Case 9: Babel Texts (& Gandalf)

Translating Genesis 11: 1-9 is a common translation exercise used by conlangers to “test drive” their conlangs. This is known as the “Babel Text” since it recounts the story of the Tower of Babel and the creation of the world’s numerous languages, an appropriate text for conlangers. The concept of using these verses for comparisons across conlangs was initiated by Jeffrey Henning, creator of the Langmaker web site (www.langmaker.com) and one of the pivotal figures in modern conlanging. For detailed information on any one translation, you are encouraged to take a look at the accompanying source web site. And now, for a sampling of Babel Texts...

 

9.B. Text:

For comparison, here is the Babel Text in English from the New International Version:

1.Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.

2.As men moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.

3.They said to each other, "Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar.

4.Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."

5.But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building.

6.The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.

7.Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other."

8.So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city.

9.That is why it was called Babel -- because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

 

9.C. Text:

The Babel Text in Sen:esepera

In honor of Jeffrey Henning, we begin with one of his personal creations: his attempt at reforming Esperanto.

1.O tutan tera eseti codo unin lingifa, o codo unin parola.

2.O tina ocasi, caim:tempo hu foiagi delo orienta, demo hu terofi pelatan loca eno loca codo Sinara [Shinar]; o hu domi dem:loca.

3.O hu paroli unin alo omin:una, "Feni, imu posete cusi berica, o pele beruli hu." O hu hafi berica contero setona, o cota hafi hu contero unigi berica.

4.O hu paroli, "Feni, imu posete conseteri imu ureba, o tura, caim:unon supera ebele atingi alo paradisa; o imu posete cusi imu enoma, ro imu ebele pere:emeti foran supero:eno fisaga codo tutan tera."

5.O Dia feni im:supere o fidi ureba o tura, caimo dimin:homa codo homa conseteri.

6.O Dia paroli, "Fidi, homa eseti unin, o hu hafi tutan unin lingifa; o tino hu comenci o fari: o ene hu ebele inhibici delo an:obica, caimo hu ebele emagi o fari.

7.Feni, imu posete iri im:supere, o dem:loca sangi hun lingifa, demo hu im:ebele compereni unin omin:unan parola."

8.Dia posete pere:emeti hu foron pano fisaga codo tutan tera: o hu cesige conseteri ureba.

9.Hun enoma eseti Babela [Babel]; cuso Dia dem:loca sangi lingifa codo tutan tera: o delo dem:loca Dia pere:emeti hu foran supero:eno fisaga codo tutan tera.

Translated by Jeffrey Henning

(www.langmaker.com/babel/senesper.htm)

 

9.D. Text:

The Babel Text in Lojban

Lojban began development in 1987 by the Logical Language Group. Derived from the much older Loglan, it is specifically designed to be culturally neutral, logic-based, grammatically unambiguous, and easily learned. More information can be found at www.lojban.org.

1..i piro le munje cu se bangu pada gi'e selkau le ka tavla fo makau

2..i ca le nu litru fa'a le stuna kei lei remna cu penmi lo foldi la cinar .i co'a xabju fy

3..i ry simsku lu .e'u mi'o loi kitybli cu zbasu gi'e mo'u seltokygau li'u .i ry pilno loi kitybli pe seba'i loi rokci .i loi tarla peseba'i loi rokpu'o

4..i ry cusku lu .e'u mi'o zmadu lo tcadu .e lo galdi'u poi le cpana be ke'a cu lamji le tsani .ija'ebo mi'o misno gi'enai pulce fi le terdi sefta li'u

5..i ku'i le nolcei cu dzikla tezu'e le nu catlu le tcadu .e le galdi'u poi lei remna ke'a ca'o zmadu

6..i le nolcei cu cusku lu za'a lei remna noi se bangu pa da cu ba'oco'a zmadu ti .ija'o no selpla ba nalselka'e ry

7..i .ai mi dzikla gi'e fi'urgau le bangu ry ja'e le nu na simjmi li'u

8..i le nolcei fairgau ry piro le terdi .i ry de'a zmadu le tcadu

9..i ki'u la'e di'u ty se cmene zo babel .i ki'u le nu bu'u ty le nolcei pu fi'urgau le bangu be le munje .i fe'eco'a ty le nolcei fairgau ry le pirosi'e terdi sefta

(www.omniglot.com/babel/lojban.htm)

 

9.E. Text:

The Babel Text in Elasin

Elasin, created as the language of a fictional race of beings, was intended to give the flavor of a cross between Zulu and Finnish.

