Barwar: The Brother of Giants

0:00

Transcribed by	Source	Speakers
Geoffrey Khan	Khan, Geoffrey. The Neo-Aramaic Dialect of Barwar. 3 vols. Leiden-Boston: Brill, 2008, vol. 3	Xošebo ʾOdišo

	Transcription	Translation
0:00	ʾíṯwa xá báxta-w xa-gàwṛa.ˈ ʾa-báxta mə́ra ta-gáwṛa dìyaˈ də-xùšˈ nàša.ˈ xuš-plùxən!ˈ xuš-plùxən!ˈ ta-mút baṭíla tíwa gu-bɛ̀ṯa?ˈ dàx ṱ-óya?ˈ ʾámər la-líṯ šùla.ˈ mə́ra də-ʾáti xùš!ˈ bálki máčxət šùla.ˈ qímle zílle mxéle l-ṭùra.ˈ xìšle,ˈ xìšle,ˈ xìšle.ˈ píšle xùya.ˈ mə́re ya-ʾàlahi,ˈ ya-màriˈ lɛ̀ka ʾazéna?ˈ píšle xùya.ˈ čù-naša la-yăḏéna.ˈ la-bɛ̀ṯa ʾíṯən,ˈ ʾu-la-nàša ʾíṯən.ˈ xzéle xa-núra lháya gu-xa-gə̀ppa.ˈ mə́re ʾázən ʾóḏən qázəd d-àwwa gə́ppa.ˈ ṱ-áwḏən qázədde dìye.ˈ ṱ-ázən máxən tắra d-àw-gəppa.ˈ ʾiṯ-nàšeˈ ʾən-lìṯ-naše.ˈ zílɛle mə́xyɛle tắrə d-ò-gəppa.ˈ ʾína hóla tìweˈ šawwà hambišáye.ˈ šawwá-hambišaye tíwe gu-d-aw-gə̀ppa.ˈ mə́re ya-ʾàlahi.ˈ xúya har-xùyɛle.ˈ har-déwe ṱ-axlìli.ˈ har-ṱ-ázən gu-d-ànna hambišáyeˈ har-hambišàye-ži ṱ-axlíli.ˈ qímle mxéle l-tărɛ̀yˈ wírre kəslèy.ˈ wírre kəslèyˈ xírre muttúle bàlaˈ kút-xa mənnèyˈ réše mṭáya l-ṭùra,ˈ də́qne ṣə́lya hàl-ʾaxxa,ˈ səmbéle hàl-ʾaxxa.ˈ mə́re ʾánna hár ṱ-axlìli,ˈ yăḏèna.ˈ ʾína ṱ-àmrən xá-məndiˈ gu-lə́bbe díye mtuxmə̀nne.ˈ mə́re šláma-llɛxu xonăwàṯi.ˈ xá-mənna xírre b-o-xèna.ˈ mə́ra ʾítlən xa-xóna xèna?ˈ mə́ra ʾáti m-ɛ̀ka-yăḏət ṱ-íx xonăwàṯa?ˈ mə́re yə́mmi mšudártəlli kəslɛ̀xu.ˈ mə́ra sí kəs-xonăwàṯux.ˈ hóla fulàn-duka.ˈ m-kəs-gàne qəm-mdabə́rraˈ mxalóṣe xàye díye.ˈ mə́re yá-ʾalaha mò-ʾoḏən?ˈ ʾána gắrəg ʾámrən hatxàne.ˈ mə́ra zḕn,ˈ ʾən-ít xonɛ̀ni,ˈ háyyo tu-ʾáxxa kəslɛ̀ni.ˈ xùl.ˈ xúl mənnɛ̀ni.ˈ xílle dréle dax-d-àni.ˈ xìlle,ˈ mə́ra b-álaha xónən-it mə̀jjəd.ˈ ʾamrə́xlux xà-mdi xéna.ˈ ṭḷaṯà-məndiyane.ˈ ʾáyya qəm-mpalṭə̀xla,ˈ píše trè-məndiyane xéne.ˈ ʾamrə́xlux ʾítlən xá zə̀qqaˈ ràba góṛtɛla.ˈ y-ásqəx mɛ́ṯəx míya mən-d-ăwàha ṭúra.ˈ rába rə̀ḥqɛle ʾo-ṭúra.ˈ ràba rə́ḥqɛle.ˈ ʾə́n máṣət šaqlə̀tla?ˈ mə́re ʾó xonăwàṯi,ˈ ʾaw-mo-šùlɛle?ˈ qa-mòtun mára ʾáxtuˈ ʾáxni y-ásqəx ṭùraˈ másqəx zə̀qqa.ˈ lə́mu lá-ʾasqən ʾàna?ˈ hálli ḥàwla.ˈ y-ásqən kúlla qɛ́se mjămə̀nnaˈ ʾu-ʾúrxa paṯxə̀nnaˈ qa-t-míya ṣála qam-tar-gə̀ppa?ˈ qa-mó le-y-asqən-mɛ́ṯən míya mən-tàma?ˈ mə́ra b-álaha ʾaw-xoš-fə̀krɛle!ˈ qímɛle šqílɛle xa-xáwla rába rìxa.ˈ sə́ṛyɛle kúlla b-réšət ʾilanàne.ˈ la-màṣe,ˈ mo-ʾàwəḏ?ˈ bắye mxáləṣ xàye.ˈ qímɛle sə́ṛyəlle b-réšət ʾilanáne ʾilanàne.ˈ ʾáni kə́lye kəs-bɛ̀ṯa.ˈ ʾámər xonăwáṯi mvắdo mvằdoˈ t-la-ʾazítu b-míya ʾap-àxtu.ˈ ʾámri háyyo xílli lə̀bbuxˈ lá-băyəx la-mìyaˈ ʾu-la-čù-məndi.ˈ ʾáxni har-xònən-it.ˈ mə́ra zḕnˈ píšta ḏà-xeta.ˈ ʾánna tə̀rte,ˈ píšta ḏà-xeta.ˈ ʾən-it-xònɛni,ˈ ʾítlən xa-maġára rába ʾamòqa,ˈ ʾax-xa-sàrdəb qarə́xle.