Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Paiwan Evey Day 480: kai (IX-FIN)

a kai na sepaiwan izua 27 a vecikan tua ljingau nua tjakai, 
semanvavecikan tua kai nua sepaiwan a caucau. 
saljinga itjen tu sasivecikan tu tjatjuruvu a saigu,
sa ‘aqati a tjakai a sivecik a sepazurung,
sa ‘aqati a izua tjaliyawanan a vecik a maqati a ‘ituluin nua tjatjaivilivililj. 

Free translation:
For the language of Paiwan people, there are 27 symbols for the sound of our language. 
With them we make the written literature of the Paiwan people. 
We hope more and more people can learn to write, 
and we can write our language and promote the language, 
and there can still be more written materials, which can be used to teach the younger generation. 

Word gloss
  1. a: subject case marker
  2. kai na sepaiwan: language of Paiwan people
  3. izua: there is
  4. vecik-an: writing symbol
  5. tua: OBL
  6. ljingau: sound
  7. nua: of, GEN
  8. tja-kai: our language
  9. s<em>an-va-vecik-an: make or produce written literature
  10. sepaiwan a caucau: Paiwan people
  11. saljinga: wish to, hope to
  12. itjen: we, 1st person plural NOM INCL
  13. tu: that, complementizer
  14. sa-si-vecik-an: that which is used in writing or the written language
  15. tja-tjuruvu: more and more people. tja- 'comparative'; tjuruvu 'many, used for people'. 
  16. saigu: be able to or can
  17. sa: and, then, CONJ‘
  18. ‘aqati or kaqati or maqati: be able to
  19. sivecik: to be used in writing or written down
  20. se-pa-zurung: to be promoted
  21. tja-liyaw-anan: still even more
  22. ‘ituluin or ki-tulu-in: be taught, UV. The root is tulu 'teach'. 
  23. tja-tjai-vili-vilji: descendants or younger generation
Voice file

From tinagiljan a semanvecik tua kai nua sepaiwan 'The Origin of Writing in Paiwan Language'. 

This article is narrated by Pastor ljumeg, Tsai Ai-lien, and very likely written by her too.

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 479: kai (VIII)

‘a 2005 a cavilj pasemalaw a sihu tua sivecikan nua kacalisiyan na kai. 
pai, avananga a tjavecik a patje tucu. 
sa pakakacui a vecik nua i kiukai ‘atua siniljaui nua sihu,
sa avananga a maseljuseljudj tucu tua semanvavecikan tua tjakai a sepaiwan. 

Free translation
In 2005 the government announced the writing systems of indigenous languages. 
Look, they have become our writing systems until now. 
And they integrated the system used in the church and announced by the government, 
and they have been used now for the making of the written literature for us Paiwan people. 

Word gloss
  1. ‘a or ka: a time in the past
  2. a: LIG
  3. cavilj: year
  4. pasemalaw: tell, announce, AV. 
  5. a: subject case marker
  6. sihu: government, loanword from Japanese 政府 せいふ
  7. tua: OBL
  8. si-vecik-an: that which is used for writing or writing system. si- 'IF'; the root is vecik 'writing, drawing, pattern'; -an 'nominalization NMZ'.
  9. nua: of, GEN
  10. ka-calisi-(y)an: indigenous
  11. na: of, GEN
  12. kai: language
  13. pai: vocative
  14. avan-anga: have been. avan 'is, equal to'; -anga 'COS'. 
  15. tja-vecik: our writing. tja- 'our, 1st person plural GEN proclitic'. 
  16. patje: until
  17. tucu: now
  18. sa: and, CONJ
  19. pakakcui: intergrate or fix by combining or mixing. I cannot find the root of this word. 
  20. i: in or at, LOC
  21. kiukai: church, loanword from Japanese 教会 きょうかい
  22. ‘atua or katua: and
  23. siniljaui: announced or made, UV. I cannot find the root of this word. 
  24. maseljuseljudj: to have been used or kept for. I cannot find the root of this word. 
  25. s<em>an-va-vecik-an: make the written literature, AV. seman- 'make, manufacture'; va- 'frozen prefix with unclear meaning'; the root is vecik 'writing'; -an 'NMZ'. pinavavecikan is used as contract; literally in Paiwan the word  means that which is put in the writing, UV. 
  26. se-paiwan: Paiwan people
Voice file:

From tinagiljan a semanvecik tua kai nua sepaiwan 'The Origin of Writing in Paiwan Language'. 

This article is narrated by Pastor ljumeg, Tsai Ai-lien, and very likely written by her too.