1.Huana! Yevopa (Yeneva votelor pali) fathieneth avute vesotham dofa li mabienen sotheram thoshi.

2.Uitukieneth vuanana maku'ii hadarova mi'iamem Shinaroth li panamiene parshoth ka.

3.Vasieneth. Ti Fana. Sathitudison mosuanoram li kathitudison pivani ti. Sathitiene avu mosuanorsa hau kivashersa le'i ratemsa hau molesa le'i.

4.Vasieneth. Ti Fana. Sathitudisoth maram hapamef ludanu'ii kalathem shasta sathitudisoth manalam ebas ko. Hau kanitudiso lafonesa le ti.

5.Palakieta somara uhanin panamesh. Fanieta shasta faruthuditu tashemun avu marami hapamemi ko.

6.Vasieta takaleba. Ti Shemath. Iene vuanana dofa li mabuaneth vesotham dofa. Uatu sathitu ka uamuineth nekuare shipa dofani. Faruthudito shado avunash aben.

7.Fana. Shibaludisoth nivesotham ko hau wevakudinen le ko ti.

8.Kanitietan somara uhanin li sathitievinen avu nimarami nihapamemi.

9.Mabietoth mar manalam Shibalu'in kashko shibalietan parshoth ka somara uhanin vesotharam uhanin ko.

Translated by Don Boozer

(www.geocities.com/donaldboozer/elasin_trans.html)

 

9.F.1. Image: zhyler_babel.jpg

9.F.2. Text:

The Babel Text in Zhyler

“Zhyler is an SOV language with fifty-seven noun cases (in honor of the ketchup co.), all suffixing, and a robust vowel harmony system. In addition, there are seventeen noun classes, à la Swahili, which do much of the derivational footwork.” ~ David J. Peterson

(transliteration)

1.al erwi ymM ergajajan las MlDaja.

2.kedemiT dZarm2sleraz, urDar MlDaz Sinaraja Dejler, ras vMnase eZZanlar.

3.kaja n2nzerler, "zin! rymSuj kenlymeje, ame dZimMSSMja." ame rymSuj tSurjujkMjat mekler, ame kenelwi solwMxMja mekler.

4.ame n2nlerkaja, "zin! majaS tajdZar, enedwizM dZ2f deJdZeje ulbolarnam valzamaja, ras l2Za majaS ZenDer levzemeje, volanaz meJjaf ketSlerjes noGenzerneswimej."

5.ame ziliryf meSkajaja valdZajalara tajdZa, ulbolnamuf mataljatSot valar.

6.ame n2nler, "mat! al MlDa, je al erwi laskaS bel, ame ledZer edZZaNkaja. je manarDawMxMja r2zDe kajas Zarreznezze.

7.zin! tSot zixM erwixMf SirkMjar matkMNwMriz, vazamaja, ame erwixMjMr vMnase ugdazamaj.

8.ame meJjaf ketSlerjes vMnaseT noGenzerkajalar, ras kaja tajdZar valzMklar.

9.ras "babelet" Zennesler, tSot meJjaf erwijes vMnase ugdalar, ame meJjaf ketSlerjes vMnaseT noGenzerkajalar.

Translated by David J. Peterson

(dedalvs.free.fr/zhyler/babel.html)

 

9.G. Text:

The Babel Text in Alurhsa

Alurhsa is the creation of Anthony Harris of Vermont and is only a small part of his imaginary world. For much more on the language and culture of Aluria, visit Anthony's site at alurhsa.org.

1.Ná, ttòsnë zh'óñen ñeveláynû dwi sùlën hályen, ddá vìgeláynû dwi sùlë ¿óv ñevóznáyëná.

2.Ddá vëzhelû, shthálázályën ghel máçisáç, dyárán ghílâ ddeksánthán tye tirá Shínár, ddá geveláynun vá.