ˈ ʾíṯ xa-párša b-réše dìyeˈ ràba góṛɛle.ˈ ʾən-ʾáw-parša šqìllux,ˈ ʾítlən dáwe tàma,ˈ pălə̀xxa,ˈ kúllən xonăwàṯəx.ˈ mə́re xonăwáṯi mòtu mára?ˈ ʾána ʾən-šqìlli,ˈ fə̀lsa la-yawənnɛ́xu.ˈ mə́ra ʾáwwa mú-ṱ-awəḏ b-rèšən?ˈ mə́ra lá-baba, là.ˈ har-la-šqúlla biš-spày.ˈ ʾáxni šaqlə́xxe ʾu-ṃáḷəxxa čántux zùzeˈ ʾu-sìga.ˈ qímɛle bàbi,ˈ šqíləlla xonăwáṯe díye ʾò-paršaˈ d-o-maġàra,ˈ ʾína xa-marə́gla gòṛaˈ ṃə́ḷya dàwe,ˈ ṃə́ḷya dàwe.ˈ šqílle moṯéle čanáṯa mə̀nne,ˈ tə́rna qəm-ṃaḷèla.ˈ ṯèle.ˈ ṯèle,ˈ b-lɛ̀le bắye màṭeˈ t-la-xazɛ́le náše gu-màṯa.ˈ ʾaw-mɛ̀kɛle ṯáya,ˈ t-la-mšalxìle.ˈ sáʾət xà mṭéle l-bɛ́ṯa.ˈ mxéle l-tằra.ˈ mxéle l-tằra,ˈ mə́ra báxte dìyeˈ mə́ra ʾṓx ʾáw gáwṛi m-jàlde hóle zílaˈ lá-ʾəṯya l-bɛ́ṯa žàre,ˈ ʾən-ile-qṭìla,ˈ ʾən-ile xìla.ˈ xá-bena mxéle l-tằra,ˈ mə́ra ʾṓx ya-ʾalàhi!ˈ b-xšáwən gáwṛi ṯèle.ˈ pṯíxle tằra.ˈ ʾína ṯèle.ˈ mə́ra bàxtaˈ ṯélux nàša?ˈ mə́re báxta ṯèliˈ mò-ʾoḏən?ˈ zílli plàxa.ˈ kčìxliˈ ʾu-ṯèli.ˈ mə́ra ʾánna mòdi?ˈ mə́re də-mákəs tằra.ˈ ʾu-máṣla fàrdeˈ pṯúxla xza-mo-xázyət gawày.ˈ qəm-maṣlɛ́la kúlla fàrde.ˈ mə́re t-lá naše-xazɛlɛ̀niˈ mən-panjɛ̀ra,ˈ mən-tăràne.ˈ kúlla dukáne mátti bála genàwe.ˈ zílta kúlla mtugbə̀rtəlla.ˈ pṯíxtəlla ʾína kúlla dàwe.ˈ mə́ra ʾáxni mò-ʾoḏəx b-ánna dáwe?!ˈ ʾɛ́ka mṭaršə̀xla?ˈ mə́rəx ṭláli lɛ̀t-plaxa.ˈ ʾina-hóli plìxli.ˈ mə́ra b-álaha gáwṛa plìxlux!ˈ gánux basìmta!ˈ hádəx bábi píšlɛ zangìne,ˈ píšlɛ márət dəkkanàne.ˈ pišlɛ márət palàxe.ˈ píšle rešáya gu-máṯa ʾàwwa.ˈ ʾáyya šwiqáli tàma.ˈ ʾíṯwa xá báxta-w xa-gàwṛa.ˈ ʾa-báxta mə́ra ta-gáwṛa dìyaˈ də-xùšˈ nàša.ˈ xuš-plùxən!ˈ xuš-plùxən!ˈ ta-mút baṭíla tíwa gu-bɛ̀ṯa?ˈ dàx ṱ-óya?ˈ ʾámər la-líṯ šùla.ˈ mə́ra də-ʾáti xùš!ˈ bálki máčxət šùla.ˈ qímle zílle mxéle l-ṭùra.ˈ xìšle,ˈ xìšle,ˈ xìšle.ˈ píšle xùya.ˈ mə́re ya-ʾàlahi,ˈ ya-màriˈ lɛ̀ka ʾazéna?ˈ píšle xùya.ˈ čù-naša la-yăḏéna.ˈ la-bɛ̀ṯa ʾíṯən,ˈ ʾu-la-nàša ʾíṯən.ˈ xzéle xa-núra lháya gu-xa-gə̀ppa.ˈ mə́re ʾázən ʾóḏən qázəd d-àwwa gə́ppa.ˈ ṱ-áwḏən qázədde dìye.ˈ ṱ-ázən máxən tắra d-àw-gəppa.ˈ ʾiṯ-nàšeˈ ʾən-lìṯ-naše.ˈ zílɛle mə́xyɛle tắrə d-ò-gəppa.ˈ ʾína hóla tìweˈ šawwà hambišáye.ˈ šawwá-hambišaye tíwe gu-d-aw-gə̀ppa.ˈ mə́re ya-ʾàlahi.ˈ xúya har-xùyɛle.ˈ har-déwe ṱ-axlìli.ˈ har-ṱ-ázən gu-d-ànna hambišáyeˈ har-hambišàye-ži ṱ-axlíli.ˈ qímle mxéle l-tărɛ̀yˈ wírre kəslèy.ˈ wírre kəslèyˈ xírre muttúle bàlaˈ kút-xa mənnèyˈ réše mṭáya l-ṭùra,ˈ də́qne ṣə́lya hàl-ʾaxxa,ˈ səmbéle hàl-ʾaxxa.ˈ mə́re ʾánna hár ṱ-axlìli,ˈ yăḏèna.ˈ ʾína ṱ-àmrən xá-məndiˈ gu-lə́bbe díye mtuxmə̀nne.ˈ mə́re šláma-llɛxu xonăwàṯi.ˈ xá-mənna xírre b-o-xèna.ˈ mə́ra ʾítlən xa-xóna xèna?ˈ mə́ra ʾáti m-ɛ̀ka-yăḏət ṱ-íx xonăwàṯa?ˈ mə́re yə́mmi mšudártəlli kəslɛ̀xu.