Paddy-dancing — a conversationLa danse du padi — une conversationNarad, where were your various woman-friends from?NaradGENwherewhereACTstay.S1INFACTwomanPL3PLbe.S2PAMy woman-friends, well!, there have been a lot of them.1SG1SGwomanTOPwellplenty3PLbe.S2PASome were from up here in Thonglong,1SGwomanPLsomeoneup.hereThonglongACTstay.S1NOM.Falso3PLbe.S2PAand some were from up in Pandotlung,someoneup.hereupPandotlungACTstay.S1NOM.Falso3PLbe.S2PArecent ones — but some of the old ones were from Lingthep.beforeNOMEXCLbutold.onessomeoneover.hereLingthepNOM3PLbe.S2PAAnd some were from down in Khokling.thenCJwherewherehere.belowsomeoneKhoklingNOMalso3PLbe.S2PABut now we've broken off with the Khokling ones.butthenKhoklingNOMSOCTOP1PL.EXseparate.S21PL.EXNow we are together with ones from Thonglong, with ones from Lingthep.thusup.hereThonglongNOMSOCLingthepNOMSOC1PL.EXtogetherbe.S21PL.EXAnd there are a few from down in Thejongbo.thushere.belowThejongboNOMPLa.little3PLbe.S1When you were together, which ones treated you wellthus2be.S212PL.SOSUBwhich.onePLERGTOPthus2be.S212PL.SOSUBwell3NSG→2do.S212PL.SOand which ones didn't treat you well?which.onePLERGTOP3NSG→2.NEGdo.S212PL.SO.NEGQwellAs for that, we were really getting on well with the Thonglong ones.thatDEFTOPwellTOPthusup.hereThonglongNOMDEFSOCTOPmuchwellbe.S21PL.EXBut then we separated from them, OK?thusCJthat.onePLABLseparate.S21PL.EXnoQAfter we separated, for about three years we got along very well with the ones from Thejomboba.separate.S21PL.EXCJTOPhere.belowThejongboNOMSOCthreeyearwhat1PL.EXmuchwellbe.S21PL.EXThey treated us well and they sent us letters.1PL.EXwell3PLdo.S21PL.EXCJletter1NSG.O3PLsend.S2PABut that one has gone down to the plains nowadays.butthatDEFwomanDEFnowthenplainsdown.togo.S2CJstay.S1Only her friends are there. But we broke up with them.butother.PL3SGfriendPLonly3PLbe.S1thusCJthenseparate.S21PL.EXthat.onePLABLTOPSo, do you like ones with pretty facesthus3SGfacegoodNOM.FDEFliking1INcome.up.S12likingcome.up.S2PAQor do you like ones with nice voices?3SGvoiceACTgood.S1NOM.FDEFTOP2likingcome.up.S2PAQ2SGEXPRN. It's like this:thatTOPthusEMPHCOMPAs far as only liking pretty ones —3SGfacegoodNOM.FDEFonlythatlikingcome.up.S1NOMspeechDEFhow.ADJCOMPthe more we go on dancing with them — isn't that right? —as.muchthat.onePLSOCpaddy.PV1INdance.S11INbe.S11INgo.S1isn't.itorwhen we dance, whatever she's like, we are fond of her — we get more and more fond of her.paddy.PV1INdance.S1SUBthatasINTENSownonelovelovestrikeNOMdo.S1strikeNOMdo.S1go.S1Our manners — or whatever — come to agree —thusCJTOPownbehaviorcustom?sameagree.S1go.S1our feelings are in harmony, I should say.feelingagree.S1say.S1INFbecome.S2PAIt's not our manners, its our feelings — we sympathise.behaviorcustomis.notfeelingownfeelingagree.S2PAWhen we sympathize, then our voices harmonize as well.agree.S2PACJTOPnowownvoiceDEFalsoagree.S2PANow her face may be pretty or it may be ugly,nowwhetherthat.oneGEN3SGfacegoodNOM.Flet.bePVbad.S1NOMlet.beif our voices are in harmony and our thoughts are in harmonyownvoiceDEFalsovoiceDEFalsoagree.S2PAownfeelingalsoagree.S2PAthen it becomes a pleasure to be together with them.thusthat.onePLSOCTOPbe.S1INFliking1INcome.up.S1go.S1EVIDEMPHBut in the past, your generation, uncle —butbeforeNOM2PLjun.pat.uncle1SGjun.pat.unclePLERG2PLSome of our friends, what they did —someonefriendERGhow3PLdo.S23SG.OCOMPthey only danced with pretty ones — I saw them dance like that.3SGfacegoodNOM.FDEFSOConlypaddy.PV3PLdance.S2PApaddy.PV3PLdance.S23SG.ONOMsee.S21SG→3SGSome danced even with ugly ones as well.someonefriendERG3SGfacePVbad.S1NOMSOCCONCESSpaddy.PV3PLdance.S2PABut though one might be pretty, her voice might be ugly,but3SGfacegoodNOM.FCONCESS3SGvoiceTOPPVbad.S1NOMand an ugly one might have a nice voice.umm3SGfaceEXPRPVbad.S1NOMCONCESS3SGvoicegoodNOMSo that's why I asked before which women you liked to dance with.like.thatwomanPLSOCwhich.onePLSOCdance.S1INF2likingcome.up.S2PAbeforeCOMPTOPPVask.S11SG→2SGNOMIts like this — when I've thought about it its just that — if the feelings are in harmony.thatDEFTOPthenTOPhowCOMP1SGthink.S21SG→3SGCJthusonlyhowCOMPselffeelingagree.S1Even so, some peoples' way is —butthenCONCESSlike.that3NSGcustombe.S1there's nothing [else that matters]! — whichever one wears nice clothes, OK?whatalsonot.be.S1whichever.onea.littleclothinga.littlegoodNOMwear.S23SG.OnotQWhichever one has put on a nice coat and