3.Ddá dívelùnyun áyáshénÿ, ráyv, ersháyá vóçón, ddá túgròsháyá dyárán. Ddá vóçón kúweláynun kólf senéfón ddá móllán kólf jóttem.

4.Ddá dívelun, ká, vreleksáyá íthlánán vùn tárháyá, teyá beren yáqánô Kálrÿíszán, ddá ersháyá kìvá ólvínÿ fárshán eleván, spé ághálsárrenelyá ás ttòsnënÿ zh'óñenyánÿ.

5.Ddá qíëdelû Áxván pólef sperrâ zh'íthlánán vùn zhë tárháyá ten vrelekseláyná káyár bóyená.

6.Ddá dívelû Áxván, ráyv, lhôñ dwensá zhë ¿áms ddá xónyá dwi sùlën hályen, ddá úmázhën fakályónyá. Kólfe ñeyësán dyáráç feñené ten ïnáqánónyá kályâ.

7.Ká, ándzáláyá ddá vezénáyá dyárs-hályen pólef el ñe vùzùnùnyá ñevësán áyáshéyá.

8.Eref dyárán ághálsárrelô Áxván ghel váç ás ttòsnënÿ zh'óñenyánÿ, ddá lepelun vreleksâ zh'íthlánán.

9.Ddá eref zhë shthevá sódlô Bábel, kálÿ vá vezénelû Áxván hályen ttòsná zh'óñenyá, ddá ghel váç ághálsárrelû Áxván dyárán ás ttòsnënÿ zh'óñenyánÿ.

Translated by Anthony Harris

(alurhsa.org/)

 

9.H. Text:

The Babel Text in Kimva

Kimva was part of the ConlangEvolutionExperiment (talideon.com/concultures/wiki/?doc=ConlangEvolutionExperi...).

1.shes gu mitp fok yi kimva ka fi loffaloffa.

2.shes liyley gÿif fontshixka, nashumva i mitsa, kalepfing kasinrasing, ka napische.

3.liyley fish, kalinzrak, gÿidachighng pekxutpekxut ka tugngoxorzeko gÿidapevma. nafok pekxutpekxut, ka natugngona ngu ngindu, ka mwech, ka natugngofa ngu lunggo.

4.nafish, gÿidafing i kex kayifok, ka i xaxsulofsa kafafok sich kakusxasing, ka gÿidachighng ngu kagÿifok, ka xiy ufefpagÿi gu kamitpfing.

5.ka YEF kom fombmogÿika fingghiche ka fesombi kex ka xaxsulofsa, liyley fingna.

6.ka YEF fish, desombi, na-s yi pum, ka gu nafok yi kimva, ngong xiÿghey nasek, yu vakepchina, ka nafuvmviy, nahumikxekxa.

7.kom fombmogÿika ayidafinghiche ka ayidapoy kimva kenofak, kumash nahumwitpu vaf kalimvok.

8.va-s muy YEF fepfeno kamitpfing gu, ka nachimving kex.

9.vaxkup kefofak nga si pabwu, kumash kangugÿising YEF poy kimva kenofak, ka YEF fepfeno fombjika gu kamitpfing.

Translated by Alex Fink

(talideon.com/concultures/wiki/?doc=kimva)

[ADDENDUM: From an email from Alex Fink to Don Boozer on the misattribution of this Babel Text: "I've spotted a misattribution, in the case of Babel texts. Kimva is not in fact my creation, but that of Pete Bleackley. I presume the misattribution came about because of the "Descendents" listing on talideon.com/concultures/wiki/?doc=kimva attributing the daughter language kimwa lilyeho to me; the attribution proper to kimva itself is the line saying "PeteBleackley" below that." Please check out the web source for this Babel Text for further information - DB]

 

 

9.I. Text:

The Babel Text in Itlani

Itlani is the creation of James E. Hopkins who speaks and writes the language fluently. James holds a B.A. in French and a Master's degree in Philosophy and has a wide range of interests including writing, dancing, poetry, and linguistics. His recently self-published book, Eden's Day, includes poetry in English and Itlani.

1.Shukhrám tá kúlit untár mú sholóva véy mú eypotóva lafiyáva.

