palisi a qemav ta djalan na zaljum.
lja aicu a zaljum, nu cuaicuaianga, tjara singlit ta djalan nimadju.
Free translation:
It is a taboo to steal the water way.
Becasue this water, if after a long time, will always miss its own way.
[Meaning: Do unto others as you would have them done unto you. What goes around, comes around.]
Word gloss:
- palisi: taboo
- a: LIG
- q<em>av: steal, AV. The root is qav 'to steal or rob'.
- ta: OBL
- djalan: road
- na: of, GEN
- zaljum: water
- lja: belonging to a given category
- nu: if or when
- cuai-cuai-anga: time passes for a long time, COS
- tjara: must, always
- singlit: miss
- ni-madju: of him or his, 3rd person singular GEN
Voice file:
From the class of sinsi kalekes.
Thanks to the classmates who shared this quote in class today. It turns out to be very true also in the real life setting.
In the past, Paiwan elders would not choose to build village on the river bank because they knew it was risky. Their village would be swept away in flood after torrential rain or typhoons. Therefore, despite of the hassle of carrying water back and forth, they preferred to set up homes while keeping a safe distance from the river.
This wisdom from a lived experience has become a metaphor for encouraging good deeds in life.
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