Sunday, March 21, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 379: semupu

nu izua a nia qaljaqalja a kemasi cadja, 
sipakikadja a nasanguaq a kakanen. 

In English: 
When there are our friends visiting from afar, 
we treat them with delicious food. 

Reading: 

From sinsi idis (18 March 2021). 

qalja is an interesting word. In singular form qalja, it means 'enemy'; in plural reduplication (RED) form qalja-qalja, it becomes 'friends'. What does this say about the Paiwan conception of hostility and kindness? Are there similar examples from other indigenous languages? I am indeed curious. 

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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...