Paiwan Every Day 5: vulung // vavulungan

The Paiwan society has a hierarchy. Led by the chief and his family, the population is divided into nobility (those related in blood to the chief), skillful artisans and professions (recognized by their service to the chief), and commoners. 

Naturally, respect to hierarchy and seniority becomes the norm and is often taught to the younger generation. That is the meaning of today's sentence. 

paqaljai itjen ta tja vavulungan; 

paqaljai itjen ta tja mamazangiljan. 

In English: 

We respect our elders; we respect our chiefs. 

Glossary:

1. paqaljai: to respect
2. itjen: we inclusive (INCL)
3. va-vulung-an: elders. The root is vulung 'old, elderly'. 
4. ma-mazangilj-an: chief or headman

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