Thursday, December 30, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 660/661/662/663: pai

kuliu: namadraudraw aken a kemacu tua ku bintu. 
cudjui: pai numayan tjakanauanga ku bintu. 

Free translation: 
kuliu: I forgot to bring my lunch box. 
cudjui: come, in that case, let's eat my lunch box. 

Word gloss: 
  1. na-ma-draudraw: to have forgotten, actor focus
  2. aken: I, 1st person SIN NOM
  3. a: LIG
  4. k<em>acu: bring, AV. The root is kacu 'bring'. 
  5. tua: OBL
  6. ku: my, 1st person SIN GEN
  7. bintu: lunch box, loanword from Minnan
  8. pai: invitation to action
  9. numayan: if so, in that case
  10. tja-kan-au-anga: let's eat. The root is kan 'eat'. 
Voice file: 




kuliu: bulai a vaik itjen a ljemangui?
cudjui: bulai aravac. pai, ari vaiki. 

Free translation: 
kuliu: Is it a good idea that we go swimming?
cudjui: That's very good. Come, let's go. 

Word gloss: 
  1. bulai: good, beautiul
  2. a: LIG
  3. vaik: go, come
  4. itjen: we, INCL
  5. lj<em>angui: swim, actor focus
  6. aravac: very much
  7. pai: invitation to action
  8. ari: let's
  9. vaik-i: go, INCL
Voice file: 




kuliu: qemudjaljanga. inika aken a nakemacu tua kausua. maqati aken a supasedjaman?
cudjui: ita a ku kausua. pai, kadjadjalani a kiljaung. 

Free translation: 
kuliu: It's raining now. I did not bring an umbrella. Can you lend me yours?
cudjui: I only have one umbrella. Come, let's share the umbrella. 

Word gloss: 
  1. q<em>udjalj-anga: it is raining already, actor focus. The root is qudjalj 'rain'. 
  2. inika: no, not
  3. na-k<em>acu: brought. The root is kacu 'bring'. 
  4. kausua: umbrella, loanword from Minnan. 
  5. maqati: can 
  6. su-pa-sedjam-an: you lend. The root is sedjam 'borrow, lend'. 
  7. ita: one
  8. pai: come, invitation to action
  9. kadjadjalan-i: I am not sure about this word. 
  10. kiljaung: shade, cover
Voice file: 




aicu djukap nua vavui. pai, aicu avan a djaladjalan nua vavui. 

Free translation: 
This is the footprints of wild boars. So, this is the path of wild boars. 

Word gloss: 
  1. aicu: this
  2. djukap: foot print
  3. nua: of, GEN
  4. vavui: wild boar
  5. avan: is
  6. djala-djalan: little trail or path. The root is djalan 'road' in RED, smaller road. 
Voice file: 

Sunday, December 26, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 659: pai

pai, iljavaranu. anemanema kudamunu i Taiwan?

Free translation: 
Come, tell. What fruits are there in Taiwan?

Word gloss: 
  1. pai: invitation to action
  2. iljavaran-u: tell, imperative exclusive
  3. a-nema-nema: what, RED
  4. kudamunu: fruit, loanword from Japanese
  5. i: LOC
  6. Taiwan: Taiwan
Voice file: 

From klokah.org kudamunu (Fruit)

Saturday, December 25, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 657/658: pai

vuvu vavayan, ti kuliu 'a ti paljai amen. pai, suqeljevi amen. 


Free translation: 
Grandma, it's kuliu and paljai. Please open the door for us. 

Word gloss: 
  1. vuvu: grandparent, grandchild
  2. vavayan: woman
  3. ti: subjet case marker for specific noun
  4. kuliu, paljai: male names
  5. amen: we, 1st person PL NOM
  6. pai: please, polite request for action
  7. su-qeljev-i: you open the door, imperative inclusive, agent of a Paiwan NAF clause. The root is qeljev 'open the door'.  
  8. amen: we, 1st person PL Nom, patient of a Paiwan NAF clause
Voice file: 

From klokah.org inaqatiyan a qadaw (Birthday). 


pai, qiladju. anema su'anen?

Free translation: 
Come, sit down. What will you have?

Word gloss: 
  1. pai: invitation to action
  2. qiladj-u: sit, imperative exclusive. The root is qiladj- 'sit, seat'. 
  3. a-nema: what
  4. su-'anen: your food. kanen or 'anen with the root of kan 'eat'. 
Voice file: 

From klokah.org i tja kakanen (In the Restaurant). 

Thursday, December 23, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 656: pai

pai, kusualapav a dengec i tua su mudingan. 

Free translation: 
Come, let me get the crumbs off your face. 

Word gloss: 
  1. pai: reminder, invitation, command
  2. kusualapv: let me take. I think this is patient focus because the subject of the sentence is the semantic object dengec so literally similar to taken by me
  3. a: subject case marker
  4. dengec: food crumbs
  5. i: LOC
  6. tua: OBL
  7. su: your, 2nd person SIN GEN
  8. mudingan: face. qimi means cheeks. 
Voice file:

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary dengec. 

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 655: pai

pai, kipapaulingavu. akumayanga sa su tjengez?

Free translation: 
Come on, get it all together. Why are you dozing off like this?

Word gloss: 
  1. pai: indicate irritation, sarcasm, scold
  2. ki-pa-pau-lingav-u: be careful, watch out, keep alert. The root is lingav 'time, wisdom, hurry'. 
  3. akumayanga: for what, why. I think this is a combination of aku 'why', maya 'like this or similar', and -anga 'suffix indicating change of state'. 
  4. sa: subject case marker
  5. su: your, 2nd person SIN GEN
  6. tjengez: doze, sleepiness
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary tjengez. 

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 652/653/654: pai

pai, mayanan maya penurpur a su kaka. 

Free translation: 
Do not yet disturb your brother. 

