The stone girl

.
(27-1)   
{vverxu     jasac'na}     tuda:     c'O:l'E-d     omni:     saqanE    
up   Jasachnaja   earlier   ancient-GEN   people   at.time  
l'E-gE     {jasac'na     jasac'na}-gE     pude-gE     qodi-me:-d'E     l'E-gEn    
be-LOC   Jasachnaja   Jasachnaja-LOC   outside-LOC   which-QUAL-IMPF.PART   be-PROL  
pe:-gE     pe:-d     albE-gEn     l'E-pul     erpEjE-pul     qon-a:-l'El-Ni.    
mountain-LOC   mountain-GEN   bottom-PROL   be-PL   Even-PL   go-INCH-EV-3PL  

In the olden days Evens roamed near the bottom of some mountains in the upper basin of Jasachnaja.


.
(27-2)   
ta-N     qon-a:-t     modo-Ni-dE-gE     qon-a:-Ni-dE-gE     irk-i-n     paj-pE-de:    
that-ATTR   go-INCH-SS.IMPF   sit-PL-3-DS   go-INCH-PL-3-DS   one-0-ATTR   woman-PL-DIM  
pe:     bude:     modo-t     pOn'-o:-l'El.    
mountain   on   sit-SS.IMPF   put-RES-EV  

When they roamed one woman stayed sitting on the top of the mountain.


.
(27-3)   
[modo-t]     modo-t     pOn'-o:-dE-gE     numO-n'E-dE-gi     emej-gi     es'e:-gi,    
sit-SS.IMPF   sit-SS.IMPF   put-RES-3-DS   house-PROPR-3-3   mother-3   father-3  
qodo     tO:n,     qodo     kude-k,     qodit     pOn'-o:-l?    
how   that   how   become-INTER.2SG   why   put-RES-AN  

When she stayed there, her relatives, her parents asked her: "What's that? What happened to you? Why did you stay?"

Comment:
The word 'asked' is missing in the Yukaghir text. In the last clause the Action Nominal functions as the final predicate.


.
(27-4)   
e:,     met     ti:     pOn'-o:-tE-jE,     met     {nemnoZko}    
INTJ   I   here   put-RES-FUT-1SG   I   a.little  
ti:     iNd'E-t-c'E,     c'a:SEt     El=kel-tE-jE.    
here   sew-FUT-1SG   now   NEG-come-FUT-1SG  

"Eh, I will stay here. I won't come now, I will sew here a little."


.
(27-5)   
{nu}     c'eme-j-dEllE     kel-gE-k     d'E,     moN-Ni,     {aGa},    
DP   finish-PERF-SS.PERF   come-HORT-2SG   DP   say-3PL   yes  
mon-i,     kel-tE-jE.    
say-3SG   come-FUT-1SG  

They said: "Well, come when you finish," and she said: "Yes, I will come."


.
(27-6)   
d'E     me:-dE-Ni,     me:-dE-Ni,     me:-dE-Ni,     me:-dE-Ni,     Ojl'E,    
DP   wait-INTR-3PL   wait-INTR-3PL   wait-INTR-3PL   wait-INTR-3PL   no  
El=kel.    
NEG-come  

They waited for her, but she didn't come.


.
(27-7)   
{do}     ugujE-l     laNi     me:-dE-Ni.    
till   morning-AN   to   wait-INTR-3PL  

They waited until morning.


.
(27-8)   
{n'e},     El=kel.    
NET   NEG-come  

No, she didn't come.


.
(27-9)   
ta:-t     ugujE-l-mE     keb-ej-Ni.    
there-ADV.ABL   morning-AN-TEMP   leave-PERF-3PL  

So the next day they went.


.
(27-10)   
keb-ej-NidE     ti:-nE     [modo]     modo-t     [a:s'E]     a:s'E-lE    
leave-PERF-SS.COND   here-ADV.LOC   sit   sit-SS.IMPF   reindeer   reindeer-INSTR  
a:s'E-n'-i,     u:c'aq-E.    
reindeer-PROPR-3SG   reindeer-INSTR  

When they left, she had a reindeer.

