Papers in Austronesian Linguistics: Gumawana (Amphlett Islands, Papua New Guinea): Grammar sketch and texts

10. TEXTS

Two texts are given below. The first is by Kalitoni Gaiyau of Nubogeta Island, and is a
traditional narrative entitled Sipwena. The second is a narrative of recent events by Bunore,
also of Nubogeta.

10.1 TextI: Sipwena

Xoroto tayamo yoina Sipwena, tauyana maniuna

koloto tai-mo yoi-na Sipwena tau-ia-na ma-niu-na

man one-only name-3SG.IA Sipwena person-REF-3SG COM-sib.opp.sex-3SG.IA

sikayaxa
si-kaiaka
3PL-live
There was a man whose name was Sipwena who lived with his sister.

Sinadi be tamadi bogina sikamasa.

sina-di be tama-di bogina si-kamas

mother- 3PL.IA and father- 3PL.IA PRF 3PL-die
Their mother and father had died.

Ago kina maniuna sikayaxa aditaiyuwo

ago kina ma-niu-na si-kaiaka a-di-tai-iuuo

SW 3SG.PN COM-sib.opp.sex-3SG.IA 3PL-live PASS-3PL-man-two

adikasa yoina Moninita.

a-di-kasa yoi-na Moninita

PASS-3PL-place name-3PL.IA Moninita

But he and his sister lived, the two of them at their place called Moninita.

390 CLIF OLSON

Sikayaxa, niuna inai monena doxanikani.

si-kaiaka niu-na i-nai mone-na dokanikani

3PL-remain sib.opp.sex-3SG.IA 3SG-marry spouse-3SG.IA giant
They lived on and his sister married; her husband was a giant.

Doxanikaniyana inaxasa xoya, aseana yoina Ayona.

dokanikani-ia-na i-na-kasa koia kasa-ia-na yoi-na Aiona

giant-REF-3SG CON-3SG-place mountain place-REF-3SG name-3SG.IA Ayona
The giant's place was on a mountain the name of which was Ayona.

E vavineana ituko ina doxanikani inaxasa goi

e vavina-ia-na i-tuko i-na dokanikani i-na-kasa goi

DEV woman-REF-3SG 3SG-ascend 3SG-go giant CON-3SG-place PP

sikaiaxa.
si-kaiaka
3PL-live
So the woman ascended to the giant's place where they lived.

Ago Sipweneana aneta Moninita goi ikayaxo.

ago Sipwena-ia-na a-na-ita Moninita goi i-kaiaka

SW Sipwena-REF-3SG PASS-3SG-LIM Moninita PP 3SG-live
But Sipwena lived by himself at Moninita.

Laveana bogina vavina inai, doxanikani ivatowo bei iyana

lava-ia-na bogina vavina i-nai dokanikani i-vatowo bei Han

time-REF-3SG PRF woman 3SG-marry giant 3SG-begin PRO fish

ilusala.

i-lusala

3SG-look.for

When the woman had married, the giant began to look for fish.

E lava tayamo inaxabela xonanina ikabidi, isou

e lava taia-mo i-na-kabela konan-i-na i-kabi-di i-sou

DEV time one-only CON-3SG-fish thing-?-3SG.IA 3SG-take-3PL 3SG-descend

ima negwasa.

i-ma neguas

3SG-come ocean

So on one occasion he took he fishing gear and came down to the ocean.

Inakewou ikayaxa aolao Sipwena inavada kikina.

i-na-keuou i-kaiaka kaolao Sipwena i-na-vada kiki-na

CON-3SG-canoe 3SG-remain slip Sipwena CON-3SG-house next-3SG.IA
His canoe was on a slip next to Sipwena's house.

E doxanikani-yana isou.
e dokanikani-ia-na i-sou
DEV giant-REF-3SG 3SG-descend
So the giant went down.