nice shoes,which.oneGENcoatthusshoethusgoodNOMwear.S23SG.OCJbe.S1some people only dance with them.that.oneERGTOPthat.onePLSOConlypaddy.PVACTdance.S1NOMalso3PLbe.S1someoneTOPJust so. But we are like this — what we're like — we Limbus,thusbutlike.thisman1INbe.S1how.ADJ1INbe.S1COMP1PL.INLimbuNOM1INbe.S1SUBeven if her face is ugly and her voice is ugly, all the same if we dance and we talk and laugh nicely, day after day,3SGfacePVbad.S1NOMCONCESS3SGvoicePVbad.S1NOMCONCESSnonethelesspaddy.PV1INdance.S1well1INspeak.S11INlaugh.S1ifwhy, she seems pretty.that.oneDEFgoodNOMsee.S1be.possible.S1EVIDman?DEF.ERGBefore, when we were like that,1PL.EXbeforethusbe.S21PL.EXSUBeven though their faces were ugly and their voices were ugly,thus.ADJ3NSGfacePVbad.S1NOMCONCESS3NSGvoicePVbad.S1NOMCONCESSwhen we went on dancing we saw them as beautiful, those women.paddy.PVdance.S212PL.SOgo.S21PL.EXSUB1PL.EXgoodNOMsee.S21PL.EX→3NSGwomanPLHmm.ummAnd those women saw us as good-looking too.thusthatwomanPL1PL.EXalsogoodNOM3PLsee.S21PL.EXSo that's why I'm asking you.thusTOP2SGPVask.S11SG→2SGNOMWhat kinds of women were there,REDUPhow.ADJwomanPL3PLbe.S2PAand how did you dancehowhowCOMPpaddy.PV2paddy.dance.S212PL.SOis what I'm asking you.1SGPVask.S11SG→2SGNOMThe custom is not the same as before, because —butthatTOPbeforeNOMcustomlikeTOPNEGbe.S1NEGwhatalsohow it is nowadays —thusTOPhow.ADJbefore — uncle's generation experienced the golden age, right?beforenowTOP1SGjun.pat.unclePLgolden.ageERG2waft.S212PL.SONOMit.isorNow the golden age — when we think of it it was the golden age, but nownowgolden.agesay.S1INF1PL.EXthink.S1INFSUBgolden.agebutthusTOPwhoever wears nicer clothes and so on …whichever.oneERGa.littleclothingthusNOMsay.S1INFgoodNOMwear.S23SG.OclothingwhatPLWell, it's like that, but that's not the point.thatTOPthusEXPRbutthusTOPnotEXPRIt's not a question of this age or that age, is it? -- we people are the same,thatageageis.notQormanDEFTOP1PL.INonlyoneour flesh is the same, our eyes are the same, everything has stayed the same, no?1PL.INfleshalsoonlyoneeyealsoonlyoneall3SGagree.S1NOMbe.suspended.S1notQIt's not the age.butageDEFTOPthatDEFTOPis.notBut the kind of people, what kind were they?butthus.ADJmanhow.ADJhow.ADJ3PLbe.S2PAHow did you dance?howCOMPthuspaddy.PV2dance.S212PL.SOWhat kind of people were there? — I'm asking you.howhow.ADJ3PLbe.S2PACOMPPVask.S11SG→2SGCOMPonlyEMPHEven so, now, its the same — in dancing, its the same,thusCONCESSthat.sameADVCOMPpaddy.PVdance.S1INFCONCESSthat.sameonly the language has got a bit mixed with Nepali — its gotten mixed in —for.no.reasonspeechDEFonlyEMPHa.littlebrahmanspeechinmix.S2PAPROGmix.S2PAenter.S2PACJbe.in.S1otherwise, before we spoke only Limbu —notifbeforeTOPLimbuspeechonlyspeak.S1GERthat's what I'm asking.thusthatPVask.S11SG→2SGNOMEMPH1SGTOPI've seen you dancing two or three times.2SGpaddy.PV2dance.S2PANOM1SGsee.S21SG→3SGCJbe.S2PAtwicethriceYou danced at Sankranti, you danced at Ramdali.Sakrantepaddy.PV2dance.S2PARamdalipaddy.PV2dance.S2PAYou all went down and danced at Thukyadu.downThukyadu2go.S212PL.SOdown.therepaddy.PV2dance.S212PL.SOI saw you dance once at Taplejung as well.Taplejungalsooncepaddy.PV2dance.S23SG.ONOM1SGsee.S21SG→3SGSo I'm asking you.thus1SG2SGPVask.S11SG→2SGNOMThats also true but — before it was like that.thusCJbecome.S1butwhatCOMPthusTOPnowbeforeTOPthusbe.S2PABut now its like this —butthenTOPINTERJwhatthusThe ones that are nicely dressed and have nice voices — the youngsters look at them only.clothingornamentgoodNOMACTclothingNOMthat.ADJwhich.one3SGvoiceACTgood.S1NOMDEFonlylook.PV3PLdo.S23.O.NSGyoungsterDEF.ERGEXCLIt's because they say that that I asked you.thus3PLsay.S2PACJADVPVask.S11SG→2SGNOMThe young girls only look at that kind —youngsterDEF.ERGthat.ADJlook.PV3PLdo.S23.O.NSGwhichever one wears a cap at a rakish angle,which.oneDEFcapONOM.rakishlywear.on.head.S23SG.Owhichever one wears nice clothes,which.oneDEF.ERGclothinga.littlegoodNOMwear.S23SG.Owhichever one's voice is beautiful,which.oneDEF.GEN3SGvoiceDEFgood.S1they only look at him.that.oneDEFonly3NSGyoungsterPLERGthusyoungsterPLERGlook.PVthatPLlook.PV3PLdo.S23.O.NSGExactly. But as for us, the one who wore his cap stylishly,thus1PL.EXTOPthuscapONOM.rakishlyACTwear.on.head.S1NOMwho wore a pretty blouse, a pretty skirt,blousegoodNOMACTclothingNOMskirtgoodNOMACTclothingNOMthat wasn't our kind — the way we were, we danced one