Word gloss: 
  1. pai: give a command
  2. mayanan: not yet, still
  3. maya: do not
  4. p<en>urpur: disturb, actor voice. The root is purpur 'annoy, disturb'. 
  5. a: LIG? 
  6. su: your
  7. kaka: brother or sister
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary penurpur. 



pai, maya manu seman-neka-aravac tua zuma. 

Free translation: 
Do not act like so disrespectful to other people. 

Word gloss: 
  1. pai: give a command
  2. maya: do not
  3. manu: like, another interesting filler
  4. s<em>an-neka-aravac: to excessively disregard or disrespect too much, literally to make nothing out of at all. Interesting word!
  5. tua: OBL
  6. zuma: other people
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary semaneka. 



pai, kiumalju. semiaq sa su sikudan. 

Free translation: 
Come, change to a new leaf. What you did is shameful. 

Word gloss: 
  1. pai: command or invitation to action
  2. kiumalju: repent and change
  3. s<em>iaq: be shameful, actor voice. The root is siaq 'shame'. 
  4. sa: subject case marker
  5. su: your, 2nd person SIN GEN
  6. si-kud(a)-an: behavior, deed
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary semiaq. 

Saturday, December 18, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 650/651: pai

ljaljeqeljeqel aicu a kinsa. pai, seljecuanan. 

Free translation: 
The food is already cold. Go, heat it. 

Word gloss: 
  1. lja-ljeqe-ljeqel: cold, in RED. The root is ljaljeqel 'cold'.
  2. aicu: this. I always think aicu is a-icu; however, Professor Anna Chang said it is aicu, and in Paiwan demonstratives and case marker are "mutually exclusive" (Chang, 1992, p. 88).  
  3. a: subject case marker
  4. k<in>(e)sa: food. The root is kesa 'cook'. 
  5. pai: command or invitation to action
  6. seljecuanan: heat the food. seljecu 'heat food by steam'. 
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary ljaljeqeljeqel. 



pai, pasazalemani a remasudj tua tjakinepel a qavai. 
ulja tjen a kemeljang tu pidanga supu a penuljat. 

Free translation: 
Come, let's put all long rice cakes in line on the floor. 
We want to know how many there are in total. 

Word gloss: 
  1. pai: invitation to action
  2. pasa-zaleman-i: let's place on the floor, imperative, inclusive. The root is zaleman 'floor'. 
  3. a: LIG
  4. remasudj: to make peace. It means to arrange or line up the rice cakes in a good way. 
  5. tua: OBL
  6. tja-kinepel a qavai: our long rice cake
  7. ulja: wish, want to
  8. tjen: itjen, we 1st person PL 
  9. k<em>eljang: know, actor focus. The root is keljang
  10. tu: complementizer
  11. pid(a)-anga: how many already
  12. a penuljat: totall, all
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary pasazalemani. 

Thursday, December 16, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 649: pai

pai, kesau tua tjacengelj. 

Free translation: 
Go make our lunch. 

Word gloss: 
  1. pai: give a command
  2. kesa-u: cook, imperative, exclusive. The root is kesa 'cook'. 
  3. tua: OBL
  4. tja-cengelj: our lunch
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary kesau. 

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 648: pai

pai, capau azua vasa. 

Free translation: 
Go roast those taros. 

Word gloss: 
  1. pai: give a command
  2. capa-u: roast or bake, imperative, exclusive. The root is capa 'roast, bake'. 
  3. a-zua: that or those
  4. vasa: taro
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary capau. 

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 646/647: pai

pai here means like come, an invitation to action, or come one, an invitation to not to act on something. 

pai, senasenayu. masepelj itjen. 

Free translation: 
Come, sing a song. We are bored. 

Word gloss: 
  1. pai: come
  2. sena-senay-u: sing, imperative for the hearer. The root is senay 'sing, song' in RED; -u 'imperative marker excluding the speaker'. 
  3. ma-sepelj: to be bored. ma- 'to be in the condition of without volition'; the root is sepelj 'play around without a purpose'. 
  4. itjen: we, including the speaker
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary masepelj. 


pai, maya qemaluvu a tja kinateveteveljan. 

Free translation: 
Come on, do not disturb our gathering. 

Word gloss: 
  1. pai: come on
  2. maya: do not, prohibition
  3. q<em>aluvu: mix up or distrub, actor focus. The root is qaluvu 'to mix up, distrub'. 
  4. a: subject case marker
  5. tja: our, 1st person PL GEN
  6. kinateveteveljan: gethering or meeting
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary qemaluvu. 

Sunday, December 12, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 644/645: pai

pai as a filler like 'Look!'. 

maya masepelj a siqunu ni su vuvu, aya aken tjanusun. 
inika sun a lemang(e)da. 
pai, mavuciqanga a su lima. 

Free translation: 
I told you not to play wioth your grandpa's small knife. You didn't listen. 
Look, your hand is cut.

Word gloss: 
  1. maya: no, not, NEG
  2. ma-sepelj: play with or fiddle with. The root is sepelj 'tease, fool around with without purpose'. 
  3. a: subject case marker
  4. siqunu: small knife usually used by elders to cut betel nuts apart and add lime
  5. ni: of, GEN
  6. su: your, 2nd person SIN GEN
  7. vuvu: grandpa or grandma
  8. aya: so said
  9. aken: I, 1st person SIN NOM
  10. tjanusun: to you, towards you
  11. inika: no, not , NEG
  12. l<em>ang(e)da: listen or hear, actor focus. The root is lang(e)da 'listen, hear'. 
  13. pai: look
  14. ma-vuciq-anga: gets cut. ma- 'to be in the state of, without volition'; the root is vuciq 'cut, sever'; -anga 'COS'. 
  15. lima: hand
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary pai. 


pai as 'right' in a question. 

maljenguaqanga aza kuang, pai?