2.Véy brinkiyáva ú mashrá tá pirénay dzevyáven, brenduóva díni tá skáan Shinár zhanyáven, véy izá paleyáven.

3.Véy marruvyáven, "Kadimyátay, shevedzovó korunyáti véy vutóva iküirunchyáti." Véy tá shevedzovó résh chendjeynúey lafiyáven véy tá khalmasóva résh indisíey lafiyáven.

4.Véy ruvyáren, "Kadimyátay, mogése shatardjaóva sitagyáti, véy kitsanóva, tá móyto kiína díni tá fridádjan onyázha: komshayóva mogése vataranyáti reshú véyla tá vísan tá kúlit untára rá-kreyifyáti.

5.Rúzay Uramún stinatyávad reshú tá shatardjaóva véy tá kitsanóva shunyátad, kiinovó tá peshsuú sitagávit onyáven.

6.Véy Uramún ruvyávad, "Tá ebón mú onyára khaá véy shéy vút mú sholóva lafiyáren, véy iíd onyára idá kiinóva korúnya mabugyáren; tsórni rahá kiinóva harvolyázhen vútay inutebyízha."

7.Kadimyátay, stinatyáti véy izá vútit sholóva ubikeyyáti, reshú tá eypotóva mutatamág dayáten rá.

8.Chalí, Uramún vutóva izáay véyla tá vísan tá kúlit untára kreyafyávad, véy tá shatardjaóva sitágya spranichyáven.

9.Idakín Babél mishtaratyíra, vár izá Uramún tá sholóva tá kúlit untára ubikeyyávad; véy izáay Uramún vutóva véyla tá vísan tá untára kreyafyávad.

Translated by James E. Hopkins

(www.langmaker.com/db/Itlani_Babel_Text)

 

9.J. Text

The Babel Text in Interlingua

Interlingua is an international auxiliary language (like Esperanto) that began development in 1924 by the International Auxiliary Language Association (IALA) and was published in 1951. Alice Vanderbilt Morris was the primary founder and funder of the project which was headed by Alexander Gode and William E. Collinson. Interlingua was sometimes referred to as “Standard Average European” by Dr. Gode.

1.Nunc le tote mundo habeva un lingua e un parola comun.

2.Como homines moveva se al est, illes trovava un plana in Shinar e establiva se illac.

3.Illes deciva a le un, "Veni, lassa nos facer briccas e cocer los minutosemente." Illes usava bricca in vice de petra, e catran pro mortero.

4.Tun illes deciva, "Veni, lassa nos construer nos un citate, con un turre que arriva a le celoes, a fin que nos pote facer un nomine pro nos e non esser dispersate trans le facie del tote mundo."

5.Ma le Senior veniva a basso vidar le citate e le turre que le homines construeva.

6.Le Senior deciva, "Si como un gente que parla le mesme lingua illes ha comenciate facer isto, tun nil que illes plana facer essera impossibile pro illes.

7.Veni, lassa nos descender e confunde lor lingua dunque illes non comprendera a le un."

8.Assi le Senior dispersava les de illac trans tote le mundo, e illes cessava construente le citate.

9.Que es proque il esseva appellate Babel -- proque illac le Senior confundeva le lingua del tote mundo. De illac le Senior dispersava les trans le facie del tote mundo.

Submitted to Langmaker by Dan Dawes

(www.langmaker.com/babel/interlingua.htm)

 

9.K. Text

The Babel Text in Talossan

Talossan was created by R. Ben Madison to be the official language of his micronation Talossa (which is entirely surrounded by the city of Milwaukee, WI). Madison has said “The Talossan language was created not as an amorphous conlang project for the world. It is not Esperanto. It was created for one purpose and one purpose only: to give a linguistic identity to the Kingdom of Talossa." For more information on Talossa and its language and culture, check out the official site at www.kingdomoftalossa.net.

1.És toct i tzarâ tigñhova viens glheþ és 'n parlançeu común.

2.Quând që os voiatxevent da l'est, os trovevent 'n azaçhár în Shinar, és os loc þavitevent.

3.Si zireva à sieu amíc, "Vetz! Láßetz që noi ládariçadrent ládarâs és lor baqadrent cumplätsmînt." És las ládarâs füvent els cräpsilor për lor, és la cretâ füt la muôltâ për lor.

