Dewrad ran a relay on the Zompist forums at the beginning of 2006 (results online). This text really was a creation myth! The text I received did not have a title, but I hate texts without titles, so I made one up.
The Asha'ille text has been updated to reflect the spelling reform that occurred after the relay.
My interpretation of the Saonian text (probably incorrect, as conlang relay interpretations are wont to be) was that it changed back and forth between present and past tenses. I made my text consistently past tense. This text does not use personal or temporal deixis-changing words like many other texts posted on this site. The source text was already in first-person, and because the same subject was repeated on several consecutive verbs, explicit tense-marking was unnecessary in many cases.
Orthographic
Asha'ille
[0] Ne Pajhen So Veladh, Alunyu Eiyon So Caea
[1] Vae rîsaer lommavpeni ves aeg chunam k'. [2] Ssaelorv ne 'yu vépelai mmalînavad ne sarápîvon done no k'. [3] Ínav ves sarîth chuna k', t'ves daedh daedîth chuna k'. [4] Pas diàrînev mleni shalnen ne lorîth [5] vek daedîth chuna k'; ve chipal mmalînavad. [6] Vastav vel dashadath kaba k', [7] arîn syiyîrevpojecîm erum so shalnen ne caea, [8] kret oraln mmelnevpokec vae syîrsenth peicál 'sa edh k'. [9] Pas pithev sshókev mleni shalnen. [10] Colav vek aegîth chuna k', [11] mmalînavad saemirv vel ide caea kel, [12] vae dovae anak pacovon done pajhen so veladh kae. [13] Jhor pajhen te yîmóth eshae. [14] Vedá pajhen maruvpec ura, [15] t'ves diàrînev ne chi zafa; pámov. [16] Cha enîdav, vep jhor gîléth k'.English
[0] The Seed: Parent of the World
[1] I lived in a state of chaos for three days. [2] I survived this to direct myself to create something. [3] I glowed for the first day, and also the second day. [4] My soul became alive [5] on the second day; it began to lead itself. [6] My soul flew to the ends of the universe, [7] my soul's hands tried to capture the world, [8] but it failed to stretch that infinite distance. [9] My soul rested and lied down to sleep. [10] It woke on the third day, [11] guided itself and arrived at the center of the world, [12] where it found a seed on a branch. [13] The seed was cut deep. [14] Water flowed from the seed, [15] and it became a stream; it left. [16] Pity it, because it is alone.Saonian
[0] [untitled]
[1] Ýeme slymen tè, he adàrt sperag ák tè mondui, [2] ai igésuinim oblui pá pokotuina pá saropui pá dòl kilt. [3] Hé telus ýem tu ai leàruinim, hé nórus ýem èred. [4] Hé nórus ýem tu ái vóana maone [5] oble pá pokotena pá. [6] Hé urým há ardáonu ák pá ái vóana uste, [7] hé adàrto iil nold aše tahove pá èi, [8] bade át he lonkan nerdám yre il hem. [9] Ái vóana lide, il lase. [10] Hé slymus ýem tu, ái vóana nólem, [11] pokotemà getrem pá èi hé meset hé adàrt ák tè, [12] kè il ha birdal he daúmo tu nalem. [13] Ták há birda ebmemà. [14] Vašu há birdal ýar muherem, [15] il sairto rosem týk, il yrerem èi. [16] Il saditosii, il donin re kuàs.English translation of Saonian
[0] [untitled]
[1] In 3 days, I reside in a world of chaos, [2] I endured to begin to guide myself to achieve something. [3] On the first day I glowed, the second day as well. [4] On the second day my spirit lives, [5] begins to guide itself. [6] To the end of the universe my spirit flies, [7] my spirit's wing attempts to capture the world, and [8] but it failed to go an infinite distance. [9] My spirit rests, it sleeps. [10] On the third day, my spirit awoke, [11] it guided itself and arrived in the center of the world, [12] where it found a seed on the branch. [13] The seed was cut open. [14] Water came from the seed, [15] then it became a stream, it left. [16] Pity it, because it is alone.Parts of Speech Legend
