Page:An Etymological Dictionary of the Norn Language in Shetland Part I.pdf/100

Fragments of Conversation.

Kwārna fārna? (Fo.), where are you going?

Spoŋna lɩgərə (lɩgənə) glegan (Fo.), the spoon is lying in the window [spónninn liggr glygginu(m)].

Mādər to de bjadni (Fo.), food for the child.

Ø‘lt ɩ rɩgən (Uⁿ.), (I feel) a pain in the back [ilt í hrygginum].

Fō me a dək (U^s.), give me something to drink (a drink) [fá mér (ein) drykk].

Skȯᶇdi (skȯᶇd dee), pjâgi (U^s.), be quick, you slowcoach [cf. Fær. pjak (F.A.)].

to lāg de ᶄø̄r(ə)n (U., Fe.?), to “flit" the cows [laga kýrnar]. Now commonly: to mȯn de baess (O.N. muna, to move).

Oba dȯᶇa (C.), open the door [opna^[1] dyrnar].

 

It will be seen that little words such as “til”, “at”, “mig”, “en” have been replaced by English equivalents, and in a few cases the suffixed def. art. has lost its significance, because “de” (the) has been prefixed to such words (de bjadn-i, de ᶄø̄r-(ə)n).

In Foula is still remembered the old greeting: Godən dāg (also quoted: Dogən dāg) with the return greeting: Godən (dogən) dāg til dōrā, good-day to you!

 

A couple of fragments of conversation have been preserved in a somewhat corrupted form:

 

a) From Foula a colloquy between two old men:

Ja‘rta, bodəna kɔməna ro‘ntəna (rotəna) Kɔmba (or: Ja‘rta, bota koməna ro‘mpa (romba) Komba).

Kwatə jāda? or: Kwata ita?

Dæfnajōr(n)a!

(Stūraski̇̄tin!):

“My heart" (my dear), the boat (a boat) has come round “de Kaim”^[2].

What do you say? (prop. hvat er þat?) what is that? (“you say” — understood). Deaf ear!

 

b)⁠From Unst:
⁠Mɔrjan, ara du ɩᶇe?
⁠Jō!
⁠Sala slāg däin fø̄r ᶄø̄rən?
⁠Jo ꬶɛra so, ꬶɛra so:
⁠Marion, are you in there?
⁠Yes!
⁠Shall I “flit” your cows?
⁠Yes, do so.

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1. n may have been dropped in “oba” on account of ᶇ in the foll. dȯᶇa. But a form “opa” (without n) occurs in Fær. in sense of: to open (cut up) sheep, in slaughtering.
2. “de Kaim” (older: Kɔmba): name of a hill in Foula, near the coast.