Ocotepec 1 | International Journal of American Linguistics

The Näwayomo’ ‘The River Woman’

told by Brígida Muñoz Morales

Ernesto Ramírez Muñoz

CIESAS

Ocotepec Zoque is part of the dialect chain of Chiapas Zoque dialect chain (Wonderly 1949), spoken in the municipality of the same name located in the Northeastern part of the state of Chiapas, Mexico. Ocotepec Zoque speakers identify themselves as ʹodepät, literally ‘man (pon) of words (ʔone)’. To refer to the language, speakers use the term ʹodetsame, which comes from ʔon e tsam e ‘speech (ʔon e) say (tsam e)’, literally meaning ‘language of the word’. The ʹodepät have a great repository of oral tradition that is still transmitted today to younger generations from grandparents to grandchildren and parents to children in family settings.

The legend of the Näwayomoʹ ‘The River Woman’ is a narrative of prehispanic origin that has endured to the present day. The version analyzed and transcribed here was told in 2014 by Mrs. Brígida Muñoz Morales, a 44-year-old native speaker of Ocotepec Zoque. She tells of the näwayomoʹ, a snake that transforms into a women with four digits on each hand. When appearing to men, this creature takes the form of their wives, seducing them and causing them to become ill and die.

1)	Teʹ näwayomoʹ wiʹnaʹa nimekediʹunhndenaʹajk ijtkeʹtpabäʹ.
	teʔ	nǝʔ–way–yomoʔ	wiʔna=ʔam	nimeke=ti=ʔuŋ=teʔ=naʔak	Ø–ʔit–keʔt–pa–pǝʔ
	DET	water–DEM–woman	first=IAM	much=LIM=REP=COP=CONTR	3S–exist–also–INC=REL
	‘Before, a long time ago, there existed the woman of the river.’

2)	Teʹ tsyabyajkeʹtpadi.
	teʔ	y–¢am–yah–keʔt–pa=ti
	DET	3A–say–3PL–also–INC=LIM
	‘They also say this.’

3)	Pero teʹ pekatsameʹndekeʹ.
	pero	teʔ	Ø–peka–¢am–e=ʔam=teʔ=keʔ
	but	DET	3S–old–say–NOM=IAM=COP=well
	‘But this, well, it is an old legend.’

4)	Jiʹnande yätibäʹ,
	hiʔn=ʔam=teʔ	Ø–yǝ‿ti=pǝʔ
	INC:NEG=IAM=COP	3S–now=REL
	‘It is not (a legend) from now,’

5)	pero näbyajpa ke yäti ijtpamaʹunh.
	pero	Ø–nǝm–yah–pa	que	yǝ‿ti	Ø–ʔit–pa=ma=ʔuŋ
	pero	3S–say–3PL–INC	that	now	3S–exist–INC=still=REP
	‘but they say that now she still exists.’

6)	Yaʹajkpäʹ ʹora makyajpaʹunhnaʹajk yojsyeʹ pändaʹm tsaʹmʹomo.
	Ø–yaʔah=ʔk=pǝʔ	hora	maŋ–yah–pa=ʔuŋ=naʔak	Ø–yos–yah–e	pǝn=taʔm	¢aʔm=ʔomo
	3S–long.time.ago=TSUB=REL	hour	goAUX–3PL–INC=REP=CONTR	3S–work–2PL–DEP	man=PL	mountain=insideRN
	‘Apparently, long ago the men would go to work in the mountains.’