GUMAWANA (AMPHLETT ISLANDS, PNG): GRAMMAR SKETCH AND TEXTS 391

Isou, ima idigo xana, "Ivagu, xaga

i-sou i-ma i-diga ka-na iva-gu kaga

3SG-descend 3SG-come 3SG-say talk-3SG brother.in.law-lSG.IA what

kuvavaiva?" .

ku-RDP-va

2SG-IMPER-do

He came down and said, "Brother-in-law, what are you doing?".

"Geya, a:xayaxa", Sipwena xaena.

geia a:-kaiaka Sipwena ka-e-na

NEG lSG.IMPER-be.there Sipwena talk-OI-3SG.IA
"Nothing, I'm just sitting here", said Sipwena.

E doxanikaniyana idigo xana, "Kubalema gunakewou

e dokanikani-ia-na i-diga ka-na ku-bala-i-ma guna-keuou

DEV giant-REF-3SG 3SG-say talk-3SG.IA 2SG-across-?-come lSG.POSS-canoe

talusobuye ana axabela" .

ta-lu-sobu-ia-i a-na a-kabela

lPL.INC-lift-down-OAD-TR lSG-go lSG-fish

Then the giant said, "Come here; let's launch my canoe so I can go fishing".

E Sipwena ibala ina, doxanikaniyana idigo xana,

e Sipwena i-bala i-na dokanikani-ia-na i-diga ka-na

DEV Sipwena 3SG-across 3SG-go giant-REF-3SG 3SG-say talk-3SG.IA

"Kuna kewou matakubuna kukibode" .

ku-na keuou matakubu-na ku-ki-boda-i

2SG-go canoe bow-3SG.IA 2SG-by.hand-block-TR

So Sipwena went across and the giant said, "Go and hold the bow of the canoe".

E Sipwena iiwo ina pusa goi iyoita.

e Sipwena i-iva i-na pusa goi i-ioit

DEV Sipwena 3SG-seaward 3SG-go bow PP 3SG-hold
So Sipwena moved seaward to the bow, where he held on.

Iyoita, doxanikaniyana imeyava xana, "Kupi yamam kupi

i-ioit dokanikani-ia-na i-meiav ka-na kupi yama-mu kupi

3SG-hold giant-REF-3SG 3SG-magic talk-3SG.IA ? ?-2SG ?

kaikemu kupaa butuu" .

kaike-mu kupaa butuu

?-2SG ? ? -

He held on and the giant did magic and said, "[giant's language: not translatable]".

E Sipwena ikapusi isou, ikanabalabala naxae nawala.

e Sipwena i-kapusi i-sou i-kana-RDP-bala nakae naual

DEV Sipwena 3SG-fall 3SG-descend 3SG-by.lay-IMPER-across same slip.support
Then Sipwena fell down and lay horizontal like a slip support pole.

392 CUF OLSON

Ago doxanikaniyana kewou ivaseseli ina isou negwasa.

ago dokanikani-ia-na keuou i-va-seseal-i i-na isou neguas

SW giant-REF-3SG canoe 3SG-CAUS-slide-TR 3SG-go 3SG-descend ocean
And the giant slid the canoe down to the ocean.

E kina Sipwena imeyava xana, "Soinu yamagu soinu kaikegu

e kina Sipwena i-meiav ka-na soinu yama-gu soinu kaike-gu

DEV 3SG.PN Sipwena 3SG-magic talk-3SG.IA ? 7-1SG J 7-1SG

sososoinusoinu" .

sososoinusoinu

?

Then Sipwena did magic and said, "[magic formula: not translatable]".

E Sipweneana itaoya isapinunuwo, ibala ina

e Sipwena-ia-na i-taoia i-sapi-nunuv i-bala i-na

DEV Sipwena-REF-3SG 3SG-stand.up 3SG-slap-brush 3SG-across 3SG-go

inavada isiu ikayaxa.

i-na-vada i-siu i-kaiaka

CON-3SG-house 3SG-enter 3SG-remain

Then Sipwena stood up to brush himself and crossed over to his house, entered it and

remained there.

