while the territory of Zakho is flat, because [indeed] Zakho is famous for [belonging to] the Sendi Plain. The Sendi Plain and Zakho are flat. So, from wherever [people] leave [the city] and look, they have to see the Dalale Bridge.
	fa-ʿaman Toma tule qam jə̀sr.ˈ hole bə-ṭlaba ʾənu xàze,ˈ dăha b-atya kaltu matya ṭalu fṭàrta.ˈ fa-xzèlela tela kaltu,ˈ hola ṭənta ʾixàla,ˈ hole kàlwa mənnaw.ˈ ʾamra qəṣṣa ʾə́nnuhu ʾiman Da-lale qabl kàlwa y-maṭyawa,ˈ yaʿni, qarùta,ˈ y-bāxèwa.ˈ y-amer, ‘yà ʾalahi,ˈ là-hawya kalti,ˈ ləʾán lazem darənna gawət jə̀sr.ˈ’ fa-ʿaman Toma tule qam jə̀sr.ˈ hole bə-ṭlaba ʾənu xàze,ˈ dăha b-atya kaltu matya ṭalu fṭàrta.ˈ fa-xzèlela tela kaltu,ˈ hola ṭənta ʾixàla,ˈ hole kàlwa mənnaw.ˈ ʾamra qəṣṣa ʾə́nnuhu ʾiman Da-lale qabl kàlwa y-maṭyawa,ˈ yaʿni, qarùta,ˈ y-bāxèwa.ˈ y-amer, ‘yà ʾalahi,ˈ là-hawya kalti,ˈ ləʾán lazem darənna gawət jə̀sr.ˈ’	So, our uncle Toma sat down in front of the bridge, pleading to see... Now, his daughter-in-law would come to bring him breakfast. So, he looked and saw her – his daughter-in-law came carrying food, the dog with her. The story says that when Dalale was ahead of the dog, that is, close [to the bridge], he would weep and say ‘Oh, my God, may it not be my daughter-in-law, because I’ll have to put her inside the bridge.’
	u-ʾiman kàlwa ʿabərwa,ˈ y-paṣə̀xwa.ˈy-amer, ‘hàm zēn,ˈ kalwa,ˈ lèla kalti,ˈ ḥatta kàlwa darən gawət jəsr.ˈ’ ʾamra qəṣṣa di-yan ʾə̀nnuhu,ˈ qabl mət maṭe l-jə̀sr,ˈ tə̀kram,ˈ kalwa xzele xa gàr-ma,ˈ xa məndi, mšele bìyu,ˈ ʿabera Dalàl.ˈ mṭela gēb xəmyànu.ˈ u-ʾiman kàlwa ʿabərwa,ˈ y-paṣə̀xwa.ˈy-amer, ‘hàm zēn,ˈ kalwa,ˈ lèla kalti,ˈ ḥatta kàlwa darən gawət jəsr.ˈ’ ʾamra qəṣṣa di-yan ʾə̀nnuhu,ˈ qabl mət maṭe l-jə̀sr,ˈ tə̀kram,ˈ kalwa xzele xa gàr-ma,ˈ xa məndi, mšele bìyu,ˈ ʿabera Dalàl.ˈ mṭela gēb xəmyànu.ˈ	And when the dog would pass [in front of her], he would be happy and say, ‘Good, it’s the dog, and not my daughter-in-law, I’ll put the dog inside the bridge.’ The story says that before they arrived at the bridge, the dog saw a bone or something which distracted it. Dalale passed and reached her father-in-law.
	ʾamer ṭàlaw,ˈ ‘brati,ˈ mà ʾamrənnax?ˈ ʾana holi ṭliba mən marya u-mən ʾalàhi,ˈ ʾə́nnuhu lazem darən Aʾawwal rūḥA maṭya gèbi,ˈ darənna gawət jə̀sr.ˈ u-payšat Axàlida ləl-ʿomr kulluA.ˈ u-dáʾəman šəmmax har b-hàwe.ˈ u-lazem darənna rū̀ḥ,ˈ xa rū̀ḥ,ˈ gàwu,ˈ Aḥatta yebqa jəsr ḥàyA,ˈ payəš dàʾəman.ˈ ʾamer ṭàlaw,ˈ ‘brati,ˈ mà ʾamrənnax?ˈ ʾana holi ṭliba mən marya u-mən ʾalàhi,ˈ ʾə́nnuhu lazem darən Aʾawwal rūḥA maṭya gèbi,ˈ darənna gawət jə̀sr.ˈ u-payšat Axàlida ləl-ʿomr kulluA.ˈ u-dáʾəman šəmmax har b-hàwe.ˈ u-lazem darənna rū̀ḥ,ˈ xa rū̀ḥ,ˈ gàwu,ˈ Aḥatta yebqa jəsr ḥàyA,ˈ payəš dàʾəman.ˈ	He said to her, ‘My daughter, what shall I say to you? I have pleaded with the Lord and with my God that I have to put the first living soul which reaches me into the bridge. You [i.e. your memory] will remain forever and your name will always remain. But I have to place a living soul, one being, for this bridge to stand and to remain standing.
	fa-ʾən k-əbat awdat ganax fidàʾ l-məllət diyax,ˈ u-ʾəlli ʾàna,ˈ lən b-qaṭə̀lli ʾamī́r,ˈ u-ana u-ʿaʾəla dìyan.ˈ fa-ʾamma b-darənnax b-jə̀sr,ˈ u-ʾàmma b-qaṭəlli ʾamī́r.ˈ mà y-amrat?ˈ’ ʾamra ‘làʾ,ˈ ʾana lazem ʾàna hawyan b-šawpux.ˈ’ fa-ʾən k-əbat awdat ganax fidàʾ l-məllət diyax,ˈ u-ʾəlli ʾàna,ˈ lən b-qaṭə̀lli ʾamī́r,ˈ u-ana u-ʿaʾəla dìyan.ˈ fa-ʾamma b-darənnax b-jə̀sr,ˈ u-ʾàmma b-qaṭəlli ʾamī́r.ˈ mà y-amrat?ˈ’ ʾamra ‘làʾ,ˈ ʾana lazem ʾàna hawyan b-šawpux.ˈ’	So, if it pleases you, sacrifice yourself now for your peo-ple and for me because the prince will kill me, and for me and our family. So, either I put you in the bridge or the prince will kill me. What do you say?’ She said, ‘No, I must be in your stead.’