day,thus.ADJNOMTOPis.not1PL.EXTOPhow.ADJCOMPnowoncepaddy.PVdance.S21PL.EXand then we danced again after two or three days,againtwo.daysthree.daysINSToncedance.S21PL.EX→3SGand then after we'd gone on dancing two or three days,thusCJtwo.daysthree.dayspaddy.PV1INdance.S11INgo.S1CJTOPwhy, even an ugly person came to look good.PVbad.S1NOMmanDEFalsogoodNOMsee.S1be.possible.S1EVIDThey come to look good — you've fallen in love, let's say.goodNOMsee.S1be.possible.S1butownlovelovestayNOMdo.S1say.S1GEREXCLRight. That way when we went on dancingthusthusCJ1PL.EXTOPthuspaddy.PVdance.S21PL.EXgo.S21PL.EXSUBwe didn't look whether her face was beautiful or ugly.goodNOMPVbad.S1NOM3SGfacelook.PVNEGdo.S1NOM1PL.EXTOPHer voice, too, we didn't even consider if it was beautiful.voicealsogoodNOMPVbad.S1NOMlike.that1PL.EXlook.PVNEGdo.S1NOMThe old way was good.beforeofcustomgoodNOMOnce we went right there, once we started dancing, our rule was, there was no going out.ONOMADVenter.S1INFCJagainpaddy.PVdance.S1PURPenter.S21PL.EXCJ1PL.EXspeechthuscome.out.S1go.S1INFnot.be.S2PAWe started, we danced, we went on singing the songs,thusenter.S21PL.EXCJTOPpaddy.PVdance.S21PL.EXwhatthussongDEFsay.S21PL.EX→3SGPROGtake.S21PL.EX→3SGwe went on singing and then, if we had to pee we went out,say.S21PL.EX→3SGPROGtake.S21PL.EX→3SGthusCJTOPwhenurinesend.down.S2PAifcome.out.S1GERNOMif we had to shit we went out,shitsend.down.S2PAifcome.out.S1GERNOMbut if we didn't we stayed, even until daybreak.shiturineEMPHNEGfeel.S1NEGifthusstay.S1GERNOMsunbring.S1bring.S1CONCESSstay.S1GERNOMEMPHIf a young man and a girl danced for a long time, until dawn,which.onewhich.oneyoung.manDEFSOCwhich.onewomanalsolong.timesunbring.S1bring.S1paddy.PVdance.S1DUwe had to think that that couple got along well.thatDEFpair3NSGwellbe.S1DUNOM1PL.INthoughtdo.S1INFmust.S1That's how we were — staying on even as the sun rose — until they had to pee.thus.ADJbe.S2PAthussunbring.S1bring.S1CONCESSstay.S1GERNOM3PL.COPshiturineNEGcome.out.S1up.toSo I am asking you how you dance.thus2PLhow.ADJsorthowCOMPhow.ADJ2dance.S212PL→3SGTOPCOMPPVask.S11SG→2SGNOMWell, if a man meets someone who has a nice voice, he'll dance a while,thusTOPa.littlea.little3SGvoiceACTgood.S1NOMDEFonemeet.S23SG.Oifmomentpaddy.PVdance.S1otherwise he doesn't dance.if.notfromTOPthat.oneDEFpaddy.PVNEGdance.S1NEGWhichever woman has a nice voice, [I think:] will I dance with her?which.oneonexxwhich.oneDEFa.little3SGvoiceACTgood.S1NOM.Fwomanstay.S1that.oneDEFthat.oneDEFSOCdance.S21SG→3SGQOne who is somewhat pretty, one who wears clothes that aren't all dirty,which.oneDEFa.littlegoodNOM.FwomanPLwhich.oneDEF.ERGthat.oneERGa.littleclothingDEFdirtyECHONEGwear.S23SG.O.NEGone who wears nice clothes, who wears a tartan headscarf,clothinga.littlegoodNOMwear.S23SG.OthusNOMtartanshawlwear.on.head.S23SG.Othey only dance with them, nowadays.that.oneSOConlythatDEFSOConlypaddy.PV3PLdance.S1thenTOPRight. I've seen this so I'm asking you.thus1SGalsolike.thatsee.S21SG→3SGCJADVPVask.S11SG→2SGthat's the way they are, you've told it straight.like.that3PLbe.S1thatstraight2say.S23SG.OEVID2SGThey only want nice-looking ones.thus.ADJthusmanTOPgoodNOMneed.PV3PLdo.S2PAone who's voice comes out nicely, ones who wear nice clothes — that's the kind they dance with.3SGvoicealsogoodNOMACTcome.out.S1NOMPLclothingalsogoodNOMACTclothingNOMPLlike.thatSOCpaddy.PVACTdance.S2PAEVIDWe weren't like that. So I'm asking you.1PL.EXlike.thatnot.be.S2PAthusPVask.S11SG→2SGNOMNow again you do like this, you sing the words,againthus2PL2say.S212PL.SO2say.S212PL→3SGsongyou all sing like this : a' a' a' nu' u' u2PLTOPa.a.anu.u.u2say.S212PL.SOWe had nothing like that.1PL.EXTOPlike.thatnot.be.S2PAWe just drew out our voices long like this aaaaiiii eeee eeeee — drawing out the voice like that.voicepull.S21PL.EX→3SGlong.S1NOMthusTOPaaiieeeeeeeeeeeeonlylike.thatpull.S1GERNOMvoiceEMPHbe.S2PALike that.like.thatYou all sound like this: aq aq aq oq oq oq.2PLthusTOPa.a.ao.o.o2say.S212PL.SOStill the meaning is there, inside.thatDEFTOPalsobe.in.S1INFbe.in.S1EVIDCTRspeechYou all understand it, but I don't.PV2recognize.S212PL→3SG2PL1SGTOPPVNEGrecognize.S11SG.NEGIt's like this.thatDEFTOPthusHow did the old-timers say the words?nowbeforeNOMelderERGTOPhow3PLtell.S23SG.OBack then in the golden age — now everything has changed.nowthusTOPgolden.agegolden.ageDEF.GENnowdownCOMPwhatalsowhatalsochange.S2PANow everything is different, I've heard them