4.És os zirevent, "Vetz! Láßetz që noi fraicadrent për üns 'n cità és 'n turmeu cün ça moláirâ în el çéu, és láßetz që noi façadrent 'n nôminâ për noi, da cráintschâ që noi estadrent spaperseschti sür la façâ da toct la tzarâ."

5.És Iáhave descendeva për vidarë la cità és el turmeu që els vürs tigñhovent fraichescù.

6.És Iáhave zireva, "Eiceâ, véiçi viens naziun, qi tent viens glhetg, és os en tienent auspicat. Nun niþil serà catxantat da lhor që os cunceptarhent à façarë.

7.Vetz! Láßetz që noi descendradent és loc cunfundadrent lor glhetg, svo að si non auscultarha el glhetg da sieu amic."

8.Aglhôrc Iáhave lor spaperseva dalà sür la façâ da toct la tzarâ, és os ceßevent à fraicar la cità.

9.Për aceastâ raziun a isch nominadâ Babel, cáir Iáhave loc cunfundeva el glhetg da toct la tzarâ, és c'è dalà që Iáhave lor spaperseva sür la façâ da toct la tzarâ.

Translated by C.M. Siervicül

(www.langmaker.com/db/Talossan_Babel_Text)

 

9.L. Text:

The Babel Text in Tepa

Tepa, created by Dirk Elzinga, is an attempt at "constructing" a plausible, vanished Native American language. Traces of the Tepa, Dirk says, vanished with the creation of Lake Powell.

1.huisi leqa sukuuqu, huisi tepa.

2.hukahekahee metapu sinaa kenipa eaqa kitile. hukate yu.

3.huyakkee, hawananpaqana.

4.huhawaqakkassa hanima etiqe ukaiqu kupine. huwaweletii pewalilkatta metasewe.

5.husahu qamana epite hanimaa akasa tukua.

6.huyakee qamana, hasua! isi tukua huisi leqa nequ. huqanani humuqappulpa eqana eamine.

7.wasahu huhawanulu leqane numuhuyu eteppa.

8.hulika metasewe tukua qamana huapupa ekasa hanimaa.

9.huten papele, anulu yu leqa tukua qamana elika yule metasewe.

Translated by Dirk Elzinga

(www.langmaker.com/featured/tepababel.htm)

 

9.M. Text:

The Babel Text in Konya

Konya is an international auxiliary language created by Larry Sulky designed to be easily learned.

1.posen-wi xoxe yo, telaxi tote tenu sile tokun-moti mune.

2.lawa, suki xoxe xon-ken-yu faisi ye tufu xon-xemapi lun-yo Xinarya ye kepu son-wi.

3.lawa, kusi toku tun-yo failen-sefi kayu "min-min-wi tepu fetu ketaten-peti ye sexen-kusu fine xon-wi" wo. lawa, kusi lilu lone ketaten-peti lono peti ye tauli lono petin-tauli.

4.lawa, kusi toku kayu "min-min-wi tepu fetu xiti wa ten-yo kaipasi, yo lelen-toxu saili wo, leso min-min-wi tepu lan-kenu suki tote ye tepu lan-pefu nin-ye tun-yo telaxi tote" wo.

5.naye, Sailin-punin-ya xain-yu saili leso sinu xiti ye kaipasa, yo suki fetu son-wi.

6.lawa, Sailin-punin-ya toku kayu "suki tote wa sukin-seti, yo toku lilo tokun-moti mune wo, taye kusi kaimu fuxu fetun-wi tise, ye taye fetun-wi tole, yo kusi sepu wo, pan-male wa nolo kusi" wo.

7.kayu min-wi sepu ken-yu telaxi ye pan-fun-pimen-yu tokun-moti yu kusi leso kusi pimen-lolu nin-ye failen-sefi wo.

8.taye Sailin-punin-ya pefu kusi xain-yo lun-tisen-wi tun-yo tote yu telaxi ye kusi kailu fetu xiti.

9.taye noli nemu xiti tuso Bebalya xemo Sailin-punin-ya pan-fun-pimen-yu lun-yo lun-tisen-wi tokun-moti yu telaxi tote. lawa, Sailin-punin-ya pefu kusi xain-yo lun-tisen-wi tun-yo telaxi tote.

