"As
a baseline, you need to know Greek. But unfortunately, Greek from Attic
to Modern is almost as wide a variance as from Latin to Standard
Italian, especially since they roughly cover the same time frame.
Though
you'd think that since you're studying the Byzantine era you'd want to
learn Byzantine Greek, a lot of Byzantine documents are written with an
eye on emulating either Attic or Koine Greek for prestige purposes.
Procopius is a Byzantine historian writing in Attic that comes to mind.
Also the resources for studying specifically Byzantine Greek
are far less than for the other three. For that reason alone, I would
recommend learning Koine Greek, as it's a bridge between Attic and
Byzantine, and given that it's the language of the church, would be
helpful in reading religious texts and their particular vocabulary.
After Koine Greek, I'd recommend learning French and German.
This is in fact standard in the academic community, as most scholarship
if it's not generated in English, will be in French or German,
reflecting the three languages of the most prestigious and best funded
universities in the world.
These three, Koine Greek, German, and
French are the most essential for starting building blocks. The other
languages are for depending upon which era you want to focus on.
If you're dealing with the Early Byzantine/Late Roman era (285-630), then Latin
is also required, as there was still a lot of administration done in
that language, and you'd have to have a solid command of it. Outside of
Latin, maybe Coptic and Persian to deal with Byzantine Egypt and Sassanid Persia.
If you're dealing with the Middle Byzantine era (630 - 1025), then I'd recommend adding Arabic,
as so much of that era is defined by Byzantine/Caliphate interactions.
And for interactions with the west, you don't need to know Latin quite
as much as you can deal with secondary sources written in English,
German or French on those subjects, as by then the language of Byzantine
administration is all in Greek, unlike in the early era. I'd also make a
pitch for adding Russian to
the mix, as the middle Byzantine era is when a lot of the Slavic
polities really began to come into sharp focus in their conflict with
Byzantium, however current Russian/Slavic research isn't "quite" as
robust these days as English/German/French into this era.
Lastly for the late Byzantine era (1025 - 1453), Ottoman/Modern Turkish
will be of a massive help to study the final fall of the empire.
There's actually a lot of good research and archaeology being generated
out of Turkey on the Byzantine Empire of all eras that simply isn't
being read because of the inability for most non-specialist scholars to
read turkish. If you truly want to stand out in Byzantine study, I'd
recommend tackling this language."
"Anne be!" Mutfaktan kızgın yağda kavrulan soğanların cızırtısı geliyordu. Annem salçalı tavuk yapıyordu. "Mübadele zamanı Küçük Asya'dan gelirlerken insanların bir şey getirmeye fırsatları olmamıştı, değil mi?" "Eee?" "1922 (bin dokuz yüz yirmi iki) 'de diyorum, insanlar servetlerini kaybetmediler mi? Türkler hepsini denize dökmedi mi?" "Evet." "O zaman teyzem bu kadar eşyayı nasıl beraberinde getirebilmiş ki?" "Katina felaketten birkaç ay önce gelmişti." "Yok yaa! Müneccim miydi?" Annem kapıda göründü. "Evet" dedi gayet doğal bir şekilde, maydanoz almak için buzdolabına eğilirken. "Ha?" Yedi numaralı defteri aldım elime. Sarmısak soslu tavşan. Bir okka tavşan için... Bak bu iyi işte; defterde bol bol yemek tarifi var. Yemek pişirmek hoşuma gidiyor. Hepsini pişirmesem bile tarifleri toplamaya bayılıyorum. Glassada... Yulya'nın tarifi... Keçi sütü, bir kaşık vanilya... "Glassada ne?" "Dondurma." İşim yoktu da, oturup bir de dondurma yapacağım! Ben hazırını alıyorum. Hımmm... burada ne yazıyor? On dört numaralı defter gerçek deriyle kaplı. Kenarından çuval ipiyle dikilmiş. Sayfalarda Arapça ya da Türkçe harfler var. Şeytansı resimler de cabası: Kafasız bir vücut, biraz aşağıda işaretlerle bir göz ve oklar, üzerine iğneler batırılmış bir vücut... Sayfaların altında da bazı açıklamalar var. Hımmm... Sağ ol teyze, bana bıraktığın miras için. Sayende arşa ulaştım! "Hadi anne, yemek hazır mı? Acıktım." Eğer annem büyük teyzesi Eftalya gibi, eski püskü şeyleri toplamasaydı, bu yazıların hepsi şimdiye kadar kaybolup gitmişti. Bunlar benim elime geçmiş olsalardı, çoktan çöp tenekesinin dibini boylamışlardı. Çünkü gereksiz olduğuna inandığım her şeyi hiç tereddüt etmeden atarım. Katina'nın ölümünden sonra iyiki annem onun evini temizleme ve toplama işini üstlenmiş. Sadece evi şöyle bir silip kıyafetleri de ihtiyacı olan yoksullara dağıtılmak üzere Aziz Nektaryo Manastırı'na bağışlamıştı. Böylece bu kitapları da kurtarmış oldu. Yazıtların Bekçisi, yani annem onları, Katina'dan aldığı kesin emre uyarak ölümünden yirmi üç yıl sonra, tam bugün, 14 (on dört) Eylül'de, bana devretmek için saklamıştı.