7)	Pyaʹtyajpaʹunhnaʹajk jikä yomojse ketpabäʹ o ijudibäjse,
	y–paʔt–yah–pa=ʔuŋ=naʔak	hikǝ	yomoʔ=se	Ø–ket–pa=pǝʔ	o	ʔiјǝ–huti=pǝʔ=se
	3A–find–3PL–INC=REP=CONTR	INTER	woman=SIM	3S–see–INC=REL	or	someone–INDEF=REL=SIM
	‘They would find a person who looked like a woman or someone they knew,’

8)	tsyäjkpujtpaʹunhnaʹajk wyit,
	y–¢ǝk–put–pa=ʔuŋ=naʔak	y–win
	3A–do–exit–INC=REP=CONTR	3PSR–SELF
	‘she would transform herself,’

9)	Teʹyi midaʹunhnaʹajk ʹyangumaʹkäye teʹ pändaʹm.
	teʔ=yi	min–pa=ʔuŋ=naʔak	y–ʔaŋ–ko–mak–ʔǝy–yah–e	teʔ	pǝn=taʔm
	MED=LOC.EXT	comeAUX–INC=REP=CONTR	3A–MOUTH–OTHER–follow–VRB–3PL–DEP	DET	man=PL
	‘in order to later deceive the men.’

10)	Ka midaʹunh jyojtspäjkye ʹo syuʹkye teʹ pät.
	ʔuka	min–pa=ʔuŋ	y–ho¢–pǝk–yah–e	o	y–suʔk–yah–e	teʔ	pǝn
	COND	comeAUX–INC=REP	3A–embrace–grab–3PL–DEP	or	3A–kiss–3PL–DEP	DET	man
	‘She would come to hug or kiss the men.’

11)	Kaʹyajpabäʹunhndenaʹajk.
	Ø–kaʔ–yah–pa=pǝʔ=ʔuŋ=teʔ=naʔak
	3S–die–3PL–INC=REL=REP=COP=CONTR
	‘Apparently, these were the ones who would die.’

12)	Sonede ijtubäʹ ʹobäʹ ʹyanhgumaʹkäye teʹse,
	sone=teʔ	Ø–ʔit–u=pǝʔ	ʔoy–u=pǝʔ	y–ʔaŋ–ko–mak–ʔǝy–yah–e	teʔ=se
	many=COP	3S–exist–CMP=REL	arrive.thereAUX–CMP=REL	3A–MOUTH–other–follow–VRB–3PL–DEP	MED=SIM
	‘There were many that came to be that way,’

13)	kaʹyajubäʹ.
	Ø–kaʔ–yah–u=pǝʔ
	3S–die–3PL–CMP=REL
	‘those that died.’

14)	Dekee tiʹyäjkajpa makaʹunh ji tyoʹmäyi teʹ yomo,
	dekeː	Ø–tiʔyǝk–ʔah–pa	maŋ–pa=ʔuŋ	hikǝ	y–toʔm–ʔǝy–i	teʔ	yomoʔ
	after	3S–something–INCH–INC	goAUX–INC=REP	INTER	3A–near–VRB–DEP	DET	woman
	‘Then they would go to approach the woman,’

15)	yomojse ʹyijspabäʹ.
	yomoʔ=se	y–ʔis–pa=pǝʔ
	woman=SIM	3A–see–INC=REL
	‘the one who looked like a woman.’

16)	ʹi jäsika nuʹkyajpaʹunh tyäjkʹomo,
	ʔi	hǝsi=ʔka	Ø–nuʔk–yah–pa=ʔuŋ	y–tǝk=ʔomo
	and	after=TSUB	3S–arrive–3PL–INC=REP	3PSR–house=insideRN
	‘After that they would arrive at their houses,’

17)	pyaʹtyajpaʹunh ʹäʹtsiʹis tsajkokyuʹyis.
	y–paʔt–yah–pa=ʔuŋ	ʔǝʔ¢–i=ʔis	¢ak–ʔoy–kuyʔ=ʔis
	3A–find–3PL–INC=REP	vomit–NOM=3ERG	leave–ANTIP–INSTR.NOM₁=3ERG
	‘they would become ill with vomiting and diarrhea.’

18)	ʹi teʹyi yempeʹunh tsyoʹyäyadä,
	ʔi	teʔ=yi	yempe=ʔuŋ	y–¢oy–ʔǝy–yah–tǝh–ǝ
	and	MED=LOC.EXT	although=REP	3S.DEP–swallow–VRB–3PL–PASS–SBJV
	‘And afterwards, even if they were medicated,’

19)	jiʹnamunhnde tsyojkyebäʹ.
	hiʔn=ʔam=ʔuŋ=teʔ	y–¢ok–yah–e=pǝʔ
	INC:NEG=IAM=REP=COP	3S.DEP–cure–3PL–DEP=REL
	‘they couldn’t be cured.’

