nophi lue mawha lokue
Children on the Road
Beyond the market, Guest and Guide enter Kensington wood. Children have made a summer life among its tents and fires, and Guest soon asks the question he brought from his own century: when do they go back to school? The word opens beneath him. Guide knows children who swim and cook, who thatch roofs and work wood. They read, write, learn languages, and choose their own studies. What he does not know is why those acts should need an institution to make them count.
Morris's comedy survives, especially Guest's gift for finding a trap in an innocent noun. So does the harder argument beneath it. Practical skill uses thought. Reading need not arrive by compulsion, and a child's appetite for books need not become the measure of every child. The final turn enters Westminster's old buildings, where preservation and public use meet Dick's enthusiasm for beauty and architecture. Each unit gives the Phi passage, exact gloss, back-translation, and Morris's wording.
shelira ruelaThe road into the wood
pheo lo mia losha ruela to wepu mua theli ruela phanoi mo phina womu to whano.
Word-by-word gloss: POST PL 1SG wide path PST go LOC EACH path portion CMPR FEW home PST stand.
Literal English: (Beyond the broad road, fewer houses stood on either side of the way.)
morris: Past the Broadway there were fewer houses on either side.
pheo teku shemu lo mia thue mioru thiku phuliro to wepu.
Word-by-word gloss: POST short moment PL 1SG THROUGH beautiful small stream PST go.
Literal English: (Soon we crossed a pretty little stream.)
morris: We presently crossed a pretty little brook
phuliro thue muila to selu. mua ra muila lo shiro phea piloe to whano.
Word-by-word gloss: stream THROUGH earth PST flow. LOC DIST earth PL tree AS spot PST stand.
Literal English: (The stream flowed across a piece of land where trees stood like spots.)
morris: that ran across a piece of land dotted over with trees,
pheo laeno shemu lo mia phirae wisola lokue nela punoa lona lokue to haromi. lo mia ra lona lokue po haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: POST long moment PL 1SG different exchange place COORD society meeting place PST meet. PL 1SG DIST meeting place POT speak.
Literal English: (After a long while, we came to another exchange-place and a community hall, as we might call it.)
morris: and awhile after came to another market and town-hall, as we should call it.
shai mua roa shia mawha thena wei mia miratu to nai mia pha lo mia kua nai pho to towe sano.
Word-by-word gloss: CONC LOC AROUND 3SG NONE thing DAT 1SG recognize PST be 1SG INT.COMP PL 1SG where be INT.COMP.CLOSE PST well know.
Literal English: (Although nothing around it was familiar to me, I knew fairly well where we were.)
morris: Although there was nothing familiar to me in its surroundings, I knew pretty well where we were,
ne kulo to teku haolu. mia to ma wakomi.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo PST short speak. 1SG PST NEG surprise.
Literal English: (Guide spoke briefly. I was not surprised.)
morris: and was not surprised when my guide said briefly,
shia sha ha wisola lokue sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG QUOT.COMP PROX exchange place QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (They said, "This is the exchange-place.")
morris: "Kensington Market."
pheo ha lo mia muo teku womu ruela to wepu.
Word-by-word gloss: POST PROX PL 1SG INTO short home path PST go.
Literal English: (After that, we entered a short street of houses.)
morris: Just after this we came into a short street of houses:
shekoi mua theli ruela phanoi ta laeno womu to whano.
Word-by-word gloss: SPEC LOC EACH path portion one long home PST stand.
Literal English: (More exactly, one long house stood on either side of the way.)
morris: or rather, one long house on either side of the way,
lo womu roe wolea nela phirae muralo to se lorima.
Word-by-word gloss: PL home INS wood COORD different material PST PASS build.
Literal English: (The houses were built of wood and another material.)
morris: built of timber and plaster,
neo theli womu mioru toru leo thalo ruela to whano. ra toru sheloi kerou toreku to phelu.
Word-by-word gloss: FRONT EACH home beautiful roof ABOVE walk path PST stand. DIST roof MANY stone arch PST hold.
Literal English: (Before each house, a beautiful roof stood above the walkway. It had many stone arches.)
morris: and with a pretty arcade over the footway before it.
ne kulo sha ha lokue kesho nai sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo QUOT.COMP PROX place middle be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (Guide said, "This is the center of this place.")
morris: Quoth Dick: "This is Kensington proper.
lo miona mua ha lokue noshi ro sholei.
Word-by-word gloss: PL person LOC PROX place near HAB gather.
Literal English: (People often gather closely here.)
morris: People are apt to gather here rather thick,
lao lo shia shelira waora kaeli.
Word-by-word gloss: BECAUSE PL 3SG forest wondrous like.
Literal English: (They like the wonder of the forest.)
morris: for they like the romance of the wood;
lo woeli thonua ha lokue we ro phemiru.
Word-by-word gloss: PL natural scholar PROX place ALSO HAB visit.
Literal English: (Nature-scholars often visit it too.)
morris: and naturalists haunt it, too;
shai ha shelira phanoi thiku nai ha ko phanoi waeshi nai.
Word-by-word gloss: CONC PROX forest portion small be PROX FOC portion wild be.
Literal English: (Although this part of the forest is small, even this part is wild.)
morris: for it is a wild spot even here, what there is of it;
wea ronua shia ma wuero wepu.
Word-by-word gloss: TOWARD south 3SG NEG far go.
Literal English: (It does not go far south.)
morris: for it does not go far to the south:
lue ha shia wea nitho nela wea sileta lumae thue ta phirae lokue wepu. shia muo mulu muila wea ta phirae molira la wepu.
Word-by-word gloss: ABL PROX 3SG TOWARD north COORD TOWARD sun end THROUGH one different place go. 3SG INTO low earth TOWARD one different hill ATTEN go.
Literal English: (From here it goes north and west through a different place. It goes a little way down a different hill.)
morris: it goes from here northward and west right over Paddington and a little way down Notting Hill:
lue ra shia wea nitho nela wea sileta thorui ta phirae molira wepu. shia wuero wepu.
Word-by-word gloss: ABL DIST 3SG TOWARD north COORD TOWARD sun beginning one different hill go. 3SG far go.
Literal English: (From there it goes north-east to a different hill, then continues for a long distance.)
morris: thence it runs north-east to Primrose Hill, and so on;
hieru shelira phanoi thue sheloi lokue wepu.
Word-by-word gloss: narrow forest portion THROUGH MANY place go.
Literal English: (A narrow part of the forest runs through many places.)
morris: rather a narrow strip of it gets through Kingsland to Stoke-Newington and Clapton,
mua ra lo lokue shia leo lo wirua wemo raelu muila ro welura.
Word-by-word gloss: LOC DIST PL place 3SG ABOVE PL wet plain tall earth HAB spread.
Literal English: (In those places it regularly spreads over high ground above wet plains.)
morris: where it spreads out along the heights above the Lea marshes;
mua phirae phanoi whalo shelira wea shia manuwe phelu.
Word-by-word gloss: LOC different portion large forest TOWARD 3SG hand hold.
Literal English: (In another part, a great forest holds out a hand towards it.)
morris: on the other side of which, as you know, is Epping Forest holding out a hand to it.
ha whu lo mia wea wepu shelira phanoi thepalu nomei phelu.
Word-by-word gloss: PROX REL PL 1SG TOWARD go forest portion garden name hold.
Literal English: (The part of the forest we are approaching has a garden name.)
morris: This part we are just coming to is called Kensington Gardens;
whekai mia pha ha shelira phanoi misa thepalu nomei phelu pho ma sano.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR 1SG INT.COMP PROX forest portion why garden name hold INT.COMP.CLOSE NEG know.
Literal English: (But I do not know why this part of the forest has a garden name.)
morris: though why 'gardens' I don't know."
mia tha mia sha ko mia sano sho haolu tho to la wilao.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG QUOT.COMP FOC 1SG know QUOT.COMP.CLOSE speak DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST ATTEN long-for.
Literal English: (I rather longed to say, "I myself know.")
morris: I rather longed to say, "Well, _I_ know";
whekai shai ne kulo tha mia lo shia sano tho to ho remo mua roa mia sheloi thena to nai nela mia lo shia to ma sano. thelao mia tha ha mo welao nai tho to remo. mia to ma haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR CONC NAME kulo DECL.COMP 1SG PL 3SG know DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST ASSUM think LOC AROUND 1SG MANY thing PST be COORD 1SG PL 3SG PST NEG know. CONS 1SG DECL.COMP PROX CMPR good be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST think. 1SG PST NEG speak.
Literal English: (But many things were around me that I did not know, although I assumed Guide thought I knew them. Therefore I thought not speaking would be better, and I did not speak.)
morris: but there were so many things about me which I did _not_ know, in spite of his assumptions, that I thought it better to hold my tongue.
ruela muo mioru shelira to reshi wepu.
Word-by-word gloss: path INTO beautiful forest PST fast go.
Literal English: (The road ran swiftly into a beautiful forest.)
morris: The road plunged at once into a beautiful wood
shelira mua wi ruela phanoi to welura.
Word-by-word gloss: forest LOC two path portion PST spread.
Literal English: (The forest spread on both sides of the road.)
morris: spreading out on either side,
whekai mua nitho phanoi shelira ru wuero to nuwi welura.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR LOC north portion forest INTS far PST clear spread.