Monday, June 28, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 478: kai (VII)

‘a patagitagilj a ta semansisiu ‘ata sambika 
a kasi i casaw a mareka rutjaucikecikel, 
sinivecik tua kai nua sepaiwan 
tu sikamadjuluan nua vecik ta kai, 
sa ‘ivavadaqan tua ramaljemaljeng, sa patagilj a semanvecik tua tjakai. 
pai, a kinateveteveljan na kiukai
namasanpazangal aravac ta tjakinitulu tua tjakai a sepaiwan. 

Free translation
Every missionary that came from outside started to make the Bible and hymns. 
The Paiwan language was written down, 
in order that the written language is easy to understand, 
they asked elders and started to make the writing of our language. 
Now, the meeting in the church 
has become a very important place for our instruction of our Paiwan language. 

Word gloss
  1. ‘a or ka: a time in the past
  2. pa-tagi-tagilj: in the beginning or start to. The root is tagilj 'start' in RED. 
  3. a: LIG
  4. ta seman-sisiu ‘ata (or kata) sambika: the making (that is translating or writing) of the Bible and praise songs, AV. s<em>an 'to make or manufacture'; both sisiu and sambika are loanwords from Japanese 聖書せいしょ and 賛美歌さんびか. 
  5. kasi-i-casaw: that coming from outside or the outsider
  6. mareka: every, each
  7. ru-tjau-cike-cikel: missionary or teacher. The root is tjaucikel 'story' in RED. 
  8. s<in>i-vecik: used as written word, UV and IF. The root is vecik 'writing, pattern, drawing'. 
  9. tua: OBL
  10. kai: language
  11. nua: of, GEN
  12. se-paiwan: Paiwan people
  13. tu: in order that, complementary. This is also an interesting functional word. 
  14. si-ka-ma-djulu-an: to make something easy to understand, UV. si- 'IF'; ka-an 'principal, main'; ma- 'to be in the condition of, agent marker'; the root is djulu 'easy'. 
  15. tja-kai: our language. tja 'our, 1st person plural GEN prolitic'; kai 'language'.
  16. nua: GEN, here used as the subject of the UV verb
  17. vecik ta kai: the writing of language
  18. sa: then, and, CONJ
  19. ‘ivavadaqan or ki-va-va-daq-an: were asking, AV. The root is vadaq 'ask, question' in RED. 
  20. ramaljemaljeng: elders
  21. pai: vocative
  22. k<in>a-teve-tevelj-an: meeting or congregation. The root is tevelj 'meet, gather' in RED. 
  23. kiukai: church, loanword from Japanese 教会きょうかい
  24. na-masan-pazangal: have become important
  25. aravac: very, quite
  26. tja-k<in>i-tulu: our instruction, UV. The root is tulu 'teach'. 
  27. tja-kai nua sepaiwan: our Paiwan language. It is obvious that this article uses a lot of the prolitic tja, which indicates that language is a community rather than individual property. 
Voice file

From tinagiljan a semanvecik tua kai nua sepaiwan 'The Origin of Writing in Paiwan Language'. 

This article is narrated by Pastor ljumeg, Tsai Ai-lien, and very likely written by her too.

Sunday, June 27, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 477: kai (VI)

masatemulu tua sinzia, 
pai a i 1951 izua rutjaucikecikel a kemasi ingeris a bukesi a ti yuhani,
sinkauljan a pasa ta qinaljan nua sepaiwan. 
itulu timadju tua kai na pinaiwanan, 
sa pusaladj a emumalj tua pinaiwanan a sisiu atua sambika, 
sa a patagiljanga a vencik tua pinaiwanan a kai. 

Free translation
In order to teach believers, 
see, in 1952, there was a pastor and missionary, yuuhani (Reverend John Whitehorn), from England,. 
he was sent to the villages of the Paiwan people. 
He studied the Paiwan language, 
and helped to change (translate) the Bible and hymns to the Paiwan language, 
and this began the writing of the Paiwan language. 

