At approximately 1550 words, this is the longest piece of connected Ziotaki text in existence. The Ziotaki text is on the left, and the English translation of each paragraph is on the right. Some verbal suffixes are not in the present grammar. They will be added when I revise the grammar. This story is set up as excerpts from a chapter of the lifelong explorer Dainada Mizelo's magnum opus, Peoples of the Constellation Chehangau.
| Lita ka meno Dainada Mizelo Linaranesaunipa
Nesachai Chehangau i kekisilasichi kuku |
From Peoples of the Constellation Chehangau [Soarer] By Dainada Mizelo, Caliph of the Society of Linara's Followers |
| "Po Šh-23335.3 i Masulipona-retiayapa Ponaku" | "The Ponaku of Planet Masulipona (Šh-23335.3)" |
| Masulipona-retiaya Šh-23335.3ijo masila gachu. 'Masulipona' i pela lo o 'ponakupa gei tasa'u' yabiu 'ma suli pona' i retiayapa kiatai naeinamei mecho. A vesi Šh-23335ijo sila o lo ka 'ponakupa gei tasa'upa lisa' yabiu 'suno pi ma suli pona' i kiatai naeinamei mecho Sunopimasulipona namaku. | Planet Masulipona is Planet Šh-23335.3. The word 'Masulipona' is derived [brought] from the native name 'ma suli pona', meaning 'big land of the Pona'. Thus, the star Šh-23335 has been named Sunopimasulipona, derived from the native name 'suno pi ma suli pona' meaning 'sun of the big land of the Pona'. |
| Po Sunopimasulipona... | Sunopimasulipona... |
| Po Masulipona-retiayapa nirizega... | The composition of planet Masulipona... |
| Po Masulipona-retiayapa geili geitasa, namei Masuliponame gachu. Ka geitasa i kekamapona gengu kuku o lo xai geitasa ai xai jolizu yameya gachu yaniosinai ta. Masulipona lizuzhatitachizhapa ganitahi gachu, yau taima gachu. Tasahu natuhi'i gachu iyu chaiwuwu ai wuwuhi hinatui gachu. Kukupa nami litamapona yagacha, yau kuku o Masuliponaha taima tasakua linia. | The name of the largest continent on the planet Masulipona is also Masulipona. This is because the people who live on the continent do not understand that their continent and their world are different. Masulipona is north of the equator, but it is close. Plains are few and high mountains and hills are many. There are no signs of intelligent life beyond Masulipona, but people have [read: inhabit] the islands close to Masulipona. |
| Po Ponaku yai kiatai namei i Yanpona, rua vukiatu kuku gachu. Rupa merechaima ka 2 mibeimei ka 2.3 mibeimei gachu. Maponakumepa siponakumepa sichi mehyamuta gachu. Kizuaili timeganiyasi lo thesaga pialikuela gachu. Maponakupa ai siponakupa selyu kunyasha. Ponaku vukiatu sachai, yau a lo losira yaniosinitati o zapone negeirai ai o jo "chanaγalai" (nasa) yabiu. Tani zerime tani desəme yapasuai. Tozutu Ponaku hiyamikai kuku gachu iyu museyezume muzeingorume yamikiu. Rupa niosinesu varagirekupa fiyu, yau natungatu lo yamikai gachu ai o tharashahi taumisie tu kizuya gachu. | As for the Ponaku or Yanpona (the native name), they are a childlike race. Their body height is between 2 mei and 2.5 mei (36-45 in). The shape of both males and females is similar. The easiest method of distinguishing (them) is to look carefully at the clothing [that the clothing be carefully looked at]. The rank of males and females balances [read: is equal]. Ponaku ask like children, but if the answer is not understood (they) call in [read: lose] interest and say "crazy" (nasa). Neither new ideas nor new things are liked. Thus the Ponaku are a very ignorant race, and know about neither nature nor technology. Their intelligence appears like that of the Razgireth (a little under human), but because they are ignorant and continue traveling [read: follow] tradition measurement is difficult. |
