PYU Working Papers in Linguistics: Focus on Phonology, Vol. 1

9. A Kayah Li Text

ka^ya^ ka^
Person Liar

do penu' ka^ya^ mui^prc o^ ta^pre^ ka^ya^

at long.time.ago person old live one.person person

Fsgene^gwg wa g § zu zgng gag
taipre^ma^ bi ai o^ da do^ku^ a^k^^E^

one.person when 3s live at village time.past

G QJG^e rygcjingftE^I g E^fe^pC
a^ la^ho^ la^hjaUe^ t^ hezo

3s lie lie 3s tell.lie

E^SnjgFSE^I gsggaing ig^ftgging guiy g dgfQinu zu
heleHe^ aiki^uia5khje3 beUainje^ nui^i a^ t^eUJui^ da

tell.lie therefore one.day that 3s go.out to

mi^kle^ ro a^ pa^AJ tg.^ taHJ^to^
forest then 3s with thing nothing

Bryant Notes on Western Kayah Li (Western Red Karen) Phonology

A long time ago their was an old man who lived in a village and told hes ail the time. One
day he went to the forest taking nothing with him.

na gmy gag 5 wi/icdi/ig Fse^grjg §c Re^nyaa Fsgziny
bi nui^* a^k'^e^ a* mjat'^je* ta^s^^ui^ na p^^ui^^M^ ta^dui^^

when that time. past 3s to.see meet and tiger one.animal

nS ncgi/ic§c g rigeoj^ §c Re^nysg nt|mgng guiy g
ro kxuGjana a^ s'^i^ple na p^ui^^^i^ kja^ku^ nui^i a^

thcn.so as.same 3s escape and tiger mouth that 3s

zccajgfye^ing 3u ne^uicaig n^ 'i^S t^^nt ding i^ingNlg t\qu
dagmUja* da kj^ku^ ro kwi^ tjobe t^ja^ bjaHJe^ 3

kneel. down at on.way then.so ask pray up lord /

UEjgRa^ine 3g g nbg Nlfing dtny gmy Rajnyag Rgzmy g
metjwo va^ a^ kwi^ tjobe^ t^ui^^ nui^i phui^3j^hi3 ta^dui^^ a^

help me 3s ask pray finish that tiger one.animal 3s

t\[nQpit\\DU zu g ggrqind Re^ryag Rgzimy big g gaejg
hja^tiu^ da a^ k**a^s**je p*»ui^3i^h{3 ta^diu^^ tna^ a^ o^vP

arrive to 3s beside tiger one.animal to.be 3s hungry

gajgqg G ^^ S nS G uuicdmg ng g rigg gaggaing

jie^he a' s**e^c' ro a' mjat^je^ be^ a^ s^e^e^ a^k^u^a^k'^je^

long 3s food tfac&.so 3s to.see must 3s food therefore

g zj^nbz ding rTuig^g zuaing Fsgzg gmy nging
a* hebwi t*^ja* bjaHJe* dak^je^ ta^diui niu^^ ka^ya^

3s thanks up loid after.that end that person

99

Notes on Western Kayah U (Western Red Karen) Phonology Bryant

Rgene^^ ug ue^c nging ^^ Rg gsggai/ig Re^nysg
taipre' ma^ ma ka^ya^ tjo to^ a^khu^aikhje^ p^ui^^^hp

oncperson to.be really person true no therefore tiger

"I g ning g giny en^
be^ e' kja^ a^ nui^i pre

must eat leave 3s that signals.end.of.story

At that time, he saw a tiger. He tried to escape from the tiger's mouth. He kneeled down
on the path and prayed to the Lord to help him. When he finished praying, the tiger
approached next to him. The tiger had been hungry for a long time and when he saw the
old man he gave thanks to God. In the end, since that man was not a good man, the tiger
ate him.

PYU Working Papers
in Linguistics

Focus on Phonology

Volume 1
1996

edited by
Debbie Paulsen

Payap University Graduate Linguistics Department
Chiang Mai, Thailand