Translated by Larry Sulky

(ca.geocities.com/handydad/konya/konya-babel.html)

 

9.N. Text:

Babel Text in Kēlen

Kēlen is the language of the Kēleni, inhabitants of Sylvia Sotomayor's conworld Tērjemar. The language is an attempt at constructing a language with no verbs, thus violating one of Greenberg's Universals. The conlang was the topic of Sylvia's talk at the second Language Creation Conference.

1.ielte la anmārwi pa antaxōni ān tēna;

2.il ñatta jarēþa rūānnie il ñatta jamāes japōññe sū jekiēn xīnār il aþ ñatta āke jamāramma;

3.ē teteñ ien hēja ñanna jacālmi jajūti nā aþ ōrra ñatta ancālmi to ankīþi aþ ōrra ñatta ancērri to anhērmi;

4.ē teteñ ien hēja ñanna jamāonre pa jakōnōr ja ñi jōl rā anīstīli; ē teteñ ien hēja ñanna lewēra tō tūaþ wā ñi ñēim makkepōlien rā anmārwi āñ pēxa;

5.il aþ ñi rā āke ā λi ārōn tō sema mo sarōña jamāonre pa jakōnōr ja ñatta ōrra;

6.il tamma ien ē ñi mēli mānīki ī la sāim antaxōni ān tēna ī la jāo jānne jakāe ja ñatta;

7.il tamma ien rēha ñatta janahan ja ñi jaþēŋŋe cēja lā;

8.il tamma ien ē ñi liēn rā āke tā aþ ñalla anwaxāon tō tūaþ ñi anxiēna ankewōra nīkamma sāim cī;

9.ē ñamma jāo ā λi ārōn ī ñamma sāim makkepōlien rā anmārwi āñ pēxa ī ñamma jamāonre anlāīke ankewōra; tō jāo sete sawēra λi waxāon tō ōrra ñamma anwaxāon antaxōni tēna sū āke ā λi ārōn;

Translated by Sylvia Sotomayor

(The Kēlen Babel Text can be accessed by typing cache:www.terjemar.net/babeltext.php into the Google search box.)

 

9.O. Text:

The Babel Text in Wasabi

Wasabi was a collaborative conlang venture undertaken by a class taught by David J. Peterson that examined the creation of pidgins. For a detailed look at the development of Wasabi, check out dedalvs.free.fr/wasabi.html.

1.Yasa ukali saya anu alima nala.

2.Si lamu amasu sami ala si siya numa niki isana kunayu si Shinar, aki wima isu.

3.Yasa alima anu si ika, "Wani kana nusika puma samapu aki si kusasi." Puma yumu nusika puma, alasa ukali yumu liwika.

4.Aki alima: "Niki! Wani pila amasu wima kunayu wa pika kunayu, ikala nali, wani ana wani amasu sami, unu lusa yumu wani unu liwika si yasa ukali."

5.Sika si nali niki ukali yata amasu wima kunayu wa pika kunayu malika sika pila.

6.Sika si nali alima: "Yata! Anu liwika kunayu yasa wa anu alima nala, ya aki pila wa unu yumu numa.

7.Niki! Wani niki si ukali, wani sunati nala, si yumu aki unu kisa ika sami alima.

8.Sika si nali unu liwika aki si yasa ukali, aki numa unatu si amasu wima kunayu.

9.Si ya yumu aki tasi ana Babel, yumu isu sika si nali sunati nala si yasa ukali, si isu sika si nali unu liwika aki si yasa ukali.

Translated by Mari Bandoma, Deise Benítez, Allison Buckley, Pablo Cabrera, Marc Callado, Patrick Chan, Charles Chang, Sarah Choi, Lizzy Ghedi-Ehrlich, Julie Gutiérrez, Norma Guzmán, Helen Khlystova, Jason Lin, Tom Nosewicz, Miriam Ochoa, David J. Peterson, Chris Ramiro, Michael Rivera, Adam Simpson, Amy Soong.

(www.langmaker.com/db/Bbl_wasabi.htm)

Done