Literal English: (But on the north side the forest clearly spread very far.)
morris: but obviously much further on the north side,
we wi shiro likori lo shiro mua ra to welao thuroa.
Word-by-word gloss: ALSO two tree species PL tree LOC DIST PST good grow.
Literal English: (Two species of tree also grew well there.)
morris: where even the oaks and sweet chestnuts were of a good growth;
lo reshi thuroa shiro to nai.
Word-by-word gloss: PL fast grow tree PST be.
Literal English: (There were quick-growing trees.)
morris: while the quicker-growing trees
mia tha thoa ra lo shiro lo phirae shiro likori nela lo pilomu wo sheloi nai tho to remo.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG DECL.COMP AMONG DIST PL tree PL different tree species COORD PL sycamore EXC MANY be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST think.
Literal English: (I thought there were too many of another tree species and the sycamores among those trees.)
morris: (amongst which I thought the planes and sycamores too numerous)
ra lo shiro ru whalo nela welao thuroa kire to phelu.
Word-by-word gloss: DIST PL tree INTS large COORD good grow shape PST hold.
Literal English: (Those trees were very large and had grown well.)
morris: were very big and fine-grown.
mua piloe shomelu mia ru nirelo to phaelo.
Word-by-word gloss: LOC spot shadow 1SG INTS pleasant PST feel.
Literal English: (In the dappled shade, I felt great pleasure.)
morris: It was exceedingly pleasant in the dappled shadow,
lao philo pe sukaro to pa kelu.
Word-by-word gloss: BECAUSE day SUFF hot PST INCH become.
Literal English: (The day was becoming hot enough.)
morris: for the day was growing as hot as need be,
neri nela shomelu mia rashowe remo to thuleni.
Word-by-word gloss: cool COORD shadow 1SG excited think PST comfort.
Literal English: (Coolness and shadow comforted my excited thoughts.)
morris: and the coolness and shade soothed my excited mind
mia muo whemura siora to wepu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG INTO dream joy PST go.
Literal English: (I passed into a dreamy pleasure.)
morris: into a condition of dreamy pleasure,
mia tha mia thue ha newai neri haowu theula thimu po wepu tho to phaelo. mia tha mia ra theula thimu po wepu tho to la wilao.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG THROUGH PROX fresh cool air UNIV time POT go DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST feel. 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG DIST UNIV time POT go DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST ATTEN long-for.
Literal English: (I felt I could go forever through this fresh, cool air, and I rather longed to go forever.)
morris: so that I felt as if I should like to go on for ever through that balmy freshness.
mia keloe ha phaelo we to ke phowe.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG companion PROX feel ALSO PST INFER share.
Literal English: (My companion also seemed to share the feeling.)
morris: My companion seemed to share in my feelings,
shia kalora to ka mo sheru wepu nela to ka mo sheru wepu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG horse PST CAUS CMPR slow go COORD PST CAUS CMPR slow go.
Literal English: (They made the horse go more and more slowly.)
morris: and let the horse go slower and slower
whau shia meilo shia to nulo whunei.
Word-by-word gloss: SIMUL 3SG sit 3SG PST deep breathe.
Literal English: (As they sat, they breathed deeply.)
morris: as he sat inhaling
shia liro shelira lo whinu to whinu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG green forest PL smell PST smell.
Literal English: (They smelled the scents of the green forest.)
morris: the green forest scents,
thoa lo whinu sio ruela whu lo paloi to rohi ko phero whinu to nai.
Word-by-word gloss: AMONG PL smell BESIDE path REL PL foot PST rub FOC fern smell PST be.
Literal English: (Chief among them was the scent of fern rubbed underfoot beside the path.)
morris: chief amongst which was the smell of the trodden bracken near the wayside.
lo lopia mua sheliraThe children in the wood
shai ha shelira ru waora to nai shia sonu to ma nai.
Word-by-word gloss: CONC PROX forest INTS wondrous PST be 3SG alone PST NEG be.
Literal English: (Although this forest was wondrous, it was not lonely.)
morris: Romantic as this Kensington wood was, however, it was not lonely.
lo mia sheloi miona sholei to haromi.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 1SG MANY person gather PST meet.
Literal English: (We met many groups of people.)
morris: We came on many groups
soli to shua. soli to wepu.
Word-by-word gloss: SOME PST come. SOME PST go.
Literal English: (Some came, and some went.)
morris: both coming and going,
soli mua shelira shuna to nurima.
Word-by-word gloss: SOME LOC forest edge PST wander.
Literal English: (Others wandered along the forest's edges.)
morris: or wandering in the edges of the wood.
sheloi lopia nela sheloi helia thoa lo shia to nai. soli lopia wi shao sola wi shao wi torua to phelu. soli helia ta phoi wi shao ta sola ta phoi wi shao wi torua to phelu.
Word-by-word gloss: MANY child COORD MANY youth AMONG PL 3SG PST be. SOME child two three-group DISJ two three-group two year PST hold. SOME youth one nine-group two three-group one DISJ one nine-group two three-group two year PST hold.
Literal English: (Among them were many children and youths. Some children were six or eight years old; some youths were sixteen or seventeen.)
morris: Amongst these were many children from six or eight years old up to sixteen or seventeen.
lo shia ru welao weloni kire to ke phelu.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 3SG INTS good body shape PST INFER hold.
Literal English: (They seemed to have exceptionally fine bodily form.)
morris: They seemed to me to be especially fine specimens of their race,
lo shia ru siora to phaelo.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 3SG INTS joy PST feel.
Literal English: (They felt great joy.)
morris: and enjoying themselves to the utmost;
soli lopia pai lo thiku teku thimu shuroa to manolu.
Word-by-word gloss: SOME child NEAR PL small short time shelter PST stay.
Literal English: (Some children stayed near small temporary shelters.)
morris: some of them were hanging about little tents
lo shuroa nia whelina to se ka whano.
Word-by-word gloss: PL shelter ON grass PST PASS CAUS stand.
Literal English: (The shelters had been pitched on the grass.)
morris: pitched on the greensward,
pai soli shuroa lo thero to thape.
Word-by-word gloss: NEAR SOME shelter PL fire PST burn.
Literal English: (Fires burned beside some of the shelters.)
morris: and by some of these fires were burning,
lo tomi leo lo thero to nai.
Word-by-word gloss: PL pot ABOVE PL fire PST be.
Literal English: (Pots were above the fires.)
morris: with pots hanging over them gipsy fashion.
ne kulo tha mua shelira lo womu to se thiwera tho wei mia to solae.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo DECL.COMP LOC forest PL home PST PASS scatter DECL.COMP.CLOSE DAT 1SG PST explain.
Literal English: (Guide explained to me that houses were scattered through the forest.)
morris: Dick explained to me that there were scattered houses in the forest,
lo mia ta sola wi womu to hi nila.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 1SG one DISJ two home PST DIR see.
Literal English: (We saw one or two ourselves.)
morris: and indeed we caught a glimpse of one or two.
shia sha shelami womu ru thiku nai sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG QUOT.COMP MOST home INTS small be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (They said, "Most of the houses are very small.")
morris: He said they were mostly quite small,
mua serao punoa ha lo womu phirae nomei ro phelu.
Word-by-word gloss: LOC old society PROX PL home different name HAB hold.
Literal English: (In the old society, these homes usually had a different name.)
morris: such as used to be called cottages
mua ra punoa soli miona ralu to ma nai.
Word-by-word gloss: LOC DIST society SOME person free PST NEG be.
Literal English: (In that society, some people were not free.)
morris: when there were slaves in the land,
whekai lo womu pe nirelo nela wei shelira theali to nai.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR PL home SUFF pleasant COORD DAT forest fitting PST be.
Literal English: (But the houses were pleasant enough and suited the forest.)
morris: but they were pleasant enough and fitting for the wood.
mia sha ha lo womu sheloi lopia ke phelu sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG QUOT.COMP PROX PL home MANY child INFER hold QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (I said, "These houses seem to hold many children.")
morris: "They must be pretty well stocked with children," said I,
mia wea sheloi lopia to thusemi.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG TOWARD MANY child PST point.
Literal English: (I pointed towards the many children.)
morris: pointing to the many youngsters about the way.
ne kulo sha ha lo lopia lue noshi shelira womu li ma shua sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo QUOT.COMP PROX PL child ABL near forest home RESTR NEG come QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (Guide said, "These children do not come only from nearby forest homes.")
morris: "O," said he, "these children do not all come from the near houses, the woodland houses,
lo shia lue roa kosha ro shua.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 3SG ABL AROUND field HAB come.
Literal English: (They come from the countryside all around.)
morris: but from the country-side generally.
lo shia sholei ro kealo.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 3SG gather HAB create.
Literal English: (They often form groups.)
morris: They often make up parties,
lila lo shia mua shelira wile mua keloi lo shia sui sheloi phaeno nuawe ro shua.
Word-by-word gloss: PURP PL 3SG LOC forest play LOC summer PL 3SG DUR MANY week together HAB come.
Literal English: (In summer they come together for weeks to play in the forest.)
morris: and come to play in the woods for weeks together in summer-time,
phea whu thia nila lo shia mua lo shuroa ro menui.
Word-by-word gloss: AS REL 2SG see PL 3SG LOC PL shelter HAB dwell.
