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The National Gemms

The National Gemms

The National Gemms are rich in NGafirr cultural significance, although they are not really gems, but glazed ceramic baubles. The list of folk heroes who are said to have at one time possessed one, three, or all of the National Gemms would fill a ledger, but the truth of their fate is unknown.

Market Tale 2

Another Tufaml Story from the market:

Transcription:
dezos o bieen, zolos o gaang gon.
paos o cikl lila, te gaados o pa.
pasos o raskl gon,
lisol, decil, puzl orus,
ongal hofofus, elfasl, pokl dhacus.
paos o dhash lila, gid, tolos o suele aus.
maashos suem ozdi, ush dezos o musinagi.
dizo tolanos o geem, bueos o gaadek ngik gekus.
zeeae o dezeta pim ge.
Gid, dezos o dheet, zolos o gaang gon.

Translation:
I went to the market with a full money-purse.
I saw some lovely knives, but didn’t buy any.
I also looked at full carts
of vegetables, nuts, loaves of bread,
smoked meat, candles, and ceramic jugs.
I was looking at good clothes when I heard beautiful music.
The musician was nearby, so I went closer.
After I listened for a while, I put a coin in his cup.
I hope he will be there next week.
Then I went home with a full purse.

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These stories will gradually become more entertaining as the lexicon and grammar grow.

A Market Tale

One person’s story about yesterday’s trip to market, related in tufaml:

Transcription:
dezos o bieen dhuu gaadii doba dhacus.
ozdi, tolos o rasl elfemus,
ush, dezos o rask gekus te pasos o elfasl.
pebudos o cu elfasl baarus cik ve.
gid, gaados o doba te dezos o dheet.

Translation:
I went to the market to buy a ceramic pitcher.
While I was there, I heard the candlemaker call,
so I went to his cart and looked at candles.
I traded a small knife for four beeswax candles.
Then I bought the pitcher and went home.

Candle Seller’s Market Call

Here is a small sample of the tufaml Language:

(Dear imaginary people from ngafiir, please forgive my american accent)

The candle seller is calling out
“iie ombo, elfasl eeru! elfasl gez, elfasl dham, elfasl he, elfasl baarus! zolash kal dheet elene! elene ishaus, elene lerius! zolash kal dheet elene! elfasl eeru, elfasl ishaus eeru! iie ombo, elfasl eeru!”

which means
“Hello everyone! Candles for sale!  red candles, blue candles, white candles, beeswax candles! Bring home candlelight, bright candlelight, jewel-like candlelight! Bring home candlelight! candles for sale, bright candles for sale! Hello everyone, candles for sale!”

The image is temporary, since I haven’t yet figured out what these people wear.