	fa-kəm-šāqəlla kàltu,ˈ u-darela nihayət gə̀šra.ˈ mawjū̀d.ˈ wədle xa šebbā̀k ṭalaw.ˈ mupləṭle wằjh diyaw.ˈ u-duktət ʾidət bràta,ˈ ʾad Dalàl,ˈ y-palṭa biye jə̀sr.ˈ fa-rbəṭle jə̀sr.ˈ u-brata pəšla gawət jə̀sr.ˈ rbəṭle jə̀sr,ˈ u-kməlle kàmel jəsr diyan.ˈ fa-kəm-šāqəlla kàltu,ˈ u-darela nihayət gə̀šra.ˈ mawjū̀d.ˈ wədle xa šebbā̀k ṭalaw.ˈ mupləṭle wằjh diyaw.ˈ u-duktət ʾidət bràta,ˈ ʾad Dalàl,ˈ y-palṭa biye jə̀sr.ˈ fa-rbəṭle jə̀sr.ˈ u-brata pəšla gawət jə̀sr.ˈ rbəṭle jə̀sr,ˈ u-kməlle kàmel jəsr diyan.ˈ	So he took his daughter-in-law and put her at the end of the bridge. It is true. He made a window for her, got her face out and a place for the hands of the girl, Dalal, [sticking] out of the bridge. Thus he connected the bridge.
	y-ātiwa naše y-metiwa ʾixàla,ˈ y-naxtiwa ʾixàla ṭalaw.ˈ u-Dalle y-šaqláwāle ʾixala u-y-axlàwa.ˈ Aṭábʿān, ʾesbùʿ,ˈ ʾesbuʿḕnA,ˈ tlàθta,ˈ brata m̀ətla,ˈ ləʾán hola drita gawa... gawət jə̀sr.ˈ fa-brata diyan mə̀tla gawət jəsr.ˈ y-ātiwa naše y-metiwa ʾixàla,ˈ y-naxtiwa ʾixàla ṭalaw.ˈ u-Dalle y-šaqláwāle ʾixala u-y-axlàwa.ˈ Aṭábʿān, ʾesbùʿ,ˈ ʾesbuʿḕnA,ˈ tlàθta,ˈ brata m̀ətla,ˈ ləʾán hola drita gawa... gawət jə̀sr.ˈ fa-brata diyan mə̀tla gawət jəsr.ˈ	People would come, bring food and get it down to her. Dalle would take the food and eat. Of course, after a week, two or three, the girl died, because she had been put inside the bridge. Thus, our girl died inside the bridge.
	wa lə-haða jəsr Dalā́l pəšle u-mətule šəmmu jəsr Dalle u-Dalàle.ˈ mən hadax xazyat gawət mditət Zàxo,ˈ məšəlmàne,ˈ mšiḥàye,ˈ ʾizidìye,ˈ hudàye,ˈ ʾaġlab t-kačata diyaw šəmmu Dalàl=ile.ˈ Ayəftəxrū̀n bi-DalaleAˈ ʾad wədla ganaw fidáʾ ṭa məlləta dìyaw.ˈ Awa li-ḥat ʾalʾā̀nA,ˈ ʾawwa jəsr dăha mawjū̀d=ile.ˈ wa lə-haða jəsr Dalā́l pəšle u-mətule šəmmu jəsr Dalle u-Dalàle.ˈ mən hadax xazyat gawət mditət Zàxo,ˈ məšəlmàne,ˈ mšiḥàye,ˈ ʾizidìye,ˈ hudàye,ˈ ʾaġlab t-kačata diyaw šəmmu Dalàl=ile.ˈ Ayəftəxrū̀n bi-DalaleAˈ ʾad wədla ganaw fidáʾ ṭa məlləta dìyaw.ˈ Awa li-ḥat ʾalʾā̀nA,ˈ ʾawwa jəsr dăha mawjū̀d=ile.ˈ	That’s how Dalale Bridge remained [standing] and was named the Dalle and Dalale Bridge. That’s why you see that in the Zakho town, the majority of the girls, [whether of] Muslims, Christians, Yezidis or Jews, have the name Dalal. They are proud of Dalal who sacrificed herself for her people. Up till now, this bridge exists.
	ʾakíd kulleni dàʾəman,ˈ ʾiman ‘ʾaykət hàwux,’ y-amri,ˈ ‘mət-èke=wət?ˈ’ b-amrəx, ‘mən Zàxo.ˈ’ b-àmri,ˈ ‘ha, jəsrət Dalàle ge-boxən.ˈ’ Aləʾán Zàxo təštaharA b-jəsrət Dalàl,ˈ ʾad =ile xa Aʾəsṭura tarixìyaA,ˈ xa Arə̀mz tarixiA,ˈ ṭa,ˈ ʾamrəx, ʿəmraniyət Zàxo,ˈ mawjū́d=ile jəsrət Dalā̀l.ˈ ʾakíd kulleni dàʾəman,ˈ ʾiman ‘ʾaykət hàwux,’ y-amri,ˈ ‘mət-èke=wət?ˈ’ b-amrəx, ‘mən Zàxo.ˈ’ b-àmri,ˈ ‘ha, jəsrət Dalàle ge-boxən.ˈ’ Aləʾán Zàxo təštaharA b-jəsrət Dalàl,ˈ ʾad =ile xa Aʾəsṭura tarixìyaA,ˈ xa Arə̀mz tarixiA,ˈ ṭa,ˈ ʾamrəx, ʿəmraniyət Zàxo,ˈ mawjū́d=ile jəsrət Dalā̀l.ˈ	Certainly, wherever we are, [people] say, ‘where are you from?’ We say, ‘From Zakho.’ They say, Oh, you have the Dalale Bridge.’ That’s because Zakho is well-known for the Da-lale Bridge, which is a historical legend, a historical symbol for, let’s say, Zakho’s architecture. The Dalale Bridge [still] stands.