Literal English: (As you see, they live in the shelters.)
morris: living in tents, as you see.
lo mia ha la panoru.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 1SG PROX ATTEN support.
Literal English: (We give this a little encouragement.)
morris: We rather encourage them to it;
lo shia lo thena sonu phoa ro shonela.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 3SG PL thing alone do HAB learn.
Literal English: (They learn to do things on their own.)
morris: they learn to do things for themselves,
lo shia lo waeshi limoe ro somela.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 3SG PL wild creature HAB observe.
Literal English: (They observe wild creatures.)
morris: and get to notice the wild creatures;
lu lo shia mua womu phina shemu manolu. ha wei lo shia mo welao nai.
Word-by-word gloss: COND PL 3SG LOC home FEW moment stay. PROX DAT PL 3SG CMPR good be.
Literal English: (If they spend fewer moments inside houses, that is better for them.)
morris: and, you see, the less they stew inside houses the better for them.
mia tha sheloi pharea mua keloi mua lo shelira so menui tho na shane.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG DECL.COMP MANY adult LOC summer LOC PL forest FUT dwell DECL.COMP.CLOSE NEC tell.
Literal English: (I must tell you that many adults will live in the forests through summer.)
morris: Indeed, I must tell you that many grown people will go to live in the forests through the summer;
whekai shelami shia wea lo mo whalo shelira ro wepu.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR MOST 3SG TOWARD PL CMPR large forest HAB go.
Literal English: (However, most of them usually go to larger forests.)
morris: though they for the most part go to the bigger ones,
ra wi shelira phirae nomei phelu. lo shia wea ra wi shelira ro wepu sola wea nitho waeshi muila ro wepu.
Word-by-word gloss: DIST two forest different name hold. PL 3SG TOWARD DIST two forest HAB go DISJ TOWARD north wild earth HAB go.
Literal English: (Those two forests have different names. They usually go to those two forests or to the wild northern lands.)
morris: like Windsor, or the Forest of Dean, or the northern wastes.
sheno ha menui wei lo shia phirae siora loa nela wei lo shia thiku keloa riola loa.
Word-by-word gloss: ADD PROX dwell DAT PL 3SG different joy give COORD DAT PL 3SG small rough labor give.
Literal English: (Besides, this way of living gives them other pleasures and a little rough work.)
morris: Apart from the other pleasures of it, it gives them a little rough work,
mia nuhe phaelo. mia tha ha riola sui ta lau wi phoi ta shao wi torua mo phina to pa kelu tho shane.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG sadness feel. 1SG DECL.COMP PROX labor DUR one twenty-seven-group two nine-group one three-group two year CMPR FEW PST INCH become DECL.COMP.CLOSE tell.
Literal English: (I feel sad. I tell you that this work has become scarcer over the last fifty years.)
morris: which I am sorry to say is getting somewhat scarce for these last fifty years."
ne kulo to te haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo PST CESS speak.
Literal English: (Guide broke off.)
morris: He broke off,
shia to pa haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG PST INCH speak.
Literal English: (Then they began to speak again.)
morris: and then said,
shia sha mia wei thia ha theula shane sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG QUOT.COMP 1SG DAT 2SG PROX UNIV tell QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (They said, "I tell you all this.")
morris: "I tell you all this,
lao mia tha lu mia haolu. mia lo thilou na lonae tho nila.
Word-by-word gloss: BECAUSE 1SG DECL.COMP COND 1SG speak. 1SG PL inquire NEC respond DECL.COMP.CLOSE see.
Literal English: (Because I see that if I speak, I must answer questions.)
morris: because I see that if I talk I must be answering questions,
shai thia lo shia ma shemui thia lo shia remo.
Word-by-word gloss: CONC 2SG PL 3SG NEG utter 2SG PL 3SG think.
Literal English: (Though you do not utter them, you think them.)
morris: which you are thinking, even if you are not speaking them out;
whekai mia lumani miona wei thia ha so mo solae.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR 1SG family person DAT 2SG PROX FUT CMPR explain.
Literal English: (But my relative will explain more of this to you.)
morris: but my kinsman will tell you more about it."
ra pheluiThat word
mia tha mia shelomu norui po wepu tho to nila.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG understand boundary POT go DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST see.
Literal English: (I saw that I might go beyond the boundary of my understanding.)
morris: I saw that I was likely to get out of my depth again,
lila kuewa maeli te kelu mia ta phelui to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: PURP strange quiet CESS become 1SG one word PST speak.
Literal English: (To end the awkward silence, I said one word.)
morris: and so merely for the sake of tiding over an awkwardness and to say something, I said--
mia sha ha lo lopia wei ra shonela sholei newai so nai sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG QUOT.COMP PROX PL child DAT DIST learn gather fresh FUT be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (I said, "The children will be fresh for that learning-gathering.")
morris: "Well, the youngsters here will be all the fresher for school
mua keloi lumae lo shia wea shia so na turema.
Word-by-word gloss: LOC summer end PL 3SG TOWARD 3SG FUT NEC return.
Literal English: (At summer's end they will have to return to it.)
morris: when the summer gets over and they have to go back again."
ne kulo sha ra shonela sholei sho to thilou.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo QUOT.COMP DIST learn gather QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST inquire.
Literal English: (Guide asked, "That learning-gathering?")
morris: "School?" he said;
shia sha lia. ha phelui wei thia hina reo phelu sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG QUOT.COMP yes. PROX word DAT 2SG what meaning hold QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (They said, "Yes. What does that word mean to you?")
morris: "yes, what do you mean by that word?
mia pha shia lo lopia wei thela phiremo pho ma nila.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG INT.COMP 3SG PL child DAT how relate INT.COMP.CLOSE NEG see.
Literal English: (I do not see how it relates to children.)
morris: I don't see how it can have anything to do with children.
mua ta reo lo mia ra phelui phea lo shalu sholei ro shemui.
Word-by-word gloss: LOC one meaning PL 1SG DIST word AS PL fish gather HAB utter.
Literal English: (In one sense, we use that word for a gathering of fish.)
morris: We talk, indeed, of a school of herring,
mua phirae reo lo mia ra phelui phea shela senalu ro shemui.
Word-by-word gloss: LOC different meaning PL 1SG DIST word AS art style HAB utter.
Literal English: (In another sense, we use it for a style of art.)
morris: and a school of painting,
mua thorui reo lo mia ra phelui phea lo lopia sholei po shemui. whekai whau ne kulo to hola shia sha mia tha mia phirae reo ma shelomu tho na thekao sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: LOC beginning meaning PL 1SG DIST word AS PL child gather POT utter. CONTR SIMUL NAME kulo PST laugh 3SG QUOT.COMP 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG different meaning NEG understand DECL.COMP.CLOSE NEC acknowledge QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (In the former sense, we might use that word for a gathering of children. But Guide laughed as they said, "I must acknowledge that I understand no other meaning.")
morris: and in the former sense we might talk of a school of children--but otherwise," said he, laughing, "I must own myself beaten."
mia pasharo to phaelo.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG frustrated PST feel.
Literal English: (I felt frustrated.)
morris: Hang it! thought I,
lu mia phulae phae. phirae remo tiwa ro shua.
Word-by-word gloss: COND 1SG mouth open. different think tie HAB come.
Literal English: (Whenever I open my mouth, another tangle of thought appears.)
morris: I can't open my mouth without digging up some new complexity.
mia tha mia ne kulo wei ra phelui luseri ma lilea tho to kanu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG NAME kulo DAT DIST word provenance NEG clarify DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST choose.
Literal English: (I chose not to clarify the word's provenance for Guide.)
morris: I wouldn't try to set my friend right in his etymology;
mia tha mia thue lo whu lo lopia to se kawhera thumela lokue ma haolu tho to kanu. mua mia serao punoa ha lo lokue ra nomei ro phelu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG THROUGH PL REL PL child PST PASS coerce teach place NEG speak DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST choose. LOC 1SG old society PROX PL place DIST name HAB hold.
Literal English: (I chose not to speak about places where children were taught through coercion. In my old society, those places usually had that name.)
morris: and I thought I had best say nothing about the boy-farms which I had been used to call schools,
mia tha lo shia to te nai tho to nuwi nila.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG DECL.COMP PL 3SG PST CESS be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST clear see.
Literal English: (I saw clearly that those places had ceased to exist.)
morris: as I saw pretty clearly that they had disappeared;
pheo teku remo tiwa mia to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: POST short think tie 1SG PST speak.
Literal English: (After a short tangle of thought, I spoke.)
morris: so I said after a little fumbling,
mia sha mia ra phelui phea limu miona thumela terura to shemui sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG QUOT.COMP 1SG DIST word AS young person teach system PST utter QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (I said, "I used that word to mean a system for teaching young people.")
morris: "I was using the word in the sense of a system of education."
ne kulo sha wa thia ra phelui shemui sho to phenui thilou.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo QUOT.COMP Q 2SG DIST word utter QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST thoughtful inquire.