Comment:
U:c'aq (from Yakut) is a saddle reindeer.


.
(27-11)   
tude     u:c'aq-E-lE     ultE-m.    
he.GEN   reindeer-0-ACC   tie-TR.3SG  

She had tied down her reindeer.


.
(27-12)   
qodi-me:     u:c'aq     l'E-j?    
which-QUAL   reindeer   be-3SG  

What sort of reindeer was it?

Comment:
This apparently means that a tied down reindeer would not stand that long on a mountain. The word qodime: is uninflected.


.
(27-13)   
ti-N-ta-N     paj     marqil'     modo-j.    
this-ATTR-that-ATTR   woman   girl   sit-3SG  

That girl was sitting.


.
(27-14)   
qodo     modo-t     ta:     iNd'E-t     tude     noGi:-k    
how   sit-SS.IMPF   there   sew-SS.IMPF   he.GEN   thimble-PRED  
ta:-t     pOn'-i:-mElE,     [l'E-gi]     l'E-gi     {sumka}-gi     ti:    
there-ADV.ABL   put-TR-OF.3SG   be-3   be-3   bag-3   here  
l'E-j,     {p'ostrIj     sumka}-gi.    
be-3SG   motley   bag-3  

She had been sewing and had put her thimble like that. Her motley bag was also there.

Comment:
The speaker accompanied this sentence with gestures.


.
(27-15)   
{igolka}-gi     moj-m     ta:-t.    
needle-3   hold-TR.3SG   there-ADV.ABL  

She was holding her needle like that.

Comment:
The speaker accompanied this sentence with gestures.


.
(27-16)   
ta:-t,     numO-Nin,     e:,     qodo     kude-k,     qodo    
there-ADV.ABL   house-DAT   INTJ   how   become-INTER.2SG   how  
El=kel-u-k?    
NEG-come-0-INTER.2SG  

So they asked her: "What happened, why didn't you come home?"

Comment:
The first clause is syntactically incomplete.


.
(27-17)   
El=an-c'i:.    
NEG-speak-ITER  

She wasn't answering.


.
(27-18)   
ta:-t     qon-u-t     l'E,     qodo     kude-k,     {qodi}    
there-ADV.ABL   go-0-SS.IMPF   DP   how   become-INTER.2SG   go  
numO-Nin.    
house-DAT  

They went and asked her: "What happened to you? Come home."

Comment:
The word "asked" is missing in the Yukaghir text.


.
(27-19)   
{n'et},     El=an-c'i:.    
no   NEG-speak-ITER  

No, she wasn't answering.


.
(27-20)   
ta:-t     c'olG-aj-Nam.    
there-ADV.ABL   push-PERF-TR.3PL  

Then they pushed her.


.
(27-21)   
{n'et},     l'E-lEk     SOjl-Ek     kude-jo:d-Ek.    
no   be-PRED   stone-PRED   become-SUBN-PRED  

No, she had become stone.


.
(27-22)   
ta:-t     d'E     moN-Ni,     l'ElEk     tO:n     a:s'E-gi    
there-ADV.ABL   DP   say-3PL   DP   that   reindeer-3  
[u:c'aq-ki]     u:c'aq-ki     c'olG-aj-Nam.    
reindeer-3   reindeer-3   push-PERF-TR.3PL  

Then they pushed her reindeer

Comment:
The word moNNi here seems meaningless.


.
(27-23)   
qodo     oG-o:-l     ta:-t     oG-o:-j     a:s'E,     {kam'en'}=No:n    
how   stand-RES-AN   there-ADV.ABL   stand-RES-3SG   reindeer   stone-TRANS  
kude-l'El.    
become-EV  

It had become stone as it had been standing before.