20)	Teʹkandekeʹ nikenaʹajk naʹtse naʹtseʹunhnaʹajk itnämba.
	teʔ=ʔk=ʔam=teʔ=ʔk=eʔ	nike=naʔak	naʔ¢e–naʔ¢–e=ʔuŋ=naʔak	Ø–ʔit–nǝm–pa
	MED=TSUB=IAM=COP=TSUB=FOC	much=CONTR	frighten–NOM–frighten–NOM=REP=CONTR	3S–exist–IMPL–INC
	‘That is why they lived in so much fear.’

21)	Jiʹnunhnaʹajk jikä jene mujsi wyijtya.
	hiʔn=ʔuŋ=naʔak	hikǝ	hene	mus–i	y–wit–yah–ǝ
	INC:NEG=REP=CONTR	HES	very	be.ableAUX–DEP	3S.DEP–walk–3PL–SBJV
	‘They couldn’t walk much.’

22)	Porke wiʹnaʹa jiʹnunhndenaʹajk kyonuʹksyebäʹ pändaʹm,
	porque	wiʔna=ʔam	hiʔn=ʔuŋ=teʔ=naʔak	y–konuʔks–yah–e=pǝʔ	pǝn=taʔm
	because	first=IAM	INC:NEG=REP=COP=CONTR	3S.DEP–pray–3PL–DEP=REL	man=PL
	‘Because the men didn’t pray,’

23)	Teʹkodaʹunhndenaʹajk teʹse tujkpabäʹ.
	teʔ=kotaʔ=ʔuŋ=teʔ=naʔak	teʔ=se	Ø–tuk–pa=pǝʔ
	MED=BEN=REP=COP=CONTR	MED=SIM	3S–happen–INC=REL
	‘that is why it happened like that.’

24)	Tumä yomoʹis tsyapkeʹtpa.
	tumǝ	yomoʔ=ʔis	y–tam–keʔt–pa
	one	woman=3ERG	3A–say–also–INC
	‘A woman tells (a tale) about it as well.’

25)	Teʹ nyeʹ kyandzyuʹis ndeposiʹunhdenaʹajk jikä myujspabäʹ ke ijtpa teʹsebäʹ.
	teʔ	y–neʔ	y–kan¢u=ʔis	ndeposi=ʔuŋ=teʔ=naʔak	hikǝ	y–mus–pa=pǝʔ	que	Ø–ʔit–pa	Ø–teʔ=se=pǝʔ
	DET	3PSR–GEN.PRO	3PSR–grandfather=3ERG	of.itself=REP=COP=CONTR	HES	3A–know–INC=REL	that	3S–exist–INC	3S–MED=SIM=REL
	‘Apparently, her grandfather knew that something like that existed.’

26)	Nyäwijtpaʹunhnaʹajk nyeʹ kyoʹkäyikäjsi tiʹyäjk jikä ʹaguja.
	y–nǝ–wit–pa=ʔuŋ=naʔak	y–neʔ	y–koʔ=kǝʔ=hi=kǝs=hi	tiʔyǝk	hikǝ	aguja
	3A–ASSOC–walk–INC=REP=CONTR	3PSR–GEN.PRO	3PSR–HEAD=underRN=LOC=aboveRN=LOC	something	HES	needle
	‘Apparently, he went about with a needle in his hat.’

27)	Teʹ naʹktäjk ʹaguja kyojtpaʹunhnaʹajk.
	teʔ	naʔk–tǝk	aguja	y–kot–pa=ʔuŋ=naʔak
	DET	sew–INSTR.NOM₂	needle	3A–put–INC=REP=CONTR
	‘Apparently, he put a sewing needle (in his hat).’