	ʾayya=ila qəṣṣa diyan ʾənu ʾad ʾədyo šəmyaleni,ˈ ʾad ʾana daxi=wən šemya biyaw mən sawi.ˈ ʾiθən ġēr maṣader xène.ˈ ʾitən xa naše xene y-maḥkela b-ġēr ʾurxa xèta.ˈ ʾayya=ila qəṣṣa diyan ʾənu ʾad ʾədyo šəmyaleni,ˈ ʾad ʾana daxi=wən šemya biyaw mən sawi.ˈ ʾiθən ġēr maṣader xène.ˈ ʾitən xa naše xene y-maḥkela b-ġēr ʾurxa xèta.ˈ	This is our story, the one we have heard now, the way I heard it from my grandfather. There are other, different sources. Some other people tell it differently.
	ʾamma ʾana hàtxa=ywən šəmya biyaw.ˈ ṭa kut šemyàle,ˈ ʾalaha merəx xaye dìyu.ˈ u-ʾət là-šemyale,ˈ ʾalaha merəx xaye dìyu.ˈ šekran ṭalàwxun.ˈ ʾamma ʾana hàtxa=ywən šəmya biyaw.ˈ ṭa kut šemyàle,ˈ ʾalaha merəx xaye dìyu.ˈ u-ʾət là-šemyale,ˈ ʾalaha merəx xaye dìyu.ˈ šekran ṭalàwxun.ˈ	But this is how I heard it. Long live everyone who listened, long live everyone who didn’t listen, too. Thank you.

show raw texts

Transcription:

(1 0:00)nixət sawi ʾamər ʾə́nnuhu qəsṣa bdèʾla...ˈ ʾə́nnuhu qabl ʾalpa u-ʾəšta ʾamma šə̀nne gu xa mánṭaqa šəmmaw Sāmàna.ˈ mánṭaqa šəmmaw Sāmàna.ˈ ʾə́twāle xa ʾamī̀r.ˈ ʾamirət mànṭaqa,ˈ ʾamī̀r gắlaka zangī̀n ʾiwa.ˈ ʾə́twāle təjara mən šarq u-mən ġàrb.ˈ(2)fa-ʾətwa ṃaya,ˈ nằhar,ˈ benu u-bēn mumkən ʾoròppa,ˈ u-mumkən ʾàsya.ˈ fa-ʾabewa ʾawəd xa gə̀šra,ˈ xa tawàṣəl.ˈ gəšra yaʿni t-maṭe l-exdàde,ˈ xa məndi t-hawe ʿubū̀r,ˈ maʿbər təjara dìyu,ˈ mumkən maʿbər tawàbel,ˈ zəràʿa,ˈ ṣənàʿa,ˈ təjara,ˈ u-ma ʾitən maʿbère,ˈ lēn ʾamī̀r,ˈ dáʾəman ʾumarā̀ʾ=ilay,ˈ mulūk=ʾilai k-əbi təjara diyehən hàwya,ˈ u-bə-daw waqt diyèhən.ˈ(3)fa-ʾamirət manṭaqət Sāmàna... ʾe,ˈ ṭabʿān ʾən ratəx ʾəl-šəmmət Sāmàna,ˈ ṭabʿān lìθən hatxa məndi.ˈ bas ʾiθən xa ʿáʾəla hola biyət manṭaqət harbòle šəmmaw ʿáʾilət Sāmànu,ˈ Awa laysaA Sāmàna.ˈ Sāmànu.ˈ fa-ʾĭðan,ˈ ʾawwa mən ḥăḍər,ˈ mən ʾawwa mànṭaqa=ile.ˈ(4)fa-ʾamī̀r diyehən ṭləble ʾənnu ‘k-əbən banən xa gə̀šra.ˈ’ fa-bə-daw waqt mjumeʿle ʾə̀nnuhu ṭabʿān hade lətwa muhandəsī̀n,ˈ bas ʾətwa maha... ʾamrə̀xwāle Aṣaḥəb əs-ṣằnaʿaA.ˈ ʾanna d-palxi b-ana məndyàne hòsta y-amríwāle.ˈ fa-tele xa mənnu y-àmer ‘ʾana b-awdən kăða jə̀sr.ˈ’(5)šəmma daw hosta màha=ile?ˈ šəmmu Tòma.ˈ hamka mere lèwe šəmmu Toma.ˈ šemmu ʿAbbā̀s ʾiwa.ˈ sằbab?ˈ meru ʾanahu bə-dàw waqt kut Toma maradəf diyu ʿAbbā̀s ʾiwa.ˈ dax Məḥammad ʾamrəx,ˈ y-amrile ʾĂbū Jàsəm.ˈ ʾAḥmad y-amrile ʾĂbū... ʾĂbū Šā̀b.ˈ(6)yaʿni kut xa ʾətle maradəf šəmma dìyu.ˈ fa-šəmmət Toma maradəf diyu ʿAbbā̀s ʾiwa.ˈ ləʾán hamka y-amrile jəsr ʾəl-ʿAbbàsi.ˈ ham kamri ‘La.ˈ ʾaw jəsr kəm-bānele xa muhandəs suràya,ˈ šəmmu Tòma.ˈ’ Ahal hiya ḥaqìqa?ˈ ʾam xaràfa,ˈ ʾam wàqeʿA,ˈ ʾə́nnuhu qəṣṣa hàtxa ila mara.ˈ(7)fa-ʾamī̀r ʾamer ta Tòma,ˈ ‘bni jə̀sr.ˈ u-xzi mà k-əbət mən pàre,ˈ mən dèhwa,ˈ mən kằða.ˈ əl-mŭhə̀m,ˈ k-əbən banət jəsr ḥatta naqlən təjara dìyi,ˈ lablənna mən ʾayya madina diyi ʾəllət mŭdən xène.ˈ’(8)fa-bdeʾle Toma bə-bnayət jə̀sr.ˈ kəm-ʾāwədle b-sabʿa qanàṭər.ˈ sabʿa qanàṭər kəm-bānèle.ˈ kəm-ʾāwədle sabʿa qanàṭər.ˈ ṭábʿān,ˈ līt xa məndi ʾənu ʾàmer,ˈ ʾənu xa yòma,ˈ xa šàta,ˈ ʾəsrà šənne,ˈ bnele.ˈ là-yəðəx kma.ˈ ʾəl-mŭhəm bnele jə̀sr.ˈ ləʾán jəsr sabʿa qanàṭər.ˈ(9)ma maʿnaha sabʿa qanàṭer?ˈ ʾə́nnuhu ʾaw năhar ṛàbe ywa.ˈ Ləʾán sabʿa qanaṭer k-əbe šaqli maṣàḥa,ˈ ʾənnu l-ʾay mànṭaqa.ˈ mumkən bəš ʾiwa maṣaḥət ʾaw năhar rabta mən Xabur dăha ʾile diyan b-Zàxo.ˈ mumkən,ˈ mumkən max də̀jla ʾiwa.ˈ zen,ˈ fa,ˈ kəm-bānele jə̀sr.ˈ xləṣle mən jə̀sr,ˈ Aʾawwal mən nawʿhi fiA ʾaw tāríx,ˈ zaman diyehən.ˈ Zamàn diyehən,ˈ bə-daw tārìx.ˈ(10)fa-mà ʾədyo,ˈ ʾamī̀r diyan?ˈ ʾiman xləṣle jə̀sr,ˈ gắlaka pṣə̀xle,ˈ ləʾannu wədle xa məndi tāríx b-maḥke ʾəllu.ˈ b-amer ʾənu ‘ʾawwa jəsr tele bnaya b-Aʾaḥad flān ʾamī̀rA.ˈ’(11)ʾokey, ʾə́nnuhu b-zale u-ati u-šula palxi b-rəš jə̀sr,ˈ fa-mà wədle ʾamir?ˈ ḥatta ʾə́nnuhu ʾāwedwa xa hadiya ṛabta ṭa ʾawwa muhàndəs,ˈ Tòma,ˈ mkārə̀mwāle,ˈ mà wədle biyu?ˈ(12)kəm-qārele l-gèbu.ˈ kəm-qāṭela ʾidu d-yàmne.ˈ fa-ʾàmri,ˈ ‘l-ma b-qaṭət ʾay ʾidu d-yàmne?ˈ’ ʾàmər,ˈ ‘ḥatta là-ʾawəd xa jəsr xena nafs dàwwa.