say.nowwhatalsowhatalsochange.S1that3PLsay.S23SG.ONOM1SGhear.S21SG→3SGNOMasEXCLThen I think, really, the earth itself has turned over,thus1SGtrulythuslandDEFEMPHONOMturn.over.S2PANOMthink.S21SG→3SGCJand so our language, changes as well.thusownlanguagealsochange.S1NOMEVIDEverything changes.whatalsowhatalsochange.S1Our clo— our language also,ownclothingspeechDEFGENlanguagealsoClothing changes — the clothing we wear changes.like.thisclothingornamentchange.S1clothingINFDEFalsoallchange.S1NOMEVIDI hadn't seen that this was happening,but1SGthatDEFTOPnowthusbecome.S1go.S1COMP1SGNEGsee.S1GERbe.S21SG.SO.PAbut now year after year it can be seen.nowthusEMPHyearlyADVsee.S1be.possible.S1NOMBut when you young men and woman are together,butthusyoungDEFwomanbe.S1GERSUBif you take out two rupees each — if you take out two rupees, I take out two rupees.2SGalso1SG→2SGtwotwo2take.out.S23SG.Oif1SGtwotake.out.S21SG→3SGOur friend up above takes out two rupees, the one over here takes out two rupees. So all pay up.upfriendDEF.ERGtwotake.out.S23SG.OacrossfriendDEF.ERGtwotake.out.S23SG.OthusallERGtake.out.S1GERalsoWhen everyone has agreed, we get a goat,thatDEFagree.S1GERREFLalsogoatonebring.S1GERCJwe give them hospitality, we give them beer — that was our custom, before.thushospitalitygive.S1GERPL.Obeergive.S1GER.PL.ONOMcustombeforebe.S2PAbefore1PL.EXWe gave them beer, we gave them hospitality.beergive.S21PL.EX→3NSGhospitalitygive.S21PL.EX→3NSGThey would soak some rice and put in a little turmeric.ricewater.PV3PLsoak3SG.OCJTOPturmerica.little3PLput.in.S23SG.OThey would put in turmeric and make it yellowthusCJTOPthat.oneERGthat.oneERGturmeric3PLput.in.S23SG.OCJTOPyellow3PLdo.S23SG.OCJTOPand they would put in a bit of ghee and fry it.gheea little3PLput.in.S23SG.OCJTOP3PLfry.S23SG.O3PLfry.S23SG.OCJTOPThey would serve up a little of that sometimes.that.onea.little3PLlay.down.S23SG.O3PLgive.S23.O.NSGsometimesTOPSometimes they would give eggs too.sometimesTOP3SGtimeTOPthateggalso3PLgive.S23.O.NSGI saw them give such things, we too would give them things, before, when we danced.like.that3PLgive.S23.O.NSGNOMsee.S21SG→3SGCJ1PL.EXalsogive.S21PL.EX→3NSGbeforethuspaddy.PVdance.S21PL.EXSUBSuch hospitality — do you all give each other hospitality or don't you?thusgive.S1GERPL.Ohospitalityhospitalitygive.S1GERPL.O2PLhospitality2give.S112PL.REFLQ2.NEGgive.S112PL.REFL.NEGQ2PLTOPGifts — the custom of hospitality is still around.hospitalityhospitalityDEF.GENcustomstillbe.S1thatDEFIs it?be.S1QIt is. Why wouldn't it be? Now suppose they invite us up there, OK?be.S1whatalsonot.be.S1SUBhow3NSGnowasINTENSup3NSG→1INcall.S1noQNow if they invite us and give us hospitality,now3NSG→1INcall.S1CJ3NSGEMPH1NSG.Ohospitality3PLgive.S2PAifwe, too, afterwards, we have to invite them and give them fully the same.now1PL.INalsobehindcall.S1INFNSG.OCJthat.samethat.onefullINTENSgive.S1GER.PL.Omust.S2PARight.thusIt's whatever they do.3NSGas3PLdo.S23SG.OIf they don't give it to us —3NSGthat.oneDEFEMPH3NSG→1IN.NEGgive.S1NEGifIf they only give us beer, if they only give us rice-cake, we do the same.beeronly3NSG→1INgive.S2PArice-cakewhatonly3NSG→1INgive.S2PAif1PL.INalsothat.sameThat's what we have to do.that.samethatDEFcustomdo.S1INFmust.S2PAIn that case, do we have to give them the same amount as they give us?thenADV3NSG3NSG→1INgive.S2PATOP3NSG3NSG→1INgive.S1NOMDEFas.muchgive.S1INFNSG.Omust.S1Qor do we have to give them a little more?3NSG3NSG→1INgive.S1NOMDEFABLINSTa.littlebig.S1NOMgive.S1INFNSG.Omust.S1Qor do we have to give them a little less? Nowadays what do you do? — that's what I'm asking.3NSG3NSG→1INgive.S1NOMDEFABLINSTa.littlesmall.S1NOMgive.S1INFNSG.Omust.S1Qthusthat.onePVask.S11SG→2SGNOM2SGthushowNOM3NSG→2give.S212PL.SOTOPCOMPIt's like this. Now they give us four dharnis — OK?thatthusEMPHnownowfourdharniNOM3NSG→1INgive.S1DUnotQNow we — we two are friends, right?1DU.INnow1DU.INfriend1INbecome.S2PA.DUnotQA woman has invited us.onewomanERG1INcall.S2PA.DUWe go and they give us four or five dharnis, right?1INgo.S2DUCJTOPnowlike.thatINTENSfourdharnifivedharniNOMnow3NSG→1INgive.S2PA.DUit.isorRight.thusNow what she gave us, it won't do give only the same amount in return.then3NSG→1INgive.S2PA.DUDEFINSTnowthatonlyTOPreturn.S1INFNEGbe.good.S2PA.NEGIt has to be two dharnis more — it has to be a little more.thatthandharnitwoexcessNOMEXCLthatABLINSTa.littlebig.S1NOMIf they give us four dharnis, we have to go up to six or seven