| Ponaku o nasəha sulalina desə yakesai iyu o sakateko yathiu iyu yanunasakiu iyu yabiyalia. Rupa joaladesə aryeha hirimasu thala gachu. Rua o pi galatu, ya alatu, niosinai. O pi niraga, ya yazi, linia. O pi pianiuta, ya teniata. O ya riani ya geila mitaki yaliningia. | The Ponaku do not produce any valuable goods, nor do they use mines, nor do they farm, nor do they herd. All their tradeable goods are stones found by chance. They only understand giving, not trade. They have no cities, only villages. They cannot write, only draw pictures. They have no art and no great stories [read: literature]. |
| Po yanapa ai Ponakupa pina'ijo bisatu, yana ai yanapa masauga ngamo 35 Misinaya 23353 ta Šh-23335 ngatiacha. Kazai kukupa nami yapialicha. Akina Sonoza Masiya o lo niraga kekagacha kiahi tasahu shanapialaicha. Yanavi o Silachuseichai niragaxo pina gimaha nyema shihiucha iyu o tozuai lizupa ha shiyecha. Lo o aladesə mechiocha yanavi taniraga shanasaiacha. Kiatalo o yanavi lo tananiraga ngamangatiacha bisiacha. Yana ruya o jo "Su yi li ala lui." yabiucha. Yaba meniziotaki "su yi lu aliachase" gachu. Rua yaniosinaimusa fiyucha iyu o jo "Otoki e toki pona?" yabiucha. Yana yaniosinaicha tu, ruya o jo "He tozu yabu ga?" sachaicha. Rua o rupa telecha terune tianaicha iyu o jo "Mi Yankiwenawen." yabiucha. Yana keimetechangiucha iyu o jo "Mi Dainada Mizelo. He Yankiwenawen." yabiucha. Rua kaguzhagiacha. Rua o jo "mi yan Kiwenawen. sina yan Tayanatamiselo." yabiucha. Tozutu ka kiatai menikiki 'yan' kaha yabu venate taneinamei yabumumi. Yana keimetechangiucha iyu yo yanapa masaua o jo "Rupa namei Kiwenawen gacha na!" yabiucha. O telechei luraiecha iyu yo Kiwenawen o jo "Su yan Linaranesauni" i meniziotaki "su Linaranesauni gachu" yabiucha. Rua yaniosinaimusa tifiyucha, yau o jo "Aleli yan Pona" yabiucha. Tozutu yana o lo tozuai kuku yo kukua o "Pona" namaku nijechami iyu o lo meniponaki "aleli" o meniziotaki "su" yabiumumi. Yana o jo "Aleli yan Linaranesauni" lo rua niosinaita tu yabiucha. | As for my first meeting with the Ponaku, I and my crew arrived at Šh-23335
on 23 Misinaya 3381. No traces of civilized people were seen. Then Sonoza
Masiya caught sight of a small plain on which there was a village. We landed
the Silachuseichai [Starjumper] one gima from the village and tested
this world's air [read: set foot onto this planet]. Carrying trade goods,
we set out for the village. A native person met us when we arrived in front
of the village. I said to him, "We want trade with you." The sentence
in Ziotaki is "We want to trade with you." He seemed confused
and said, "Otoki e toki pona?" Since I didn't understand, I asked
him, "What you speak?" He moved his arm to his chest and said,
"Me Yankiwenawen". I nodded and said "Me Dainada Mizelo.
You Yankiwenawen." He shook his head. He said, "Me yan Kiwenawen,
anta yan Tayanatamiselo." Therefore, I concluded that in the native
language 'yan' must be said before names like a spoken nate (proper name
mark). I spread [read: opened] my arms and said to Kiwenawen "We name-Linaranesauni",
which in Ziotaki is "We are the Linaranesauni (Society of Linara's
Followers)." He looked confused for the second time, and said "Aleli
yan Pona". So I concluded that these people call themselves Pona, and
that "aleli" in Ponaki says [read: means] "we" in Ziotaki.