28)	Teʹyi kuando jikä teʹseʹunh jikä oyu pyaʹde teʹ yomoʹ,
	teʔ=yi	cuando	hikǝ	teʔ=se=ʔuŋ	hikǝ	ʔoy–u	y–paʔt–e	teʔ	yomoʔ
	MED=LOC.EXT	when	HES	MED=SIM=REP	HES	arrive.thereAUX–CMP	3A.DEP–find–DEP	DET	woman
	‘After, when he did come to meet this woman,’

29)	nu7ku7unh
	Ø–nuʔk–u=ʔuŋ
	3S–arrive–CMP=REP
	‘supposedly he went there’

30)	nyeʹ ʹyomojseʹunh ʹyijsu.
	y–neʔ	y–yomoʔ=se=ʔuŋ	y–ʔis–u
	3PSR–GEN.PRO	3PSR–woman=SIM=REP	3A–see–CMP
	‘and he saw her as his wife.’

31)	Nyänuʹkjayuʹunh waye.
	y–nǝ–nuʔk–hay–u=ʔuŋ	way–e
	3A–ASSOC–arrive–APPL–CMP=REP	grind–NOM
	‘She brought him pozol.’¹

32)	Nyänuʹkjayuʹunh ʹane.
	y–nǝ–nuʔk–hay–u=ʔuŋ	ʔane
	3A–ASSOC–arrive–APPL–CMP=REP	tortilla
	‘She brought him tortillas.’

33)	Nyäjabyaʹunh,
	y–nǝm–hay–pa=ʔuŋ
	3A–say–APPL–INC=REP
	‘She said,’

34)	Miʹna ʹukä, nhganaʹnh!
	min–ǝʔ=ʔam	ʔuk–ǝʔ	ŋ–kanaʔŋ
	comeAUX–IMP=IAM	eat–IMP	MASC–old
	‘ “Come eat already, old man!” ’

35)	nyäjabyaʹunh.
	y–nǝm–hay–pa=ʔuŋ
	3A–say–APPL–INC=REP
	‘she told him.’

36)	Teʹyi nyäjayuʹunh,
	teʔ=yi	y–nǝm–hay–u=ʔuŋ
	MED=LOC.EXT	3A–say–APPL–CMP=REP
	‘He then said to her,’

37)	Jikä tiyandeke midu meʹtse?
	hikǝ	tiјǝ=ʔam=teʔ=ke	min–u	m–meʔ¢–e
	HES	that=IAM=COP=well	comeAUX–CMP	2A–search–DEP
	‘ “What is it you came looking for?’

38)	Nunhkade jiʹ ʹỹoyebäʹ yäʹki yäti waʹtsi mnäminjayu yäʹ waye?
	nunca=teʔ	hiʔ	ny–ʔoy–e=pǝʔ	yǝʔ=ki	yǝ‿ti	waʔ=ʔ¢i	m–nǝ–min–hay–u	yǝʔ	way–e
	never=COP	INC:NEG	2S–arrive.here–DEP=REL	PRX=LOC.EXT	now	COMP=1ABS	LCL–ASSOC–come–APPL–CMP	PRX	grind–NOM
	‘ “You never come here, how come you are now bringing me this pozol?” ’

39)	nyäjayuʹunh.
	y–nǝm–hay–u=ʔuŋ
	3A–say–APPL–CMP=REP
	‘he said to her.’

40)	Jikä ʹã porke yäti näʹte mndoʹyanhäyubäʹ.
	hikǝ	ʔa	porque	yǝ‿ti	nǝ=ʔt=teʔ	m–toy–ʔaŋ–ʔǝy–u=pǝʔ
	HES	INTER	because	now	PROG=1ERG=COP	LCL–pain–NOM.RESUL–VRB–CMP=REL
	‘ “Ah, because now I am showing you compassion.’

41)	Näʹte midu myajk uki,
	nǝ=ʔt=teʔ	min–u	m–yak–ʔuk–i
	PROG=1ERG=FOC	comeAUX–DEP₂	LCL–CAUS–eat–DEP
	‘ “I’m coming to bring your food,” ’

42)	nyäjayuʹunh.
	y–nǝm–hay–u=ʔuŋ
	3A–say–APPL–CMP=REP
	‘she told him.’