Literal English: (Guide thoughtfully asked, "That word?")
morris: "Education?" said he, meditatively,
shia sha mia ta tholua haluma pe sano. thelao mia tha ra phelui lue ta tholua phelui shua tho to ke sano sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG QUOT.COMP 1SG one ancient language SUFF know. CONS 1SG DECL.COMP DIST word ABL one ancient word come DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST INFER know QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (They said, "I know enough of one ancient language. Therefore I inferred that this word came from an ancient word.")
morris: "I know enough Latin to know that the word must come from _educere_,
ra tholua phelui miona mue lokue kulo reo phelu.
Word-by-word gloss: DIST ancient word person OUT.OF place guide meaning hold.
Literal English: (That ancient word holds the meaning of guiding a person out of a place.)
morris: to lead out;
mia tha miona ra phelui to shemui tho to ki hea.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG DECL.COMP person DIST word PST utter DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST PFV hear.
Literal English: (I have heard people use that word.)
morris: and I have heard it used;
whekai mia mawha whu ra phelui reo nuwi po solae miona to haromi.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR 1SG NONE REL DIST word meaning clear POT explain person PST meet.
Literal English: (But I have never met anyone who could explain its meaning clearly.)
morris: but I have never met anybody who could give me a clear explanation of what it means."
whau mia tha ne kulo ha to nuwi thekao tho to hea mia lo newu melu sone mo phina to pa kelu.
Word-by-word gloss: SIMUL 1SG DECL.COMP NAME kulo PROX PST clear acknowledge DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST hear 1SG PL new friend value CMPR FEW PST INCH become.
Literal English: (When I heard Guide acknowledge this clearly, I began to value my new friends less.)
morris: You may imagine how my new friends fell in my esteem when I heard this frank avowal;
mia lo shia to thiku nila nela mia sha ra phelui limu miona thumela terura reo phelu sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG PL 3SG PST small see COORD 1SG QUOT.COMP DIST word young person teach system meaning hold QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (I looked down on them and said, "That word holds the meaning of a system for teaching young people.")
morris: and I said, rather contemptuously, "Well, education means a system of teaching young people."
thesani nela lo sheluSkill and books
ne kulo sha misa we serao miona ma thumela sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo QUOT.COMP why ALSO old person NEG teach QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (Guide said, "Why not teach old people too?")
morris: "Why not old people also?" said he
shia mirae liroa to ka nila.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG eye playful PST CAUS see.
Literal English: (Playfulness showed in their eye.)
morris: with a twinkle in his eye.
whekai mia wei thia ha po norethi shane. shai lo mia lopia thue thumela terura ro wepu sola ro ma wepu lo shia ro shonela.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR 1SG DAT 2SG PROX POT confident tell. CONC PL 1SG child THROUGH teach system HAB go DISJ HAB NEG go PL 3SG HAB learn.
Literal English: (But I can tell you this with confidence: our children learn whether or not they go through a teaching system.)
morris: "But," he went on, "I can assure you our children learn, whether they go through a 'system of teaching' or not.
mawha whu po ma wishe ha lopia nai.
Word-by-word gloss: NONE REL POT NEG swim PROX child be.
Literal English: (There is no child here who cannot swim.)
morris: Why, you will not find one of these children about here, boy or girl, who cannot swim;
theula shia nia lo thiku shelira kalora ro wile.
Word-by-word gloss: UNIV 3SG ON PL small forest horse HAB play.
Literal English: (Every one of them plays on the little forest horses.)
morris: and every one of them has been used to tumbling about the little forest ponies--there's
ra ta nosa nai.
Word-by-word gloss: DIST one now be.
Literal English: (There is one now.)
morris: one of them now!
theula shia pha thela pharelo pho sano.
Word-by-word gloss: UNIV 3SG INT.COMP how cook INT.COMP.CLOSE know.
Literal English: (They all know how to cook.)
morris: They all of them know how to cook;
lo mo whalo helia whelina po kati.
Word-by-word gloss: PL CMPR large youth grass POT cut.
Literal English: (The bigger young people can cut grass.)
morris: the bigger lads can mow;
sheloi shia whelina toru po kealo.
Word-by-word gloss: MANY 3SG grass roof POT create.
Literal English: (Many can make grass roofs.)
morris: many can thatch
lo shia soli wolea riporu we po phoa.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 3SG SOME wood task ALSO POT do.
Literal English: (They can also do some work with wood.)
morris: and do odd jobs at carpentering;
lo phirae lopia pha wisola lokue thela thiranu pho sano.
Word-by-word gloss: PL different child INT.COMP exchange place how maintain INT.COMP.CLOSE know.
Literal English: (Other children know how to keep an exchange-place.)
morris: or they know how to keep shop.
mia tha lo shia sheloi thena sano tho po shane.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG DECL.COMP PL 3SG MANY thing know DECL.COMP.CLOSE POT tell.
Literal English: (I can tell you that they know plenty of things.)
morris: I can tell you they know plenty of things."
mia sha whekai lo shia remo thela se thumela sho to thilou.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG QUOT.COMP CONTR PL 3SG think how PASS teach QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST inquire.
Literal English: (I asked, "But how are their minds taught?")
morris: "Yes, but their mental education,
mia lo shia remo thumela reo phelu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG PL 3SG think teach meaning hold.
Literal English: (I mean the teaching of their minds.)
morris: the teaching of their minds," said I,
mia ha phelui to phena solae.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG PROX word PST kind explain.
Literal English: (I kindly explained my phrase.)
morris: kindly translating my phrase.
ne kulo sha kona ne phemi sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo QUOT.COMP VOC NAME phemi QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (Guide said, "Guest.")
morris: "Guest," said he,
shia sha thia ha lo whu mia shane riola po ma shonela sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG QUOT.COMP 2SG PROX PL REL 1SG tell labor POT NEG learn QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (They said, "Perhaps you have not learned the kinds of work I have told you about.")
morris: "perhaps you have not learned to do these things I have been speaking about;
lu ha shewo nai. no tha ha lo riola thesani ma phelona tho ma remo.
Word-by-word gloss: COND PROX true be. IMP DECL.COMP PROX PL labor skill NEG require DECL.COMP.CLOSE NEG think.
Literal English: (If that is true, do not imagine that these kinds of work require no skill.)
morris: and if that's the case, don't you run away with the idea that it doesn't take some skill to do them,
lo shia lo remo wei sheloi riola loa.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 3SG PL think DAT MANY labor give.
Literal English: (They give thought plenty of work.)
morris: and doesn't give plenty of work for one's mind:
lu thia helia miona whelina toru kealo nila. thia remo so moluki.
Word-by-word gloss: COND 2SG youth person grass roof create see. 2SG think FUT transform.
Literal English: (If you saw a young person making a grass roof, you would change your mind.)
morris: you would change your opinion if you saw a Dorsetshire lad thatching, for instance.
whekai mia tha thia shelu shonela shane tho shelomu.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR 1SG DECL.COMP 2SG book learn tell DECL.COMP.CLOSE understand.
Literal English: (But I understand that you mean learning from books.)
morris: But, however, I understand you to be speaking of book-learning;
ha siloma thena nai.
Word-by-word gloss: PROX simple thing be.
Literal English: (That is a simple matter.)
morris: and as to that, it is a simple affair.
shelami lopia lo whu roa ruemi shelu ro nila.
Word-by-word gloss: MOST child PL REL AROUND lie down book HAB see.
Literal English: (Most children see books lying around them.)
morris: Most children, seeing books lying about,
phoe lo shia ta shao ta torua phelu lo shia theo ro shonela.
Word-by-word gloss: ANT PL 3SG one three-group one year hold PL 3SG read HAB learn.
Literal English: (Before they are four years old, they generally learn to read.)
morris: manage to read by the time they are four years old;
whekai ha theula thimu phea nosa to ti ma nai.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR PROX UNIV time AS now PST REP NEG be.
Literal English: (But, so I am told, it was not always as it is now.)
morris: though I am told it has not always been so.
lo mia tha lo lopia mua wo limu thimu thekiro tho ma panoru.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 1SG DECL.COMP PL child LOC EXC young time write DECL.COMP.CLOSE NEG support.
Literal English: (We do not encourage children to write too young.)
morris: As to writing, we do not encourage them to scrawl too early
whekai lo shia phina whu mioru ma nai thekiro so phoa.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR PL 3SG FEW REL beautiful NEG be write FUT do.
Literal English: (They will nevertheless do a little unlovely writing.)
morris: (though scrawl a little they will),
lao pheo lo shia phina thekiro phoa lo shia whu mioru ma nai thekiro ro phoa.
Word-by-word gloss: BECAUSE POST PL 3SG FEW write do PL 3SG REL beautiful NEG be write HAB do.
Literal English: (This is because, after they write a little, their writing often lacks beauty.)
morris: because it gets them into a habit of ugly writing;
sheloi whu mioru ma nai thekiro phoa hina naphe.
Word-by-word gloss: MANY REL beautiful NEG be write do what help.
Literal English: (What good is there in making a great quantity of ugly writing?)
morris: and what's the use of a lot of ugly writing being done,
keli mueli thekiro po reshi kealo.
Word-by-word gloss: device plain write POT fast create.
Literal English: (A device can quickly produce plain writing.)
morris: when rough printing can be done so easily.
thia tha lo mia mioru thekiro kaeli tho shelomu.
Word-by-word gloss: 2SG DECL.COMP PL 1SG beautiful write like DECL.COMP.CLOSE understand.