I said "Aleli yan Linaranesauni" so that he could understand.
|
| Akina yana lo su o sipa nameia mikiucha tu shana'aliacha. Yana o hala'i shirapa suathala ka yanapa ka'inukukadi linechiocha iyu o jo "Sina sana miku ga?" i meniziotaki "He o tozuai reniacha ga?" yabiucha. Kiwenawen kaguzhagiacha iyu o jo "Mi sona ala" yabiucha. O suathala pialikueliacha iyu akina o jo "ona li kiwen" yabiucha. Yashisə meniponaki "kiwen" o meniziotaki "ona" yabiukaimi, yana o lo aryeta gasha teshiacha. Tozutu yana o jo "kiwen linga ga?" i meniziotaki "ona lininga ga?" sachaicha. Rua o jo "Naka sina li pona lukin." Yana xeja yaniosinaichata. Rua o jo "Naka sina li pona lukin" tiyabiucha. Yau "ona" o meniponaki "kiwen" yabiushami na! Yana ruya o yanapa chyoru ruγiacha iyu o jo "kiwen" yabiucha. Kiwenawen o zatu thala na'utasa'u kaixaicha iyu yo yana o tira galiacha. Yana kaguzhagiacha iyu o thala tigaliacha iyu o jo "ya" yabiucha. A lo rua yazozemusa fiyucha tu, yana o jo "ya ala" yabiucha. Rua shana'aizozemusa fiyucha. Tozutu yana o jo "Mi ve-sana kiwen lui. Sina mi kiwen linga ga?" i meniziotaki "Mai vaitozuai thala luaicha. He o mipa thala liningiacha ga?" miseyabiucha. Rua o jo "Sina wile ala wile kiwen sama pi kiwen sina." tiyabiucha. Yana joyaniosinaicha. Yana o lo chizaγa'i yabiucha teshiacha. A lo chyoru yo yana ngamaruγacha o jo "mi luilo" i meniziotaki "lo mai luaicha" yabiucha iyu a lo chyoru yo suathala ngamaruγacha o jo "kiwen" yabiucha. Rua shananiosinaimusa fiyucha, iyu yo Ponakuya o jo "okama yoe kiwen sama pi kiwen pi yansin." Xa lo o thala mija'aikaniacha shashocha. Lo hithala mechiocha ka pelia kinatanəa tisaiacha. | Now that we knew each other's names, I started to trade. I took a nugget of native silver out of my pocket and said "Sina sana miku ga?" which in Ziotaki is "Do you know this?" Kiwenawen shook his head and said "Mi sona ala." (He) looked over the nugget and then said "ona li kiwen". Although I concluded that "kiwen" in Ponaki must say [read: mean] "stone" in Ziotaki, I decided it was chance. I asked "Stone have?" which in Ziotaki is "Is a stone possessed (by you)?" He said, "Naka sinali pona lukin." I did not understand at all. He said again, "Naka sina li pona lukin." But I thought that "stone" said "kiwen" in Ponaki! I pointed my finger at him and said "kiwen". Kiwenawen picked up a white stone and gave it to me. I shook my head, gave the stone back, and said "No." Since he looked confused, I said "No trade." He looked like he got it. So I continued, "I want stone like this. You have my stone?" He replied, "Sina wile ala wile kiwen sama pi kiwen sina." I didn't understand at all. I decided to speak extremely simply. I pointed at me and said "I want". I pointed at the nugget and said "kiwen." He looked like he understood and said to the other Ponaku "Okama yoe kiwen sama pi kiwen pi yansin." They scattered to look for stones. (They) came back after 6 tanəa (10 min.) bringing many stones. |