- adj
- adjective
- adv
- adverb
- conj
- conjunction
- cop
- copula
- epen
- epenthetic
- mi
- modifier
- n
- noun
- nom
- nominalizer
- part
- particle
- pl
- plural
- poss
- possessive
- prsn
- person
- tns
- tense
- v
- verb
Interlinear
| orthographic version |
| morphemic breakdown |
| IPA pronunciation |
| part of speech |
| translation |
| Saonian: translation |
| English translation of Saonian: translation |
| Ne | Pajhen So Veladh, | Alunyu | Eiyon | So | Caea | |
| ne | pajhen so veladh | alun- | -yu | eiyon | so | caea |
| nɛ | ˈpɑʒɛn sovɛˈlɑð | ɑˈlun | ju | ˈejon | so | ˈke.ɑ |
| art | n | mi | mi | n | poss | n |
| OBJ | seed | PREV | phrase | parent | POSS | world |
| The Seed: Parent of the World | ||||||
| Saonian: [untitled] | ||||||
| English translation of Saonian: [untitled] | ||||||
| Vae | rîsaer | lommavpeni | ves | aeg | chunam | k'. | |||
| vae | rîsaer | lommav | -p- | -ni | ves | aeg | chuna | -îm | kes |
| ve | ɹɪˈseɹ | lomə̆ˈmɑv | p | ni | vɛs | eɡ | ˈʧunɑ | ɪm | kɛs |
| adv | n | v | tns | prsn | conj | adj | n | pl | adv |
| where | chaos | live | PST | (self) | while | three | day | PL | (end-while) |
| I lived in a state of chaos for three days. | |||||||||
| Saonian: Ýeme slymen tè, he adàrt sperag ák tè mondui, | |||||||||
| English translation of Saonian: In 3 days, I reside in a world of chaos, | |||||||||
| Ssaelorv | ne | 'yu | vépelai | mmalînavad | ne | sarápîvon | done | no | k'. | ||||
| ssaelorv | ne | gálun- | -yu | vépelai | mmalînav | -ad | ne | sarápîv | -on | do- | ne | no | képelai |
| sə̆ˈseloɹv | nɛ | ˈɡɑlun | ju | ˈvɛpɛlɑi̯ | mə̆ˈmɑlɪnɑv | ɑd | nɛ | sɑˈɹɑpɪv | on | do | nɛ | no | ˈkɛpɛlɑi̯ |
| v | art | mi | mi | adv | v | nom | art | v | n | conj | art | n | adv |
| survive | OBJ | PREV | phrase | purpose | direct | REFL | OBJ | create | NOM | SUBORD | OBJ | it | (end-purpose) |
| I survived this to direct myself to create something. | |||||||||||||
| Saonian: ai igésuinim oblui pá pokotuina pá saropui pá dòl kilt. | |||||||||||||
| English translation of Saonian: I endured to begin to guide myself to achieve something. | |||||||||||||
| Ínav | ves | sarîth | chuna | k', | t'ves | daedh | daedîth | chuna | k'. | |||
| ínav | ves | sar | -îth | chuna | kes | te | ves | daedh | daed | -îth | chuna | kes |
| ˈinɑv | vɛs | sɑɹ | ɪθ | ˈʧunɑ | kɛs | tɛ | vɛs | deð | ded | ɪθ | ˈʧunɑ | kɛs |
| v | conj | poss | adj | n | adv | n | conj | adv | adj | adj | n | adv |
| glow | while | 3SM | ADJ | day | (end-while) | column-three consonants | while | also | two | ADJ | day | (end-while) |
| I glowed for the first day, and also the second day. | ||||||||||||
| Saonian: Hé telus ýem tu ai leàruinim, hé nórus ýem èred. | ||||||||||||
| English translation of Saonian: On the first day I glowed, the second day as well. | ||||||||||||
| Pas | diàrînev | mleni | shalnen | ne | lorîth | |
| pas | diàrînev | ml-ml | -ni | shalnen | ne | lorîth |
| pɑs | diˈʔɑɹɪnɛv | ml | ni | ˈʃɑɫ̃ɛn | nɛ | ˈloɹɪθ |
| tns | v | poss | prsn | n | art | adj |
| PST | become | (intangible possession) | (self) | soul | OBJ | alive |
| My soul became alive | ||||||
| Saonian: Hé nórus ýem tu ái vóana maone | ||||||
| English translation of Saonian: On the second day my spirit lives, | ||||||
| vek | daedîth | chuna | k'; | ve | chipal | mmalînavad. | ||
| vek | daed | -îth | chuna | kek | ve | chipal | mmalînav | -ad |
| vɛk | ded | ɪθ | ˈʧunɑ | kɛk | vɛ | ˈʧipɑl | mə̆ˈmɑlɪnɑv | ɑd |
| adv | adj | adj | n | adv | adv | adj | v | nom |
| when | two | ADJ | day | (end-when) | ADV | half | lead | REFL |