Free translation: 
That gun is ready, right?

Word gloss: 
  1. ma-lje-nguaq-anga: to already go in the diretion of well. ma- 'to be in the state of without volition'; lje- 'to go in the direction of'; the root is nguaq 'well'; -anga 'COS'. 
  2. aza: that
  3. kuang: gun, loanword from Minnan
  4. pai: right?
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary pai. 

Friday, December 10, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 643: pai

pai is a Paiwan word that has a lot of functions. It is an interesting subject of research. 

inika sun narukisasusu tua mareka tjakaka, pai sipavai tua zuma a hiu niamadju. 

Free translation: 
You did not take good care of our brothers and sisters, therefore they gave their votes to others. 

Word gloss: 
  1. inika: no, not, NEG
  2. sun: you, 2nd person SING NOM, clitic?
  3. na-ru-kisasusu: to have often cared for. na- 'PRF'; ru- 'frequently'; kisasusu 'to investigate, to look after' with the root is susu 'meaning'. 
  4. tua: OBL
  5. mareka: every or each
  6. tja-kaka: our brother and sister. tja- 'our, 1st person PL GEN clitic'; kaka 'brother or sister'. 
  7. pai: therefore, consequently, but also can mean look in this context. 
  8. si-pa-vai: to give, IF. 
  9. zuma: others
  10. a: subject case marker
  11. hiu: vote, must be a loanword since in Paiwan there is no phoneme /h/ but I do not know its origin. 
  12. niamadju: their, 3rd person PL GEN
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary pai. 

Thursday, December 9, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 641/642: manusika / manasika

saqetju a ku kaka, manusika inika kasikakituluan. 

Free translation: 
My brother is ill, therefore he did not go to school 

Word gloss: 
  1. saqetju: ill, hurt
  2. a: subject case marker
  3. ku: my
  4. kaka: brother or sister
  5. manusika: therefore, so, consequently
  6. inika: not, no
  7. ka-si-ka-ki-tulu-an: to the school. kakituluan 'the place to learn' with the root tulu 'learn, teach'. 
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary manusika. 


pai manasika a i taiwan mavan a ku qinaljan, uta aya aken. 

Free translation: 
Therefore, Taiwan is my home, so I also say. 

Word gloss: 
  1. pai: therefore, so
  2. manasika: therefore, so, consequently
  3. a: LIG
  4. i: in or at, LOC
  5. taiwan: Taiwan
  6. mavan: is
  7. a: subject case marker
  8. ku: my, 1st person SING GEN
  9. qinaljan: hometown
  10. uta: also, too
  11. aya: say
  12. aken: I, 1st person SING NOM
Voice file: 

From klokah ku qinaljan uta a i taiwan 'Taiwan is Also My Hometown'. 

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 640: ayatua (IV)

naminseg a ljavek, ayatua neka nu vali. 

Free translation: 
The sea has calmed down because there is no wind. 

Word gloss: 
  1. na-minseg: have become calm. na- 'PRF'; the root is minseg 'calm, still'. 
  2. a: subject case marker
  3. ljavek: sea, another word is vaung. 
  4. ayatua: because, provides a reason (cause?). 
  5. neka: no, NEG
  6. nu: ? Usually nu is your (2nd personal plural GEN). Here why the elder says nu is unknown to me. 
  7. vali: wind
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary minseg. 

Monday, December 6, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 639: ayatua (III)

kipaula aravac tiamadju ta icu a qudjalj, ayatua siniqaljudj a quma. 

Free translation: 
They suffer severely from this rain, because the farm was washed away. 

Word gloss: 
  1. ki-paula: suffer from or experience something bad or encounter. ki- 'to get or obtain'; the root is paula 'diaster, pity, experience'. 
  2. aravac: quite, ADV
  3. tiamadju: they, 3rd person PL
  4. ta: OBL
  5. icu: this
  6. a: LIG
  7. qudjalj: rain
  8. ayatua: because or as, provides not the cause but result. 
  9. s<in>i-qaljudj: to be swept or washed away. The root is qaljudj 'swept or washed away'. 
  10. a: subject case marker
  11. quma: farm or field
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary kipaula. 

Sunday, December 5, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 638: ayatua (II)

ayatua a picul a ligu nisunanga a penuljat a kemasi tucu a patje palalautanga. amin. 

Free translation: 
Because power, honor, all belongs to you, from now until forever. amen. 

Word gloss: 
  1. ayatua: because
  2. a: subject case marker
  3. picul: power, strength
  4. ligu: honor
  5. ni-sun-anga: of yours already. ni- 'of, GEN marker'; -sun 'you, 2nd person SING clitic'; -anga 'change of state COS'. 
  6. penuljat: all. p<en>uljat (AF) 'all'with the root of puljat 'all'. 
  7. a: LIG
  8. k<em>asi: from, AF
  9. tucu: now
  10. patje: until 
  11. palalaut-anga: forever or everlasting. The root is palalaut 'forever'. 
  12. amin: amen
Voice file: 

From klokah The Lord's Prayer. 

I am trying to figure out the function of ayatua in Paiwan, which depending on the context seems to indicate more than a causal relation. 

Saturday, December 4, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 636/637: ayatua (I)

inianga kapazangal a kemesa tucu, ayatua izuanga a tinku. 

Free translation: 
Because of electrical rice cooker, it is no longer difficult to cook now. 

Word gloss: 
  1. ini-anga: no longer. ini- 'no, not, NEG'; -anga 'marker of change of state'. 
  2. ka-pazaangal: be difficult. ka- 'inchoative marker'; the root is pazangal 'valuable, difficult'. 
  3. a: LIG
  4. k<em>esa: cook, AF. The root is kesa 'cook'. 
  5. tucu: now
  6. ayatua: because of, because
  7. izu(a)-anga: there exists already
  8. a: subject case marker
  9. tinku: electric rice cooker, loanword from Mandarin. 
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary ayatua. 


ayatua a benuru uri si'atarivak na 'u lingalingaw. 