Word gloss
  1.  ma-sa-t<em>ulu: to be able to teach, AV. ma- and <em> 'AV marker'; sa- 'wish to'; the root is tulu 'teach'. 
  2. tua: OBL
  3. sinzia: believer, loanword from Japanese 信者 しんじゃ. 
  4. pai: vocatives
  5. i: in or at, LOC
  6. izua: there is
  7. ru-tjau-cike-cikel: someone in the habit of teaching or missionary. The root is tjaucikel 'story, reason'.
  8. k<em>asi: come from, AV. The root is kasi 'to be from, come from'.
  9. ingeris: England  
  10. bukesi: pastor, loanword from Japanese 牧師 ボクシ. 
  11. yuhani: Reverend Joahn Whitehorn
  12. s<in>kaulj-an: to be sent to. The root is sekaulj 'serve, to be a missionary of'. 
  13. pasa: go to
  14. qinaljan: village
  15. nua: GEN
  16. se-paiwan: Paiwan people
  17. ‘itulu or kitulu: studied or learned, AV. The root is tulu 'teach, instruct'. 
  18. ti-madju: he, 3rd person singular NOM
  19. kai na p<in>aiwan-an: language of Paiwan
  20. sa: then, and, CONJ
  21. pu-saladj: helped or assisted with. pu- 'to obtain'; saladj 'companion, partner'. 
  22. ‘<em>umalj: change, i.e. translate, AV. The root is umalj- 'change, alter'. This is interesting phonologically. When a Paiwan word begins with a verb, the AV form starts with m- like m-alap 'to take', but this one starts with the infix <em>. It is reasonable to think there must be a glottal /q/ or /k/ or /‘/ before the infix because infix does not stand in the beginning of a word. Therefore, I added the glottal. 
  23. sisiu: Bible, loanword from Japanese 聖書 せいしょ. 
  24. atua or katua: and
  25. sambika: hymns or praise songs, loanword from Japanese 賛美歌 さんびか. 
  26. pa-tagilj-anga: it started already. The root is tagilj 'start'; -anga 'COS'. 
  27. v<en>(e)cik: write, AV
  28. p<in>aiwan-an a kai: Paiwan language
Voice file

From tinagiljan a semanvecik tua kai nua sepaiwan 'The Origin of Writing in Paiwan Language'. 

This article is narrated by Pastor ljumeg, Tsai Ai-lien, and very likely written by her too. 

Saturday, June 26, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 476: kai (V)

pai ka 1945 a cavilj, mangetjez a sinzia a krisitu a ciuru kiukai
a sema tua qinaljan nua sepaiwan a patagilj. 
ayatua tjuruvu aravac a caucau a masalu, 
sa meliyaw a isauniuni a liningedjelj a kiukai. 

Free translation:
Since the year of 1945, believers of the Christian Presbyterian church
started to arrive at the Paiwan villages. 
Because there were very many people who believed, 
and the church soon grew very fast. 

Word gloss: 
  1. pai: vocative
  2. ka: indicating a time in past, case marker?
  3. a: LIG
  4. cavilj: year
  5. mangetjez: come, arrive, AV. ma- 'to be in the condition of'; the root is ngetjez 'come'. 
  6. a: subject case marker
  7. sinzia: believers, loanword from Japanese信者しんじゃ.
  8. krisitu: Christ
  9. ciuru kiukai: Presbyterian church, loanword from Japanese 長老ちょうろう 教会きょうかい.
  10. s<em>a: to, AV
  11. tua: OBL
  12. qinaljan: village
  13. nua: of, GEN
  14. se-paiwan: Paiwan people. se- 'belonging to or coming from a certain place'. 
  15. pa-tagilj: start, for the first time, in the beginning. pa- 'to cause to be'; the root is tagilj 'start, beginning'. 
  16. ayatua: because
  17. tjuruvu: a lot of, used for people
  18. aravac: quite, very
  19. caucau: people
  20. ma-salu: believe, AV. The root is salu 'faith, believe, thank'. 
  21. isauniuni: soon, in a short time
  22. l<in>ingedjelj: grew. The root is lingedjelj 'stand'. 
Voice file

From tinagiljan a semanvecik tua kai nua sepaiwan 'The Origin of Writing in Paiwan Language'. 

This article is narrated by Pastor ljumeg, Tsai Ai-lien, and very likely written by her too. 

Friday, June 25, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 475: kai (IV)

amin a vecik 
a pasemalaw tua pasasevalivalit, tua penacalivatan na taqaljaqaljan, 
a papacun tua natemalidu a kakudan nua kacalisiyan, 
sa tuluwan, sa pazurungan. 
ljakua neka nu vecik tua kai nua kacalisiyan. 

Free translation
There is only pattern,
with which to tell the changes, the history of fellow villagers,
to show the impressive part of the indigenous culture, 
and its instruction, and its continuance.  
However, there is no written language for indigenous peoples. 

