Kwanyani Translations

Author:: Rasmus Bondesson <raek@raek.se>
Date:: 2025-11-18
Status:: Work in Progress
Copyright:: Translations © 2025 Rasmus Bondesson. For the original works, see the individual texts.

The main The Kwanyani Language document is licensed under a Creative Commons license. Since the translations in this document are based on works that are protected by copyright, and I don’t have any license agreements with the original authors, I cannot release this document under a Creative Commons license. (In fact I don’t even have the permission to publish these translations, but I hope the authors don’t mind.)

Bunny Plays a Trick

Copyright:: English version © 1937 Clara G. Dennis (from “The Elson Basic Readers Book One”)

tɕiˈnərə	ˈsama	tɕa	kaˈpekʷa	ˈᵑgʷawa	tɕa	ˈdesa	ˈⁿdaɸo
Chinârâ	sama	cha	kapekwa	ngwawa	cha	desa	ndafo.
chi-nârâ	sama	cha	kapekwa	n=wawa	cha	desa	n=dafo
dim-rabbit	dwell	at	hole	attr=big	at	underside	gen=tree
Bunny Rabbit lived in a big hole under a tree.

ˈʔejo	x	lə	maˈmajo
Eyo	x	lâ	mamayo.
eyo	x	lâ	mama=yu
3sg	dwell	with	mother=3sg
He lived with his mother.

ˈʔeka	ˈʍələ	nuntu	ˈʍələ	tɕiˈnərə	ʔaˈᵑgʷesa	ʔe	ˈbaⁿtse	ˈkomo	ˈwawa
Eka	hwâlâ	nuntu	hwâlâ,	Chinârâ	angwesa	e	« Banse	komo	wawa.
eka	hwâlâ	n=untu	hwâlâ	chi-nârâ	an-wesa	e	banse	komo	wawa
one	day	attr=among	day	dim-rabbit	av-say	quot	now	1sg	big
One day Bunny said, “Now I am a big rabbit.

Komo	an-x	san-x	tândi	n-x ».
komo	an-x	h=an-x	tândi	n=x
1sg	av-must	comp=av-have	home	attr=own
I must have my own home.”

Mama	x	angwesa	e	« x	Chinârâ.
mama	x	an-wesa	e	x	chi-nârâ
mother	rabbit	av-say	quot	yes	dim-rabbit
Mother Rabbit said, “Yes Bunny.

Wende	Wânârâyâ	banse.
wende	wa-nârâ=ya	banse
2sg	aug-rabbit=foc	now
You are a big rabbit now.

Wende	an-x	sânkindi	tândi	n-x
wende	an-x	h=an-kindi	tândi	n=x
2sg	av-can	comp=av-make	home	attr=own
You can make your own home.

Wende	an-x	sânkindi	oha	x	cha	desa	ndafo	ngwawa. »
wende	an-x	h=an-kindi	oha	x	cha	desa	n=dafo	n=wawa.
2sg	av-can	comp=av-make	3sg.in	there	at	underside	gen=tree	attr=big
You can make it over there under that big tree.”

Wânârâ	an-x-x.
wa-nârâ	an-x-x
aug-rabbit	av-dig-inch
Bunny Rabbit began to dig.

soon	3sg.an	prf	av-dig	hole	attr=big	for	home	attr=new=3sg
Soon he had made a big hole for his new home.

3sg.in	av-have	door	attr=at	front	and	back
It had a front door and a back door.

Bunny could go in the front door and come out the back door.

He could go in the back door and come out the front door.

“Now I have my own home,” he said.

One fine morning Bunny Rabbit sat in his own front door.

He said, “I must get some dinner.

I am as hungry as I can be.”

So he went down the reoad to find something to eat.

Hop, hop, hop he went.

All at once he saw a big dog.

“Oh, dear!” said Bunny.

“Here comes a big dog!

I must run home.”

Away ran Bunny Rabbit.

Away ran the big dog after him.

Soon Bunny was at his fron door.

“I will play a trick on that dog,” he thought.

In he went, hop, hop, hop!

The dog began to dig at the door.

But Bunny ran out the back door, and the dog did not find him.

“What a good trick!” said Bunny.

The North Wind and the Sun

Copyright:

Original Greek version by Aesop (c. 620–564 BCE)

Enlish translation by unknown.

The North Wind and the Sun were disputing which was the stronger, when a traveler came along wrapped in a warm cloak.

They agreed that the one who first succeeded in making the traveler take his cloak off should be considered stronger than the other.

Then the North Wind blew as hard as he could, but the more he blew the more closely did the traveler fold his cloak around him;

and at last the North Wind gave up the attempt. Then the Sun shined out warmly, and immediately the traveler took off his cloak.

And so the North Wind was obliged to confess that the Sun was the stronger of the two.