Kina go doxanikani ina ikabela.

kina go dokanikani i-na i-kabela

3SG.PN SW giant 3SG-go 3SG-fish

Now the giant went fishing.

Ikabela, lavilavi bogina ima ivayu.

i-kabela lavilavi bogina i-ma i-vaiu

3SG-fish evening PRF 3SG-come 3SG-arrive
He fished, and in the evening he arrived back.

Ivayu, itumayava xana, "Sipwena, kuma kewou

i-vaiu i-tuma-iava ka-na Sipwena ku-ma keuou

3SG-arrive 3SG-beckon-to.bush talk-3SG.IA Sipwena 2SG-come canoe

tayagasf .

ta-iagat-i

lPL.INC-beach-TR

He arrived and he beckoned to the shore, "Sipwena, come let's beach the canoe".

Sipwena ibala ina, doxanikaniyana idigo xana, "Kuna

Sipwena i-bala i-na dokanikani-ia-na i-diga ka-na * ku-na

Sipwena 3SG-across 3SG-go giant-REF-3SG 3SG-say talk-3SG.IA 2SG-go

kewou matakubuna kukibode" .

keuou matakubu-na ku-ki-boda-i

canoe bow-3SG.IA 2SG-by.hand-block-TR

Sipwena crossed over and the giant said, "Go and hold the bow of the canoe".

GUMAWANA (AMPHLETT ISLANDS, PNG): GRAMMAR SKETCH AND TEXTS 393

E Sipwena ina pusa goi iyoita.
e Sipwena i-na pusa goi i-ioit
DEV Sipwena 3SG-go bow PP 3SG-hold
So Sipwena went to the bow, where he held on.

Iyoita, doxanikani-yana imeyava xana, "Kupi yamamu kupi

i-ioit dokanikani-ia-na i-meiav ka-na kupi yama-mu kupi

3SG-hold giant-REF-3SG 3SG-magic talk-3SG.IA ? ?-2SG ?

kaikemu kupaa butuu" .

kaike-mu kupaa butuu

?-2SG ? ?

He held on and the giant did magic and said, "[giant's language: not translatable]".

E Sipwena ikapusi isou, ikanabalabala.

e Sipwena i-kapusi isou i-kana-KDP-bala

DEV Sipwena 3SG-fall 3SG-descend 3SG-by.lie-IMPER-across

Then Sipwena fell down and lay horizontal.

Ago doxanikaniyana kewou ivaseseli ina mamaya.

ago dokanikani-ia-na keuou i-va-sesal-i i-na mamaia

SW giant-REF-3SG canoe 3SG-CAUS-slide-TR 3SG-go shore
And the giant slid the canoe down to the shore.

E Sipwena kina imeyava xana, (< Soinu yamagu soinu

e Sipwena kina i-meiav ka-na soinu yama-gu soinu

DEV Sipwena 3SG.PN 3SG-magic talk-3SG.IA ? 7-1SG ?

kaikegu sososin usoin u" .

kaike-gu sososinusoinu

7-1SG ?

Then Sipwena did magic and said, "[magic formula: not translatable]".

Sipwena itaoya, idigo xana, "Ivagu, amiyana

Sipwena i-taoia i-diga ka-na iva-gu a-mu-iiana

Sipwena 3SG-stand.up 3SG-say talk-3SG.IA brother.in.law-lSG.IA EAT-2SG-fish

go, golao moe giyaina kuvinigu ana agabu .

go golao moe giiai-na ku-vini-gu a-na a-gabu

SW fish.name that small-3SG 2SG-give-lSG lSG-go lSG-roast

Sipwena stood up and said, "Brother-in-law, it's your fish but give me a little of that golao

and I will go roast it".