ˈ făqaṭ ʾàwwa jəsr,ˈ d-wədle ʾàwwa,ˈ kəm-ʾāwədle ṭàli.ˈ u-ʾawwa p-pàyəš,ˈ ḥatta payəš šəmma diyi ʿabra tārìx,ˈ ʾənnu ʾamri Afi ʾaḥad ʾəl-ʾamī̀rA,ˈ flan tele bnaya ʾaw jə̀sr.ˈ’(13)fa-hosta Tòma,ˈ ʾaw ʾamrəx muhàndəs,ˈ lè-ʾamrəx mu-handəs Toma.ˈ hòsta y-amríwāle,ˈ bànaya Toma,ˈ gắlaka mqoḥère.ˈ ʾidu kəm-qāṭìla,ˈ u-ʾawwa mən hostàwata,ˈ u-mən banayət ʾay mànṭaqa,ˈ u-ʾaw ʾaḥad dìyu ʾiwa,ˈ fa-gắlaka mqoḥère.ˈ(14)mere ṭa ʿàʾəla diyu,ˈ ʾamer, ‘ʾana ʾawwa məndi wədli ṭa ʾamī̀r,ˈ u-ʾawwa mkarəmli bə-l-muqabel qaṭe ʾida dìyi,ˈ fa-ʾĭ̀ðan,ˈ ʾana baʿd là-piš ʾətli dəkta gawa daya manṭaqa.ˈ lazem ʾana mhajrən m-ʾaya manṭaqa,ˈ u-palṭən mə̀nna.ˈ’(15)fa-ʾamī̀r šmèʾle,ˈ ʾə́nnuhu Toma p-paləṭ mən madìna.ˈ ʾamer ‘qrùnle Toma ṭali.ˈ’ zəlle gèbu.ˈ ʾamer, ‘làlu,ˈ ʾayət har b-zàlux,ˈ u-jə̀sr wədlux ṭali.ˈ bas mòdi?ˈ mà ʾawdət l-jə̀sr,ˈ ḥatta jəsr payəš l-ʿumū́r kùllu?ˈ’(16)Toma gắlak ðằki wa.ˈ ʾamer ṭàlu,ˈ ‘maytət šawá,ˈ y-amrəxle, màške.ˈ’ qurrā̀d y-amrile b-ʿắrabi.ˈ maške ʾad ʾùrba,ˈ ʾad ʾurba kòma.ˈ ʾad t-ʾurba kòma.ˈ ‘ṃaḷətle xəlya ʾad ʾurba kòma.ˈ ʾurba yaʿni t-wàne, mù ʾəzze.ˈ sabʿa qurrā́d ʾad ʾaswàd,ˈ ʾad t-ʾurba kòma.ˈ u-bayzətla ʾellət jə̀sr.ˈ jə̀sr diyux p-payəš l-ʿumū́r kùllu.ˈ ʾằbad la-y-napəl.ˈ’(17)fa-ʾawwa mère,ˈ ‘ʾoke, mù mə́škəla.ˈ’ Afa-θàni yōm,ˈ θàləθ yōm, Aˈ Toma šqəlle ʿáʾəla dìyu,ˈ u-yalu u-beta diyu u-mə̀ndi diyu.ˈ u-qəmle mhojere mən Tə̀rkiya,ˈ tele l-Zàxo.ˈ(18)fa-mà wədle ʾamī́r?ˈ ʾamī̀r mà wədle?ˈ ʾamer, ‘ʾana waṣiyət mere Toma ṭàli,ˈ b-awdə̀nna.ˈ b-awdə̀nna,ˈ mḥaqeqə̀nna.ˈ’ mà wədle?ˈ mətele sabʿa qurrā́d mən xəlyət wane kòme,ˈ ʾərba kòma.ˈ kəm-bāyəzle rəš jəsr b-làyle.ˈ(19)θani yōm qə̀mle,ˈ le jəsr hole kulle mpìla,ˈ ləʾán wədle Ata-faʿəl kimyàwiA.ˈ ʾawwa xəlya ʾamət mà hāwewa də̀rya,ˈ jàṣ ʾiwa,ˈ ʾə̀pre wa,ˈ xzi bə-daw waqt màhe wa.ˈ fa-jəsr,ˈ kul jəsr mpə̀lle,’ ʾamer ʾiman mpəlle jə̀sr.ˈ ṭábʿān, baʿd kùllu,ˈ xazəx Toma mà wədle.ˈ(20)fa-Toma pləṭle mən madinət Sāmàna.ˈ xà yoma,ˈ trè,ˈ ʾəsbùʿ,ˈ kằða,ˈ xa fatra zamán=iya mṭele l-Zàxo.ˈ ʾiman mṭele Zàxo,ˈ ʾamirət manṭaqət Bahdinā̀n bə-daw waqt,ˈ ʾaw d-iwa b-Amèdiya,ˈ b-Zàxo wa.ˈ(21)šmeʾle ʾə́nnuhu tele xa hòsta.ˈ u-ʾawwa hosta ʾile xùš hosta.ˈ hole benya hatxa jə̀sr.ˈ jəsr ʿəmlaq fi flā̀n manṭaqa,ˈ u-kăða u-kằða, ʾe.ˈ fa-ʾamīr mà mere,ˈ ʾad Zàxo?ˈ(22)mère,ˈ ‘ʾaḥsan ši ʾənnu ʾawwa bane xa jəsr ṭaleni gawət mditət Zàxo,ˈ ləʾán lə́twāle ču ràbṭ benatehən.ˈ ʾamrəx ʾənnu ʾad t-àra.ˈ fa-ʾawwa b-bane ṭaleni xa jə̀sr.ˈ’ ʾən ʾamrəx xa gə̀šra.ˈ(23)fa-qrele ʾellət Tòma.ˈ ʾamer ṭàle,ˈ ‘hàyyu Toma.ˈ k-əbən mənnux banətli hàtxa məndi.ˈ’ ʾamer ṭàlu,ˈ ‘mà y-xaləf.ˈ’ fa-bdeʾle Toma bə-bnàya.ˈ ʾamri babawàtan,ˈ ʾamri ʾənnu ‘Toma bdeʾle bə-bnaya b-jə̀sr.ˈ ham là-yedəx xa yoma,ˈ ʾesbùʿ,ˈ šàhr,ˈ sằna,ˈ kằða,ˈ ʾaw hole bə-bnaya.ˈ’ bə-ṭlata bène,ˈ bə-ṭlata bène,ˈ kəm-bānele jə̀sr.ˈ(24)y-maṭe Anihaya l-ʾaxer qànṭaraA.ˈ wədle jəsrət Dalā́l b-xamšà qanaṭer,ˈ mù šawwa.ˈ Sāmana wədle šàwwa.ˈ bas ʾawwa kəm-bānèle,ˈ xamšà qanaṭər wədle ṭa jəsr.ˈ bnele ʾəllət jəsrət Dalā́l gawət mditət Zàxo.ˈ ʾamri ʾənnu ṭlata bene mṭele Toma nihayət rabəṭle jə̀sr,ˈ y-napəl jə̀sr.ˈ(25)fa-hole wila ʾaḥadət ʾamirət Zàxo,ˈ ʾinu... ʾàwwa,ˈ ʾamirət Bahdinā̀n,ˈ ʾinu ‘ʾən la-bane jəsr b-qaṭə̀lle.ˈ’ ʾawwa y-amer ‘ʾàna,ˈ ʾawwa kəm-qaṭe ʾìdi u-ʾawwa b-qaṭe rèši.ˈ ʾe, ʿàdi.ˈ u-ana mà ʾawdənna?ˈ’(26)fa-b-layle ṭləble mən ʾalaha u-mṣolèle.ˈ u-mère,ˈ ‘ya ʾalàhi,ˈ ʾinu ṭalbən mənnux ʾawdətli xa ḥā̀l,ˈ ʾinu mà ʾawdən.ˈ ʾana b-xa ʾìde=wən.ˈ u-b-idət č̣aple holi bə-plàxa.ˈ’(27)mən ʿamàle,ˈ u-har Tòma tama y-daməxwa.ˈ yaʿni gəb šula dìyu,ˈ ḥatta dārewa bala l-šula dìyu,ˈ mən ganàwe,ˈ mən kằða,ˈ mən zala u-ati ḥatta dare bala l-šula diyu.ˈ ləʾán ʾakíd ʾə́nnuhu—y-amri—Toma gắlak wa mùxləṣ b-šula diyu.ˈ fa-yomət ṭlàta,ˈ mpə̀lle.ˈ mà ʾawəd baʿd?ˈ(28)dmə̀xle.ˈ mṣolele u-dmə̀xle.ˈ b-layle tele xa ròya, roya, mà?ˈˈ malàxa tele ʾamer ṭalu,ˈ ‘Tòma,ˈ lazem ʾawwa jəsr ʾiða ʾən pàyəš,ˈ Aḥày yəbqaA,ˈ lazem darət xa rū̀ḥ gawu.ˈ ʾĭðan rūḥ hawe barnaša ʾən hawe ḥàywan.