ˈ mə́ra sí kəs-xonăwàṯux.ˈ hóla fulàn-duka.ˈ m-kəs-gàne qəm-mdabə́rraˈ mxalóṣe xàye díye.ˈ mə́re yá-ʾalaha mò-ʾoḏən?ˈ ʾána gắrəg ʾámrən hatxàne.ˈ mə́ra zḕn,ˈ ʾən-ít xonɛ̀ni,ˈ háyyo tu-ʾáxxa kəslɛ̀ni.ˈ xùl.ˈ xúl mənnɛ̀ni.ˈ xílle dréle dax-d-àni.ˈ xìlle,ˈ mə́ra b-álaha xónən-it mə̀jjəd.ˈ ʾamrə́xlux xà-mdi xéna.ˈ ṭḷaṯà-məndiyane.ˈ ʾáyya qəm-mpalṭə̀xla,ˈ píše trè-məndiyane xéne.ˈ ʾamrə́xlux ʾítlən xá zə̀qqaˈ ràba góṛtɛla.ˈ y-ásqəx mɛ́ṯəx míya mən-d-ăwàha ṭúra.ˈ rába rə̀ḥqɛle ʾo-ṭúra.ˈ ràba rə́ḥqɛle.ˈ ʾə́n máṣət šaqlə̀tla?ˈ mə́re ʾó xonăwàṯi,ˈ ʾaw-mo-šùlɛle?ˈ qa-mòtun mára ʾáxtuˈ ʾáxni y-ásqəx ṭùraˈ másqəx zə̀qqa.ˈ lə́mu lá-ʾasqən ʾàna?ˈ hálli ḥàwla.ˈ y-ásqən kúlla qɛ́se mjămə̀nnaˈ ʾu-ʾúrxa paṯxə̀nnaˈ qa-t-míya ṣála qam-tar-gə̀ppa?ˈ qa-mó le-y-asqən-mɛ́ṯən míya mən-tàma?ˈ mə́ra b-álaha ʾaw-xoš-fə̀krɛle!ˈ qímɛle šqílɛle xa-xáwla rába rìxa.ˈ sə́ṛyɛle kúlla b-réšət ʾilanàne.ˈ la-màṣe,ˈ mo-ʾàwəḏ?ˈ bắye mxáləṣ xàye.ˈ qímɛle sə́ṛyəlle b-réšət ʾilanáne ʾilanàne.ˈ ʾáni kə́lye kəs-bɛ̀ṯa.ˈ ʾámər xonăwáṯi mvắdo mvằdoˈ t-la-ʾazítu b-míya ʾap-àxtu.ˈ ʾámri háyyo xílli lə̀bbuxˈ lá-băyəx la-mìyaˈ ʾu-la-čù-məndi.ˈ ʾáxni har-xònən-it.ˈ mə́ra zḕnˈ píšta ḏà-xeta.ˈ ʾánna tə̀rte,ˈ píšta ḏà-xeta.ˈ ʾən-it-xònɛni,ˈ ʾítlən xa-maġára rába ʾamòqa,ˈ ʾax-xa-sàrdəb qarə́xle.ˈ ʾíṯ xa-párša b-réše dìyeˈ ràba góṛɛle.ˈ ʾən-ʾáw-parša šqìllux,ˈ ʾítlən dáwe tàma,ˈ pălə̀xxa,ˈ kúllən xonăwàṯəx.ˈ mə́re xonăwáṯi mòtu mára?ˈ ʾána ʾən-šqìlli,ˈ fə̀lsa la-yawənnɛ́xu.ˈ mə́ra ʾáwwa mú-ṱ-awəḏ b-rèšən?ˈ mə́ra lá-baba, là.ˈ har-la-šqúlla biš-spày.ˈ ʾáxni šaqlə́xxe ʾu-ṃáḷəxxa čántux zùzeˈ ʾu-sìga.ˈ qímɛle bàbi,ˈ šqíləlla xonăwáṯe díye ʾò-paršaˈ d-o-maġàra,ˈ ʾína xa-marə́gla gòṛaˈ ṃə́ḷya dàwe,ˈ ṃə́ḷya dàwe.ˈ šqílle moṯéle čanáṯa mə̀nne,ˈ tə́rna qəm-ṃaḷèla.ˈ ṯèle.ˈ ṯèle,ˈ b-lɛ̀le bắye màṭeˈ t-la-xazɛ́le náše gu-màṯa.ˈ ʾaw-mɛ̀kɛle ṯáya,ˈ t-la-mšalxìle.ˈ sáʾət xà mṭéle l-bɛ́ṯa.ˈ mxéle l-tằra.ˈ mxéle l-tằra,ˈ mə́ra báxte dìyeˈ mə́ra ʾṓx ʾáw gáwṛi m-jàlde hóle zílaˈ lá-ʾəṯya l-bɛ́ṯa žàre,ˈ ʾən-ile-qṭìla,ˈ ʾən-ile xìla.ˈ xá-bena mxéle l-tằra,ˈ mə́ra ʾṓx ya-ʾalàhi!ˈ b-xšáwən gáwṛi ṯèle.ˈ pṯíxle tằra.ˈ ʾína ṯèle.ˈ mə́ra bàxtaˈ ṯélux nàša?ˈ mə́re báxta ṯèliˈ mò-ʾoḏən?ˈ zílli plàxa.ˈ kčìxliˈ ʾu-ṯèli.ˈ mə́ra ʾánna mòdi?ˈ mə́re də-mákəs tằra.ˈ ʾu-máṣla fàrdeˈ pṯúxla xza-mo-xázyət gawày.ˈ qəm-maṣlɛ́la kúlla fàrde.ˈ mə́re t-lá naše-xazɛlɛ̀niˈ mən-panjɛ̀ra,ˈ mən-tăràne.ˈ kúlla dukáne mátti bála genàwe.ˈ zílta kúlla mtugbə̀rtəlla.ˈ pṯíxtəlla ʾína kúlla dàwe.ˈ mə́ra ʾáxni mò-ʾoḏəx b-ánna dáwe?!ˈ ʾɛ́ka mṭaršə̀xla?ˈ mə́rəx ṭláli lɛ̀t-plaxa.ˈ ʾina-hóli plìxli.ˈ mə́ra b-álaha gáwṛa plìxlux!ˈ gánux basìmta!ˈ hádəx bábi píšlɛ zangìne,ˈ píšlɛ márət dəkkanàne.