dharnis.butdharnifourACTbe.suspended.S1NOM3NSG→1INgive.S1DUifsixdharniNOMsevendharniNOMup.to1PL.INincrease.S1INFalsoTOPThe beer, too, has to be a bit more.beerDEFalsoa.littlebig.S1NOMdo.S2PA(?)A bit more. We have to add in some beer.a.littlebig.S1NOMbeerDEFalsothusincrease.S1INFmust.S2PAWe have to give more than what they give us.nowhospitality3NSG→1INgive.S1DUNOMDEFalsoincrease.S1INFCJTOPgive.S1INFNSG.Omust.S1In that case, it's only your words — only the words of your songs — only when you draw out your voices that you draw them out a little differently, right?thus2PLspeechDEFonlyEMPH2PLsongspeechDEFonlyEMPHvoiceDEFonlyEMPHthus2pull.S212PL→3SGSUBa.littledifferent2pull.S212PL→3SGEVIDisn't.it??It's because it isn't like the way we sang that I asked you.butbefore1PL.EXpull.S21PL.EX→3SGDEFSOCNEGagree.S1NEGSUBPVask.S11SG→2SGNOMFor the rest, we, too, gave gifts adding a little — the same way.that1PL.EXalsobefore1PL.EXalsoTOPincrease.S21PL.EX→3SGCJgive.S21PL.EX→3NSGthat.sameOne has to add a little more to what they've given us.3NSG3PLgive.S21PL.EXNOMDEFABLINSTa.littlebig.S1NOMincrease.S1INFCJgive.S1INFNSG.Omust.S1One has to add a bit more alcohol to what they've given us, and give it to them.3NSG3NSG→1INgive.S1NOMalcoholABLINSTa.littlemucha.littleadd.on.S1INFCJa.littlemuchdo.S1INFCJgive.S1INFNSG.Ogive.S1INFNSG.Omust.S1And we must drink up their alcohol — we all get together and drink.but3NSGalcoholDEFdrink.S2INFdispatch.S1INFmust.S1allfriendagree.S1GERREFLCJTOP1INstay.S1thatinWe have to have a discussion among friends, to discuss it and then get together and drink.meetingdo.S1INFbecome.S2PAfriendfriendmeeting1INdo.S1CJthatLOCagree.S1INFREFLCJdrink.S2INFHowever many we are — dancers — allagainhow.manyhuman.CLFbeforebe.S2PA1INbe.S1paddy.PVACTdance.S1NOMthat.oneallERGagainget out the same amount and buy it and give it to them, adding a little.that.sametake.out.S1INFCJTOPagainbuy.S1INFCJtherea.littleincrease.S1INFCJgive.S1GER.PL.ONOMTOPIt was like that before too, when we danced.beforealsobe.S2PA1PL.EXpaddy.PVdance.S21PL.EXSUBCJThat's why I asked about that in particular.thusthatADV2SGPVask.S11SG→2SGNOMthatTOPit.isThat is the same, it turns out.thatTOPagree.S1EVIDOnly your voices aren't the same.but2PLthatvoiceDEFonlyEMPHNEGagree.S1NEG2PLBack then we drew our voices out long.1PL.EXTOPthuslong.S1NOMpull.S21PL.EX→3SGYou don't draw them out.2PLthuslong.S1NOM2.NEGpull.S212PL→3SG.NEGbutThat's the way it is, uncle. The voices have changed now, right?thusmust.S1jun.pat.uncleVOCvoiceDEFTOPvoiceDEFTOPa.littlenowchange.S2PAisn't.itBut the song is the same.butsongTOPthat.sameonlyoneIt's one song — the song is the same.songonlyonethat.samesongDEFalsoagree.S1Our voice has changed — the way of singing it is different — but the song is the same.butfor.no.reasonnow1PL.EXthusvoiceDEFchange.S2PASUBthatsongotherspeak.S1GERNOMsongTOPonlyoneToday's and the old-time one doesn't quite agree.butbeforeNOMDEFABLthusNOMDEFNEGagree.S1NEGa littleTOPRight.thusEXPRThey don't agree.NEGagree.S1NEGthusActually, we aren't the same as your generation, uncle.thusto.beTOPbeforejun.pat.unclePLextent1PL.EXTOPNEGagree.S11PL.EX.SO.NEGin.truthThe reason we aren't the same — before, your consensus was more important.whatalsoNEGagree.S11PL.EX.SO.NEGisn't.itummbeforeCOMP2PLcounselbig.S2PAWe nowadays, if seven of us agree on a plan, out of the seven1PL.EXTOPnownowsevenhuman.CLFwhatcounselagree.S11PL.EX.REFLSUBsevenhuman.CLFLOCuhthree, four, five — later only that many of us will still agree —threefourfivethusonly1PL.EXcounsellateragree.S1"I'm not paying for that, hey!thatLOC1SGNEGtake.out.S11SG.NEGEXCLI only ate this much, really!"1SGtrulyNOMthusonlyeat.S21SGNOMEXCLone of them will tell us.oneERGnow1INsay.S1EXCLSo nowadays we don't get solidarity, among the group of young men.thusEXCLthus1PL.EXcounselNEGagree.S21PL.EX.SO.NEGyoungstergroupLOCBefore, we paid equally, clan-brothers and clan-sisters. [Clan-siblings can not dance together, but they used to go together to meet boys and girls of another clan.]before1PL.EXTOPfemalemaleERG3SGagree.S1NOMtake.out.S21PL.EX→3SGThe sisters would pay however much the brothers paid.maleNOMDEF.ERGtake.out.S1INFequalfemaleDEF.ERGalsotake.out.S1GERNOMWe all took out the same amount and gave it to them.equaltake.out.S21PL.EX→3SGCJ3SGagree.S1NOMtake.out.S21PL.EX→3SGCJgive.S21PL.EX→3NSGThey [the other clan] came, both brothers and sisters. We went, brothers and sisters together.3NSGalsofemalemale3PLcome.S2PA1PL.EXalsofemalemalego.S21PL.EXJust