Word gloss
  1. amin: only
  2. a: subject case marker
  3. vecik: pattern, drawing
  4. a: to or for the purpose of, LIG
  5. pasemalaw: to tell or explain, AV
  6. tua: OBL
  7. pa-sa-se-vali-valit: changes. pa- 'to cause to be'; sa-  and se- 'have the quality of'; the root is valit 'change, replacement' in RED
  8. p<en>a-calivat-an: things that have passed or history, UV. The root is calivat 'pass over'; -an 'nominalization'. 
  9. na: of, GEN
  10. taqaljaqaljan: villgers or community members
  11. pa-pa-cun: to show or present. The root is cun 'see'. 
  12. na-t<em>alidu: exciting or interesting or impressive, AV. na- 'have become'; the root is talidu 'appreciate, spectacular'. 
  13. ka-kud(a)-an: culture
  14. nua: of, GEN
  15. ka-calisi-(y)an: hill or indigenous people
  16. sa: and, then
  17. tulu-(w)an: instruction. The root is tulu 'teach'; -an 'NMZ'. 
  18. pa-zurung-an: continuance or transmission. pa- 'to cause to be'; the root is zurung 'push forward'; -an 'NMZ'. 
  19. ljakua: but, CONJ
  20. neka: no or not, NEG
  21. nu: this is also very interesting case marker to think further about. Is it a demonstrative for Paiwan? I see it many times functioning as demonstrative before a noun. 
  22. vecik tua kai: written language 
Voice file

From tinagiljan a semanvecik tua kai nua sepaiwan 'The Origin of Writing in Paiwan Language'. 

This article is narrated by Pastor ljumeg, Tsai Ai-lien, and very likely written by her too. 

Thursday, June 24, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 474: kai (III)

ljakua a kacalisiyan i Taiwan, 
kemasicuai amin a tjaucikel, amin a vecik, 
a pitua inalang a kasiw, a qaciljai, katua vincikan a itung, 
a inalang a cempu, a vincikan i ta lima. 

Free translation:
But for indigenous peoples in Taiwan, 
for a long time, there is only oral story, only pattern
as per patterns made on the tree trunk, on the stone, and drawn on clothing, 
drawn in weaving, written on the hand. 

Word gloss:
  1. ljakua: but, CONJ
  2. a: subject case marker
  3. ka-calisi-(y)an: hill people or indigenous people. The root is calisi 'hill, slope'; -an 'specific location in space, referent focus, NMZ'. 
  4. i: in or at, LOC
  5. k<em>asi-cuai: coming for a long time ago, AV. kasi 'come from'; cuai 'a long time ago'. 
  6. amin: only, alone
  7. tjaucikel: story telling, oral history
  8. vecik: pattern, line, cruve or drawing
  9. a: LIG
  10. pitua: as per, according to
  11. <in>-a-lang: made, UV. The root is lang 'make'; malang means to make, AV. The vowel /a/ must be an addition to make the word pronounciable, like lap and m-a-lap 'take, AV'. 
  12. a: subject case marker
  13. kasiw: tree
  14. qaciljai: stone
  15. katua: and, CONJ
  16. v<in>cik-an: the thing that is drawn or pattern, UV. The root is vecik 'pattern'; /e/ disappears phonologically. 
  17. itung: clothing
  18. c<em>pu: weave, AV. The root is cepu 'weaving'; /e/ disappears phonologically. 
  19. lima: hand
Voice file

From tinagiljan a semanvecik tua kai nua sepaiwan 'The Origin of Writing in Paiwan Language'. 

This article is narrated by Pastor ljumeg, Tsai Ai-lien, and very likely written by her too.

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 473: kai (II)

namasan ljuqes, vavak nua i naqinaljanan. 
sa a tjakai mavan napakeljangan tua tjakakudakudan a i qinaljan. 

Free translation:
It [Language] is the essence and soul of a people. 
Our language is the means through which we present our culture in the indigenous village. 

Word gloss
  1. na-masan: has been. na- 'PRF'; masan 'to be'. 
  2. ljuqes: essence
  3. vavak: soul
  4. nua: of, GEN
  5. i: in or at, LOC
  6. na-qinaljan-an: people of a village. na- 'of, belonging to, GEN'; the root is qinaljan 'village'; -an 'specific location in space, referent focus'.
  7. sa: then, and, CONJ
  8. a: subject case marker
  9. tja-kai: our (spoken) language. tja- 'our, GEN, proclitic'; kai 'language, spoken word'. 
  10. mavan: is exactly
  11. na-pa-keljang-an: to make known or reveal or present. pa- 'to cause to occur'; the root is keljang 'know, understand'; -an 'reference focus'. 
  12. tua: OBL
  13. tja-ka-kuda-kud(a)-an: our ways of life or our culture. ka- 'inchoative marker'; the root is kuda 'custom'; -an 'NZM'. [Now I am getting curious about -an. This suffix is used a lot and has many functions or meanings.]
  14. a: LIG
  15. i: LOC
  16. qinaljan: village
Voice file

From tinagiljan a semanvecik tua kai nua sepaiwan 'The Origin of Writing in Paiwan Language'. 