.
(27-24)   
{aGa},     a:s'E-gi     aj     {kam'en'}=No:n     {d'evuSka}     aj    
yes   reindeer-3   also   stone-TRANS   girl   also  
{kam'en'}=No:n     kude-l,     SOjl=No:n     kude-l'El.    
stone-TRANS   become-SF   stone-TRANS   become-EV  

Both the girl and the reindeer had become stone.


.
(27-25)   
d'E     {davaj}     tude-gElE     an-d'i:-Nam,     {davaj}     keb-e-s'i:li    
DP   let   he-ACC   speak-ITER-TR.3PL   let   leave-PERF-1PL  
{da}     keb-e-s'i:li,     keb-e-s'i:li     {da}     keb-e-s'i:li.    
and   leave-PERF-1PL   leave-PERF-1PL   and   leave-PERF-1PL  

They started asking her: "Let us go."


.
(27-26)   
{kam'en'}     qa-NidE     keb-ej?    
stone   what-ADV.DIR   leave-PERF  

Where can a stone go?


.
(27-27)   
modo-j,     ti:-nE     qodo     modo-j,     ta:-t     modo-j.    
sit-3SG   here-ADV.LOC   how   sit-3SG   there-ADV.ABL   sit-3SG  

So she was sitting as he had been sitting before.


.
(27-28)   
d'E     [lebe:-n     {xoz'ain]     z'eml'a     xoz'ain},     {davaj}    
DP   earth-GEN   master   earth   master   let  
kej-k     [mit]     mit     O:.    
give-IMP   we   we   child  

"Well, master of the earth, give us our child.

Comment:
On the master of the earth see Text 25.


.
(27-29)   
tet     {jesl'i}     mil'-l'El-tE-jEk,     {jesl'i}     [tet     tet    
you   if   take-EV-FUT-2SG   if   you   you  
jO:jE]     tet     jO:jE     mil'-l'El-tE-mEk     [tet     mil'-l'El-tE-mEk],    
spirit   you   spirit   take-EV-FUT-TR.2SG   you   take-EV-FUT-TR.2SG  
{davaj}     kej-k     mit     O:.    
let   give-IMP   we   child  

If you have taken her or you spirit has taken her, give us our child."

Comment:
The word jO:jE referring to various evil spirits literally means 'seeing'.


.
(27-30)   
{b'espol'ezno}.    
no.use  

It was of no use.


.
(27-31)   
...     qa-NidE     n'a:s'a:-nu-Ni,     ti-NidE     jel'o:d'E-d     uks'i:bE-Nin    
...   what-ADV.DIR   face-IMPF-3PL   this-ADV.DIR   sun-GEN   going.out-DAT  
n'a:s'a:-nu-Ni     ...,     {to}     kuZu:-gE     n'a:s'a:-nu-Ni,     {b'espol'ezno}.    
face-IMPF-3PL   ...   once   sky-LOC   face-IMPF-3PL   no.use  

They bowed to different places, to the East and to the sky, but it was of no use.

Comment:
The East, i.e. the place where the sun rises, is considered a place that can give one good luck. According to traditional mythology, the sky is the place where the good Gods live. The sky itself is a God who was considered a protector of Yukaghirs and was personified as kuZu:d emej 'mother sky'.


.
(27-32)   
ta:-t     d'E     ta:-t     modo-j.    
there-ADV.ABL   DP   there-ADV.ABL   sit-3SG  

She was sitting like that.


.
(27-33)   
ta:-t     d'E     keb-ej-Ni     jolo-GudE.    
there-ADV.ABL   DP   leave-PERF-3PL   back-ADV.DIR  

So they went back.


.
(27-34)   
ibil'E-llE     ibil'E-llE     ta:-t     keb-ej-Ni.    
cry-SS.PERF   cry-SS.PERF   there-ADV.ABL   leave-PERF-3PL  

They cried and left.


.
(27-35)   
ta:-t     d'E     aji:     l'E-Ni     eg-u-Zu-Ni,     SoromE-pul    
there-ADV.ABL   DP   also   be-3PL   walk-0-ITER-3PL   man-PL  
eg-u-Zu-Ni     bejd'e:.    
walk-0-ITER-3PL   everywhere  

Other people walk around.