| Thalapa hinatuilu ai geilu o yana shashiacha. Kiwenawen o tozuai jothala tanerune aikaniacha iyu o jo "o yan Tayanatamiselo, sina luwilo ya luwilo kiwen mi." Yana yaniosinaicha, yau o lo rua ka thalapa mualatatu sachaimami muchaicha. O jasə thala zhamiucha iyu o tirapa ngyene ai shira'i peze shyedhezhiacha. Ryeha nyema 44 paniei gachu. Shira'i peze hinatui gachumi, iyu thalapa zahi shira gachumi. Shirapa sula pisherari 2 rakisuia ai 22 zyeragei lo yanavi ngamanieima gasha tu, thalagapa sula nyema 5,324 rakisuia gacha. Yana o lo o lo X540 sula lina aladesə shanazhiniyenə teshiacha. Esaiyacha iyu yo yanapa masau o jo "Lisa kyə palishana!" yabiucha. Shashaka Pasilu o jo "Mizelo, tozu sula?" sachaicha. Yana o jo "Fuahi, tipeliaha" losiriucha. Tiravi nieicha. Lo o tizya yigana-heshesuapa suroshazhoa mechiocha tisaiacha. Aiti alakei gacha. Tiravi zeγumi ai heshe gachu. Pina suroshazhopa ngyema 40 paniei gachu. Iai tirapa sula X140 gacha. Yana o lo yanapa shanazhinyeta tozuai tizya suroshazhoa ganə iyu ngazhinyeta mazyau suroshazhoa ganə teshiacha. Yanapa masaua o suroshazhoa nyema mechiocha iyu Kiwenawen o tiravi pialikueliacha. A kinətanə rua o jo "Kepeken pi iyoni li seme." yabiucha. Yana yaniosinaichata. Rua tasuroshazhoa tianicha iyu o jo "seme!" lo yazozemusa ngamafiyucha yabiucha. Rua yazozecha tu, yana ruya o jo "suroshazho" i desəpa namei yabiucha. Rua o jo "Kepeken pi iyo sulosaso li seme." tiyabiucha. Yaniosinaichasi. Yana yo Shashaka Pasilu ai Haraya Ilana o jo "Suroshazhopa thuniyasi palishana!" yabiucha. Tiravi lo o lo kekosuroshazho thili tu tizya myeshei mechiocha tiacha. Yana lo tiravi kekosuroshazho thilizherasaichasi tu shashacha. Yau o lo aitili zeri gacha kinuminatuhi shairiaicha. Ponaku o pi kunenu yai luzeinenu, ya daniza, liningiacha ta. Tozutu suroshazho menukunenu palishanə. Yashisə Pasilu ai Ilana nenui gacha, yana o peili liniacha. Yaohakunə. A kizuai tiravi o suroshazho lo tathi ratata sudaracha lithaicha. Yana o lo Kiwenawen niosinaichakai muchaicha, yau rua o mehya yaniosinitu palishiacha. Lo Ponakupa zeingoru teki gacha pialima, yau rua o nunasa yaniosinaichasi nga na! A lo yana kyiakatadiecha, rua o jo "Kepeken pi lupa ni li seme." yabiucha. Rua o ratatapa thuniyasi palishanəsekai ra na! Yana yo Kiwenawen ra o jo "Keke lupa gari tekukuti mevu gati." i meniziotaki "Mevu lo garai zhiaratata tekikufyə gatai." yabiucha. Rua za yaniosinaichasi. Yana o jo "Garai mechona!" yabiucha. Masiya yo yana o tiravi mechiocha. Yana o garai zhiaratata tekimaufiucha iyu o tiraya menusuronu dhesaicha. Ruya o jo "miku ga?" sachaicha. Rua za nu yaniosinaicha. 'Ga' yaniosinichamu. Yana o jo "miku ya miku?" yabiucha. Rua o jo "Mi sona ala." losiriucha. Yana raxariucha. Yana o linga udhiumami. Ponaka fazi o suroshazhopa thutu niosinainəmu. A ka rupa yashayamika, suroshazho thuliniacha. Yana o jo "Suroshazho kaixin. Ala." yabiucha. Rua thesaiacha. Yafazi ra! Yana o jo "Alan!" yabiucha. Rua taka. Yana o jo "Suroshazho sina." yabiucha. Rua o jo "Mi yo ya yoe iyo sulosaso." tiyabiucha. Yaraxa o alaluita pyeronaicha. Yana o jo "Suroshazho sina." tiyabiucha iyu yo yanapa masauga o jo "Ponaku o alatu yaniosinaichata. Samihiama tu, nieina." A lo yana nieinə tu ngamazeraicha, Kiwenawen o jo "Sinamute wile e ni sina li awen en mimute la oawen. Kulupu mi li suli li ken kama yoe sina." yabiucha. Yana joniosinaichata iyu pi nieichase ai minianəse. O jo "Mi na. Li-lizin." i meniziotaki "Yana nieicha. Li lizina (Yangulise)" tiyabiucha. Yanavi lo yaraxa ngamayabucha nieicha. | The stones' quantity