Literal English: (You understand that we like beautiful writing.)
morris: You understand that handsome writing we like,
sheloi whu shelu kealo miona lo shia shelu ro thekiro sola lo phirae miona ra lo shelu ro thekiro.
Word-by-word gloss: MANY REL book create person PL 3SG book HAB write DISJ PL different person DIST PL book HAB write.
Literal English: (Many people who make books write out their books, or other people write them.)
morris: and many people will write their books out when they make them, or get them written;
mia lo whu phina li se phelona shelu shane. lo melira phea ra lo shelu nai.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG PL REL FEW RESTR PASS require book tell. PL song AS DIST PL book be.
Literal English: (I mean books of which only a few are needed. Poems and similar works are such books.)
morris: I mean books of which only a few copies are needed--poems, and such like, you know.
whekai mia lue lo mia thiku mophira ki nurima.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR 1SG ABL PL 1SG small sheep PFV wander.
Literal English: (But I have wandered away from my lambs.)
morris: However, I am wandering from my lambs;
lao ha thekiro remole wei mia mewali nai mia ki nurima. pi no mia tholira.
Word-by-word gloss: BECAUSE PROX write concept DAT 1SG interested be 1SG PFV wander. POL IMP 1SG forgive.
Literal English: (Because the subject of writing interests me, I have wandered. Please forgive me.)
morris: but you must excuse me, for I am interested in this matter of writing,
sheno mia po mioru thekiro.
Word-by-word gloss: ADD 1SG POT beautiful write.
Literal English: (And I can write beautifully.)
morris: being myself a fair-writer."
lo haluma nela kanu shonelaLanguages and chosen learning
mia sha mia wea lo lopia turema sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG QUOT.COMP 1SG TOWARD PL child return QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (I said, "I will return to the children.")
morris: "Well," said I, "about the children;
lu lo shia theo nela thekiro pa sano. wa lo shia phirae thena phea haluma shonela.
Word-by-word gloss: COND PL 3SG read COORD write INCH know. Q PL 3SG different thing AS language learn.
Literal English: (When they come to know reading and writing, do they learn anything else, such as languages?)
morris: when they know how to read and write, don't they learn something else--languages, for instance?"
ne kulo sha lia sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo QUOT.COMP yes QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (Guide said, "Yes.")
morris: "Of course," he said;
phoe lo shia po theo soli shemu lo shia we ta phirae haluma po haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: ANT PL 3SG POT read SOME moment PL 3SG ALSO one different language POT speak.
Literal English: (Sometimes, even before they can read, they can also speak another language.)
morris: "sometimes even before they can read, they can talk French,
ra haluma whu mua moriwhe phirae phanoi se haolu mo noshi haluma nai.
Word-by-word gloss: DIST language REL LOC sea different portion PASS speak CMPR near language be.
Literal English: (It is the nearest spoken language on the other side of the sea.)
morris: which is the nearest language talked on the other side of the water;
pheo teku shemu lo shia phirae haluma we ro sano.
Word-by-word gloss: POST short moment PL 3SG different language ALSO HAB know.
Literal English: (After a short while, they usually know another language too.)
morris: and they soon get to know German also,
mua whalo muila ra haluma roe ru sheloi shorai sila nela shonela sila ro se haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: LOC large earth DIST language INS INTS MANY commune community COORD learn community HAB PASS speak.
Literal English: (On the mainland, a great many communes and learning communities speak it.)
morris: which is talked by a huge number of communes and colleges on the mainland.
ha wi haluma lo whu mua ha lo mola mo ko se haolu haluma nai.
Word-by-word gloss: PROX two language PL REL LOC PROX PL island CMPR FOC PASS speak language be.
Literal English: (These two are principal languages spoken in these islands.)
morris: These are the principal languages we speak in these islands,
ta shao phirae haluma nua lo mia ha wi haluma ro haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: one three-group different language COM PL 1SG PROX two language HAB speak.
Literal English: (We speak these two alongside three other languages.)
morris: along with English or Welsh, or Irish,
ta haluma thoa ra lo haluma phea phirae haluma kire ti nai.
Word-by-word gloss: one language AMONG DIST PL language AS different language shape REP be.
Literal English: (One of those languages is said to be a form of another.)
morris: which is another form of Welsh;
lao lo shia wheo ra theula haluma sano lo lopia ra lo haluma reshi ro shonela.
Word-by-word gloss: BECAUSE PL 3SG elder DIST UNIV language know PL child DIST PL language fast HAB learn.
Literal English: (The children learn those languages quickly because all their elders know them.)
morris: and children pick them up very quickly, because their elders all know them;
sheno lo lue moriwhe phemi lo shia lopia ro thola.
Word-by-word gloss: ADD PL ABL sea guest PL 3SG child HAB bring.
Literal English: (Guests from across the sea also often bring their children.)
morris: and besides our guests from over sea often bring their children with them,
lo thiku miona ro sholei.
Word-by-word gloss: PL small person HAB gather.
Literal English: (The little ones gather together.)
morris: and the little ones get together,
lo shia roe haolu wiso ro rohi.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 3SG INS speak RECP HAB rub.
Literal English: (They rub one another with speech.)
morris: and rub their speech into one another."
mia sha wa lo tholua haluma shonela sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG QUOT.COMP Q PL ancient language learn QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (I asked, "Do they learn the ancient languages?")
morris: "And the older languages?" said I.
ne kulo sha lia sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo QUOT.COMP yes QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (Guide said, "Yes.")
morris: "O, yes," said he,
shelami shia nua lo nosa haluma wi tholua haluma ro shonela.
Word-by-word gloss: MOST 3SG COM PL now language two ancient language HAB learn.
Literal English: (Most learn the two ancient languages along with the modern ones.)
morris: "they mostly learn Latin and Greek along with the modern ones,
lu lo shia lo nosa haluma phina li shonela norui wepu. lo shia wi tholua haluma we ro shonela.
Word-by-word gloss: COND PL 3SG PL now language FEW RESTR learn boundary go. PL 3SG two ancient language ALSO HAB learn.
Literal English: (When they go beyond merely picking up a little of the modern languages, they also learn two ancient languages.)
morris: when they do anything more than merely pick up the latter."
mia sha wa lo luera punoa nophi shonela sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG QUOT.COMP Q PL past society story learn QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (I asked, "Do they learn the stories of past societies?")
morris: "And history?" said I;
mia sha lo thia lo luera punoa nophi thela thumela sho to thilou.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG QUOT.COMP PL 2SG PL past society story how teach QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST inquire.
Literal English: (I asked, "How do you teach the stories of past societies?")
morris: "how do you teach history?"
ne kulo sha lu miona po theo. shia lo whu kaeli shelu ro theo sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo QUOT.COMP COND person POT read. 3SG PL REL like book HAB read QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (Guide said, "When a person can read, they usually read the books they like.")
morris: "Well," said he, "when a person can read, of course he reads what he likes to;
shia phirae miona wei pha roa ha remole lo mo ko welao shelu nai pho po reshi thilou.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG different person DAT INT.COMP AROUND PROX concept PL CMPR FOC good book be INT.COMP.CLOSE POT fast inquire.
Literal English: (They can quickly ask another person which books are best for a particular subject.)
morris: and he can easily get someone to tell him what are the best books to read on such or such a subject,
whau shia lo shelu theo phirae miona wei shia lo whu ma shelomu phanoi po solae.
Word-by-word gloss: SIMUL 3SG PL book read different person DAT 3SG PL REL NEG understand portion POT explain.
Literal English: (While they read, another person can explain the parts they do not understand.)
morris: or to explain what he doesn't understand in the books when he is reading them."
mia to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG PST speak.
Literal English: (I spoke.)
morris: "Well," said I,
mia sha lo shia phirae hina shonela sho to thilou.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG QUOT.COMP PL 3SG different what learn QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST inquire.
Literal English: (I asked, "What else do they learn?")
morris: "what else do they learn?
theula shia lo luera nophi ke ma shonela.
Word-by-word gloss: UNIV 3SG PL past story INFER NEG learn.
Literal English: (I suppose they do not all learn history.)
morris: I suppose they don't all learn history?"
ne kulo sha tua. tua sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo QUOT.COMP no. no QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (Guide said, "No, no.")
morris: "No, no," said he;
soli miona lo luera nophi ma sone.
Word-by-word gloss: SOME person PL past story NEG value.
Literal English: (Some people do not care about history.)
morris: "some don't care about it;
shekoi mia tha sheloi miona shia sone tho ma remo.
Word-by-word gloss: SPEC 1SG DECL.COMP MANY person 3SG value DECL.COMP.CLOSE NEG think.
Literal English: (More specifically, I do not think many people care about it.)
morris: in fact, I don't think many do.
mia phao phao phao tha mua lo whu punoa to tiwa nela lo miona wiso peloma riola to phoa thimu lo miona luera nophi ro ru sone tho ro shane.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG parent parent parent DECL.COMP LOC PL REL society PST tie COORD PL person RECP harmful labor PST do time PL person past story HAB INTS value DECL.COMP.CLOSE HAB tell.
Literal English: (My great-grandparent often says that people care deeply about history in times when society is tangled and people do harmful work to one another.)
morris: I have heard my great-grandfather say that it is mostly in periods of turmoil and strife and confusion that people care much about history;
ne kulo to phena seniku.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo PST kind smile.