Free translation: 
Because exercise will make my body healthy. 

Word gloss: 
  1. ayatua: because
  2. a: subject case marker
  3. b<en>uru: exercise or do sports or literally to play with a ball, AF. The root is buru 'ball', loanword. 
  4. uri: want to or will
  5. si-'(k)a-tarivak: to make healthy, IF. The root is tarivak 'healthy'. 
  6. na: of, GEN
  7. '(k)u: my, 1st person SING GEN
  8. lingalingaw: body
Voice file: 

From klokah undu. 

Thursday, December 2, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 634/635: djaljep // djaljepan

I like this word djaljepan 'so that's the way it is!'. It functions like a filler. Why is it from djaljep 'suitable, fit, assistant'? Interesting. 

djaljepan a kisasusu aravac tjajuaken a nia sinsi, manu seljaseljang ni kama kisansinsi. 

Free translation: 
So that's why my teacher cares very much for me, because he was dad's colleague at school. 

Word gloss: 
  1. djaljepan: so that's the way it is; so the reason why...is that...
  2. a: LIG
  3. kisasusu: take care of
  4. aravac: quite, a great deal
  5. tjauaken: to me or for me, OBL
  6. a: subject case marker
  7. nia: our, often used in Paiwan even for its singular sense
  8. sinsi: teacher, loanword from Japanese
  9. manu: because, as
  10. seljseljang: colleague, classmate. We more often say salasaladj. 
  11. ni: of
  12. kama: dad
  13. kisansinsi: to be a teacher, teaching at a school
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982) and ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary djaljepan. 


djaljepan tu kemavasun tua bulabulay, avan susikabulay. 

Ferrell's translation: 
Oh, the reason why you are so beautiful is because of the clothes you're wearing!

Word gloss: 
  1. djaljepan: so that's the way it is; so the reason why...is that...
  2. tu: complementizer
  3. k<em>ava-sun: you wear, AF. The root is kava 'shirt, clothes'; -sun 'you, clitic'. 
  4. tua: OBL
  5. bulabulay: beautiful 
  6. avan: is
  7. su-si-ka-bulay: the way you use to become beautiful or the reason why you become beautiful, IF
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982), p. 71. This is mean but probably meant to be sarcastic or funny. Halirious!

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 632/633: djaljep // sedjaljep

sedjaljepsun a kisankalaingan. 

Free translation: 
You are suitable for leadership. 

Word gloss: 
  1. se-djaljep-sun: you are right or suitable for or you have the quality of. se- 'have the quality of'; the root is djaljep 'fit, suitable, assistant'; -sun 'you, 2nd person SIN clitic'. 
  2. a: LIG
  3. kisan-kalaingan: to become a leader. kisan(e)- 'to become or to act as'; kalaingan 'the elderest, leader' comes from ka-laing-an with the root laing 'the elderest, supervise, leadership'. 
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982) and ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary sedjaljep. 


a kisedjaljep a mayatucusun a makinamalji?

Free translation:
Is it appropriate for you to get so mad like this?

Word gloss: 
  1. a: subject case marker
  2. ki-se-djaljep: to be suitable or appropriate. The root is djaljep 'fit, suitable, assistant'. 
  3. a: LIG
  4. maya-tucu-sun: you like this
  5. ma-ki-na-malji: to be angry. ma- 'to be in the state of without volition'; ki- 'to get or obtain'; na- 'PRF'; the root is malji 'different, special, angry or mad'. 
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982) and ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary sedjaljep. 

Sunday, November 28, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 631: djaljeng

selep: uri venli aken tu drusa a djaljeng a nigi. 
dremedreman: izua a tjelu a djaljeng imaza. nisunaianga a penuljat. 

Free translation: 
selep: I want to buy two bunches of green onions. 
dremedreman: There are three bundles here. They are all yours. 

Word gloss: 
  1. selep, dremedreman: female name
  2. uri: will, want to
  3. v<en>li: buy, AF. The root is veli 'buy or sell'. 
  4. aken: I, 1st person SIN NOM
  5. tu or tua: OBL
  6. drusa: two
  7. a: LIG
  8. djaljeng: binding for flowers or hays or leafy vegetables
  9. nigi: green onion, loanword from Japanese. 
  10. izua: there is or there are
  11. tjelu: three
  12. i-maza: here
  13. nisun-ai-anga: of yours, yours already. nisun 'your, 2nd person GEN'; -ai- 'LIG, i is probably an extra phone to link with the next a'; -anga 'the change of state COS'.
  14. a: subject case marker
  15. p<en>uljat: all for... . The root is puljat 'the meaning of all'. 
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982) and klokah Conversational Paiwan. 

Saturday, November 27, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 629/630: djaljeng // tadjaljeng / djemaljeng

tadjaljeng azua qarizang. 

Free translation: 
That is a handful/bundle/sheaf of yardlong beans. 

Word gloss: 
  1. ta-djaljeng: one bundle, one sheaf. The root is djaljeng 'binding (as for flowers, hay)'. 
  2. a-zua: that
  3. qarizan: yardlong bean
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982) and ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary tadjaljeng. 


djemaljeng aken tua ravuc. 

Free translation: 
I am binding thatch. 

Word gloss: 
  1. dj<em>aljeng: bind, AF. The root is djaljeng 'binding (as for flowers, hay)'. 
  2. aken: I, 1st person SING NOM
  3. tua: OBL
  4. ravuc: thatch
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982) and ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary djemaljeng. 

Thursday, November 25, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 628: djaljdjalj / madjadjaljdjalj

madjadjaljdjalj amen ka ti kaka i selep. 