and size surprised me. Kiwenawen gathered all the stones in front of him and said, "o yan Tayanatamiselo, sina luwilo ya luwilo kiwen mi." I didn't understand, but I decided that he was asking me about the stones' suitability for trade. I inspected each stone and tried to gauge their weight and silver content. The total was near [read: about] 28 paniei (120 lbs.). The silver content was high, 50%. Since when we left the value of silver was 2 silasia 14 sefenei per sherari (54g, 1.9 oz. avoirdupois), the value of the stones was 1,204 silasia. I decided to offer at first goods worth 204 silasia. I smiled and said "Let the wares be shown!" to my men. Shashaka Pasilu asked, "Mizelo, what value [read: how much]?" I answered, "206, 12 less." They left. They came back bringing two mixed-aluminum [read: aluminum-alloy] plows. They were good merchandise. They are sturdy and light. The weight of one plow is 24 paniei (103 lbs.). Also, their price is 96 rakisuia. I decided that my first offer would be these two plows and my final offer four plows. My crew brought the plows nearby and Kiwenawen looked them over closely. After a minute he said, "Kepeken pi iyoni li seme." I couldn't understand. He moved towards the plows, looking confused, and said "seme!" Since he was confused, I told him the thing's name, "plow." He replied, "Kepeken pi iyo sulosaso li seme." Evidently he did not understand. I told Shashaka Pasilu and Haraya Ilana "Let the method of using a plow be shown." They came carrying two ropes to hitch something to a plow. I was surprised that they planned to hitch themselves to the plow. However, I realized after a little thought that it was the best idea. The Ponaku had only their own strength and animal strength, no machines. So the plow would be demonstrated using Retiku strength. Although Pasilu and Ilana were strong, I was worried. There would be no need. They easily pulled the plow, digging a straight furrow. I thought that Kiwenawen must understand, but he showed the same lack of understanding. It had been seen that the technology of the Ponaku was low [read: primitive], but it looked like he didn't understand farming!! As I expected, he said, "Kepeken pi lupa ni li seme?" He wants to be shown how to use a furrow! Argh! I said to Kiwenawen, "If drop seed in lupa, plant grow," which in Ziotaki is "If a seed is dropped in a furrow, a plant grows." He still didn't understand. I called, "Let seeds be brought!" Masiya brought them to me. I threw the seeds into the furrow and covered it with dirt. I asked him, "Know?" He still didn't understand. Maybe 'ga' (question marker) was not understood. I said, "Know not know?" He replied, "Mi sona ala." I sighed. I concluded that I had wasted time. Maybe a wise Ponaku would understand a plow's use. Despite his ignorance, plows have a use. I said "Take plow. Trade." He backed up. That idiot! I said "Trade!" He stopped. I said "Plow you." He said "Mi yo ya yoe iyo sulosaso." Frustration defeated (my) desire to trade. I said "Plow you." again and told my crew, "The Ponaku cannot understand trade. We have done our duty; let's go." When I turned to go, Kiwenawen said, "Sinamute wile e ni sina li awen en mimute la oawen. Kulupu mi li suli li ken kama yoe sina." I didn't understand a word and only wanted to leave and think. I said, "We go. Good-bye." which in Ziotaki is "We are leaving. You (pl.) be wealthy (Good-bye)." We left saying yaraxa [read: in disgust]. |