.
(27-36)   
{vzad     vp'er'od}     ej-rE-Ni.    
backwards   forwards   walk-NONIT-3PL  

They walk around.


.
(27-37)   
ej-rE-t     l'E-NidE     ta-N     mudd-ej-NidE     {ob'azatel'no     patronI}    
walk-NONIT-SS.IMPF   be-SS.COND   that-ATTR   pass-PERF-SS.COND   necessary   cartridges  
peSSEj-nu-mElE     ta-N     {d'evuSka}-Nin,     {il'i     Ze     l'enta}-lEk    
throw-IMPF-OF.3SG   that-ATTR   girl-DAT   or   DP   ribbon-PRED  
peSSEj-nu-mElE,     {il'i     Ze     kop'ejka}-lEk     peSSEj-nu-mElE.    
throw-IMPF-OF.3SG   or   DP   kopeck-PRED   throw-IMPF-OF.3SG  

When they walk around and roam, they always throw gun cartridges a ribbon or a kopeck to this girl.

Comment:
Yukaghirs make sacrifices to various places considered holy. These are places that are associated with legends, or places where masters of such or such territory were thought to live: abandoned settlements, old trees and tree stumps, and the like, see Text 22.


.
(27-38)   
{vs'o     vr'em'a}     ta:-t     l'e:-nu-j.    
all   time   there-ADV.ABL   be-IMPF-3SG  

It was always like that.


.
(27-39)   
ta:-t     d'E     [me:kE-n]     me:kE-n     irk-i-n     c'umut    
there-ADV.ABL   DP   close-ADV   close-ADV   one-0-ATTR   all  
ningE-j     SoromE-k     qoN-Ni-l     a:s'E-lE,     mido-Ni-l.    
many-IMPF.PART   man-PRED   go-PL-SF   reindeer-INSTR   roam-PL-SF  

Many people roamed with reindeer in the vicinity.


.
(27-40)   
[mido]     mido-dEllE     l'E     [irk-i-n     kOj-pE-de:]     c'umut    
roam   roam-SS.PERF   DP   one-0-ATTR   young.man-PL-DIM   all  
peSSEj-Nam,     irk-i-n     kOj-pE-de:-k     l'E-l.    
throw-TR.3PL   one-0-ATTR   young.man-PL-DIM-PRED   be-SF  

When they roamed, they threw everything. There was one fellow among them.


.
(27-41)   
tamuN-Nin     moN-Ni,     ej,     {davaj}     tet     aj    
that-DAT   say-3PL   INTJ   let   you   also  
peSSEj-k.    
throw-IMP  

They said to him: "Eh, you must also throw something.


.
(27-42)   
kuS-leme     nado.    
any-what   needed  

Something is needed.


.
(27-43)   
{il'i     Ze     kop'ejka}     peSSEj-k,     {il'i     Ze    
of   DP   kopeck   throw-IMP   or   DP  
patron}     peSSEj-k.    
cartridge   throw-IMP  

Throw a kopeck or a cartridge."


.
(27-44)   
{qot'     pustoj     da     kinut'     ego     nado}.    
although   empty   and   throw   it   needed  

Even if it's empty, you must throw it".


.
(27-45)   
e:     ...     met     {n'euZel'i}     peSSEj-t.    
INTJ   ...   I   no.way   throw-FUT.TR.1SG  

"No, I won't throw anything."


.
(27-46)   
{i     davaj}     jo:-gE     {palka}-lE     paj-m     ti-N-ta-N    
and   let   head-LOC   he-ACC   hit-TR.3SG   this-ATTR-that-ATTR  
{d'evuSka}-gElE     [ta:-t]     ta:-t     modo-dE-gE.    
girl-ACC   there-ADV.ABL   there-ADV.ABL   sit-3-DS  

He hit the girl who was sitting there on her head with a stick.