43)	Weno,
	Ø–bueno
	3S–fine
	‘ “That’s fine,” ’

44)	näbuʹunh teʹ pät.
	Ø–nǝm–u=ʔuŋ	teʔ	pǝn
	3S–say–CMP=REP	DET	man
	‘the man said.’

45)	Makuʹunh jikä ʹukiʹ.
	maŋ–u=ʔuŋ	hikǝ	Ø–ʔuk–i
	goAUX–CMP=REP	HES	3S–eat–DEP
	‘He went to eat.’

46)	Makuʹunh jikä poʹkse.
	maŋ–u=ʔuŋ	hikǝ	Ø–poʔks–e
	goAUX–CMP=REP	HES	3S–sit–DEP
	‘He went and sat down.’

47)	Nyäjayuʹunh,
	y–nǝm–hay–u=ʔuŋ
	3A–say–APPL–CMP=REP
	‘He said to her,’

48)	Tsiʹätsike teʹ äj nhguʹtkuy!
	¢iʔ–ǝʔ=ʔ¢i=ke	teʔ	ʔǝh	n–kuʔt–kuyʔ
	give–IMP=1PO=well	DET	1PRO	1PSR–eat–INSTR.NOM₁
	‘ “Well, give me my food!” ’

49)	nyäjayuʹunh,
	y–nǝm–hay–u=ʔuŋ
	3A–say–APPL–CMP=REP
	‘he said to her,’

50)	ka mnäminjayuʹtsi.
	ʔuka	m–nǝ–min–u=ʔ¢i
	COND	LCL–ASSOC–come–APPL–CMP=1ABS
	‘ “if you brought it for me.” ’

51)	Jäʹä mnäminjayuʹt,
	hǝʔǝ	m–nǝ–min–hay–u=ʔt
	AFFIR	LCL–ASSOC–come–APPL–CMP=1ERG
	‘ “Yes, I brought it for you,” ’

52)	nyäjayuʹunh.
	y–nǝm–hay–u=ʔuŋ
	3A–say–APPL–CMP=REP
	‘she said to him.’

53)	Miduʹmunh ʹyijsytsyäki teʹe teʹ ʹyomojse ketpabäʹ.
	min–u=ʔam=ʔuŋ	y–ʔis–¢ǝk–i	teʔ	teʔ	y–yomoʔ=se	Ø–ket–pa=pǝʔ
	comeAUX–CMP=IAM=REP	3A–see–do–DEP	DET	DET	3PSR–woman=SIM	3S–see–INC=REL
	‘He goes looking at the person who looks like his wife.’

54)	Teʹ wyiʹnojkpajktiʹunhnde ʹyomojse ketpabäʹ,
	teʔ	y–win–ʔok–pak=ti=ʔuŋ=teʔ	y–yomoʔ=se	Ø–ket–pa=pǝʔ
	DET	3PSR–face–inside–bone=LIM=REP=COP	3PSR–woman=SIM	3S–see–INC=REL
	‘It was only her face that looked like his wife,’

55)	i teʹ kyäʹdaʹm janawäʹunh ketnyajpa.
	ʔi	teʔ	y–kǝʔ=taʔm	hana–wǝ=ʔuŋ	Ø–ket–yah–pa
	and	DET	3PSR–hand=PL	NEG–good=REP	3S–see–3PL–INC
	‘and her hands were ugly.’

56)	Tsaʹyatsaʹyadaʹmbäʹunh.
	Ø–¢ay–a–¢ay–a=taʔm=pǝʔ=ʔuŋ
	3S–to.rope–NOM–to.rope–NOM=PL=REL=REP
	‘They were thin like rope.’

57)	ʹi jikä majksykutyiʹunh ijtpa yäʹse kyäʹmojsi.
	ʔi	hikǝ	makskuy=ti=ʔuŋ	Ø–ʔit–pa	yǝʔ=se	y–kǝʔ•mohsi
	and	HES	four=LIM=REP	3S–exist–INC	PRX=SIM	3PSR–hand•five
	‘And she only had four digits.’