—¡Mamá! —grité.
Se oyó el chisporroteo de la cebolla en el aceite hirviendo de la cocina.Mamá estaba preparando pollo con salsa de tomate.
—Los refugiados se fueron sin que les diera tiempo a llevarse nada,¿verdad?
—¿Eh?
—Digo que si en el 22 (veintidos) la gente no perdió su fortuna. ¿Los turcos no se lotiraron todo al mar?
—Sí.
—¿Entonces la tía cómo se trajo todo esto?
—Catina se vino antes de la catástrofe. Unos meses antes.
—Anda ya..., ¿qué era, una bruja?
—Sí.
—¡Ya!
Libreta número siete. «Liebre al ajillo. Por cuatro libras de liebre...» Québien. Me gusta cocinar. Aunque después no las haga, me gusta guardar lasrecetas... Más abajo... «Glasada.» Una receta de Yulía. «Leche de cabra...,vainilla...»
—¿Qué es la glasada? —grité.
—Un helado.
Eso, ahora me pondré yo a hacer helado... Lo compro y listo... Mmm...¿Y aquí qué dice?... Código 14 (catorce). Un libro forrado con piel natural y cosido enel lomo con aguja espartera. Letras árabes. O puede que turcas. Unosdibujos diabólicos, un cuerpo sin cabeza. Debajo, un ojo con señales yunos arcos pequeños. Otro cuerpo, también sin cabeza, con agujasclavadas y explicaciones... Mmm... Muchas gracias por la herencia, tía...¡Te has lucido!
—¡Venga, mamá! ¿Y la comida? ¡Tengo hambre!...
Si mi madre no tuviera la manía de recoger toda la basura, tal comohacía su tía Eftalía, todas esas escrituras se habrían perdido. Si hubierancaído en mis manos, se habrían quedado para siempre en algúncontenedor, porque yo tiro toda la porquería sin pensármelo dos veces.Cuando murió la tía Catina, mi madre, por suerte, se encargó de limpiarla casa de Egina y de seleccionar sus cosas. Se limitó a pasar la fregona ya dar toda su ropa al monasterio de San Nectario, para los pobres. De todos sus chismes, guardó las libretas. Como buena guardiana de lasescrituras, las escondió con mucho esmero, con la orden expresa deCatina de entregármelos hoy, día 14 (decimocuarto) de septiembre, veintitrés añosdespués de su muerte.