This article is narrated by Pastor ljumeg, Tsai Ai-lien, and very likely written by her too.

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 472: kai (I)

a kai nua caucau sinipavai nua cemas, 
a napakisumalji a manguaqan, 
tjasipakakeljakeljangan tua tjavarung. 

Free translation
Human language is a gift from God, 
a very special blessing, 
the means through which we reveal our heart. 

Word gloss: 
  1. a: subject case marker
  2. kai: language
  3. nua: GEN
  4. caucau: people, human being
  5. s<in>i-pa-vai: given, UV. si- 'IF'; pa- 'to cause to be'; the root is vai 'give, offer'. 
  6. nua cemas: literally of god, but to be understood as by god because the agent of a UV verb in Paiwan is in GEN. 
  7. a: subject case marker
  8. na-pa-ki-su-malji: different or special. na- 'PRF'; pa- 'to cause to be'; ki- 'to get, obtain'; su- '?';  the root is malji 'different'. 
  9. a: LIG
  10. ma-nguaq-an: blessing, NVZ. ma- 'to be in the condition of'; the root is nguaq 'good, well'; -an 'nominalization'. 
  11. tja-si-pa-ka-kelja-keljang-an: used by us to make known or to show, IF. tja- 'our, GEN, proclitic, used as the agent of IF sentence'; si- 'IF'; pa- 'to cause to be'; ka- 'inchoative marker'; the root is keljang 'know, understand' in RED; -an 'referent focus'. [This word is complicated. A Paiwan word is a sentence. Can there be two focuses in one Paiwan word? Can this word combine UV and IF?]
  12. tua: OBL
  13. tja-varung: our heart. The root is varung 'heart'. 
Voice file

From tinagiljan a semanvecik tua kai nua sepaiwan 'The Origin of Writing in Paiwan Language'. 

This article is narrated by Pastor ljumeg, Tsai Ai-lien, and very likely written by her too. 

Monday, June 21, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 471: nasi // minasinasi

nu ini'anga kaminasinasi a caucau a qemuzimuzip, tjasannamacaiyanga. 

Free translation
If a person or an animal is no longer breathing, we think they died already. 

Word gloss
  1. nu: if
  2. ini'(a)-anga: no longer, not anymore
  3. ka-mi-nasi-nasi: is breathing, AV. ka- 'inchoative'; mi- 'anget marker'; the root is nasi 'breath' in RED
  4. a: subject case marker
  5. caucau: people, human 
  6. a: LIG
  7. qemuzimuzip: animal
  8. tja-san-na-ma-cai-(y)anga: we consider dead. tja- 'our'; san- 'construct'; na- 'PRF'; ma- 'to be in the condition of'; the root is cai 'death'; -anga 'COS'. 
Voice file

From CIP Online Paiwan Dictionary minasinasi

Sunday, June 20, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 470: nasi // minasi

pazangal a cuai itjen i ta zaljum a inika minasi. 

Free translation:
It is difficult for us to stay in the water for a long time and not breathe. 

Word gloss:
  1. pa-zangal: difficult. The root is zangal 'value, significance'. 
  2. a: LIG
  3. cuai: for a long time
  4. itjen: we, 1st person plural NOM INCL
  5. i: in or at, LOC
  6. ta: OBL
  7. zaljum: water
  8. a: LIG
  9. inika: not, NEG
  10. mi-nasi: to breathe, AV. mi- 'agent marker for certain verbs, usually intransitive'; the root is nasi 'life, breath'. 
Voice file:

From CIP Online Paiwan Dictionary minasi

Saturday, June 19, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 469: nasi // sinasi

aicu a maqesang a caucau, nakuya a sinasi nimadju. 

Free translation
He or she who has asthma has a weak respitory system. 

Word gloss
  1. a-icu: this. a 'subject case marker'; the root is icu 'this, these'. 
  2. a: LIG
  3. ma-qesang: cough, in extension asthma. ma- 'to be in the condition of, AV'; the root is qesang 'cough'. 
  4. a: LIG
  5. caucau: people
  6. na-kuya: bad, poor, weak. The root is kuya 'bad'. 
  7. s<in>asi: thing or organ used for breathing, respitory system, UV. The root is nasi 'breath, life'. 
  8. ni-madju: his or her, 3rd person singular GEN
Voice file

From CIP Online Paiwan Dictionary sinasi

Friday, June 18, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 468: nasi // punasi

punasi tua nguanguaq. 

Free translation
Be given a blessed life. 