| on the second day; it began to lead itself. | ||||||||
| Saonian: oble pá pokotena pá. | ||||||||
| English translation of Saonian: begins to guide itself. | ||||||||
| Vastav | vel | dashadath | kaba | k', | |
| vastav | vel | dashada | -îth | kaba | kel |
| vɑsˈtɑv | vɛl | dɑˈʃɑdɑ | ɪθ | ˈkɑbɑ | kɛl |
| v | adv | n | adj | n | adv |
| fly | toward | universe | ADJ | end | (end-toward) |
| My soul flew to the ends of the universe, | |||||
| Saonian: Hé urým há ardáonu ák pá ái vóana uste, | |||||
| English translation of Saonian: To the end of the universe my spirit flies, | |||||
| arîn | syiyîrevpojecîm | erum | so | shalnen | ne | caea, | ||||||
| arîn | syiyîrev | -p- | -o | -j- | -ec | -îm | eru | -îm | so | shalnen | ne | caea |
| ˈɑɹɪn | sjijɪˈɹɛv | p | o | ʤ | ɛk | ɪm | ˈɛɹu | ɪm | so | ˈʃɑɫ̃ɛn | nɛ | ˈke.ɑ |
| part | v | tns | epen | part | prsn | pl | n | pl | poss | n | art | n |
| try | capture | PST | (NULL) | able | 3SN | PL | hand | PL | POSS | soul | OBJ | world |
| my soul's hands tried to capture the world, | ||||||||||||
| Saonian: hé adàrto iil nold aše tahove pá èi, | ||||||||||||
| English translation of Saonian: my spirit's wing attempts to capture the world, and | ||||||||||||
| kret | oraln | mmelnevpokec | vae | syîrsenth | peicál | 'sa | edh | k'. | |||||
| kret | oraln | mmelnev | -p- | -o | -k- | -ec | vae | syîrsenth | peicál | alun- | -sa | edh | kae |
| kɹɛt | ˈoɹɑɫ̃ | mə̆ˈmɛɫ̃ɛv | p | o | k | ɛk | ve | ˈsjɪɹsɛnθ | peˈkɑl | ɑˈlun | sɑ | ɛð | ke |
| conj | adv | v | tns | epen | part | prsn | adv | adj | n | mi | mi | adj | adv |
| but | fail to | stretch | PST | (NULL) | unable | 3SN | where | endless | distance | PREV | 1 | this | (end-where) |
| but it failed to stretch that infinite distance. | |||||||||||||
| Saonian: bade át he lonkan nerdám yre il hem. | |||||||||||||
| English translation of Saonian: but it failed to go an infinite distance. | |||||||||||||
| Pas | pithev | sshókev | mleni | shalnen. | |
| pas | pithev | sshókev | ml-ml | -ni | shalnen |
| pɑs | piˈθɛv | ʃə̆ˈʃokɛv | ml | ni | ˈʃɑɫ̃ɛn |
| tns | v | v | poss | prsn | n |
| PST | rest | settle | (intangible possession) | (self) | soul |
| My soul rested and lied down to sleep. | |||||
| Saonian: Ái vóana lide, il lase. | |||||
| English translation of Saonian: My spirit rests, it sleeps. | |||||
| Colav | vek | aegîth | chuna | k', | |
| colav | vek | aeg | -îth | chuna | kek |
| koˈlɑv | vɛk | eɡ | ɪθ | ˈʧunɑ | kɛk |
| v | adv | adj | adj | n | adv |
| wake | when | three | ADJ | day | (end-when) |
| It woke on the third day, | |||||
| Saonian: Hé slymus ýem tu, ái vóana nólem, | |||||
| English translation of Saonian: On the third day, my spirit awoke, | |||||
| mmalînavad | saemirv | vel | ide | caea | kel, | |
| mmalînav | -ad | saemirv | vel | ide | caea | kel |
| mə̆ˈmɑlɪnɑv | ɑd | seˈmiɹv | vɛl | ˈidɛ | ˈke.ɑ | kɛl |
| v | nom | v | adv | adj | n | adv |
| lead | REFL | arrive | toward | center | world | (end-toward) |
| guided itself and arrived at the center of the world, | ||||||
| Saonian: pokotemà getrem pá èi hé meset hé adàrt ák tè, | ||||||
| English translation of Saonian: it guided itself and arrived in the center of the world, | ||||||
| vae | dovae | anak | pacovon | done | pajhen so veladh | kae. | |||
| vae | do- | vae | anak | pacov | -on | do- | ne | pajhen so veladh | kae |
| ve | do | ve | ˈɑnɑk | pɑˈkov | on | do | nɛ | ˈpɑʒɛn sovɛˈlɑð | ke |
| adv | conj | adv | n | v | n | conj | art | n | adv |
| where | SUBORD | where | branch | find | NOM | SUBORD | OBJ | seed | (end-where) |
| where it found a seed on a branch. | |||||||||