ˈ pišlɛ márət palàxe.ˈ píšle rešáya gu-máṯa ʾàwwa.ˈ ʾáyya šwiqáli tàma.ˈ	There was a woman and a man. The woman said to her husband ‘Go, man! Go and work! Go and work! Why are you sitting idly in the house? It is not right!’ He said ‘No, there is no work’. She said ‘Go! Perhaps you will find work’. He set off and went to the mountains. He travelled a long way. It became dark. He said ‘My God, my Lord, where shall I go? It has become dark. I do not know anybody. There is no house and there is no person here’. He saw a fire burning in a cave. He said ‘I shall go and make for that cave. I shall go towards it. I shall go and knock on the door of the cave, whether there are people there or there are no people there’. He went and knocked on the door of the cave. He saw seven giants sitting there. Seven giants were sitting in that cave. He said ‘My God, it is very dark, either wolves are sure to eat me or I shall go to these giants and the giants are sure to eat me’. He knocked on their door and went in to meet them. When he went in to meet them, he looked and noticed that the head of each of them reached the (top of ) the mountain, his beard fell down to here and his moustache to here. He said ‘They are sure to eat me, I know. But I shall say something’—he thought this to himself. He said ‘Greetings to you my brothers’. They looked at each other. They said ‘Have we another brother?’ They said ‘How do you know that we are brothers?’ He said ‘My mother sent me to you. She said “Go to your brothers. They are in such-and-such a place” ’. He made this up himself to save his life. He said ‘My God, what shall I do? I have to say such things’. They said ‘Well, if you are our brother, come and sit here with us. Eat, eat with us’. He ate and served (himself food) like them. He ate and they said ‘By God, you are really our brother. Let us say to you something else. (There are) three things (you need to do in order to prove that you are our brother). We have eliminated this one. Two other things remain. We say to you that we have a water-skin that is very large. We shall go up and fetch water from that mountain over there. That mountain is very far away. It is very far away. Can you take it there?’ He said ‘My brothers, what job is that? Why do you say “We shall go up and take up the water-skin”. Why should I not go (alone)? Give me a rope. I shall gather all the wood and open up the way so that the water will come down to the door of the cave. Why should I go up and fetch water from there?’ They said ‘By God, that is a good idea!’ He set off and took a very long rope. He tied it all onto the tops of the trees. He could not (do anything else). What could he do? He wanted to save his life. He tied it to the tops of the trees. They (the giants) stayed at home. He said ‘Brothers, move out of the way, move out of the way, so that you do not get carried away with the water’. They said ‘Come, my dear, we do not want water or anything else. You are indeed our brother’. They said ‘Fine, one other task remains. These are two, one more remains. If you are our brother, there is a cavern that is very deep, like what we call a basement. There is a flat stone over it that is very large. If you take away this stone, (you will find) we have gold coins there and we shall divide them, since we are all brothers’. He said ‘Brothers, what are you saying? If I take it off, I shall not give you a penny’. They said ‘What is he going to do to us?’ They said ‘No, my dear, no. It is better that you do not take it off. We shall take it off and fill your bag with money, then you can go’. He set off and his brothers took off the flat stone of that cavern. Behold a large pot full of gold coins, full of gold coins. He took them, he brought bags with him and he filled two of them. Then he came back (home). He came back. He wanted to arrive at night, so that he would not be seen by people in the village (who would say) ‘Where is he coming from?’, so that they would not strip (and rob) him. He arrived home at one o’clock. He knocked at the door. His wife said, she said ‘Oh, that husband of mine has gone out early and has not returned home, poor man. He has either been killed or he has been eaten (by wild animals)’. Then he knocked at the door and she said ‘Oh, my God! I think my husband has come back’. She opened the door and saw that he had indeed come back. The woman said ‘Have you come back, man?’ He said ‘Wife, I have come back, what should I do? I went to work. I got tired and come back’. She said ‘What are these?’ He said ‘Close the door. Draw down the blinds. Then, open them and see what you find in them’. They drew down all the blinds. He said ‘So that people do not see us from the window and the doors. Thieves watch everywhere. She went and prepared everything. She opened them (the bags) and saw all the gold coins. She said ‘What will we do with these gold coins? Where shall we hide them?’ ‘You said to me “You are not working”. Now I have worked’. She said ‘By God, husband, you have worked! Well done!’. So, my dear, they became rich. They became owners of shops. They became owners of workers. He became a leading figure in the village. I have left it there and come here.