Free translation: 
I am next to (subsequent to) selep in the ranking of siblings. 
I am are youner than selep. [selep is the eldest, and I am the second-born.]

Word gloss: 
  1. ma-dja-djaljdjalj: to be younger than. ma- 'to be in the condition of'; dja- '?'; the root is djaljdjalj 'be second'. 
  2. amen: we, 1st person PL NOM. However, the translation goes with the singular 'I'. I did not change amen to aken, knowing Paiwan has a tendency of using the plural form 'we' to indicate collectivity.
  3. ka: I am not sure why here the elder says ka rather than ta as in Paiwan Every Day 629 djaljdjalj. 
  4. ti: subjet case marker for specific person
  5. kaka: sister or brother
  6. i: LOC
  7. selep: female name
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982) and ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary madjadjaljdjalj. 

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 627: djaljdjalj

djaljdjalj ti uni ta marekakaka. 

Free translation: 
uni is the second among the siblings. 

Word gloss: 
  1. djaljdjalj: the seond born
  2. ti: subject case marker for specific person
  3. uni: female name
  4. ta: OBL
  5. ma-reka-ka-kaka: each and every sibling. ma- 'to be in the state or condition of'; reka- 'each, every'; the root is kaka 'title for elder brother and sister', RED which indicates plural. 
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982) and ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary djaljdjalj. 

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 626: djaljaw

djaljawu!
kadjaljawu!
kadjaljawi!
medjaljaw
papedjaljaw
lja kadjaljawan

Ferrell's translation (p. 70)
Hurry up!
You do it more quickly!
Let's do it quickly!
to become quicker
to cause sth to become quicker
(house or family name)

Word gloss:
  1. djaljaw-u: quick, imperative for the hearer. The root is djaljaw 'fast, speedy'; -u 'imperative end case marker for the hearer only'.  
  2. ka-djaljaw-u: You do it quickly. ka- 'used as an inchoative marker'. 
  3. ka-djaljaw-i: We do it quickly. -i 'imperative end case marker for the speaker and the hearer'. 
  4. me-djaljaw: to become quicker. me- 'used as agent marker for certain verbs, usually involving change of status'. 
  5. pa-pe-djaljaw: to cause something to become quicker. pa- 'to cause to be, usually does not involve secondary agent'; pe- 'to emerge, come into view'. 
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982). 

Monday, November 22, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 624/625: djaljaw / tjadjaljaw

djaljaw angata nu mekelj timadju. 

Free translation: 
He is really fast when he runs. 

Word gloss: 
  1. djaljaw or djaljav: fast, speedy
  2. angata: really, indeed
  3. nu: if or when
  4. mekelj: run
  5. timadju: he or she, 3rd person SIN NOM
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary djaljav. 


tjadjaljaw a makahikuki tua makagungkang.

Free translation: 
Flying is faster than taking a ship 

World gloss: 
  1. tja-djaljaw: faster. tja- 'comparative'; the root is djaljaw 'fast, speedy'. 
  2. a: subject case marker
  3. maka-hikuki: to go by plane or fly. maka- 'to go by or via'; the root is hikuki 'airplane', loanword. 
  4. tua: OBL, than
  5. maka-gungkang: take a ship. The root is gungkang 'ship', loanword; the southern Paiwan dialect has varukur. 
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary tjadjaljav. 

Saturday, November 20, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 623: kasiv // kinikasiv

pida 'uyulj a su kinikasiv?

Free translation: 
How many bundles of wood do you have?

Word gloss: 
  1. pida: how many
  2. [a]: LIG, I think by syntax this a should be here and is subsumed in the last vowel sound of the preivous pida. 
  3. 'uyulj or quyulj: bundle 
  4. a: subject case marker for conmon NP
  5. su: your, 2nd person SIN GEN. I write it separately from the next word kinikasiv because the lexicon stands on its own with full meaning in this sentence. When it is part of inflection of a verb, I write it together with the inflected verb to indicate its clitic nature, e.g. su-s<in>i-talem 'planted by you or that which you planted'. 
  6. k<in>i-kasiv: literally wood that is collected, undergoer focus because of the infix -in-. ki- 'to get or obtain'; the root is kasiv 'wood'. 
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary kinikasiv. 

Friday, November 19, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 622: kasiv // kinakasikasivan

caljeqil aravac azua kinakasikasivan. 

Free translation: 
That wood fiber is very hard. 

Word gloss: 
  1. caljeqil: hard
  2. aravac: very, quite
  3. azua: that
  4. k<in>a-kasi-kasiv-an: wood fiber or literally the character or property that is made of wood, undergoer focus. The root is kasiv 'tree'; -an 'nominalization'. 
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary kinakasikasivan. 

Thursday, November 18, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 621: kasiv // kasikasiven

kasikasiven aravac azua i kavulungan. 

Free translation: 
There in Mount kavuliungan, it is filled with pristine forest. 

Word gloss: 
  1. kasi-kasiv-en: foresty, filled with forest, RED and PF. The root is kasiv 'wood, tree'; -en 'patient focus'. 
  2. aravac: very, quite, a great deal
  3. azua: there
  4. i: LOC
  5. kavulungan: Mount kavulungan, the sacred Paiwan ground. ka...an 'principal or prototypical manifestation of'; the root is vulung 'elder'. 
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary kasikasiven. 

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 620: kasiv // pukasivan

inika makaya a maqudjalj a pukasivan. 

Free translation:
The place where the woods are cannot catch rain. 

Word gloss: 
  1. inika: NEG
  2. makaya: can, be able to
  3. a: LIG
  4. ma-qudjalj: to become wet because of rain. The root is qudjalj 'rain'. 
  5. a: subject case marker
  6. pu-kasiv-an: the place which has the woods. pu- 'to have'; the root is kasiv 'tree'; -an 'location marker'. 
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary pukasivan. 