Literal English: (Guide smiled kindly.)
morris: and you know," said my friend, with an amiable smile,
shia sha lo mia nosa phea ra ma nai sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG QUOT.COMP PL 1SG now AS DIST NEG be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (They said, "We are not like that now.")
morris: "we are not like that now.
sheloi miona pha lo thena thela se lorima pho ro somela.
Word-by-word gloss: MANY person INT.COMP PL thing how PASS build INT.COMP.CLOSE HAB observe.
Literal English: (Many people study how things are made.)
morris: No; many people study facts about the make of things
lo shia lo whu ta helui phirae helui ka kelu phiremo ro somela.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 3SG PL REL one change different change CAUS become relate HAB observe.
Literal English: (They study relations in which one change causes another.)
morris: and the matters of cause and effect,
thelao lo mia sano ro thuroa.
Word-by-word gloss: CONS PL 1SG know HAB grow.
Literal English: (So our knowledge grows.)
morris: so that knowledge increases on us,
mia pha ha welao nai pho ma sano.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG INT.COMP PROX good be INT.COMP.CLOSE NEG know.
Literal English: (I do not know whether that is good.)
morris: if that be good;
sheno soli miona phea whu thia roa to hea ra melu ne selomi nai.
Word-by-word gloss: ADD SOME person AS REL 2SG AROUND PST hear DIST friend NAME selomi be.
Literal English: (And some people are like friend Weaver yonder, about whom you heard.)
morris: and some, as you heard about friend Bob yonder,
lo shia wei tawi remo sheloi thimu ro loa.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 3SG DAT count think MANY time HAB give.
Literal English: (They give much time to counting-thought.)
morris: will spend time over mathematics.
lo miona kaeli kawhera ma naphe.
Word-by-word gloss: PL person like coerce NEG help.
Literal English: (Coercing people's tastes does no good.)
morris: 'Tis no use forcing people's tastes."
whekai mia sha wa thia tha lo lopia ha theula shonela tho shane sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR 1SG QUOT.COMP Q 2SG DECL.COMP PL child PROX UNIV learn DECL.COMP.CLOSE tell QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (I said, "But are you saying that children learn all these things?")
morris: Said I: "But you don't mean that children learn all these things?"
ne kulo sha ha thia lo lopia reo pherami sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo QUOT.COMP PROX 2SG PL child meaning depend QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (Guide said, "That depends on what you mean by child.")
morris: Said he: "That depends on what you mean by children;
no we tha lo shia ru phirae nai tho halemu.
Word-by-word gloss: IMP ALSO DECL.COMP PL 3SG INTS different be DECL.COMP.CLOSE remember.
Literal English: (Remember also how greatly they differ.)
morris: and also you must remember how much they differ.
shelami shia tei pai ta phoi wi shao torua phina nophi shelu li ro theo.
Word-by-word gloss: MOST 3SG UNTIL NEAR one nine-group two three-group year FEW story book RESTR HAB read.
Literal English: (As a rule, most of them read only a few storybooks until they are about fifteen.)
morris: As a rule, they don't do much reading, except for a few story-books, till they are about fifteen years old;
lo mia ru limu shelu shonela ma panoru.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 1SG INTS young book learn NEG support.
Literal English: (We do not encourage very early book-learning.)
morris: we don't encourage early bookishness:
whekai soli lopia mua ru limu thimu lo shelu ro kanu.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR SOME child LOC INTS young time PL book HAB choose.
Literal English: (But some children choose books very early.)
morris: though you will find some children who _will_ take to books very early;
ha wei lo shia welao po ma nai.
Word-by-word gloss: PROX DAT PL 3SG good POT NEG be.
Literal English: (Perhaps that is not good for them.)
morris: which perhaps is not good for them;
whekai lo shia noraku kanu ma naphe.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR PL 3SG blocked choose NEG help.
Literal English: (But blocking their choice does no good.)
morris: but it's no use thwarting them;
sheloi shemu ha teku thimu li ro pheru.
Word-by-word gloss: MANY moment PROX short time RESTR HAB endure.
Literal English: (Often this lasts only a short while.)
morris: and very often it doesn't last long with them,
phoe lo shia wi phoi wi torua phelu lo shia wei theali shonela ro hekawi.
Word-by-word gloss: ANT PL 3SG two nine-group two year hold PL 3SG DAT fitting learn HAB find.
Literal English: (Before they are twenty years old, they usually find the learning that fits them.)
morris: and they find their level before they are twenty years old.
lo lopia phea lo wheo ro phoa.
Word-by-word gloss: PL child AS PL elder HAB do.
Literal English: (Children generally do as their elders do.)
morris: You see, children are mostly given to imitating their elders,
lo shia tha shelami miona mua roa lo shia nirelo riola phoa tho nila.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 3SG DECL.COMP MOST person LOC AROUND PL 3SG pleasant labor do DECL.COMP.CLOSE see.
Literal English: (They see that most people around them do enjoyable work.)
morris: and when they see most people about them engaged in genuinely amusing work,
lo shia womu lorima nela ruela leko lorima nela thepalu temoe nila.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 3SG home build COORD path surface build COORD garden tend see.
Literal English: (They see homes being built, paths being surfaced, and gardens being tended.)
morris: like house-building and street-paving, and gardening, and the like,
lo shia tha lo shia ha phoa tho ro rinu.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 3SG DECL.COMP PL 3SG PROX do DECL.COMP.CLOSE HAB want.
Literal English: (That is what they usually want to do.)
morris: that is what they want to be doing;
thelao lo mia lila tha lo shelu thunai wo sheloi so nai tho sukima phaelo ralu nai.
Word-by-word gloss: CONS PL 1SG PURP DECL.COMP PL book student EXC MANY FUT be DECL.COMP.CLOSE fear feel free be.
Literal English: (So we need not fear having too many book-students.)
morris: so I don't think we need fear having too many book-learned men."
lo shelu thunaiThe book-students
mia hina po haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG what POT speak.
Literal English: (What could I say?)
morris: What could I say?
lila phirae remo tiwa ma shua mia to maeli meilo.
Word-by-word gloss: PURP different think tie NEG come 1SG PST quiet sit.
Literal English: (So that no fresh tangle would appear, I sat in silence.)
morris: I sat and held my peace, for fear of fresh entanglements.
mia roe lo mirae to ru nila.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG INS PL eye PST INTS see.
Literal English: (I looked intently.)
morris: Besides, I was using my eyes with all my might,
whau serao kalora sheru to wepu mia to weni.
Word-by-word gloss: SIMUL old horse slow PST go 1SG PST imagine.
Literal English: (As the old horse went slowly, I wondered.)
morris: wondering as the old horse jogged on,
mia pha mia muo whalo punoa lokue kesho weno so kamo pho to weni.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG INT.COMP 1SG INTO large society place middle when FUT arrive INT.COMP.CLOSE PST imagine.
Literal English: (I wondered when I would reach the middle of the great city.)
morris: when I should come into London proper,
mia pha shia nosa thela nai pho we to weni.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG INT.COMP 3SG now how be INT.COMP.CLOSE ALSO PST imagine.
Literal English: (I also wondered what it would be like now.)
morris: and what it would be like now.
whekai mia keloe ha remole te po ma remo.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR 1SG companion PROX concept CESS POT NEG think.
Literal English: (But my companion could not stop thinking about this subject.)
morris: But my companion couldn't let his subject quite drop,
shia phenui to pa haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG thoughtful PST INCH speak.
Literal English: (They thoughtfully began to speak again.)
morris: and went on meditatively:
shia sha shai lo shia pharea shelu thunai kelu mia tha ha wei lo shia ru peloma nai tho ma sano sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG QUOT.COMP CONC PL 3SG adult book student become 1SG DECL.COMP PROX DAT PL 3SG INTS harmful be DECL.COMP.CLOSE NEG know QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (They said, "Even if they grow into book-students, I do not know that it harms them much.")
morris: "After all, I don't know that it does them much harm, even if they do grow up book-students.
lo shia siora mua lo whu phina miona kanu riola nila ru nirelo nai.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 3SG joy LOC PL REL FEW person choose labor see INTS pleasant be.
Literal English: (It is a great pleasure to see their joy in work that few people choose.)
morris: Such people as that, 'tis a great pleasure seeing them so happy over work which is not much sought for.
sheno ha lo thunai shelami ru nirelo miona nai.
Word-by-word gloss: ADD PROX PL student MOST INTS pleasant person be.
Literal English: (Besides, these students are generally such pleasant people.)
morris: And besides, these students are generally such pleasant people;
lo shia phena nela moli nai.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 3SG kind COORD gentle be.
Literal English: (They are kind and gentle.)
morris: so kind and sweet tempered;
lo shia motu nai.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 3SG humble be.
Literal English: (They are humble.)
morris: so humble,
lo shia theula miona ru therua thumela. lo shia theula whu sano ro phowe.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 3SG UNIV person INTS eager teach. PL 3SG UNIV REL know HAB share.
Literal English: (They are eager to teach everyone and share all that they know.)
morris: and at the same time so anxious to teach everybody all that they know.
mia lo whu ki haromi thunai ru kaeli.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG PL REL PFV meet student INTS like.