Word gloss
  1. pu-nasi: to get life or to obtain life. pu- 'get or obtain'; the root is nasi 'life'. 
  2. tua: OBL
  3. ngua-nguaq: good or well. The root is nguaq 'good, well' in RED. 
Voice file

From CIP Online Paiwan Dictionary punasi

Thursday, June 17, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 467: nasi

nekanga nu tjapazangal tua tjanasi. 

Free translation:
Nothing is more valuable than our life. 

Word gloss
  1. nek(a)-anga: nothing, no more. The root is neka 'no, not'; -anga 'COS'. 
  2. nu: COMP
  3. tja-pa-zangal: more important or valuable. tja- 'comparative, prefix'; pa- 'to cause to be'; the root is zangal 'value, importance'. 
  4. tua: OBL
  5. tja-nasi: our life, our breath. tja- 'our, 1st person plural GEN, prolitic'; the main word is nasi 'life'. 
Voice file:

From CIP Online Paiwan Dictionary nasi

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 466: gadu // gemaduan

liaw a sacemel i gemaduan. 

Free translation
The mountain area is filled with game. 

Word gloss
  1. liaw: many, a lot of
  2. a: subject case marker
  3. sacemel: game
  4. i: in or at, LOC
  5. g<em>adu-an: mountain area. The root is gadu 'mountain'; -an 'nominalization of location'. I am not so sure about the semantic difference between gemaduan and gadu or gadugadu. Morphologically, this word may be the place where you gemadu 'goes to the mountain', that is the mountain area, though the word gemadu may not exist. Or does the circumfix <em>...an actually exist? I have not found an example yet. Hopefully will do one day. 
Voice file

From CIP Online Paiwan Dictionary gemaduan

Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 465: gadu // magadu

djuljam aya itjen tua uqaljay nu mapana izua inalap, nu magadu izua qinaljup. 

Free translation:
We call a man a crown hunter if he always catches fish in the river and catches game in the mountain. 

Word gloss
  1. djuljam: a crown hunter who never returns without game. In Paiwan, hunter is cinunan. cinunan goes hunting in the mountains, though not always with success. A brilliant hunter who never fails to bring game home is called djuljam by his people. 
  2. aya: say
  3. itjen: we, 1st person plural NOM INCL
  4. tua: OBL
  5. uqaljay: man or boy
  6. nu: if or when
  7. ma-pana: to be in the river or to go to the river. The root is pana 'river'. 
  8. izua: have, there is
  9.  <in>a-lap: catches or gains, UV. Literally, it means things that are caught. The root is lap 'take, catch'. 
  10. ma-gadu: to be in the mountains or to go to the mountains. The root is gadu 'mountain'. 
  11. q<in>aljup: game, UV. Literally, it means things that are hunted. The root is qaljup 'hunt, hunting area'. qaljup is also a noun, meaning the leaves of Miscanthus or Chinese silvergrass used as the wrapping of sticky rice or millet. 
Voice file

From CIP Online Paiwan Dictionary magadu

Monday, June 14, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 464: gadu // gadugadu

i gadugadu a nia umaq. valivali nu kaljaculjuwan. 

Free translation:
Our house is on the hill. It is cool in summer. 

Word gloss
  1. i: in or at, LOC
  2. gadu-gadu: hill. The root is gadu 'mountain' in RED, used to indicate decrease in size. 
  3. a: subject case marker
  4. nia: our, 1st person pluralGEN
  5. umaq: house. uma' is also heard in sinvaudjan paiwan. 
  6. vali-vali: to have breeze or wind. The root is vali 'wind' in RED, used to indicate a continuous movement of wind of lesser strength or scale. 
  7. nu: if or when, CONJ
  8. kalja-culju-(w)an: summer. kalja...an 'time characterized by something'; the root is culju 'heat'. 
Voice file

From CIP Online Paiwan Dictionary gadugadu

Sunday, June 13, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 463: kuda // mikemudan

inika nanguaq a mikemudan itjen. 

Free translation
It's not good to boast about ourselves. 

Word gloss
  1. inika: not, NEG
  2. na-nguaq: good or well. The root is nguaq 'good, well'. 
  3. a: LIG
  4. mi-k<em>ud(a)-an: to boast about or to act arrogant. 
  5. itjen: we, 1st person plural NOM INCL
Voice file:

From CIP Online Paiwan Dictionary mikemudan

In southern Paiwan, the same word becomes misakemudan. I often hear elders use misaiguan 'to act or be smart or to be proud'. 

Saturday, June 12, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 462: kuda // makudakuda

makudakuda a kakaveliyan nu sa kava?

Free translaion:
How much is this piece of clothing?