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Paiwan 618/619: kasiv

neka nu kasiw i tjumaq. 

Free translation: 
There is no wood [for burning] in the house. 

Word gloss: 
  1. neka: no, not, NEG
  2. nu: your, 2nd person PL GEN
  3. kasiv: tree, wood. My dialiect is kasiw. 
  4. i: LOG
  5. tjumaq: house
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary kasiv. 


kakudralananga a kasiw a kusinitalem kakakedrian aken. 

Free translation: 
The tree I planted when I was young has grown really bigger/taller. 

Word gloss: 
  1. ka-kudral-an-anga: to have become bigger or to have grown. ka...an 'principal manifestation of'; the root is kudral 'big'; -anga 'change of state, COS'. 
  2. a: subject case marker
  3. kasiv or kasiw: tree
  4. a: LIG
  5. ku-s<in>i-talem: planted by me, undergoer voice. ku- 'my, 1st person SIN GEN'; si- 'instrument  focus'; the root is talem 'to plant or grow'. 
  6. ka-ka-kedri-an: be young. The root is kedri 'small'. 
  7. aken: I, 1st person SIN S
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary kasiv. 

Sunday, November 14, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 617: djadjas // madjadjas

kalemedep aken, madjadjas an ngaci. 

Free translation: 
As soon as I dive in, I accidentally catch mussels. 

Word gloss: 
  1. ka-l<em>edep: dive or sink in, AF. ka- 'inchoative marker'; the root is ledep 'sink, dive'. 
  2. aken: I, 1st person SIN agent
  3. ma-djadjas: catch. ma- 'to be in condition of without own volition'; the root is djadjas 'hold, entrust'. 
  4. an: ? As far as the syntax goes, I think it should be the oblique case ta or tua. However, the recording sounds like an. Could it be ma-djadjas-an with the LOC marker? I am not sure. I don't know how to explain this. 
  5. ngaci: snail, clam, mussel
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary madjadjas. 

The inchoative aspect is when state transition of an event is felt "to be the beginning of a new state" (Alan Cruse, Meaning in Language, 2011, p. 301). I suppose catching mussels to bring them home for dinner constitutes itself as a new state. Haha. 

Saturday, November 13, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 615/616: djadjas // kidjadjas // sipadjadjas

nakidjadjas ti kama tua paljing. 

Free translation: 
Father grasped the door. 

Word gloss: 
  1. na-ki-djadjas: held on tight or grasped or grapplied. na- 'PRF'; ki- 'get, obtain'; the root is djadjas 'take, hold, entrust'.
  2. ti: subject case marker for human being
  3. kama: father, male elder
  4. tua: OBL
  5. paljing: door 
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary kidjadjas. 


kusipadjadjas a sausi nua 'umaq ta kuqali. 
[ERGATIVE]

Free translation: 
I give the key of the house to my friend. 

Word gloss:
  1. ku-si-pa-djadjas: I give. ku- 'my, 1st person SIN GEN clitic'; si- 'IF'; pa- 'to cause to be'; the root is djadjas 'take, hold, entrust'. 
  2. a: subject case marker
  3. sausi: key, loanword from Minnan
  4. nua: of, GEN
  5. 'umaq: house, or tjumaq or tapaw
  6. ta: OBL
  7. ku-qali: my friend. The root is qali 'friend, male friend'. 
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary sipadjadjas. 

Thursday, November 11, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 614: djadjas // djadjasu

djadjasu azua turivecan. 

Free translation: 
Take that tool. 

Word gloss: 
  1. djadjas-u: take or grab, imperative for the hearer. The root is djadjas 'take, hold, entrust'; -u 'imperative end marking only for the hearer'. 
  2. a-zua: that or those. a 'subject case marker for common noun'; the root is zua 'that, those'. 
  3. turivecan: tool or gadget or appliance
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary djadjasu. 

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 613: djadjas // padjadjas

inika aken a padjadjas a paqeteleng tua paisu. 

Free translation: 
I do not entrust my money to anyone casually. 

Word gloss: 
  1. inika: no, NEG
  2. aken: I, 1st P SIN NOM
  3. a: LIG
  4. pa-djadjas: entrust. pa- 'to cause to be or occur'; the root is djadjas 'take, entrust'. 
  5. a paqeteleng: casually or freely
  6. tua: OBL
  7. paisu: money 
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary padjadjas. 

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 612: djadjas // djemadjas

nadjemadjas a ku kaka tua vurasi. 

Free translation: 
My sister has sweet potatoes. 

Word gloss: 
  1. na-dj<em>adjas: to have holden or have had, AV. na- 'PRF'; the root is djadjas 'hold, have, entrust'. 
  2. a: subject case marker
  3. ku: my, 1st person SIN GEN
  4. kaka: brother or sister
  5. tua: OBL
  6. vurasi: sweet potato
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982) and ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary djemadjas. 

Monday, November 8, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 611: qarut // qemarut

nusauni pusaladjuanga a qemarut ta aljualju. 

Free translation: 
In a while you help giving away the candies. 

Word gloss: 
  1. nu-sauni: later, in a while
  2. pu-saladj-u-anga: you help. pusaladj 'help, literally to have partner or friend'; -u 'IMP, for the hearer'; -anga 'COS'. 
  3. a: LIG
  4. q<em>arut: share, distribute, give away, AV. The root is qarut 'share'. 
  5. ta: OBL
  6. alju: sugar, candies. The root is alju 'sugar' in RED. 
Voice file:

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictiionary qemarut. 

Sunday, November 7, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 610: qarut // qemaruqarut

nu qemaruqarut itjen tua nemanga, nakuya inika papamamaw. 