ˈ mŭhə́m,ˈ Arū̀ḥ ḥayyaA.ˈ darətla gawu ʾaw ḥày,ˈ yaḷḷa jəsr diyux b-θàbət.ˈ’ fa-Toma mṣolele u-dmə̀xle.ˈ(29)qəmle qadàmta.ˈ mère,ˈ ‘yà ʾalahi.ˈ’ qadamta dàʾəman,ˈ ʾə́twāle kalta.ˈ hàmka qŭṣaṣ,ˈ ḥəkayat y-màḥkiwa.ˈ xa y-amri bràtu ʾiwa.ˈ xa y-amri kàltu ʾiwa.ˈ kut xa xa məndi y-amèrwa,ˈ ḥăsab mà.ˈ ʾana holi šəmya ʾinu y-amri kàltu wa.ˈ šəmmaw Dàlle,ˈ Dàlle,ˈ mù Dalale.ˈ šəmmaw Dàlle.ˈ(30)fa-Dàlle,ˈ kaltət ʿaman Toma,ˈ ʾăbū l-bnaya jə̀sr,ˈ fa,ˈ yomiya qadamta y-matyawa fə̀ṭra,ˈ yaʿni fṭàrta,ˈ ṭa xəmyàna.ˈ fa-ʾə́twāləhən mənnaw... ʾə́twāle b-beta xa kàlwa.ˈ tə̀kram,ˈ xa kalwa u-kòme wa.ˈ kòme wa.ˈ fa-y-matyawale mənnaw u-rajʿàwa.ˈ u-ham mumkən ʿal mud ʾùrxa.ˈ u-kalwa y-ātewa mə̀nnaw.ˈ hole lìpa ʾəl,ˈ ʾəllət Dalàle.ˈ ʾəllət Dàlle, ʾamrəx.ˈ(31)fa-qadamta xzèle...ˈ bə-daw wàqt,ˈ daw wàqt,ˈ Zaxo y-amriwa dàʾəman,ˈ yaʿni, bas daw jə̀sr,ˈ ʾə́nnuhu y-amríwāle jəsra mazə̀n,ˈ Kpərá mazə̀nK,ˈ jəsr ʾaw ṛàba.ˈ y-amri l-màhi?ˈ(32)ləʾan, y-àmri,ˈ ʾaykət ʾawrət daxel ʾeprət Zàxo,ˈ y-mbayən jəsrət Dalàl,ˈ ləʾán jəsrət Dalā́l ʿàli yewa,ˈ u-ărət Zàxo kulla ʿàdəl iwa,ˈ ləʾán Zàxo mašhúr=la b-Asăhəl əs-Sə̀ndi.ˈ săhəl əs-SendiA u-Zàxo dàʾəman ʾarḍ diya,ˈ ʾənu ʾăra ʿàdəl=ila.ˈ fa-ʾaykət pàlṭi,ˈ ʾaykət xàzi,ˈ gărək xazile jəsrət Dalàl.ˈ(33)fa-ʿaman Toma tule qam jə̀sr.ˈ hole bə-ṭlaba ʾənu xàze,ˈ dăha b-atya kaltu matya ṭalu fṭàrta.ˈ fa-xzèlela tela kaltu,ˈ hola ṭənta ʾixàla,ˈ hole kàlwa mənnaw.ˈ ʾamra qəṣṣa ʾə́nnuhu ʾiman Da-lale qabl kàlwa y-maṭyawa,ˈ yaʿni, qarùta,ˈ y-bāxèwa.ˈ y-amer, ‘yà ʾalahi,ˈ là-hawya kalti,ˈ ləʾán lazem darənna gawət jə̀sr.ˈ’(34)u-ʾiman kàlwa ʿabərwa,ˈ y-paṣə̀xwa.ˈy-amer, ‘hàm zēn,ˈ kalwa,ˈ lèla kalti,ˈ ḥatta kàlwa darən gawət jəsr.ˈ’ ʾamra qəṣṣa di-yan ʾə̀nnuhu,ˈ qabl mət maṭe l-jə̀sr,ˈ tə̀kram,ˈ kalwa xzele xa gàr-ma,ˈ xa məndi, mšele bìyu,ˈ ʿabera Dalàl.ˈ mṭela gēb xəmyànu.ˈ(35)ʾamer ṭàlaw,ˈ ‘brati,ˈ mà ʾamrənnax?ˈ ʾana holi ṭliba mən marya u-mən ʾalàhi,ˈ ʾə́nnuhu lazem darən Aʾawwal rūḥA maṭya gèbi,ˈ darənna gawət jə̀sr.ˈ u-payšat Axàlida ləl-ʿomr kulluA.ˈ u-dáʾəman šəmmax har b-hàwe.ˈ u-lazem darənna rū̀ḥ,ˈ xa rū̀ḥ,ˈ gàwu,ˈ Aḥatta yebqa jəsr ḥàyA,ˈ payəš dàʾəman.ˈ(36)fa-ʾən k-əbat awdat ganax fidàʾ l-məllət diyax,ˈ u-ʾəlli ʾàna,ˈ lən b-qaṭə̀lli ʾamī́r,ˈ u-ana u-ʿaʾəla dìyan.ˈ fa-ʾamma b-darənnax b-jə̀sr,ˈ u-ʾàmma b-qaṭəlli ʾamī́r.ˈ mà y-amrat?ˈ’ ʾamra ‘làʾ,ˈ ʾana lazem ʾàna hawyan b-šawpux.ˈ’(37)fa-kəm-šāqəlla kàltu,ˈ u-darela nihayət gə̀šra.ˈ mawjū̀d.ˈ wədle xa šebbā̀k ṭalaw.ˈ mupləṭle wằjh diyaw.ˈ u-duktət ʾidət bràta,ˈ ʾad Dalàl,ˈ y-palṭa biye jə̀sr.ˈ fa-rbəṭle jə̀sr.ˈ u-brata pəšla gawət jə̀sr.ˈ rbəṭle jə̀sr,ˈ u-kməlle kàmel jəsr diyan.ˈ(38)y-ātiwa naše y-metiwa ʾixàla,ˈ y-naxtiwa ʾixàla ṭalaw.ˈ u-Dalle y-šaqláwāle ʾixala u-y-axlàwa.ˈ Aṭábʿān, ʾesbùʿ,ˈ ʾesbuʿḕnA,ˈ tlàθta,ˈ brata m̀ətla,ˈ ləʾán hola drita gawa... gawət jə̀sr.ˈ fa-brata diyan mə̀tla gawət jəsr.ˈ(39)wa lə-haða jəsr Dalā́l pəšle u-mətule šəmmu jəsr Dalle u-Dalàle.ˈ mən hadax xazyat gawət mditət Zàxo,ˈ məšəlmàne,ˈ mšiḥàye,ˈ ʾizidìye,ˈ hudàye,ˈ ʾaġlab t-kačata diyaw šəmmu Dalàl=ile.ˈ Ayəftəxrū̀n bi-DalaleAˈ ʾad wədla ganaw fidáʾ ṭa məlləta dìyaw.ˈ Awa li-ḥat ʾalʾā̀nA,ˈ ʾawwa jəsr dăha mawjū̀d=ile.ˈ(40)ʾakíd kulleni dàʾəman,ˈ ʾiman ‘ʾaykət hàwux,’ y-amri,ˈ ‘mət-èke=wət?ˈ’ b-amrəx, ‘mən Zàxo.ˈ’ b-àmri,ˈ ‘ha, jəsrət Dalàle ge-boxən.ˈ’ Aləʾán Zàxo təštaharA b-jəsrət Dalàl,ˈ ʾad =ile xa Aʾəsṭura tarixìyaA,ˈ xa Arə̀mz tarixiA,ˈ ṭa,ˈ ʾamrəx, ʿəmraniyət Zàxo,ˈ mawjū́d=ile jəsrət Dalā̀l.ˈ(41)ʾayya=ila qəṣṣa diyan ʾənu ʾad ʾədyo šəmyaleni,ˈ ʾad ʾana daxi=wən šemya biyaw mən sawi.ˈ ʾiθən ġēr maṣader xène.ˈ ʾitən xa naše xene y-maḥkela b-ġēr ʾurxa xèta.ˈ(42)ʾamma ʾana hàtxa=ywən šəmya biyaw.ˈ ṭa kut šemyàle,ˈ ʾalaha merəx xaye dìyu.ˈ u-ʾət là-šemyale,ˈ ʾalaha merəx xaye dìyu.ˈ šekran ṭalàwxun.ˈ

Translation:

(1 0:00)My late grandfather used to say that the story began 1600 years ago in a region called Samana. The region was called Samana. It had a prince. The prince of the region was very rich. He had trade with East and West.(2)So, there was water, a river between him and—perhaps—Europe or Asia. So, he wanted to build a bridge, a connection. A bridge that [they could] reach each other, some-thing that creates passage, [so that] they could send traded goods. Perhaps spices, produce, industrial products, [other] trade or whatever was passing, because he was a prince. [Those who] are princes and kings always want their trade to work according to schedule.(3)So, the prince of the region, the Samana region... Of course, if we look at the name Samana, there certainly isn’t an-ything like that. However, there’s a family which lived in the Harboleh region called Samanu, not Samana, Samanu. So this person [perhaps] came from this region.(4)So, their prince wanted to build a bridge. So, at that time, he collected... Of course, there weren’t engineers back then. But there were what we called craftsmen. Those who work with such things were called craftsmen. So, one of those came and said, ‘I want to build you such a bridge.(5)What was the name of that craftsman? His name was Toma. Some people said that his name wasn’t Toma. It was Ab-bas. The reason? They said it was because at the time every Toma had the synonym Abbas, the same way as we say Mu-hamad is called Abu Jasim. Ahmad is called Abu Shab.(6)That’s to say that everybody has his own associated name. So, Toma’s associated name was Abbas, and therefore some also call it the Abbasi Bridge. Some others say, ‘No. This bridge was built by a Syriac-Christian architect called Toma. Is it true? Whether it’s a myth or reality, this is how the story is told.(7)So, the prince said to Toma, ‘Build the bridge. See how much money, gold and such you’d like. Most importantly, I want you to build the bridge for the transportation of my goods from one town to another.’(8)So, Toma began building the bridge. He made it with seven arches, with seven arches he built it. He made seven arches. Of course, there’s nothing that says he built it in a day, a year or ten years. We don’t know how much time. The most significant thing is that he built the bridge because the bridge [had] seven arches.(9)What is the meaning of seven arches? It is because the river was large. [Those] seven arches have to carry [the trade for an entire] region, that is for that region. Perhaps the area of the river was larger than Khabur, our own river here in Zakho. It’s possible that it was as large as the Tigris. Well, he built the bridge. He finished the bridge, the first of a kind in his-tory, in their time. In their time, in that period.(10)So, what about our prince today? When the bridge was finished, he was very happy, because he had done something which history would talk about. [Someone] will say, ‘This bridge was built in the time of prince so-and-so.’(11)So then people were coming and going, working on the bridge. So, what did the prince do? Instead of giving this archi-tect Toma, a huge gift to honour him, what did he do?(12)He summoned him to his side and cut his right hand. So, it was said, ‘Why did you cut his right hand?’ He said, ‘so that he doesn’t make the same bridge like this one. He has made only this bridge that he built for me. This one will remain so that my name enters history, that [people might say that] this bridge was built at the time of prince so-and-so.(13)So, craftsman Toma, or, shall we say ‘architect’... We won’t say ‘architect’. He was called a craftsman, builder Toma. He was greatly upset. His hand was severed. He was one of the builders of that region, he was one of their own. He was very upset.(14)He told his family, ‘For what I made for the prince, he rewarded me by cutting my hand. Well then, I no longer have a place in this region. I must emigrate, move away.’(15)Well, the prince heard that Toma would move out of the town. He said, ‘summon Toma for me.’ He went to him. He said ‘Brother, you are going anyway, and you have built abridge for me. But what? What would you do for the bridge, that the bridge would last throughout time?’(16)Toma was very clever. He said to him, ‘Get seven of—what we call—skin [flasks]. They are called qurad in Arabic. The skins of rams, black rams. Fill them with the milk of black rams. By rams I mean sheep, not goats. Seven hides of the black rams. Pour them on the bridge. Your bridge will last forever. It will never fall.’(17)So, this one said, ‘Okey, no problem.’ Well, the next day, or the third day, Toma took his family, children and belongings and immigrated from Turkey. He came to Zakho.(18)And what did the prince do? What did the prince do? He said, ‘I will implement the recommendation which Toma had given me. I will carry it out.’ What did he do? He got seven skins filled with the milk of black sheep, black rams. He poured them onto the bridge at night.(19)The next day, he woke up. The bridge was down because [the milk] had caused a chemical reaction. As if this milk was poured on something, plaster, soil, see what it was at the time. ‘The bridge, all of the bridge, had fallen!’ he said after the bridge had fallen. Of course, now we see what Toma accomplished after all.(20)Meanwhile, Toma moved away from the town of Samana. It took him a day or two, a week or so, he arrived in Zakho. When he arrived in Zakho... the prince of the region of Bahdi-nan, who would [later] be in Amedia, was in Zakho at that time.(21)He heard that there’s a craftsman. This craftsman is good. He has built such a bridge. The bridge was a great [one] in the region called so-and-so, and so on and so forth.(22)So, what did the prince of Zakho say? He said, ‘The best thing is that this man builds a bridge for us inside the town of Zakho, because there was no connection between the two sides, that is, a land [connection]. So, this one is a bridge for us,’ let’s call [it] a ‘bridge’.(23)So, he summoned Toma. He said to him, ‘Come, Toma. I want you to build me such a thing.’ He said to him, ‘Well then.’ So, Toma began constructing. Our forefathers have said that Toma began constructing the bridge. But we don’t know for how long he was building—a day, a week, a month, a year or so. He built the bridge in three attempts.(24)He got to the last arch. He made Dalale Bridge with five arches, not seven, [though] Samana bridge he had built with seven. But he built this one with five arches, he made five [arches] for the bridge. He constructed [them for] Dalale Bridge inside Zakho. It is said that Toma reached the end to connect the bridge three times, but [every time,] the bridge fell.(25)So, someone of the prince of Bahdinan had given [a warning] that he, [that is,] the prince of Zakho would kill him if he doesn’t build the bridge. The man said ‘That one had severed my hand; and this one will cut my head, [to them, it’s] normal. [But] what shall I do?’(26)So during the night, he pleaded with God and prayed. He said ‘Oh, God, I ask you for some solution. What should I do? I am with one hand, I am working with my left hand.’(27)[Toma was] with the workers and even slept there. That is, he was near his construction site to watch over his building [against] thieves and passers-by, to look after his build-ing. That was also because—it was said—Toma was very loyal to his work. So [when the bridge] fell on the third day, what was he going to do?(28)So he slept. He prayed and slept. He had a vision during the night. What was it? An angel came and said to him, ‘Toma, if this bridge is to stand and remain, you must put a living soul in-side it, either of a human being or an animal. But the important thing is that you put a living soul inside it while still living so that the bridge will stand firm.’ So, Toma prayed and slept.(29)He woke up in the morning. He said, ‘Oh, God.’ In the morning, he had a daughter-in-law, some of the stories, that is, the tales they used to tell. [But] some say she was his daughter. Some [others] say she was his daughter-in-law. Each one said something different, it depends. According to what I have heard, she was his daughter-in-law. Her name was Dalle, not Dalale. Her name was Dalle.(30)So, Dalle, daughter-in-law of our uncle Toma, the builder of the bridge, brought him breakfast daily in the morning, that is, breakfast, for her father-in-law. They had a dog at home. It was a black dog. It was black. She would bring it along with her and go back. Perhaps, it came with her for the road or got used to Dalale, let’s say, Dalle.(31)So, he saw in the morning... At the time, Zakho was always called, I mean, the bridge was called the great passage, the great bridge, the great bridge. Why was that said?(32)Because—they say—when you enter Zakho, the Dalale Bridge is visible, as this bridge is high while the territory of Zakho is flat, because [indeed] Zakho is famous for [belonging to] the Sendi Plain. The Sendi Plain and Zakho are flat. So, from wherever [people] leave [the city] and look, they have to see the Dalale Bridge.(33)So, our uncle Toma sat down in front of the bridge, pleading to see... Now, his daughter-in-law would come to bring him breakfast. So, he looked and saw her – his daughter-in-law came carrying food, the dog with her. The story says that when Dalale was ahead of the dog, that is, close [to the bridge], he would weep and say ‘Oh, my God, may it not be my daughter-in-law, because I’ll have to put her inside the bridge.’(34)And when the dog would pass [in front of her], he would be happy and say, ‘Good, it’s the dog, and not my daughter-in-law, I’ll put the dog inside the bridge.’ The story says that before they arrived at the bridge, the dog saw a bone or something which distracted it. Dalale passed and reached her father-in-law.(35)He said to her, ‘My daughter, what shall I say to you? I have pleaded with the Lord and with my God that I have to put the first living soul which reaches me into the bridge. You [i.e. your memory] will remain forever and your name will always remain. But I have to place a living soul, one being, for this bridge to stand and to remain standing.(36)So, if it pleases you, sacrifice yourself now for your peo-ple and for me because the prince will kill me, and for me and our family. So, either I put you in the bridge or the prince will kill me. What do you say?’ She said, ‘No, I must be in your stead.’(37)So he took his daughter-in-law and put her at the end of the bridge. It is true. He made a window for her, got her face out and a place for the hands of the girl, Dalal, [sticking] out of the bridge. Thus he connected the bridge.(38)People would come, bring food and get it down to her. Dalle would take the food and eat. Of course, after a week, two or three, the girl died, because she had been put inside the bridge. Thus, our girl died inside the bridge.(39)That’s how Dalale Bridge remained [standing] and was named the Dalle and Dalale Bridge. That’s why you see that in the Zakho town, the majority of the girls, [whether of] Muslims, Christians, Yezidis or Jews, have the name Dalal. They are proud of Dalal who sacrificed herself for her people. Up till now, this bridge exists.(40)Certainly, wherever we are, [people] say, ‘where are you from?’ We say, ‘From Zakho.’ They say, Oh, you have the Dalale Bridge.’ That’s because Zakho is well-known for the Da-lale Bridge, which is a historical legend, a historical symbol for, let’s say, Zakho’s architecture. The Dalale Bridge [still] stands.(41)This is our story, the one we have heard now, the way I heard it from my grandfather. There are other, different sources. Some other people tell it differently.(42)But this is how I heard it. Long live everyone who listened, long live everyone who didn’t listen, too. Thank you.