| Po yanapa ai Ponakupa tizya'ijo bisatu, yanavi o lo chairi zeingoru lina Ponaku shanashalaima... | As for my second encounter with the Ponaku, we had set out looking for Ponaku with higher technology... |
| Yanavi ka Kiwenawenpa taniraga lo o Masulipona mingiti ngamənieinə tisaiacha. Suroshazhoaa tananiraga za xekucha. Tiravi o fata xeja yaliningiacha. Yana o jo "O yan Kiwenawen!" geliucha. Yarena Ponaku tiacha iyu o jo "Yan Kiwenawen li lon ala. Tenpo mun tu pini la, kulupu ona li tawa. Mi yan Telosuwi. Sina li yan Tayanatamiselo ala yan Tayanatamiselo?" i meniziotaki "Kiwenawen yagacha. Tirapa kuku ka pina tiliriori nieima. Yana Telosuwi gachu. He Dainada Mizelo gachu ga?" yabiucha. Yana hishashacha. Telosuwi o jo "Yan Kiwenawen li toki e toki sina tawa mi." i meniziotaki "Kiwenawen yo yana o muhenu teyu yabiuma." yabiucha. Yana o jo "Sina sona ala sona kepeken pi iyo sulosaso?" i meniziotaki "He o suroshazhopa thutu mikiucha ga?" yabiucha. Rua kaguzhagiacha. O jo "Iyo sulosaso li suli ike. Mi wile e ni mi pali e lupa lon ma la, mi kepeken e palisa." i meniziotaki "Suroshazho geidi gachu. Yana o koza lo o theko sudariaseti thiu." yabiucha. Yana o jo "Pona." i meniziotaki "Omigera." tiyabiucha. Rua o jo "Sina wile ala wile e kiwen?" i meniziotaki "He o thala luaicha ga?" sachaicha. Yana o jo "Wile ala. Mi jo e kiwen mute." i meniziotaki "Yaluaicha. Yana o hithala liningiacha." losiriucha. Yana nieinə tu zeraicha, iyu rua o jo "Sina wile ala wile e ni sina awen en mi? Mi wile e ni yan pi sona mute li awen en kulupu mi." i meniziotaki "He yaisaai yeviochase ga? Mai o lo mikalina ku ka mapi yukuku yevio luai." yabiucha. Yana kaguzhagiacha iyu o jo "Mi wile tawa tomo. Mi tawa." i meniziotaki "Yana tanira saiachase. Yangulise." tiyabiucha. Telosuwi o jo "Tawa pona." i meniziotaki "Yangulise." tiyabiucha iyu yanavi o Kiwenawenpa ai Telosuwipa niraga nieicha... | When we were about to leave Masulipona, we returned to Kiwenawen's village.
The plows were still in front of the village. They had no rust. I called,
"Kiwenawen!" A strange Ponaku came and said, "Kiwenawen is
not here. His group left two months ago. I am Telosuwi. Are you Dainada
Mizelo?" I was very surprised. Telosuwi said, "Kiwenawen told
me the story about you." I said, "Do you know the use of a plow?"
He shook his head. "A plow is too big. If I want to dig a hole, I use
a stick." "Thank you." "Do you want any stones?" "No, I have many stones." I turned to go, and he said, "Do you want to stay with us? I want knowledgeable people to stay with my group." I shook my head and said, "I want to go home. Good-bye." Telosuwi said, "Good-bye," and we left Kiwenawen's and Telosuwi's village... |
If you found this story interesting, you might be interested in the encounter told from Kiwenawen's point of view, as recorded by a scribe unfamiliar with proper Toki Pona grammar. If you are interested, it is available: Tale of the Foreigners. If you want to learn more about this very simple yet expressive language, visit www.tokipona.org.