Free translation: 
When we alloting or distributing things, it is not good to not give the same [it is bad to be unfair]. 

Word gloss: 
  1. nu: if or when
  2. q<em>aru-qarut: being sharing or alloting, AV. The root is qarut 'distribute, share, allot'. 
  3. itjen: we, 1st P PL INCL
  4. tua: OBL
  5. nemanga: things, general
  6. nakuya: it is bad
  7. inika: not, NEG
  8. pa-pa-mamaw: to make the same. The root is mamaw 'the same'. 
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary qemaruqarut. 

Saturday, November 6, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 609: qarut // qarutu

qarutu ta mareka a sinsi aicu a kamaya. 

Free translation: 
Please send these mangoes to every teacher. 

Word gloss: 
  1. qarut-u: you send, imperative for the hearer. -u 'IMP mareker'; the root is qarut 'distribute, send'. 
  2. ta: to OBL
  3. mareka: every and each 
  4. a: LIG
  5. sinsi: teacher, loanword from Japanese
  6. aicu: these
  7. kamaya: mangoes
Voice file: 

From ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary qarutu. 


Friday, November 5, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 608: viduat

siqarut a viduat na takec tua mamazangiljan. 

Free translation: 
Give the share of the ribs of the Reeves's muntjac to the chief. 

Word gloss: 
  1. si-qarut: to give away or share. si- 'IF'; the root is qarut 'things that are distributed'. 
  2. a: subject case marker
  3. viduat: ribs
  4. na: of, GEN
  5. takec: Formosan Reeve's muntjac
  6. tua: OBL
  7. mamazangiljan: the chief  
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982) and ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary viduat. 

Thursday, November 4, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 607: dingding / ngaci / luli

nu naqemudjalj, vaik aken a ljemulju tua ngacingaci. 

Free translation: 
If it rains, I will go collecting snails. 

Word gloss: 
  1. nu: if or when
  2. na-q<em>udjalj: it has rained, AV. na- 'PRF'; the root is qudjalj 'rain'. 
  3. vaik: go
  4. aken: I, 1st person SIN NOM
  5. a: LIG
  6. lj<em>ulju: collect or pick up or find, AV. The root is ljulju 'pick up'. 
  7. tua: OBL
  8. ngaci-ngaci: snails. The root is ngaci, RED implies plural, synonymous with luli and dingding. 
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982) and ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary ngacingaci. 

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 606: dimpung / undungku / lamug

dimpung 'flour'  Minnan loanword (Ferrell, p. 68)

tjasikamanguaq aravac a lamug. 

Free translation: 
Flour is very good for our body. 

Word gloss: 
  1. tja-si-ka-ma-nguaq: to be beneficial to us, UV. tja- 'our, 1st person PL GEN'; si- 'IF'; the root is nguaq 'good, well'. 
  2. aravac: very, quite, a lot
  3. a: subject case marker
  4. lamug: flour. Synonyms includ dimpung, loanword from Minnan, which is only seen in Ferrell, and undungku, loanword from Japanese. 
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982) and ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary lamug. 

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 604/605: dikiru

This is to my current knowledge solely found in Ferrell. The same meaning is conveyed with maqati or saigu or macaqu in nowadays Paiwan. 

dikiru aken. 

Ferrell translation: 
I can do it. 

Word gloss: 
  1. dikiru: be able, loanword from Japanese. 
  2. aken: I, 1st person SIG NOM
Voice file: 



From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982). 


dikiru timadju a pacun. 

Ferrell translation: 
He can see. 

Word gloss: 
  1. dikiru: be able, loanword from Japanese. 
  2. ti-madju: he or she, 3rd person SIG NOM
  3. a: LIG
  4. pa-cun: see. The root is cun 'see'. 
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982). 

Sunday, October 31, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 603: det // ljiadet

maya ljiadet tua sapui, maculjusun. 

Free translation: 
Do not go near the fire, you will be burnt. 

Word gloss: 
  1. maya: do not, prohibitive
  2. ljia-det: get near. The root is det 'proximity, nearness'. 
  3. tua: OBL
  4. sapui: fire
  5. ma-culju-sun: to get warm or burnt. The root is culju 'heat, warmth'; -sun 'you, 2nd person SIN, postclitic'. 
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982) and ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary ljiadet. 

Saturday, October 30, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 602: det // mapadetanga

mapadetanga aravac a tja masalut. 

Free translation: 
Harvest festival is just around the corner. 

Word gloss: 
  1. ma-pa-det-anga: to be made very close already, or just around the corner. The root is det 'proximity, close'; -anga 'change of state'. 
  2. aravac: very, quite, too
  3. a: subject case marker
  4. tja: our, 1st person PL GEN. tja 'our' is used a lot in Paiwan language to indicate a sense of community without the need of translating the genitive form. 
  5. masalut: harvest festival
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982) and ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary mapadet. 

Friday, October 29, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 601: det // madadet

madadet aravac azua nusinitalem a kasiw. 

Free translation:
Those trees you planted are too crowded. [Semantic subject is ERGATIVE]. 

Word gloss: 
  1. ma-da-det: too close to each other or crowded, AV. The root is det 'proximity, closeness'. 
  2. aravac: quite, a lot, too
  3. a-zua: that, those
  4. nu: your, 2nd person PL GEN, used as the subject of the UV verb that follows sinitalem. 
  5. s<in>i-talem: used to be planted, UV. The root is talem 'plant'. 
  6. a: subject case marker
  7. kasiw: tree
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982) and ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary madadet. 

Thursday, October 28, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 600: det // tjadedet

tjadedet a paqulid a nu pinarecunguljanan. 

Free translation: 
Your blood relation is really closer. [You are really closer in blood relation.]