58)	Jiʹnunh ʹyidi mojasaʹy.
	hiʔn=ʔuŋ	y–ʔit–i	mos–ʔaʔy
	INC:NEG=REP	3S.DEP–exist–DEP	five–NUM
	‘She didn’t have five.’

59)	Teʹyi näbuʹunh teʹ pät,
	teʔ=yi	Ø–nǝm–u=ʔuŋ	teʔ	pǝn
	MED=LOC.EXT	3S–say–CMP=REP	DET	man
	‘Then the man said,’

60)	pero yäʹ ʹanhgumaʹkäyoyeyä.
	pero	yǝʔ	Ø–ʔaŋ–ko–mak–ʔǝy–ʔoy–e=yǝ
	but	PRX	3S–MOUTH–OTHER–follow–VRB–ANTIP–AGT.NOM=COP
	‘ “But you are an imposter.” ’

61)	Porke ndeposiʹunhndenaʹajk myanmbabäʹ ke teʹsedeʹ tsyäjkpabäʹ wyit teʹ näwayomoʹis.
	porque	ndeposi=ʔuŋ=teʔ=naʔak	y–man–pa=pǝʔ	que	teʔ=se=teʔ	y–¢ǝk–pa=pǝʔ	y–win	teʔ	nǝʔ–way–yomoʔ=ʔis
	because	of.itself=REP=COP=CONTR	3A–listen–INC=REL	that	MED=SIM=COP	3A–make–INC=REL	3PSR–SELF	DET	water–DEM–woman=3ERG
	‘Because he heard that is how the river woman transforms herself.’

62)	Teʹyi nyäjayuʹunh,
	teʔ=yi	y–nǝm–hay–u=ʔuŋ
	MED=LOC.EXT	3A–say–APPL–CMP=REP
	‘Then, apparently, he said to her,’

63)	Yäti makaʹt jikä…
	yǝ‿ti	maŋ–pa=ʔt	hikǝ
	now	goAUX–INC=1ERG	HES
	‘ “I’m going now…” ’

64)	Teʹyi nyäjayuʹunh jikä,
	teʔ=yi	y–nǝm–hay–u=ʔuŋ	hikǝ
	MED=LOC.EXT	3A–say–APPL–CMP=REP	HES
	‘Then he said to her,’

65)	Pero mijtsi jiʹnyä ä̃j ỹomo,
	pero	mih¢iʔ	hiʔn=yǝ	ʔǝh	n–yomoʔ
	but	2ABS.PRO	INC:NEG=COP	1PRO	1PSR–woman
	‘ “But you are not my wife,’

66)	mijtsi ỹangumaʹkäyoyeyä myidubäʹ.
	mih¢iʔ	ny–aŋ–ko–mak–ʔǝy–ʔoy–e=yǝ	ny–min–u=pǝʔ
	2PRO.ABS	2S–MOUTH–OTHER–follow–VRB–ANTIP–AGT.NOM=COP	2S–come–CMP=REL
	‘ “you are a fraud who has come.” ’

67)	Pyäjkuʹunh teʹ ʹyakujsya,
	y–pǝk–u=ʔuŋ	teʔ	y–aguja
	3A–grab–CMP=REP	DET	3PSR–needle
	‘He grabbed his needle,’

68)	myaʹmnhgaʹmbäʹäyjayuʹunh kyobajkʹomo.
	y–maʔm–kaʔm–pǝʔ–ʔǝy–hay–u=ʔuŋ	y–koʔ–pak=ʔomo
	3A–drive.nail–press–TOTAL–VRB–APPL–CMP=REP	3PSR–HEAD–bone=insideRN
	‘he drove it into her head.’