show raw texts

Transcription:

ʾíṯwa xá báxta-w xa-gàwṛa.ˈ ʾa-báxta mə́ra ta-gáwṛa dìyaˈ də-xùšˈ nàša.ˈ xuš-plùxən!ˈ xuš-plùxən!ˈ ta-mút baṭíla tíwa gu-bɛ̀ṯa?ˈ dàx ṱ-óya?ˈ ʾámər la-líṯ šùla.ˈ mə́ra də-ʾáti xùš!ˈ bálki máčxət šùla.ˈ qímle zílle mxéle l-ṭùra.ˈ xìšle,ˈ xìšle,ˈ xìšle.ˈ píšle xùya.ˈ mə́re ya-ʾàlahi,ˈ ya-màriˈ lɛ̀ka ʾazéna?ˈ píšle xùya.ˈ čù-naša la-yăḏéna.ˈ la-bɛ̀ṯa ʾíṯən,ˈ ʾu-la-nàša ʾíṯən.ˈ xzéle xa-núra lháya gu-xa-gə̀ppa.ˈ mə́re ʾázən ʾóḏən qázəd d-àwwa gə́ppa.ˈ ṱ-áwḏən qázədde dìye.ˈ ṱ-ázən máxən tắra d-àw-gəppa.ˈ ʾiṯ-nàšeˈ ʾən-lìṯ-naše.ˈ zílɛle mə́xyɛle tắrə d-ò-gəppa.ˈ ʾína hóla tìweˈ šawwà hambišáye.ˈ šawwá-hambišaye tíwe gu-d-aw-gə̀ppa.ˈ mə́re ya-ʾàlahi.ˈ xúya har-xùyɛle.ˈ har-déwe ṱ-axlìli.ˈ har-ṱ-ázən gu-d-ànna hambišáyeˈ har-hambišàye-ži ṱ-axlíli.ˈ qímle mxéle l-tărɛ̀yˈ wírre kəslèy.ˈ wírre kəslèyˈ xírre muttúle bàlaˈ kút-xa mənnèyˈ réše mṭáya l-ṭùra,ˈ də́qne ṣə́lya hàl-ʾaxxa,ˈ səmbéle hàl-ʾaxxa.ˈ mə́re ʾánna hár ṱ-axlìli,ˈ yăḏèna.ˈ ʾína ṱ-àmrən xá-məndiˈ gu-lə́bbe díye mtuxmə̀nne.ˈ mə́re šláma-llɛxu xonăwàṯi.ˈ xá-mənna xírre b-o-xèna.ˈ mə́ra ʾítlən xa-xóna xèna?ˈ mə́ra ʾáti m-ɛ̀ka-yăḏət ṱ-íx xonăwàṯa?ˈ mə́re yə́mmi mšudártəlli kəslɛ̀xu.ˈ mə́ra sí kəs-xonăwàṯux.ˈ hóla fulàn-duka.ˈ m-kəs-gàne qəm-mdabə́rraˈ mxalóṣe xàye díye.ˈ mə́re yá-ʾalaha mò-ʾoḏən?ˈ ʾána gắrəg ʾámrən hatxàne.ˈ mə́ra zḕn,ˈ ʾən-ít xonɛ̀ni,ˈ háyyo tu-ʾáxxa kəslɛ̀ni.ˈ xùl.ˈ xúl mənnɛ̀ni.ˈ xílle dréle dax-d-àni.ˈ xìlle,ˈ mə́ra b-álaha xónən-it mə̀jjəd.ˈ ʾamrə́xlux xà-mdi xéna.ˈ ṭḷaṯà-məndiyane.ˈ ʾáyya qəm-mpalṭə̀xla,ˈ píše trè-məndiyane xéne.ˈ ʾamrə́xlux ʾítlən xá zə̀qqaˈ ràba góṛtɛla.ˈ y-ásqəx mɛ́ṯəx míya mən-d-ăwàha ṭúra.ˈ rába rə̀ḥqɛle ʾo-ṭúra.ˈ ràba rə́ḥqɛle.ˈ ʾə́n máṣət šaqlə̀tla?ˈ mə́re ʾó xonăwàṯi,ˈ ʾaw-mo-šùlɛle?ˈ qa-mòtun mára ʾáxtuˈ ʾáxni y-ásqəx ṭùraˈ másqəx zə̀qqa.ˈ lə́mu lá-ʾasqən ʾàna?ˈ hálli ḥàwla.ˈ y-ásqən kúlla qɛ́se mjămə̀nnaˈ ʾu-ʾúrxa paṯxə̀nnaˈ qa-t-míya ṣála qam-tar-gə̀ppa?ˈ qa-mó le-y-asqən-mɛ́ṯən míya mən-tàma?ˈ mə́ra b-álaha ʾaw-xoš-fə̀krɛle!ˈ qímɛle šqílɛle xa-xáwla rába rìxa.ˈ sə́ṛyɛle kúlla b-réšət ʾilanàne.ˈ la-màṣe,ˈ mo-ʾàwəḏ?ˈ bắye mxáləṣ xàye.ˈ qímɛle sə́ṛyəlle b-réšət ʾilanáne ʾilanàne.ˈ ʾáni kə́lye kəs-bɛ̀ṯa.ˈ ʾámər xonăwáṯi mvắdo mvằdoˈ t-la-ʾazítu b-míya ʾap-àxtu.ˈ ʾámri háyyo xílli lə̀bbuxˈ lá-băyəx la-mìyaˈ ʾu-la-čù-məndi.ˈ ʾáxni har-xònən-it.ˈ mə́ra zḕnˈ píšta ḏà-xeta.ˈ ʾánna tə̀rte,ˈ píšta ḏà-xeta.ˈ ʾən-it-xònɛni,ˈ ʾítlən xa-maġára rába ʾamòqa,ˈ ʾax-xa-sàrdəb qarə́xle.ˈ ʾíṯ xa-párša b-réše dìyeˈ ràba góṛɛle.ˈ ʾən-ʾáw-parša šqìllux,ˈ ʾítlən dáwe tàma,ˈ pălə̀xxa,ˈ kúllən xonăwàṯəx.ˈ mə́re xonăwáṯi mòtu mára?ˈ ʾána ʾən-šqìlli,ˈ fə̀lsa la-yawənnɛ́xu.ˈ mə́ra ʾáwwa mú-ṱ-awəḏ b-rèšən?ˈ mə́ra lá-baba, là.ˈ har-la-šqúlla biš-spày.ˈ ʾáxni šaqlə́xxe ʾu-ṃáḷəxxa čántux zùzeˈ ʾu-sìga.ˈ qímɛle bàbi,ˈ šqíləlla xonăwáṯe díye ʾò-paršaˈ d-o-maġàra,ˈ ʾína xa-marə́gla gòṛaˈ ṃə́ḷya dàwe,ˈ ṃə́ḷya dàwe.ˈ šqílle moṯéle čanáṯa mə̀nne,ˈ tə́rna qəm-ṃaḷèla.ˈ ṯèle.ˈ ṯèle,ˈ b-lɛ̀le bắye màṭeˈ t-la-xazɛ́le náše gu-màṯa.ˈ ʾaw-mɛ̀kɛle ṯáya,ˈ t-la-mšalxìle.