Doxanikaniyana idigo t xana, "Geya, ame go, nium

dokanikani-ia-na i-diga ka-na geia ame go niu-mu

giant-REF-3SG 3SG-say talk-3SG.IA NEG this SW sib.opp.sex-2SG.IA

nunuona go ame".

nunuo-na go ame

desire-3SG.IA SW this

The giant said, "No, as for this one, your sister wants this one".

394 CLIF OLSON

"O, dedevina tuwo.
o dedevi-na tuua
"Oh fine, that's fine.

Go sem, pakiki moe giyaina kuvinigu ana agabu"

go semu pakiki moe giiai-na ku-vini-gu a-na a-abu

SW however fish.name that small-3SG 2SG-give-lSG lSG-go lSG-roast
However, give me that small pakiki and I will go and roast it."

"Geya, ame go nium nunuona toina go ame."

geia ame go niu-mu nunuo-na toi-na go ame

NEG this SW sib.opp.sex-2SG.IA desire-3SG.IA very-3SG SW this

"No, as for this one, your sister really wants this one."

"Dedevine tuwo.

dedevi-na tuua

good-3SG enough
"Fine, that's all right.

Go sem, moe ammoku kudabedi go, bulubuludi kuvinigu.

go semu moe a-mu-moku ku-daba-i-di go bulubulu-di ku-vini-gu

SW however that EAT-2SG-bait 2SG-cut-TR-3PL SW head-3PL.IA 2SG-give-lSG

ana boxoyo axaigabu."

a-na bokoio a-kai-gabun

lSG-go necessitate lSG-set-roast

But those there are your bait; cut them and give me the heads and I will even go and roast

them."

"Geya, ame go, nium nunuona toina toina go ame."

geia ame go niu-mu nunuo-na toi-na toi-na go ame

NEG this SW sib.opp.sex-2SG.IA desire-3SG.IA very-3SG very-3SG SW this

"No, as for this, your sister really really wants this/

E Sipwena nukotona itopa.

e Sipwena nukoto-na i-ta-upa

DEV Sipwena neck-3SG.IA 3SG-ST-break
So Sipwena gave up.

Ibala ina inavada isiu.

i-bala i-na i-na-vada i-siu

3SG-across 3SG-go CON-3SG-house 3SG-enter
He crossed to his house and went in.

Geya tayamo xaga ikayaxa bei ikaika.

geia taia-mo kaga i-kaiaka bei i-kaika

NEG one-only what 3SG-remain PRO 3SG-meal
There was not one thing remaining for him to eat.

Avana tauna nona kewoina.

kava-na tauna nona keuo-i-na

food-3SG.IA' that's. it fruit.name fruit-?-3SG.IA
His food was only the fruit of the nona.

GUMAWANA (AMPHLETT ISLANDS, PNG): GRAMMAR SKETCH AND TEXTS 395

Tayamo ikabi ikani, imasisi.
taia-mo i-kabi i-kani i-masisi
one-only 3SG-get 3SG-eat 3SG-sleep
He got one to eat then slept.

Doxanikaniyana anaiyana ikavala ituko ina monena.

dokanikani-ia-na a-na-iian i-kavala i-tuko i-na mone-na

giant-REF-3SG EAT-3SG-fish 3SG-carry 3SG-ascend 3SG-go spouse-3SG.IA
The giant carried his fish up to his wife.

Ina monena, iyana ivini ivaipolu.

i-na mone-na iian i-vini i-vai-polu

3SG-go spouse-3SG.IA fish 3SG-give 3SG-CAUS-boil
He went to his wife, and he gave her the fish for her to boil.

Ivaipolu, ivameo ivaideda.

i-vai-polu i-va-meva i-vai-deda

3SG-CAUS-boil 3SG-CAUS-cook 3SG-CAUS-serve
She boiled and cooked it, then she dished it out.