Word gloss: 
  1. tja-de-det: closer. tja- 'comparative case'; the root is det 'near, close, proximity'. 
  2. a: LIG
  3. paqulid: really, indeed
  4. nu: your, 2nd person PL GEN
  5. pinare-cunguljan-an: blood relation. The root is cunguljan 'relatiive'. This is a near synonym with pinarekakakakakan in Paiwan Every Day 598. 
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982) and ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary tjadedet. 

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 598/599: det // dedet // pidetdet

dedet anan a tja pinarekakakakakan. 

Free translation: 
We are close relatives. 

Word gloss: 
  1. de-det: close relatives
  2. anan: still, yet
  3. a: subject case marker
  4. pinarekakakakakan: sisterhood or brother-hood. The root is kaka 'brother or sister'. This is a very interesting word, complicated in the way it is formed and richer in the production of its meaning. However, I can't analyze it right now. My apology. I will do it next time. 
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982) and ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary dedet. 


pacaingan a gung a pidedet. 

Free translation: 
Tie the cow nearby. 

Word gloss: 
  1. pa-caing-an: to make tied. The root is caing 'to join, to fasten'. 
  2. a: subject case marker
  3. gung: cow or ox, loanword from Minnan. 
  4. a: LIG
  5. pi-de-det: close by. The root is det 'proximity, nearby'. 
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982) and ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary pidedet. 

Monday, October 25, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 597: dedet // padet

padetanga paqulid a kaljauragan. 

Free translation: 
Fall is indeed already around the corner. 

Word gloss: 
  1. pa-det-anga: to arrive, to be nearby or around the corner. pa- 'to cause to be'; the root is det 'close by'; -anga 'COS'. 
  2. pa-qulid: indeed, really. The root is qulid 'true, sincere, genuine'. 
  3. a: subject case marker
  4. kaljauragan: fall or autumn. Synonyms include kaljaqudjaljan, kaljakiceragan. 
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982) and ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary padet. 

Sunday, October 24, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 596: dedet // idedet

idedet a nia qinaljan a kemasi maza. 

Free translation: 
Our village is close from this place. [Our village is nearby.]

Word gloss: 
  1. i-dedet: in proximity or nearby. i 'LOC'; the root is de-det, du-dut, dung-dung 'close by; nearby'. 
  2. a: subject case marker
  3. nia: our, 1stP PL GEN
  4. qinaljan: village
  5. a: LIG
  6. k<em>asi: from, AV
  7. maza: this place or here
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982) and ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary idedet. 

Saturday, October 23, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 595: dungdung / dudut / dedet

dungdung a sema yubingkiuku a kemasi tjanuamen. 

Free translation: 
It is close to go to the post office from our place. 

Word gloss: 
  1. dungdung: close to, proximity, nearby place, synonymous with dudut or dedet. 
  2. a: LIG
  3. s<em>a: to go to, AV
  4. yubingkiuku: post office, loanword from Japanese
  5. a: LIG
  6. k<em>asi: from, AV
  7. tjanuamen: with us, towards us, our place, depending on the context
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982), ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary dedet, and klokah dungdung/dudut. 

Friday, October 22, 2021

Paiwan Every day 594: dudu // namadudu

namaduduangasun?
Free translation: 
Are you mad? [Have you been in the state of anger?]

Word gloss: 
  1. na-ma-dudu-anga-sun: are you mad? na- 'PRF'; ma- 'to be in the condition of'; the root is dudu 'anger, mad'; -anga 'COS'; -sun 'you, 2nd person SIN clitic'. 
Word file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982) and ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary namadudu. 

The wonder of word.  In my dialect, I will probably say namatjalawangasun? using matjalaw with the root tjalaw. 

Thursday, October 21, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 593: duku

nakeman ta puduku a kakanen timadju, kirimu, vaikan a papucemel. 

Free translation: 
He ate poisonous food. Hurry up, send him to the doctor. 

Word gloss: 
  1. na-k<em>an: has eaten, AV. na- 'PRF'; the root is kan 'eat'.
  2. ta: OBL
  3. pu-duku: poisonous, to have poison. pu- 'get, obtain'; the root is duku 'poison', loanword from Japanese. 
  4. a: LIG
  5. ka-kan-en: food. The root is kan 'eat'. 
  6. ti-madju: he or she, 3rd person SIN NOM
  7. kirimu: hurry up
  8. vaik-an: let's go. I have yet to study the marker -an; it seems much more complex than we now know of. 
  9. a: LIG
  10. pa-pu-cemel: to be made to get the medicine. pa- 'to make happen'; -pu- 'to get, obtain'; the root is cemel 'medicine, grass'.  
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982) and ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary duku. 

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 592: qadupu

izua 'u taiday a qadupu a valjitjuq, sa 'ivalit a'en. 

Free translation: 
I have a 100-dollar bill, and I want to change. 

Word gloss: 
  1. izua: there is, to have
  2. 'u or ku: my, 1st person SIN GEN
  3. taiday: hundred
  4. a: subject case marker
  5. qadupu: paper, bill
  6. a: LIG
  7. valjitjuq: money, synonymous with paisu or pakiyaw. 
  8. sa: and, then
  9. 'i-valit or ki-valit: to get change
  10. a'en or aken: I, 1st person SIN NOM
Voice file: 

From Raleigh Ferrell's Paiwan Dictionary (1982), ILRDF Online Paiwan Dictionary 'adupu, and klokah qadupu and 'ivalit ta valjituq. 

This is really how mom sounds when she speaks Paiwan; k or q is dropped, but not always. The divorce is not really complete, and there seems to be no real boundary where she speaks without or with. She just does it as she finds natural. No doubt I should again study further about this phonetic phenomenon. 


Paiwan Every Day 668: pai

pai, kinemnemanga tiamadju tu kemacu tua ljigim nua kakinan.   Free translation : Now, they decided to take their mother's sewing needle...