Literal English: (I like the students I have met very much.)
morris: Really, I like those that I have met prodigiously."
ha haolu wei mia ru kuewa to ke nai.
Word-by-word gloss: PROX speak DAT 1SG INTS strange PST INFER be.
Literal English: (This seemed very strange talk to me.)
morris: This seemed to me such very queer talk
mia tha mia wei ne kulo phirae thilou haolu tho to thueli.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG DECL.COMP 1SG DAT NAME kulo different inquire speak DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST intend.
Literal English: (I intended to ask Guide another question.)
morris: that I was on the point of asking him another question;
mua ra shemu lo mia wea raelu muila lumae to kamo.
Word-by-word gloss: LOC DIST moment PL 1SG TOWARD tall earth end PST arrive.
Literal English: (At that moment we reached the top of rising ground.)
morris: when just as we came to the top of a rising ground,
mua mia kuri thue shelira laeno phae lokue mia to nila.
Word-by-word gloss: LOC 1SG right THROUGH forest long open place 1SG PST see.
Literal English: (On my right, I saw a long opening through the forest.)
morris: down a long glade of the wood on my right
mia thunoa lorima kire to miratu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG dignified build shape PST recognize.
Literal English: (I recognized the shape of a dignified building.)
morris: I caught sight of a stately building whose outline was familiar to me,
mia ra lorima nomei roe kapura to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG DIST build name INS shout PST speak.
Literal English: (I cried out the building's name.)
morris: and I cried out, "Westminster Abbey!"
ne kulo sha lia sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo QUOT.COMP yes QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (Guide said, "Yes.")
morris: "Yes," said Dick,
shia sha ha whu lue ra lorima manolu phanoi nai sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG QUOT.COMP PROX REL ABL DIST build stay portion be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (They said, "This is the part that remains of that building.")
morris: "Westminster Abbey--what there is left of it."
lo tholua womuThe old buildings
mia sukima to phaelo. mia sha thia roa shia hina ki phoa sho to thilou.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG fear PST feel. 1SG QUOT.COMP 2SG AROUND 3SG what PFV do QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST inquire.
Literal English: (I felt fear. I asked, "What have you done with it?")
morris: "Why, what have you done with it?" quoth I in terror.
ne kulo sha lo ko mia roa shia hina ki phoa sho to thilou.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo QUOT.COMP PL FOC 1SG AROUND 3SG what PFV do QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST inquire.
Literal English: (Guide asked, "What have we ourselves done with it?")
morris: "What have _we_ done with it?" said he;
lo mia li phina ki phoa. lo mia shia hiso to ki ka kelu.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 1SG RESTR FEW PFV do. PL 1SG 3SG clean PST PFV CAUS become.
Literal English: (We have done little except clean it.)
morris: "nothing much, save clean it.
whekai thia tha theula lerua phoe sheloi tholua torua to ki mukesi tho sano.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR 2SG DECL.COMP UNIV exterior ANT MANY ancient year PST PFV spoil DECL.COMP.CLOSE know.
Literal English: (But you know that the whole exterior was spoiled many centuries ago.)
morris: But you know the whole outside was spoiled centuries ago:
whekai pheo lo miona lo halemu kire mue ra lorima to mue sekaru muwi mioru manolu. lue ra sekaru tei nosa thimu sheo ta rei wi phoi ta torua mo laeno nai.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR POST PL person PL remember shape OUT.OF DIST build PST OUT.OF transfer interior beautiful stay. ABL DIST transfer UNTIL now time THAN one eighty-one-group two nine-group one year CMPR long be.
Literal English: (But after people moved the memorial forms out of that building, its interior remained beautiful. More than one hundred years have passed since that removal.)
morris: as to the inside, that remains in its beauty after the great clearance, which took place over a hundred years ago,
lo halemu kire ru whu mioru ma nai to nai. shia lo whu tawimo phoa nela wero ma haolu miona to keluro.
Word-by-word gloss: PL remember shape INTS REL beautiful NEG be PST be. 3SG PL REL foolish do COORD honest NEG speak person PST honor.
Literal English: (The memorial forms were exceedingly unlovely. They honoured people who had acted foolishly and spoken dishonestly.)
morris: of the beastly monuments to fools and knaves,
ra lo kire ra lorima muwi noraku to ka kelu.
Word-by-word gloss: DIST PL shape DIST build interior blocked PST CAUS become.
Literal English: (Those forms caused the building's interior to become blocked.)
morris: which once blocked it up,
ne kulo sha mia phao phao phao ha shane sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo QUOT.COMP 1SG parent parent parent PROX tell QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (Guide said, "My great-grandparent tells me this.")
morris: as great-grandfather says."
lo mia thiku wuero to wepu.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 1SG small far PST go.
Literal English: (We went a little farther.)
morris: We went on a little further,
mia wea mia kuri we to nila.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG TOWARD 1SG right ALSO PST see.
Literal English: (I looked to my right again.)
morris: and I looked to the right again,
mia to la norethi haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG PST ATTEN confident speak.
Literal English: (I spoke with little confidence.)
morris: and said, in rather a doubtful tone of voice,
mia sha ra lo tholua karami lorima nai sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG QUOT.COMP DIST PL ancient authority build be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (I said, "There are the old buildings of authority.")
morris: "Why, there are the Houses of Parliament!
wa lo shia nosa kelitho phelu.
Word-by-word gloss: Q PL 3SG now function hold.
Literal English: (Do they still have a function?)
morris: Do you still use them?"
ne kulo to pa ru hola.
Word-by-word gloss: NAME kulo PST INCH INTS laugh.
Literal English: (Guide burst out laughing.)
morris: He burst out laughing,
pheo laeno shemu shia miso shena to ka kelu.
Word-by-word gloss: POST long moment 3SG REFL calm PST CAUS become.
Literal English: (Only after a long while did they calm themselves.)
morris: and was some time before he could control himself;
shia mia rokai to kema palo.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG 1SG back PST strong touch.
Literal English: (They touched my back firmly.)
morris: then he clapped me on the back
shia to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG PST speak.
Literal English: (They spoke.)
morris: and said:
shia sha kona phewani. mia thia shelomu sho to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG QUOT.COMP VOC neighbor. 1SG 2SG understand QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak.
Literal English: (They said, "Neighbour, I understand you.")
morris: "I take you, neighbour;
thia pha misa lo mia lo shia thiranu pho po waora phaelo.
Word-by-word gloss: 2SG INT.COMP why PL 1SG PL 3SG maintain INT.COMP.CLOSE POT wondrous feel.
Literal English: (You may wonder why we maintain them.)
morris: you may well wonder at our keeping them standing,
mia ha la sano.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG PROX ATTEN know.
Literal English: (I know a little about that.)
morris: and I know something about that,
lila mia lo shelu theo mia serao lumani miona lo shelu wei mia to ki loa.
Word-by-word gloss: PURP 1SG PL book read 1SG old family person PL book DAT 1SG PST PFV give.
Literal English: (My old relative has given me books to read.)
morris: and my old kinsman has given me books to read
lo shelu tha mua ra lokue lo miona kuewa wile to wile tho thelima.
Word-by-word gloss: PL book DECL.COMP LOC DIST place PL person strange play PST play DECL.COMP.CLOSE describe.
Literal English: (The books describe the strange game people played there.)
morris: about the strange game that they played there.
shia sha lo shia porua phelu sho roe kapura to haolu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG QUOT.COMP PL 3SG purpose hold QUOT.COMP.CLOSE INS shout PST speak.
Literal English: (Guide shouted, "They have a purpose!")
morris: Use them!
lia. lo shia phea thiku wisola lokue ro nai.
Word-by-word gloss: yes. PL 3SG AS small exchange place HAB be.
Literal English: (Yes. They are used as a small exchange-place.)
morris: Well, yes, they are used for a sort of subsidiary market,
lo shia lomathu phelure lokue we ro nai.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 3SG manure store place ALSO HAB be.
Literal English: (They are also usually places for storing manure.)
morris: and a storage place for manure,
lao lo shia sio phialu whano ha porua wei theali nai.
Word-by-word gloss: BECAUSE PL 3SG BESIDE water stand PROX purpose DAT fitting be.
Literal English: (Their place beside the water suits that purpose.)
morris: and they are handy for that, being on the waterside.
mia tha mua lo mia punoa thorui lo miona shia theula pukate to thueli tho nohero.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG DECL.COMP LOC PL 1SG society beginning PL person 3SG UNIV break PST intend DECL.COMP.CLOSE believe.
Literal English: (I believe people intended to demolish the whole place at the beginning of our society.)
morris: I believe it was intended to pull them down quite at the beginning of our days;
whekai ta whu lo tholua thena nelore kuewa sila to ti nai.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR one REL PL ancient thing preserve strange community PST REP be.
Literal English: (But I am told there was a curious community devoted to preserving old things.)
morris: but there was, I am told, a queer antiquarian society,
mua luera shia phina pheloma to phoa.
Word-by-word gloss: LOC past 3SG FEW serve PST do.
Literal English: (In earlier times, it had done some service.)
morris: which had done some service in past times,
shia ra lo lorima pukate to reshi whakeru.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG DIST PL build break PST fast object.