ˈ sáʾət xà mṭéle l-bɛ́ṯa.ˈ mxéle l-tằra.ˈ mxéle l-tằra,ˈ mə́ra báxte dìyeˈ mə́ra ʾṓx ʾáw gáwṛi m-jàlde hóle zílaˈ lá-ʾəṯya l-bɛ́ṯa žàre,ˈ ʾən-ile-qṭìla,ˈ ʾən-ile xìla.ˈ xá-bena mxéle l-tằra,ˈ mə́ra ʾṓx ya-ʾalàhi!ˈ b-xšáwən gáwṛi ṯèle.ˈ pṯíxle tằra.ˈ ʾína ṯèle.ˈ mə́ra bàxtaˈ ṯélux nàša?ˈ mə́re báxta ṯèliˈ mò-ʾoḏən?ˈ zílli plàxa.ˈ kčìxliˈ ʾu-ṯèli.ˈ mə́ra ʾánna mòdi?ˈ mə́re də-mákəs tằra.ˈ ʾu-máṣla fàrdeˈ pṯúxla xza-mo-xázyət gawày.ˈ qəm-maṣlɛ́la kúlla fàrde.ˈ mə́re t-lá naše-xazɛlɛ̀niˈ mən-panjɛ̀ra,ˈ mən-tăràne.ˈ kúlla dukáne mátti bála genàwe.ˈ zílta kúlla mtugbə̀rtəlla.ˈ pṯíxtəlla ʾína kúlla dàwe.ˈ mə́ra ʾáxni mò-ʾoḏəx b-ánna dáwe?!ˈ ʾɛ́ka mṭaršə̀xla?ˈ mə́rəx ṭláli lɛ̀t-plaxa.ˈ ʾina-hóli plìxli.ˈ mə́ra b-álaha gáwṛa plìxlux!ˈ gánux basìmta!ˈ hádəx bábi píšlɛ zangìne,ˈ píšlɛ márət dəkkanàne.ˈ pišlɛ márət palàxe.ˈ píšle rešáya gu-máṯa ʾàwwa.ˈ ʾáyya šwiqáli tàma.ˈ

Translation:

There was a woman and a man. The woman said to her husband ‘Go, man! Go and work! Go and work! Why are you sitting idly in the house? It is not right!’ He said ‘No, there is no work’. She said ‘Go! Perhaps you will find work’. He set off and went to the mountains. He travelled a long way. It became dark. He said ‘My God, my Lord, where shall I go? It has become dark. I do not know anybody. There is no house and there is no person here’. He saw a fire burning in a cave. He said ‘I shall go and make for that cave. I shall go towards it. I shall go and knock on the door of the cave, whether there are people there or there are no people there’. He went and knocked on the door of the cave. He saw seven giants sitting there. Seven giants were sitting in that cave. He said ‘My God, it is very dark, either wolves are sure to eat me or I shall go to these giants and the giants are sure to eat me’. He knocked on their door and went in to meet them. When he went in to meet them, he looked and noticed that the head of each of them reached the (top of ) the mountain, his beard fell down to here and his moustache to here. He said ‘They are sure to eat me, I know. But I shall say something’—he thought this to himself. He said ‘Greetings to you my brothers’. They looked at each other. They said ‘Have we another brother?’ They said ‘How do you know that we are brothers?’ He said ‘My mother sent me to you. She said “Go to your brothers. They are in such-and-such a place” ’. He made this up himself to save his life. He said ‘My God, what shall I do? I have to say such things’. They said ‘Well, if you are our brother, come and sit here with us. Eat, eat with us’. He ate and served (himself food) like them. He ate and they said ‘By God, you are really our brother. Let us say to you something else. (There are) three things (you need to do in order to prove that you are our brother). We have eliminated this one. Two other things remain. We say to you that we have a water-skin that is very large. We shall go up and fetch water from that mountain over there. That mountain is very far away. It is very far away. Can you take it there?’ He said ‘My brothers, what job is that? Why do you say “We shall go up and take up the water-skin”. Why should I not go (alone)? Give me a rope. I shall gather all the wood and open up the way so that the water will come down to the door of the cave. Why should I go up and fetch water from there?’ They said ‘By God, that is a good idea!’ He set off and took a very long rope. He tied it all onto the tops of the trees. He could not (do anything else). What could he do? He wanted to save his life. He tied it to the tops of the trees. They (the giants) stayed at home. He said ‘Brothers, move out of the way, move out of the way, so that you do not get carried away with the water’. They said ‘Come, my dear, we do not want water or anything else. You are indeed our brother’. They said ‘Fine, one other task remains. These are two, one more remains. If you are our brother, there is a cavern that is very deep, like what we call a basement. There is a flat stone over it that is very large. If you take away this stone, (you will find) we have gold coins there and we shall divide them, since we are all brothers’. He said ‘Brothers, what are you saying? If I take it off, I shall not give you a penny’. They said ‘What is he going to do to us?’ They said ‘No, my dear, no. It is better that you do not take it off. We shall take it off and fill your bag with money, then you can go’. He set off and his brothers took off the flat stone of that cavern. Behold a large pot full of gold coins, full of gold coins. He took them, he brought bags with him and he filled two of them. Then he came back (home). He came back. He wanted to arrive at night, so that he would not be seen by people in the village (who would say) ‘Where is he coming from?’, so that they would not strip (and rob) him. He arrived home at one o’clock. He knocked at the door. His wife said, she said ‘Oh, that husband of mine has gone out early and has not returned home, poor man. He has either been killed or he has been eaten (by wild animals)’. Then he knocked at the door and she said ‘Oh, my God! I think my husband has come back’. She opened the door and saw that he had indeed come back. The woman said ‘Have you come back, man?’ He said ‘Wife, I have come back, what should I do? I went to work. I got tired and come back’. She said ‘What are these?’ He said ‘Close the door. Draw down the blinds. Then, open them and see what you find in them’. They drew down all the blinds. He said ‘So that people do not see us from the window and the doors. Thieves watch everywhere. She went and prepared everything. She opened them (the bags) and saw all the gold coins. She said ‘What will we do with these gold coins? Where shall we hide them?’ ‘You said to me “You are not working”. Now I have worked’. She said ‘By God, husband, you have worked! Well done!’. So, my dear, they became rich. They became owners of shops. They became owners of workers. He became a leading figure in the village. I have left it there and come here.