69)	Maakubäʹunhnde teʹ yomoʹ,
	Ø–maŋ–u=pǝʔ=ʔuŋ=teʔ	teʔ	yomoʔ
	3S–go.there–CMP=REL=REP=COP	DET	woman
	‘The woman left,’

70)	tänhgoʹtskoʹtsneyuʹkunhnde maku
	tǝŋ–koʔ¢~koʔ¢–ney–u=ʔk=ʔuŋ=teʔ	Ø–maŋ–u
	fall.over–flatten~REDUP–AFFEC–CMP=TSUB=REP=FOC	3S–go.there–CMP
	‘it was flattened (the vegetation).’

71)	Poyuʹunh,
	Ø–poy–u=ʔuŋ
	3S–run–CMP=REP
	‘She escaped,’

72)	nyäpoyuʹunh teʹ teʹ aguja,
	y–nǝ–poy–u=ʔuŋ	teʔ	teʔ	aguja
	3A–ASSOC–run–CMP=REP	DET	DET	needle
	‘she escaped with the needle,’

73)	pero kyojtjayubäʹunhnde ʹilyera.
	pero	y–kot–hay–u=pǝʔ=ʔuŋ=teʔ	ʔiʎeɾa
	but	3A–put–APPL–CMP=REL=REP=COP	thread
	‘but he was the one who put his thread on her.’

74)	Teʹseteʹseʹunh maku.
	teʔ=se	teʔ=seʔ=ʔuŋ	Ø–maŋ–u
	MED=SIM	MED=SIM=REP	3S–go.there–CMP
	‘That is that is how she left.’

75)	Teʹyi ʹyijsuʹkamunh makuʹa,
	teʔ=yi	y–ʔis–u=ʔk=ʔam=ʔuŋ	Ø–maŋ–u=ʔam
	MED=LOC.EXT	3A–see–CMP=TSUB=IAM=REP	3S–go.there–CMP=IAM
	‘Then, apparently, when he saw that she had already gone,’

76)	teʹseʹunh kyämaka teʹ päʹnis,
	teʔ=se=ʔuŋ	y–kǝʔ–maŋ–pa	teʔ	pǝn=ʔis
	MED=SIM=REP	3A–below–go.there–INC	DET	man=3ERG
	‘the man went after her,’

77)	makubäʹunhnde kyoʹse judäʹ maʹnhäyu.
	maŋ–u=pǝʔ=ʔuŋ=teʔ	y–koʔs–e	hutǝʔ	Ø–maŋ–ʔǝy–u
	goAUX–CMP=REL=REP=COP	3A–see–DEP	where	3S–go.there–VRB–CMP
	‘apparently, he went to see which way she went.’

78)	Miduʹmunh ʹyijsi
	min–u=ʔam=ʔuŋ	y–ʔis–i
	comeAUX–CMP=IAM=REP	3A–see–DEP
	‘He saw’

79)	mäja tsaʹkäʹmäʹunh nä tyäjkäyu.
	mǝha	¢aʔ–kǝʔ=mǝʔ=ʔuŋ	nǝ	y–tǝk–ʔǝy–u
	big	rock–underRN=LOC.INT=REP	PROG	3S.DEP–house–VRB–DEP₂
	‘that she had gone beneath a large rock.’

80)	Mäja tsatnunhndeʹeʹ.
	Ø–mǝha	¢an=ʔuŋ=teʔ=eʔ
	3S–big	snake=REP=COP=FOC
	‘She was a big snake.’

81)	Jiʹnunhndenaʹajk yomoʹ.
	hiʔn=ʔuŋ=teʔ=naʔak	yomoʔ
	INC:NEG=REP=COP=CONTR	woman
	‘She wasn’t a woman.’

82)	Nätsaʹnunhndeʹe.
	nǝʔ–¢an=ʔuŋ=teʔ=eʔ
	water–snake=REP=COP=FOC
	‘She was a water snake.’

83)	Teʹunhndeʹ jikä jikä naʹajk nimeke ijtpabäʹ wiʹna.
	teʔ=ʔuŋ=teʔ	hikǝ	hikǝ=naʔak	nimeke	Ø–ʔit–pa=pǝʔ	wiʔna
	3PRO=REP=COP	HES	HES=CONTR	much	3S–exist–INC=REL	first
	‘Before, there were lots of these.’