as you said, back then we would dance with people from the Tamur Khola, from Sauden.2SG2say.S23SG.ONOMDEFlikeTamarRiverACTstay.S1NOMSaudenACTstay.S1NOMSOCthuspaddy.PVdance.S21PL.EXbe.S21PL.EXWe danced with people from Lingthep.LingthepACTstay.S1NOM.FSOCalsopaddy.PVdance.S21PL.EXthusbe.S21PL.EXWhen we gave each other gifts, we all paid equally.thushospitalitygive.S11PL.EX.REFLSUB3SGagree.S1NOMtake.out.S21PL.EX→3SG1PL.EXYou all pay equally too, I suppose, as far as paying goes.2PLalso3SGagree.S1NOM2take.out.S212PL→3SGHYPtake.out.S1GERTOPBut there are always some who pay, and some who don't.butsomeoneTOPNEGtake.out.S1GER3PLbe.S1someoneTOPACTtake.out.S1NOM3PLbe.S1someoneERGSome mainly drink beer, and as for dancing, they're mediocre dancers.someoneERGbeeronlyACTdrink.S1NOMpaddy.PVdance.S1mediocreACTdance.S1NOM3SGTOPAnd there are some who don't take out their money.thusmoneyNEGtake.out.S1GERalso3PLbe.S1Some of us pay.someonethusACTtake.out.S1NOM1INbe.S1manWe people aren't the same.manGENman1IN.NEGagree.S1NEGADVNOMthusWe're not the same.1IN.NEGagree.S1NEGThey're like that. You're telling it straight.like.that3PLbe.S1thatstraight2say.S23SG.OEXPRThat fits. But our custom — nowadays — its become like that, let's say.thusagree.S1but1PL.EXTOPthusTOPlike.thatnowcustombecome.S2PAgo.S2say.S1INFEXCLBack then, in your generation, uncle, if women invited you up somewhere, over somewhere,thusas.muchNOMDEFTOPnowbeforejun.pat.unclePLERGthusacrossupwomanERG3NSG→2call.S212PL.SOSUByou went together, clan-brothers and sisters, no?femaleSOCmaleSOC2go.S212PL.SOnotQYes.thusWhen you went, you really agreed together and you went.2go.S212PL.SOSUBwonderfulINSTcounsel2agree.S212PL.SOCJ2go.S212PL.SONow, how it is,like.thisTOPhow.ADJbe.S1COMPummwe — either we clan-brothers go by ourselves, we don't take the girls,1PL.EXeither1PL.EXmaleNOMaloneonlygo.S21PL.EXfemaleNEGtake.S21PL.EX→3NSG.NEGand the clan-sisters, if some young men invite them up, over somewhere,femaleERGalsoacrossup3NSGyoung.manDEFERG3PLcall.S23.O.NSGifit's the same — they go by themselves.that.same3NSGalone3PLgo.S1They don't want their clan-brothers.maleNOM3NSGneed.PVNEGdo.S1NEGThat's become the custom nowadays.thuslike.thatcustombecome.S2PACJbe.S1thusBefore, unless the brothers and sisters went together, you didn't go.before2PLTOPfemalemaleSOCPVNEGwalk.S1GER2PL2.NEGgo.S212PL.SO.NEGNOMBut now, with us, there's no question of brothers and sisters going together, as far as that's concerned.but1PL.EXTOPthusTOPfemalemaleSOCtogetherPVwalk.S1INFnot.be.S1thatDEFTOPBut you all, when you've gone dancing and you come back, nowadays you go to bed.but2PLthuspaddy.PVdance.S1PURP2go.S212PL.SOCJ2come.S212PL.SOSUBthus2sleep.S212PL.SOWith the knowledge of your parents, you go dancing and then you come back.fathermotherERG3PLsee.S23SG.OPROGpaddy.PVdance.S1PURP2go.S212PL.SOCJagain2come.S212PL.SOAnd then you go to bed. You don't go to the work-party. You're not afraid, nowadays.thus2sleep.S212PL.SOwork-partyalso2.NEGgo.S212PL.SO.NEG2.NEGfear.S212PL.SO.NEGEXPR2PLthusWe, before, how we were —1PL.EXthusbeforeTOPhowsay.S21PL.EXCOMPWithout our parents knowing, when we went dancing,nowhouseCTRfatherSOCmotherERG3PL.SA.NEGsee.S23SG.O.NEGNOM1PL.EXpaddy.PVdance.S1PURPgo.S1INFSUBthe boys and girls had to agree, all the friends had to agree, and then we went.femalemalebeforeagree.S1INFREFLmust.S1friendfriendagree.S1INFREFLmust.S1thusalsoTOPgo.S21PL.EXLater, when we came back, our parents were already sleeping.butlatercome.S21PL.EXSUBtimefathermotheralso3PLsleep.S1CJ3PLlie.S1We didn't fall asleep.1PL.EXeyealsoNEGfeel.S1NEGNOMDirectly they gave us food, we took up our hoes.ONOMADVmeal3PLgive.S21PL.EXCJTOPhoewield.S11PL.EX.REFLThen we set out for the work-party. We went.thenCJTOPwork-partyattend.S21PL.EXgo.S21PL.EXThen over there, if we slept, the clan-brothers and sisters —thusCJtheresleep.S1CJlie.S1INFSUBnowfemalemaleNow if the sisters were asleep, it was the brothers who would hoe,nowfemalesleep.S1CJlie.S1SUBmaleCOMPpaddycultivate.S23SG.ONOMand again later, when the sisters got up and hoed, they would hoe by turns.againlateragainagainfemaleDEFget.up.S1CJ3SGcultivate.S23SG.OSUBmalecultivate.S1GERNOMturnturncultivate.S1GERNOMSo at home our parents didn't scold us, they didn't even know.thusCJhouseCTRCTRfathermotherERGalso1NSG.O3PL.SA.NEGabuse.S2PA.NEGPV3PL.SA.NEGrecognize.S23SG.O.NEGNowadays you just sleep, when you come