"Βρε μαμα!" φωναξα. Απο την κοουζινα ακουστικε τσιτσιρισμα κρεμμυδιου σε καυτο λαδι. Η μαμα ετοιμαζε κοκκινιστο με κοτοπουλο. "Οι προσφυγεσ δεν ηρθαν τοτε χωρισ να προλαβουν να φερουν τιποτα." "Ε" "Το εικοσι δυο, λεω, οι ανθρωποι δεν εχασαν τισ περιουιεσ τουσ, Δεν τουσ πεταξανε οι Τουρκοι στη θαλασσα;" "Ναι". "Τοτε αυτη πωσ πηρε ηαζι τησ ολα αυτα τα πραγματα;" "Η Κατινα εφυγε πριν απο την καταστροφη. Μερικουσ μηνεσ". "Μπα!... Μαντισσα ητανε;" Η μαμα φανηκε απο την πορτα. 'Εσκυψε στο ψυγειο να βρει μαιδανο, λεγοντασ πολυ φυσικα "Ναι" "Χα!" Τετραδιο νουμερο εφτα. Λαγοσ σκορδαλεα. Για μια οκα λαγο... Καλο αυτο. Μ' αρεσει η μαγειρικη. Και να μην τα φριαχνω, τρελαινομαι να μαζευω σθνταγεσ... Πιο κατω... Γλασσαδα. Σθνταγη τησ Υουλιασ. Κατσικισιο γαλα... μια βανιλια. "Τι ειναι η φλασσαδα;" τσιριξα. "Παγωτο". ...Σιγα μην κατσω να φτιαξω παγωτο. Τ' αγοραζω ετοιμο... Μμ! Εδω τι λεει:... Κωδικασ 14. Βιβλιο καλυμμενο με φυσικο δερμα και ραμμενο στη ραχη με σακοραφα. Αραβικα γραμματα. Μπορει και τουρκικα. Ζωγραφιεσ διαβολικεσ. 'Ενα σωμα διχωσ κεφαλι. Αποκατω ενα ματι με σημεια και τοξακια. 'Αλλο ενα, ακεφαλο, με μπηγενεσ βελονεσ και εξηγησεισ... Μμ... Φχαριστω, θεια, για την κληρονομια... Με προκοψεσ! "Αντε, μαμα! 'Ετοιμο το Φαγητο; Πεινασα!..." Αν η μαμα μου δεν ηταν σαβουρομαζωχτρα σαν την προφεια τησ την Ευταλια, ολεσ αντεσ οι γραφεσ θα ειχαν ζαθει, θα ειχαν τσακιδιαστει δια παντοσ σε κανενα σκουπιδοτενεκε, αν επεφταν στα χερια μου, γιατι εγω πεταω ολεσ τισ σαβονρεσ, χωρισ να το πολυσκεφτω. Μετα το θανατο τησ Κατινασ, η μανα μου, ευτυχωσ, ανελαβε να καθαρισει το σπιτι τισ οτην Αιγινα και να ξεδιαγεξει τα πραγματα τησ. 'Ενα σφουγγαρισματακι εκανε μονο κι εδωσε τα ρουχα τησ στη μουη του Αγιου Νεκταριου για τισ φτωχεσ. Μεσα σ' ολα τα τσουμπλεκια, εσωσε και τα τετραδια τησ. Φυλακασ των γραφων, τα εκρυψε επιμελωσ, με ρητη εντολη απο την Κατινα να μου τα παραδψσει σα σημερα, στισ 14 (δέκατος τέταρτος) του Σεπρεμβρη, εικοσι τρια χρονια μετα τι θανη τησ.