84)	Teʹyi jäsiʹka miduʹunh tsyame tyäjkomo teʹ päʹnis.
	teʔ=yi	hǝsi=ʔka	min–u=ʔuŋ	y–¢am–e	y–tǝk=ʔomo	teʔ	pǝn=ʔis
	MED=LOC.EXT	after=TSUB	comeAUX–CMP=REP	3A–say–DEP	3PSR–house=insideRN	DET	man=ERG
	‘Then, afterwards, the man went home to tell them about it.’

85)	Nyäjabyaʹunh ʹyomoʹ,
	y–nǝm–hay–pa=ʔuŋ	y–yomoʔ
	3A–say–APPL–INC=REP	3PSR–woman
	‘He told his wife,’

86)	Yäti mbaʹduʹmäjt näwayomoʹ,
	yǝ‿ti	n–patʔ–u=ʔam=ʔǝht	nǝʔ–way–yomoʔ
	now	1A–find–CMP=IAM=1ERG.PRO	water–DEM–woman
	‘ “Just now I met the river woman,’

87)	ʹoyuʹmäjt jikä ndiʹyäjke.
	ʔoy–u=ʔam=ʔǝht	hikǝ	n–tiʔyǝk–e
	arrive.thereAUX–CMP=IAM=1ERG.PRO	HES	1A–do.something–DEP
	‘ “I already did something.’

88)	Mbiʹmäyjayuʹt teʹ aguja,
	n–piʔm–ʔǝy–hay–u=ʔt	teʔ	aguja
	1A–drive.nail–VRB–APPL–CMP=1ERG	DET	needle
	‘ “I drove a needle into her,’

89)	ĩjsuʹmäjt judäʹ täjkäyu,
	n–is–u=ʔam	ʔǝht	hutǝʔ	Ø–tǝk–ʔǝy–u
	1A–see–CMP=IAM	1ERG.PRO	where	3S–enter–VRB–CMP
	‘ “and I saw where she entered,’

90)	tsaʹkäʹmäʹ täjkäyu,
	¢aʔ–kǝʔ=mǝʔ	Ø–tǝk–ʔǝy–u
	rock–underRN=LOC.INT	3S–enter–VRB–CMP
	‘ “she went under a rock,’

91)	pero jiʹnde yomoʹ,
	pero	hiʔn=teʔ	yomoʔ
	but	INC:NEG=COP	woman
	‘ “but it wasn’t a woman,’

92)	tsandeʹeʹ,
	Ø–¢an=teʔ=eʔ
	3S–snake=COP=FOC
	‘ “it was a snake,” ’

93)	nyäjayuʹunh.
	y–nǝm–hay–u=ʔuŋ
	3A–say–APPL–CMP=REP
	‘he said.’

94)	Teʹe tsyambabäʹ teʹ jinhäʹ tokpajkomobäʹ yomoʹis.
	teʔ	y–¢am–pa=pǝʔ	teʔ	hiŋǝʔ	Ø–tokpak=ʔomo=pǝʔ	yomoʔ=ʔis
	DET	3A–say–INC=REL	DET	DIST	3S–San.Francisco=insideRN=REL	woman=3ERG
	‘This is what the woman from San Francisco says.’

95)	Teʹunh– nyeʹunhnde tyiʹyäjk teʹse ʹobä tukiʹ.
	teʔ=ʔuŋ	y–neʔ=ʔuŋ=teʔ	y–tiʔyǝk	teʔ=se	ʔoy–u=pǝʔ	Ø–tuk–i
	3PRO=REP	3PSR–GEN.PRO=REP=COP	3PSR–something	MED=SIM	arrive.thereAUX–CMP=REL	3S–happen–DEP
	‘She, it is something that happened to her.’

96)	Nyeʹunhnde kyandzyuʹ.
	y–neʔ=ʔuŋ=teʔ	Ø–y–kan¢uʔ
	3PSR–GEN.PRO=REP=COP	3S–3PSR–grandfather
	‘That person was her grandfather.’

Notes

A beverage made from cooked corn. [back]