back.thusTOP2PLTOP2sleep.S212PL.SO2come.S212PL.SOCJTOPThat's how I see it.like.that1SGsee.S21SG→3SGThat's the way you are here in the village, nowadays!thushere.LOCvillageLOClike.that2be.S212PL.SOEXCLthusWe are, butbe.S21PL.EXbutthat.oneDEFummbefore, uncle, when you went dancing and came back,thusADVbeforeTOPjun.pat.unclePLTOPthusADV2go.S212PL.SOpaddy.PVdance.S1PURP2go.S212PL.SO2arrive.S212PL.SOCJTOPyou set out directly to work.thusONOMADVworkLOC2attend.S212PL.SOBut nowadays, we don't have a custom like your generation's, uncle.butthusTOP1PL.EXTOPthat1SGjun.pat.unclePLERGlike.ADJ.NOMbeforethat.ADJcustomnot.be.S1Now there are one or two like that. There are only one or two.thusTOPoneonebutthusTOPoneoneonly3PLbe.S1like.thatoneoneonly3PLbe.S1When they go dancing and come back, the sleepers stay sleeping.thusthusTOPONOMADVpaddy.PVdance.S1PURPgo.S1INFCJarrive.S1INFCJTOP2sleep.S1NOMDEFthus3PLsleep.S1CJ3PLlie.S1The ones who go to work, it's the ones who are a little afraid of their parents.ummworkdo.S1PURP2go.S1NOMDEFa.little3NSGfathermotherACTfear.S1NOMDEFTOPindeedNow uncle, suppose your son Chandre goes to the fair to dance, OK?nownownow1SGjun.pat.uncleGEN2sonChandraalsoTOPnowasINTENSbazaarpaddy.PVdance.S1PURPgo.S1notQHmm.ummWhen he goes — "Oh, I have some work to do at school today."go.S1SUBEXCLtodayTOP1SGlike.thisschoolLOCworkalsopossess.S21SG→3SG"Today I have to supervise some laborers hoeing."todayTOPlike.thisummpaddycultivate.S1INFwhatlaborerhire.S1INFNSG.Owhatalsopossess.S21SG→3NSG[He thinks:] "If I sleep in, my father is strict, he'll abuse me, he'll hit me, he'll kill me,"butthatDEFTOPnowsleep.S1INFCJlie.S1INFCOMP1SGfatherACTbe.angry.S1NOMnow1INabuse.S11INstrike.S11INkill.S1HYPhe thinks, and he goes off immediately.say.S1CJTOP3SGTOPONOM.immediatelyADVgo.S1But its the same — It's like that if the parents are a little strict, if they inspire fear.butthatDEFthat.sameEXCLnow1PL.INfathermotherERGa.littlefrightenINFkill.S1INFNSG.Oa.littlefathermotherACTbe.angry.S1NOMSUBEMPH?samemust.S1Then the children fear us, they fear us like that.thussonERGCJ3NSG→1INfear.S13NSG→1INfear.S1NOMthusThey fear us, and they work.thusEXPR3NSG→1INfear.S1CJworkDEFalso3PLdo.S23SG.OCJBut when we plowed,but1PL.EXthusplowplow.S21PL.EXSUBThe amount that we plowed, you all can only plow in two days.1PL.EXplowplow.S21PL.EX→3SGNOMDEFextent2PLtwo.daysonly2plow.S212PL→3SGThe amount we plowed in one day, you plow in two days.1PL.EXone.dayINSTplow.S21PL.EX→3SGNOMDEF2PLtwo.daysINST2plow.S212PL→3SGYour father's — as much as was your father had in him — uh — you don't have the stamina.thusNOMthusNOM2PLNOMwhatLOCthus2PLNEGstay.S1NEGNOMQ2PLbreathOtherwise you should be able to plow as much as the old-timers.notif3SGagree.S1NOMplow.S1INFACTmust.S1NOMbeforeNOMextentThey used to say, compared to the amount my father's generation plowed, "You don't plow as much." My mother used to tell me that.again3PLsay.S23SG.OSUBbefore1SGfatherPLERG3PLplow.S23SG.ONOMextent1SG2SG2.NEGplow.S23SG.O.NEGbut1SGmotherERGalsothusdo.S21SG.SO.PA"You don't plow as much as your father used to plow," she told me.2fatherERGplow.S23SG.ONOMextent2SGplow2.NEGplow.S23SG.O.NEGdo.S21SG.SO.PAThat's what they said.thusADVtell.S23SG.OAnd when they said how much stone wall they laid, or how much wood they carried, I was unable to do it.stonea.littlestone3PLlay.S23SG.ONOM3NSGwood3PLlift.S23SG.ONOM3PLtell.S23SG.OSUB1SGCJNEGbe.able.S1NOMThe amount my father carried, the amount of rock my father turned over and laid down, I couldn't do it.1SGfatherERGlift.S23SG.ONOMextent1SGfatherERGstoneturn.over.S23SG.OCJlay.down.S23SG.ONOMextent1SGlay.down.S1INFNEGbe.able.S1NOMThe old-timers back then were stronger.thusbeforeNOMmana.littleACTbe.strong.S1NOM3PL.COPThey were strong. But it is like this, uncle.ACTbe.strong.S1NOM3PL.COPbutthatTOPthusbecome.S1jun.pat.uncleVOCAnd compared to the old-timers — they were strong, as far as that goes — but now also there are some of us who are strong.butbeforeNOMmanPLthanGENthusACTbe.strong.S1NOM3PLbe.S2PAbe.S1INFTOPthusagainthusbe.S1INFTOP1INbe.S1The more work we do, the stronger we are, it turns out.butwhichever.oneas.muchworkdo.S1INFas.much1INbe.strong.S1EVIDIf we just hang around, not doing any work, then we are not strong.workNEGdo.S1INFthusanyhowthusbe.S1INFifthus1IN.NEGbe.strong.S1NEGOur bodies go a bit to seed. They go to seed and we aren't strong.a.littlebodyDEFalsobe.stiff.S1go.S1EVIDbe.stiff.S1CJTOPa