Word gloss
  1. ma-kuda-kuda: how much, for value or price. The root is kuda 'what'. In my dialect sinvaudjan Paiwan, we use 'pida'. 
  2. a: subject case marker
  3. ka-ka-veli-yan: price. The root is veli 'buy, sell, trade'. Morphologically, I think the combination has two steps:  ka-veli-an and then ka-kavelian. The first ka- is 'inchoative marker', and the second ka- is unclear. -an is NMZ (nominalization). Needs more data to compare and confirm. 
  4. nu: of, GEN
  5. sa: this? or za 'that'?
  6. kava: clothes. We use itung in southern Paiwan.
Voice file

From CIP Online Paiwan Dictionary makudakuda

In my dialect sinvaudjan Paiwan, we will say, pida a kakaveliyan na aicu a itung

Friday, June 11, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 461: kuda // sikudaan

pakananguaq amen a mapuljat tua su sikudaan. 

Free translation:
We all admire your style. 

Word gloss
  1. pa-ka-nanguaq: to consider good or admire. pa- 'to cause to be'; ka- 'inchoative'; the root is nanguaq 'good, nice, well'. 
  2. amen: we, 1st person plural NOM EXCL
  3. a: LIG
  4. ma-puljat: all. ma- 'to be in the condition of'; the root is puljat 'all, every'. 
  5. tua: OBL
  6. su: your, 2nd person singular GEN
  7. si-kuda-an: behavior, style, how one conducts him- or herself. The root is kuda 'custom, way of being'. The vowels 'a' in this case do not merge. 
Voice file

From CIP Online Paiwan Dictionary sikudaan

Thursday, June 10, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 460: kuda // kudakudain

anema kudakudain niamadju i pukukan?

Free translation
What are they doing in the chicken farm?

Word gloss
  1. a-nema: what
  2. kuda-kuda-in: activity or doing, UV. The root is kuda 'what'. 
  3. niamadju: their, 3rd person plural GEN
  4. i: in or at, LOC
  5. pu-kuk(a)-an: chicken farm or henhouse. pu- 'to have'; the root is kuka 'chicken'; -an 'localization'. 
Voice file

From CIP Online Paiwan Dictionary kudakudain

parekiljivaljivak tiamadju. 😆😆

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 459: kuda // kitjukuda

maya kinemenem tua kitjukuda tua su cekelj. 

Free translation
Do not think of leaving your spouse. 

Word gloss
  1. maya: do not
  2. ki-nemenem: think or or plan. The root is nemnem 'think, plan'. 
  3. tua: OBL
  4. kitju-kuda: divorce or departure from. ki-tju- 'to do or use separately'; the root is kuda 'what'. The word becomes a noun through nominalization; a synonym is kitjuvaday
  5. tua: OBL
  6. su: your, 2nd person singular GEN
  7. cekelj: spouse, husband, wife
Voice file

From CIP Online Paiwan Dictionary kitjukuda

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 458: kuda // kinakemudan

maretimaljimalji a kinakemudan na zua mareka kisi. 

Free translation:
Each of those bowls looks different. 

Word gloss
  1. mareti-malji-malji: different. The root is malji 'different, suprised, distinct' in RED. 
  2. a: subject case marker
  3. k<in>a-k<em>ud(a)-an: shape or look
  4. na: GEN
  5. zua: that or those
  6. mareka: every, each. reka is said to be a root 'each, every', but I am not sure as there is no other example. 
  7. kisi: bowl. I have thought this is a loanword from Japanese. But in Japanese, bowl is 碗 ワン or わん and tableware or utensils is 食器 しょっき. Is it an abridged and reversed version of the second one? Or is it too far-fetched? 
Voice file

From CIP Online Paiwan Dictionary kisi

Monday, June 7, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 457: kuda // kemudanga

nu padjele itjen a pasusangas tua tjakemudanga, 
nasarunguaq itjen a kipusaliman. 

Free translation
If we prepare everything in advance, we will do well. 

Word gloss
  1. nu: if or when, CONJ
  2. pa-djele: prepare. pa- 'to cause to be or occur'; the root is djele 'prepare'. 
  3. itjen: we, 1st person plural NOM
  4. a: LIG
  5. pa-su-sangas: at first. The root is sangas 'first, before'. Is the prefix pa-su or pasu? To be confirmed. 
  6. tua: OBL
  7. tja-k<em>ud(a)-anga: our everything. tja 'our, prolitic'; k<em>ud(a)-anga 'all or everything' from the root kuda 'what'. 
  8. na-saru-nguaq: be comfortable or well or good. na- 'PRF'; saru- or sare- 'to be in the state of'; the root is nguaq 'good, well'. 
  9. ki-pu-saliman: to get busy with or do or process. ki- 'to get or obtain'; pu- 'have or acquire'; the root is saliman 'busy or occupied'.  
Voice file

From CIP Online Paiwan Dictionary kemudanga or padjele

Sunday, June 6, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 456: kuda // kemuda

kemuda aya nu varung tu sa sengsengan?

