The Icelandic version was used as the original text (though the original
original is probably in Greek (by Aesop)). The smooth English translation
tries to be quite a close translation of that version.
Once upon a time, the Northwind and the Sun were disputing about
which of the two of them was stronger, when they saw a walking
traveller wrapped in a warm cloak coming along.
(It is said that,) (with respect to what will follow,) northwind, [and]
sun word-fought each other very very long ago, yet unknown when, namely
with respect to (the question of) who of [the] two of them was stronger,
when (it is said that) [they] perceived [a] foot-traveller (reportedly)
wearing [a] warm over-and-over-jacket.
I tried to translate from Ancient Greek with a lot of help from
helpful people on the Conlang mailing list (John, Mark, Ray to name
a few). Some discussion was needed, of course.
The basic principle here was to stick to the Greek text without
interpretation, as long it does not break grammar or introduce
misleading disambiguations. The latter means: if Greek has only
one word for which Qþyn|gài has several words, I will select the
one that I think is the most likely meaning, and not the one that
is the most common meaning in Greek.
I even tried to not reorder constituents. Qþyn|gài usually has
all adjuncts in front of the head, but can shift
them when marking the head for it. In order to get a similar
order, I will do that.
Our parent. Our parent in heaven, be thy name used benevolently
for divine purposes only! Be thy kingdom lead/moved to us! Thy will ('what thou wantest') be caused to be existent, on
earth like in heaven! Concerning our bread for the coming/going day, give it to us today! Absolve our debts, like also we absolve our debtors! Do not lead us into temptation! But instead, free us from evil (lit: 'make that we are not
constrained (here: threatened) caused by the evil')! As reason, in eternity, of thee is [the] kingdom and
also power and also glory.
Qþyn|gài makes no lexical distinction between 'father' and 'mother'.
Words are usually underspecified for gender.
To force a specific meaning, a suffix 'male' or 'female' has to
be appended. Because this clarification seems overly specific
here, the more natural (from Qþyn|gài lexical view) plain stem
'parent' is used.
In the same way, number is usually not mentioned. Lexical
entries are underspecified for the category of number. It
seems overly specific to artifically use the singular on
'parent' here, so this was omitted to favor conciseness
for explicitness. It should be noted that Qþyn|gài has
a grammatical suffix for trinity, namely the trial number
ending !–!kùi, and it also has a collective number
ending, so the most appropriate explicit form 'holy father'
would probably be
st–ǂkí!kùi!kau
meaning 'trinity-parent' or 'three-parent-ness'.
Further in the first petition, translating 'to hallow' is
complicated, because 'holy' means various things. My
interpretation is 'set apart to the service or worship of god',
'to be reserved from profane and common things'. Then,
'to hallow' means 'to be/keep/make/treat as holy'. The
word 'holy' is lexicalised in various ways in Qþyn|gài, the one
use here meaning 'for benevolent divine usage only',
derived as 'use'+'divine'+'benefactive'+'exclusive'.
In the second petition, it must be noted that a kingdom
cannot 'come' in Qþyn|gài, since that would imply control,
which a kingdom, being an abstract concept, cannot itself
have over its movements. Instead, the control is external.
Accordingly, a kingdom can be 'moved towards'.
'Moving' plus semantical agent can also be translated
as 'to lead' or 'to guide'. Further note that the allative
case is related to 'arrive' by using the same vowel, and
that 'to come' is translated either as
'move + allative case reference point' or a
verb serialisation 'move arrive' in Qþyn|gài.
The passive marker used in 'Do not lead us into
temptation', which is therefore literally (if syntax is
taken to be literal) 'Let us not be moved/lead into
temptation', does not demote the agent of the sentence,
therefore, an agitative 'by you' is not necessary, because
it is implied by the imperative mood. Remember that
valence shifts are different from voices in not changing
the focus.
Caution, angry Baby!
Good griefs! What has happened? Yesterday, a young girl came to our
pretty house to look after our baby-boy. She did all she could to
entertain him: she played with him, sang to him, and much more.
But despite of this, the baby attacked her, tore apart his
food, and threw the remains out of the window.
What will I do? What will I do? I absolutely don't know. So now I
have hidden the event so that the police hopefully cannot ask difficult
questions.