little1IN.NEGbe.strong.S1NEGNOMEVIDWhat do you say?how2speechDEFIt's like this, uncle.thatDEFthatTOPlike.thisjun.pat.uncleVOCNow in the Kali Yug, we youngsters keep going downhill, further and further.as.muchCOMPthusKaliYugDEF.GENNOM1PL.EXtrulyyoungsterTOPnowtheredownonlytheredownonly1INcome.down.S1We don't match the amount of work that your generation did before, uncle.nowbeforejun.pat.unclePLERGextentumm2do.S212PL→3SGNOM1PL.EXthusthere3PLreach.S21PL.EX→3SG.NEGWe can't even match the amount that you ate.jun.pat.unclePLERG2eat.S212PL→3SGNOMextentLOC1PL.EXEMPHthatreach.S1INFNEGbe.able.S21PL.EX→3SGDEFSimilarly, your grandchildren can't match the amount of work we do.1PL.EXthat.same2PLgrandchildPLERG1PL.EXdo.S21PL.EX→3SGNOMextent2PLgrandchildPLERGagainreach.S1INF3PL.SA.NEGbe.able.S23SG.O.NEGRight.thusSo, the men before, who were touched by the Golden Age, were strong, but now those of the Kali Yug are only like this.thusthusnowgolden.agebeforegolden.ageDEF.INSTtouch.S23.O.NSGNOMman3PLbe.strong.S2PACJthusKaliageDEF.INSTNOMINTERJlike.thatonlyEVIDRight. That's the straight story.thusthatstraightNow, what's your opinion concerning us Limbus and the Nepalis?but1PL.INLimbuGENLimbuABLbrahmanDEF.GENhow.muchextentthought2do.S23SG.OThe Limbu eats, and he works.LimbuDEF.ERGeat.S2alsodo.S23SG.OalsoBut now, what's happened, you all speak a little more Nepali [when speaking Limbu].thushow.ADJbecome.S2PA2PLbrahmanspeecha.littlemuch2speak.S212PL.SOYou've lost a little of the Limbu language.Limbuspeecha.little2lose.S212PL→3SGIt's a case of ?? eating what they eat — you all have gone a bit down that road.thusthatERGhowNOMeat.S2like.thateat.S2INFthusa.littlemuch2PL2enter.S212PL.SOYou've gone that way.there2enter.S212PL.SOthere2enter.S212PL.SOthusNow as far as being strong, one who is a little bigger, a little taller, whose bones are a bit bigger, he's a bit stronger, no?thusthuslike.thatbe.strong.S1??TOPa.littlebig.S1NOMa.littlelong.S1NOM3SGbonea.littlebig.S1NOMDEFa.littlebe.strong.S1noQIf one's bones are small, if one is small, one isn't strong.bonesmall.S1NOMmansmall.S1NOMif1IN.NEGbe.strong.S1NEGEXPRNo.1IN.NEGbe.strong.S1NEGOne who is a bit bigger will be a bit heavier.a.littlebig.S1NOMDEFalsoa.littlebe.heavy.S1He'll be heavier.a.littlebe.heavy.S1So …thuslike.thatSo — go ahead, speak.thusINTERJsay.S2IMP2SGthusAs to how it came about, calling ourselves "Yakthungba" — we're yakthungba.Limbusay.S1GERREFLDEFhow.ADJbecome.S2PASUBLimbu1INbecome.S2PA1PL.INThe word "yakthungba" — is it "yakthungba" or is it "akthungba"? Between these two.Limbusay.S1GERLimbuQakthumbaQthistwoLOCthistwoLOCIs it "yakthungba" or is it "akthungba"?LimbuQakthumbaQNow that I think of it, "yakthungba" — it's not "yakthungba", it's more like "akthungba".now1SGthink.S21SG→3SGSUBLimbuCOMPLimbuTOPis.notakthungbaQlike.ADJbe.S1EXPRHmm.ummIs it true? Is it like that? It's like that, no, uncle?trulyQthusQthusnotQ1SGjun.pat.uncleVOCIf we say "akthungba" — as long as there's something inside the pot, since one served it ["aktu"] and drank it ["thung"], it's like "akthungba" right!akthungbasay.S1GERDEFTOP3SGcontainerLOCbe.in.S1up.toserve.S23SG.OGERACTdrink.S1NOMSUBakthungbalikeisn't.itThe expression "yakthungba" — whatever's inside ["yak"] — "yakthungba".yakthungbasay.S1GERDEFhow.ADJbe.in.S1Limbu"yak", "yakthungba".be.in.S1yakthungbaThat's what I'm asking you.thusthatPVask.S11SG→2SGNOM2SGThen indeed it must be "yakthungba".thusthatyakthungbatrulyalsoEMPHEXPRthatWe are people who eat only as long as there is ["yak"] something in the house, right?nowhouseCTRbe.S1untilonlyEMPHACTeat.S2NOM1PL.IN.COPit.isor"yakthungba", "akthungba".yakthungbaakthungbaWhatever there is in the house,thusas.muchhouseLOCstay.S1it.isoror in the storage-potEXPRpotLOCstay.S1"akthungba", "yakthungba", "akthungba".thatDEFakthungbayakthungbaakthungbaWhen it's finished, it's finished for us Limbus.thusthatDEFexhaust.S1CJTOPfinish.S23SG.ONOM1PL.INLimbuDEF.GENMaybe that's why they say "akthungba" [??].thusADVakthumbanow3PLbe.S1HYPWe have no thought for what to eat tomorrow, or the next day.tomorroweat.S1INFday.after.tomorroweat.S1INFlike.NOMTOPwhatmindLOCNEGbe.in.S1NEGIf I've eaten just now, eating tomorrow or the next day —nowonlyeat.S21SGCJTOPtomorrowday.after.tomorrowTOPeat.S1INFI don't need it!need.PVNEGdo.S11SG.PR.NEGOur Limbu philosophy is like that, huh?like.thisonlymind1PL.INLimbuGENmindbe.S1NOMlike.thatisn't.it[To the linguist:] That's it, sir.sirINTERJOK