Idigo xana, "Toi kuma memeya kumataxavate go, yau

i-diga ka-na toi ku-ma memeia ku-mata-kavata-i go iau

3SG-say talk-3SG.IA man 2SG-come baby 2SG-with.eye-hold-TR go 1SG.PN

ana Sipwena avana avini" .

a-na Sipwena kava-na a-vini

lSG-go Sipwena food-3SG.IA lSG-give

She said, "Hey, come and watch the baby and I will go give Sipwena his food".

Go kina doxanikaniyana idigo xana, "I kwayaxamo.

ago kina dokanikani-ia-na i-diga ka-na i ku-kaiaka-mo

SW 3SG.PN giant-REF-3SG 3SG-say talk-3SG.IA hey 2SG-stay-only
But the giant said, "Hey, you just stay.

Kume yau toinigu anava xom bei govila

ku-ma-i iau toini-gu a-nava-i komu bei govila

2SG-come-TR 1SG.PN REFL-1SG lSG-take-TR 2SG.PN PRO lest

kwaim urn una memeya itaiya.

ku-kaimumuna memeia i-taiia

2SG-be.slow baby 3SG-cry

Bring it so I can take it myself lest you are slow and the baby cries.

Kume, yau * xoroto aegu ponaponaina ana avini" .

ku-ma-i iau koloto kae-gu ponapona-i-na a-na a-vini

2SG-come-TR 1SG.PN man leg-lSG.IA fast-?-3SG lSG-go lSG-give
Bring it and I who am a man with fast legs will go and give it to him".

E doxanikaniyana noxo ikavale isou.

e dokanikani-ia-na noko i-kavala-i isou

DEV giant-REF-3SG wood.plate 3SG-carry-TR 3SG-descend
So the giant carried the plate down.

ima aaa kenao tolobona goi

awoinu ikani.

i-ma aaa kenao tolobo-na goi

kauoinu i-kani

3SG-come until path middle-3SG PP

food 3SG-eat

396 CUF OLSON

Isou ima

i-sou i-ma

3SG-descend 3SG-come

He went down and down until half way down the path he ate the food.

Ikani ikanisave, noxo ikalave go, ikaluvila

i-kani i-kani-sava-i noko i-kalava-i go i-kaluvila

3SG-eat 3SG-eat-complete-TR wood.plate 3SG-leave-TR SW 3SG-retum

monena goi avadi sikaika.

mone-na goi kava-di si-kaika

spouse-3SG.IA PP food-3PL 3PL-meal

He ate it and he finished it, then left the plate and returned to his wife where they ate

their food.

Sikaika ikavava, simasisi.

si-kaika i-kavava si-masisi

3PL-meal 3SG-be.finished 3PL-sleep
After they ate, they slept.

Vavina inanuwonuwona xana, {{ Bogina niugu ikaika" .

vavina i-na-nuuonuuona ka-na bogina niu-gu i-kaika

woman CON-3SG-think talk-3SG.IA PRF sib.opp.sex-lSG.IA 3SG-meal
The woman was thinking, "My brother has eaten".

Go gey a, awoinuyadi doxanikani ikanidi.
ago geia kauoinu-ia-di dokanikani i-kani-di
SW NEG food-REF-3PL giant 3SG-eat-3PL

But that was not the case; the giant had eaten the food.

E simasisi, vanuwo itomo naxae.

e si-masisi vanuuo i-tomo nakae

DEV 3PL-sleep place 3SG-be.next.day same
So they slept, and the next day it was the same.

Doxanikaniyana inapaisewa abela.

dokanikani-ia-na i-na-paiseua kabela

giant-REF-3SG CON-3SG-work fish
The giant's work was fishing.

Olson, Clifford. 1992. "Gumawana (Amphlett Islands, Papua New Guinea): Grammar
sketch and texts." In M. D. Ross (ed.), Papers in Austronesian Linguistics 2 ,
251-430. Pacific Linguistics A, 82. Canberra: Australian National University.