Free translation
What do you think of this issue?
(Literally: What does your heard say about this issue?)

Word gloss
  1. k<em>uda: what, AV. The root is kuda 'what, rule, way of being'. 
  2. aya: so says
  3. nu: your, 2nd person plural GEN
  4. varung: heart
  5. tu: complementizer?
  6. sa: ca? this?
  7. sengseng-an: issue, matter. The root is sengseng 'work, manufacture'. 
Voice file

From CIP Online Paiwan Dictionary kemuda

Saturday, June 5, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 455: kuda // sikuda

karasurasudji. sikuda a marivurivu. 

Free translation
Let's reconcile and unite. What's the use of fighthing?

Word gloss
  1. ka-rasu-rasu-dj-i: to reconcile and unite, IMP INCL. The root is rasudj 'reconcile' in RED. 
  2. si-kuda: what, IF. The root is kuda 'what'.
  3. a: LIG
  4. ma-rivu-rivu: fight, AV. The root is rivu 'argue' in RED. 
Voice file

From CIP Online Paiwan Dictionary sikuda

Friday, June 4, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 454: kuda // tjakudain

tjakudain a tisun a tjenglay. 

Free translation
What can we do since you choose so. 

Word gloss
  1. tja-kuda-in: what can we do or what to do. Literally, it means our doing in UV. tja- 'our, 1st person plural GEN prolitic'; the root is kuda 'work, what'. 
  2. a: LIG connecting clause
  3. ti-sun: you, 2nd person singular NOM
  4. a: LIG for verb
  5. tjenglay: like or prefer or choose
Voice file

From CIP Online Paiwan Dictionary tjakudain

Or tjakudain nu seljekuya itjen 'What can we do since it's our own bad luck?'. Haha. Nothing. Just laugh it away, put it behind, and move on. 

Thursday, June 3, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 453: kuda // makuda

makuda sun ku sun a qemauqaung a macidjilj?

Free translation
What happened with you, as you are crying by yourself?

Word gloss
  1. ma-kuda: what happened, AV. ma- 'ot be in the condition of'; the root is kuda 'what'. 
  2. sun: you, 2nd person singular NOM
  3. ku: conjunction of a subordinating clause
  4. a: LIG
  5. q<em>au-qau-ng: crying, AV. The root is qaung 'cry'. 
  6. a: LIG
  7. ma-cidjilj: alone or by oneself. The root is cidjilj 'oneself'. 
Voice file

From CIP Online Paiwan Dictionary makuda

namakuda and makuda mean 'what happened to or what's wrong with'. They two must also share sameness as well as nuanced difference. How to explain?

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 452: kuda // kakudanan

azua a ku qali a ti cunuq, 
liyaw aravac a kinljakeljang a patjara tjakakudanan a paiwan. 

Free translation
That friend of mine, cunuq, has a lot of knowledge about our Paiwan culture. 

Word gloss
  1. a-zua: that
  2. ku: my, 1st person singular GEN
  3. qali: male friend
  4. a: LIG
  5. ti: subject case marker for specific person
  6. cunuq: male name
  7. liyaw: many, a lot of
  8. aravac: quite, very much
  9. a: subject case marker for common noun
  10. k<in>lja-keljang: knowledge. I am not sure about the morphology here. 
  11. a: LIG
  12. patjara: about
  13. tja-ka-kud(a)-an-an: our culture. tja- 'our, 1st person plural GEN bound'; ka- 'in past'; the root is kuda 'rule, custom'; -an-an '?' I am no sure why two?
  14. a: LIG
  15. paiwan: Paiwan
Voice file

From CIP Online Paiwan Dictionary kakudanan

I don't know the difference between kakudan and kakudanan. Both  mean culture and custom. But there must be some difference in meaning or usage. 

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

Paiwan Every Day 451: kuda // namakuda

namakuda a su liqu? 

Free translation
What's wrong with your neck? 

Word gloss:
  1. na-ma-kuda: what happend with or what's wrong with AV. na- 'PRF'; ma- 'in the condition of'; the root is kuda 'rule, work, what'. 
  2. a: subject case marker
  3. su: your, 2nd person singular GEN
  4. liqu: neck. I was looking for throat, it is tjigeraw or driaqulan in southern Paiwan. But in norther Paiwan, liqu is used to also mean throat.
Voice file

From CIP Online Paiwan Dictionary namakuda

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...