.
(27-47)   
{i     dal'Se}     keb-e-s'     a:s'E-Nin,     {[pr'amo]     pr'amo}    
and   further   leave-PERF-3SG   reindeer-DAT   directly   directly  
n'oGo-j.    
fall-3SG  

He went further to his reindeer, but immediately fell down.


.
(27-48)   
n'oGo-dE-gE     {srazu}     tude     noj-gElE     [ti:]     ti:    
fall-3-DS   immediately   he.GEN   leg-ACC   here   here  
Sel'gE-dej-m.    
break-PERF-TR.3SG  

When he fell down, he broke his legs.


.
(27-49)   
Sel'g-e-s',     Sel'g-ej-dE-gE     ta:-t     numO-Nin     qon-tE-llE     ta:-t    
break-PERF-3SG   break-PERF-3-DS   there-ADV.ABL   house-DAT   go-TR-SS.PERF   there-ADV.ABL  
pod'orqE     kude-dEllE     am-dE-j.    
day   become-SS.PERF   die-INTR-3SG  

When he broke his legs, people took him home. Hw died when the day broke.


.
(27-50)   
{vot}.    
so  

That's what happened.


.
(27-51)   
tamun-gElE     ta-N     {d'evuSka}-gElE     jegor     ivanov'ic'     Sadr'in    
that-ACC   that-ATTR   girl-ACC   Egor   Ivanovich   Shadrin  
tude-gElE     {isv'aSennIj}     pundu-jE-nu-m.    
he-ACC   holy   tell-?-IMPF-TR.3SG  

Egor Ivanovich Shadrin called this girl holy.

Comment:
Egor Ivanovich Shadrin was a Yukaghir who lived in Nelemnoe between the 1890s and 1976. He had his hunting ground in the upper reach of the Jasachnaja.


.
(27-52)   
titi-me:-j     {sluc'aj}     l'E-j.    
like-QUAL-IMPF.PART   story   be-3SG  

There was such a story.


.
(27-53)   
{kam'en'     d'evuSka}     mon-u-t     tamun     mon-u-t     min-gi    
stone   girl   say-0-SS.IMPF   that   say-0-SS.IMPF   take-3  
nado     ...    
needed   ...  

They said that that stone girl must be taken away.


.
(27-54)   
{uc'onIje}     ...     tit     {moZet     bIt'     c'ego    
scholars   ...   you.PL   may   abe   what  
n'ibud'     razb'irajet'es'}-mEt.     qodit     tude-l     ta:-t     {kam'en'}=No:t    
somewhing   understand-2PL   why   he-NOM   there-ADV.ABL   stone-TRANS  
kude-jo:d-Ek,     ...     c'O:l'E-d     omni:     o:-l'El-tE-j.    
become-SUBN-PRED   ...   ancient-GEN   people   be-EV-FUT-3SG  

"Maybe you, scholars, will understand how she had become stone and what happed in the olden days."


.
(27-55)   
{davaj     eksp'ed'icija}-lE     kel-Ni     {v'ertol'ot}-E,     kel-dEllE     tude-gElE    
let   expedition-INSTR   come-3PL   helicopter-INSTR   come-SS.PERF   he-ACC  
{c'el'ikom}     miN-Nam.    
wholly   take-TR.3PL  

An expedition came on a helicopter and took this girl.


.
(27-56)   
ta:-t     qonZE-S-tE-gE     min-dE-gE     qa-NidE     moskva-Nin     kOud-ej-Nam,    
there-ADV.ABL   hole-CAUS-3-DS   take-3-DS   what-ADV.DIR   Moscow-DAT   take.away-PERF-TR.3PL  
{il'i}     qodi-me:-j     {gorod}-Nin     kOud-ej-Nam,     nil-gi     El=lej-di:.    
or   which-QUAL-IMPF.PART   city-DAT   take.away-PERF-TR.3PL   nobody-3   NEG-know-TR  

They took her, broke her and took it to Moscow or some other city. Nobody knows.