| Saonian: kè il ha birdal he daúmo tu nalem. | |||||||||
| English translation of Saonian: where it found a seed on the branch. | |||||||||
| Jhor | pajhen | te | yîmóth | eshae. |
| jhor | pajhen | te | yîmóth | eshae |
| ʒoɹ | ˈpɑʒɛn | tɛ | jɪˈmoθ | ɛˈʃe |
| cop | n | conj | adj | n |
| EQUIV | child | and | deep | scratch |
| The seed was cut deep. | ||||
| Saonian: Ták há birda ebmemà. | ||||
| English translation of Saonian: The seed was cut open. | ||||
| Vedá | pajhen | maruvpec | ura, | ||
| vedá | pajhen | maruv | -p- | -ec | ura |
| vɛˈdɑ | ˈpɑʒɛn | mɑˈɹuv | p | ɛk | ˈuɹɑ |
| adv | n | v | tns | prsn | n |
| from | child | flow | PST | 3SN | water |
| Water flowed from the seed, | |||||
| Saonian: Vašu há birdal ýar muherem, | |||||
| English translation of Saonian: Water came from the seed, | |||||
| t'ves | diàrînev | ne | chi zafa; | pámov. | |
| te | ves | diàrînev | ne | chi zafa | pámov |
| tɛ | vɛs | diˈʔɑɹɪnɛv | nɛ | ʧiˈzɑfa | ˈpɑmov |
| conj | conj | v | art | n | v |
| and | while | become | OBJ | stream | leave |
| and it became a stream; it left. | |||||
| Saonian: il sairto rosem týk, il yrerem èi. | |||||
| English translation of Saonian: then it became a stream, it left. | |||||
| Cha | enîdav, | vep | jhor | gîléth | k'. |
| cha | enîdav | vep | jhor | gîléth | kep |
| ʧɑ | ɛnɪdɑv | vɛp | ʒoɹ | ɡɪˈlɛθ | kɛp |
| mood | v | adv | cop | adj | adv |
| IMP | pity | because | EQUIV | alone | (end-because) |
| Pity it, because it is alone. | |||||
| Saonian: Il saditosii, il donin re kuàs. | |||||
| English translation of Saonian: Pity it, because it is alone. | |||||
Glossary
| -ad | nom. | REFL |
| aeg | adj. | three |
| alun- | mi. | PREV |
| anak | n. | branch |
| arîn | part. | try |
| caea | n. | world |
| cha | mood. | IMP |
| chipal | n. | sprout |
| chi zafa | n. | stream |
| chuna | n. | day |
| colav | v. | wake |
| daed | adj. | two |
| daedh | adv. | also |
| dashada | n. | everything |
| diàrînev | v. | become |
| do- | conj. | SUBORD |
| -ec | prsn. | 3SN |
| edh | adj. | this |
| eiyon | n. | parent |
| enîdav | v. | pity |
| eru | n. | hand |
| eshae | n. | scratch |
| gálun- | mi. | PREV |
| gîléth | adj. | alone |
| ide | adj. | center |
| -îm | pl. | PL |
| ínav | v. | glow |
| -îth | adj. | ADJ |
| -j- | part. | able |
| jhor | cop. | EQUIV |
| -k- | part. | unable |
| kaba | n. | end |
| kae | adv. | (end-where) |
| kek | adv. | (end-when) |
| kel | adv. | (end-toward) |
| kep | adv. | (end-because) |
| képelai | adv. | (end-purpose) |
| kes | adv. | (end-while) |
| kret | conj. | but |
| lommav | v. | live |
| lorîth | adj. | alive |
| maruv | v. | wave |
| ml-ml | poss. | (intangible possession) |
| mmalînav | v. | lead |
| mmelnev | v. | stretch |
| ne | art. | OBJ |
| -ni | prsn. | (self) |
| no | n. | it |
| -o | epen. | (NULL) |
| -on | n. | NOM |
| oraln | adv. | fail to |
| -p- | tns. | PST |
| pacov | v. | find |
| pajhen | n. | child |
| pajhen so veladh | n. | seed |
| pámov | v. | leave |
| pas | tns. | PST |
| peicál | n. | distance |
| pithev | v. | rest |
| rîsaer | n. | chaos |
| -sa | mi. | 1 |
| saemirv | v. | arrive |
| sar | poss. | 3SM |
| sarápîv | v. | create |
| shalnen | n. | soul |
| so | poss. | POSS |
| ssaelorv | v. | survive |
| sshókev | v. | settle |
| syîrsenth | adj. | endless |
| syiyîrev | v. | capture |
| te | conj. | and |
| ura | n. | water |
| vae | adv. | where |
| vastav | v. | fly |
| ve | adv. | ADV |
| vedá | adv. | from |
| vek | adv. | when |
| vel | adv. | toward |
| vep | adv. | because |
| vépelai | adv. | purpose |
| ves | conj. | while |
| yîmóth | adj. | tall |
| -yu | mi. | phrase |