Literal English: (It immediately objected to the buildings' destruction.)
morris: and which straightway set up its pipe against their destruction,
shia sheloi phirae lorima pukate we ro whakeru.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG MANY different build break ALSO HAB object.
Literal English: (It also regularly objected to the destruction of many other buildings.)
morris: as it has done with many other buildings,
shelami miona tha lo shia rolia ma phelu tho to remo.
Word-by-word gloss: MOST person DECL.COMP PL 3SG worth NEG hold DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST think.
Literal English: (Most people thought those buildings had no worth.)
morris: which most people looked upon as worthless,
lo shia tha lo lorima punoa wei peloma nai tho we to remo.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 3SG DECL.COMP PL build society DAT harmful be DECL.COMP.CLOSE ALSO PST think.
Literal English: (They also thought the buildings harmed society.)
morris: and public nuisances;
sila ru kenua to phelu.
Word-by-word gloss: community INTS energy PST hold.
Literal English: (The community had great energy.)
morris: and it was so energetic,
sila ru welao remotha ro loa.
Word-by-word gloss: community INTS good reason HAB give.
Literal English: (It regularly gave very good reasons.)
morris: and had such good reasons to give,
thelao sila lo whu rinu ro korei.
Word-by-word gloss: CONS community PL REL want HAB fulfill.
Literal English: (So it generally got what it wanted.)
morris: that it generally gained its point;
pheo theula phelui to se haolu mia wei thia tha mia siora nai tho na shane.
Word-by-word gloss: POST UNIV word PST PASS speak 1SG DAT 2SG DECL.COMP 1SG joy be DECL.COMP.CLOSE NEC tell.
Literal English: (When all is said, I must tell you that I am glad of it.)
morris: and I must say that when all is said I am glad of it:
shai ha lo serao lorima tawimo kire phelu lo shia wei lo whu lo mia nosa kealo mioru lorima phirae noa loa.
Word-by-word gloss: CONC PROX PL old build foolish shape hold PL 3SG DAT PL REL PL 1SG now create beautiful build different position give.
Literal English: (Even if these old buildings have foolish forms, they provide a contrast to the beautiful buildings we create now.)
morris: because you know at the worst these silly old buildings serve as a kind of foil to the beautiful ones which we build now.
thia mua ha lo lokue soli phirae so nila.
Word-by-word gloss: 2SG LOC PROX PL place SOME different FUT see.
Literal English: (You will see some other buildings in this area.)
morris: You will see several others in these parts;
mia phao phao phao mua ta ro menui.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG parent parent parent LOC one HAB dwell.
Literal English: (My great-grandparent lives in one of them.)
morris: the place my great-grandfather lives in, for instance,
sheno ta whalo whu phirae nomei phelu lorima nai.
Word-by-word gloss: ADD one large REL different name hold build be.
Literal English: (There is also a large building with a different name.)
morris: and a big building called St. Paul's.
lao lo mia mua phirae lokue theula thimu po lorima lo mia lila tha phina whu mioru ma nai lorima whano tho whakeru ralu nai.
Word-by-word gloss: BECAUSE PL 1SG LOC different place UNIV time POT build PL 1SG PURP DECL.COMP FEW REL beautiful NEG be build stand DECL.COMP.CLOSE object free be.
Literal English: (Because we can always build elsewhere, we need not object to a few unlovely buildings standing.)
morris: And you see, in this matter we need not grudge a few poorish buildings standing, because we can always build elsewhere;
lo mia lila pha mua ha lo remole nirelo lorima riola so thuroa pho weshoru phaelo ralu nai.
Word-by-word gloss: PL 1SG PURP INT.COMP LOC PROX PL concept pleasant build labor FUT grow INT.COMP.CLOSE anxious feel free be.
Literal English: (We need not be anxious about whether pleasant building-work will grow in such matters.)
morris: nor need we be anxious as to the breeding of pleasant work in such matters,
mua newu lorima wei mo sheloi riola theula thimu tholu nai.
Word-by-word gloss: LOC new build DAT CMPR MANY labor UNIV time space be.
Literal English: (There is always room for more work in a new building.)
morris: for there is always room for more and more work in a new building,
newu lorima wo whalo kire ma phelona.
Word-by-word gloss: new build EXC large shape NEG require.
Literal English: (A new building does not require an overlarge form.)
morris: even without making it pretentious.
muwi whu lo mia pelio kiparu ralu po roke tholu wei mia ru nirelo nai.
Word-by-word gloss: interior REL PL 1SG arm joint free POT move space DAT 1SG INTS pleasant be.
Literal English: (Interior space where my elbows can move freely is delightful to me.)
morris: For instance, elbow-room _within_ doors is to me so delightful
lu mia na kanu. phoe mia muwi tholu so leiro mia lerua tholu so leiro.
Word-by-word gloss: COND 1SG NEC choose. ANT 1SG interior space FUT release 1SG exterior space FUT release.
Literal English: (If I had to choose, I would give up outdoor space before interior space.)
morris: that if I were driven to it I would most sacrifice outdoor space to it.
sheno lo weshapi nai.
Word-by-word gloss: ADD PL decorate be.
Literal English: (There is also decoration.)
morris: Then, of course, there is the ornament,
mua menui womu lo weshapi phei henoi po reshi wepu.
Word-by-word gloss: LOC dwell home PL decorate AWAY ENOUGH POT fast go.
Literal English: (Decoration in homes can quickly become excessive.)
morris: which, as we must all allow, may easily be overdone in mere living houses,
whekai mua lona lokue nela wisola lokue lo weshapi phei henoi po ma wepu.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR LOC meeting place COORD exchange place PL decorate AWAY ENOUGH POT NEG go.
Literal English: (But in halls and exchange-places it can hardly go too far.)
morris: but can hardly be in mote-halls and markets, and so forth.
whekai mia wei thia ha na shane.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR 1SG DAT 2SG PROX NEC tell.
Literal English: (But I must tell you this.)
morris: I must tell you, though,
mia phao phao phao tha mia mua mioru lorima remole thiku remo tiwa phelu tho soli shemu ro shane.
Word-by-word gloss: 1SG parent parent parent DECL.COMP 1SG LOC beautiful build concept small think tie hold DECL.COMP.CLOSE SOME moment HAB tell.
Literal English: (My great-grandparent sometimes says I am a little tangled in thought about fine building.)
morris: that my great-grandfather sometimes tells me I am a little cracked on this subject of fine building;
lao mia mawha lumae wei ha riola nila mia tha lo miona kenua wei ha riola shelami theali nai tho kiro remo.
Word-by-word gloss: BECAUSE 1SG NONE end DAT PROX labor see 1SG DECL.COMP PL person energy DAT PROX labor MOST fitting be DECL.COMP.CLOSE precise think.
Literal English: (Because I can see no end to the work in that direction, I do think human energy is chiefly suited to it.)
morris: and indeed I _do_ think that the energies of mankind are chiefly of use to them for such work; for in that direction I can see no end to the work,
whekai wei sheloi phirae riola mia tha norui po nai tho nila.
Word-by-word gloss: CONTR DAT MANY different labor 1SG DECL.COMP boundary POT be DECL.COMP.CLOSE see.
Literal English: (But in many other kinds of work I can see a possible limit.)
morris: while in many others a limit does seem possible."
Translation limits
This translation follows the complete chapter. The ordered Morris lines preserve every source passage, while the Phi states each relation it can carry without pretending that an English name or category has silently joined the lexicon.
| Source detail | Phi treatment |
|---|---|
| Kensington and the named route through London and its forests | Morris keeps every place name. Phi gives the directions, hills, narrow strip, high ground, wet plains, and neighbouring forest. |
| Oak, sweet chestnut, plane, sycamore, and bracken | pilomu names the sycamore and phero the fern. The remaining species keep their exact identities in Morris. |
| Plaster, arcade, cottages, gipsy fashion, and the named forests | Phi gives another building material, a roof on stone arches, small homes with an old name, temporary shelters, and two source-named forests. Morris supplies the precise labels. |
| School, education, Latin educere, and the herring and painting senses | Phi refers to the source word, carries each stated meaning, and describes the institution as a teaching system. The English and Latin forms remain in Morris's wording. |
| French, German, English, Welsh, Irish, Latin, and Greek | Their identities stay in the source, and Phi describes their relations. |
| Bob | The weaver keeps the onym he was given at the guest house, ne selomi, with the exact name in Morris's line. |
| Boys, girls, lads, men, slaves, fools, knaves, and great-grandfather | Phi uses children, youths, adults, people denied freedom, described conduct, and the three-generation kinship chain. Morris's categories remain visible beside it. |
| Six, eight, sixteen, seventeen, four, fifteen, twenty, fifty, and more than one hundred years | Every count used in the argument appears directly in Phi ternary numerals. None is replaced with a vague duration. |
| Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, and St Paul's | Morris keeps the names. Phi describes the building forms, former authority, present functions, preservation, and public use. |
The chapter adds no root or grammar. Base vocabulary handles most of the scene. Optional terms earn their place when Dick moves into teaching systems, craft, preservation, and public objection.
Morris's jokes travel where the language can support them. Guide's lambs become little sheep, Parliament keeps its manure, and Dick's elbows retain first claim on the interior. The school polysemy stays visible through the adjacent English because Phi does not manufacture a homonym merely to help a nineteenth-century joke through customs.