"Hallo, Mama!", rief ich. Aus der Küche was das Zischen bratender Zwiebeln zu hören. Meine Mutter bereitetet Hühnergulasch zu. "Kamen die Vertriebenen damals nicht nur mit dem, was sie am Leib hatten, nach Griechenland?" "Was" "1922 (zweiundzwanzig), meine ich, haben da die Leute nicht all ihn Vermögen verloren? Wurden sie nicht von den Türken aufs offene Meer hinausgejagt?" "Ja." "Wie hat sie es dann geschafft, all das mitzunehmen?" "Katina ist schon vor der "Kleinasiatischen Katastrophe" abgereist. Einige Monate früher." "Na so was...! War sie Hellseherin?" Meine Mutter tauchte kurz in der Tür auf, beugte sich dann auf der Suche nach Petersilie zum Kühlschrank hinunter und sagte ganz selbstverständlich: "Ja." "Also, hör mal!" Heft Nummer sieben. Hase in Knoblauchsosse. Für ein Oka Hase... Das war gut. Ich koche gern. Zumindest sammle ich Rezepte, selbst wenn ich dann doch nicht so oft koche... Weiter unten... Sorbet. Julias Rezept: Ziegenmilch... eine Vanilleschote... "Was ist Sorbet?", rief ich laut. "Eiscreme." Speiseeis selber zu machen hat mir gerade noch gefehlt... Und was steht hier?... Kodex 14 (vierzehn). Ein in Leder gebundenes Buch, der Buchrücken mit einem groben Pfriem genäht. Arabische Schriftzeichen, vielleicht auch osmanische. Teufelsillustrationern. Ein kopfloser Körper. Darunter ein Auge mit Punkten und Pfeilen. Noch ein Körper ohne Kopf, mit Nadeln gespickt un daneben Erläuterungen... Danke, Tante, für dein Erbe... Genau das, was ich brauche!... "Beeil dich, Mama! Ist das Essen fertig? Ich hab hunger!" Wäre meine Mutter nicht genauso eine Trödelsammlerin, wie ihre Grosstante Eftalia es gewesen war, dann gäbe es alle diese Schriften längst nicht mehr. Wären sie mir früher in die Hände gefallen, wären sie im Mülleimer gelandet, da ich alten Kram ohne langes Nachdenken wegerfe. Nach Tante Katinas Tod hatte es zum Glück meine Mutter übernommen, das Haus auf Ägina aufzuräumen und Katinas Hab und Gut zu sichten. Einmal kurz Reinemachen, und die Sache war elreldigt. Die Kleider der Verstorbenen spendete sie dem Agios-Nektarios-Kloster für die Armen. Neben all dem anderen Krimskrams rettete sie auch Katinas Aufzeichnungen. Wie eine "Hüterin der Schriften" hielt sie alles beharrlich versteckt, bis sie mir die Truhe auf Katinas Wunsch hin heute, am 14. (vierzehnte) September, genau dreiundzwanzig Jahre nach deren Ableben übergab.
"Hadi anne, yemek hazır mı? Acıktım."
—¡Venga, mamá! ¿Y la comida? ¡Tengo hambre!... "Αντε, μαμα! 'Ετοιμο το Φαγητο; Πεινασα!..." "Beeil dich, Mama! Ist das Essen fertig? Ich hab hunger!"
-Bugünün tarihi ne? -14(on dört) eylül 1922 (bin dokuz yüz yirmi iki)
¿Qué fecha es?
Es el catorce de septiembre de mil novecientos veinte
Τι μέρα είναι; Είναι στις δεκατέσσερα Σεπτέμβριου χίλια εννιακόσια είκοσι δύο.
Welches Datum haben wir?
Es ist der vierzehnte September neunzehnhundertzweiundzwanzig
-----------------------------------------
And, as always, I learn more from parsing the sentences than from anything else. :-)
Eğer annem büyük teyzesi Eftalya gibi, eski püskü şeyleri toplamasaydı, bu yazıların hepsi şimdiye kadar kaybolup gitmişti.
Eğer annem toplamasaydı - if my mother had not collected eski püskü şeyleri - old, tattered things büyük teyzesi Eftalya gibi - like her great aunt Euthalia bu yazıların hepsi - all these writings, texts şimdiye kadar - by now, up until now kaybolup gitmişti - had disappeared and gone.
Eğer - if annem - my mother (anne-m) büyük - big, large, major, great teyzesi - her aunt (teyze-si) Eftalya - Euthalía gibi- as, like, such as eski - old, past, former, used püskü - tattered, shabby şeyleri - things, something, stuff toplamasaydı - toplamak to collect, past conditional, narrative, negative, 3rd sg. bu - this yazıların - writings - yazı+lar+in plural genitive hepsi - all şimdiye - now kadar - until, as, so, up to şimdiye kadar means a lot of things, but basically by now, up until now, so far... kaybolup - disappear, lost, fade away (kaybolmak) + -up suffix = and gitmişti - have gone (gitmek) past perfect narrative, 3rd sg. "it assumable had gone"
Si mi madre no tuviera la manía de recoger toda la basura, tal comohacía
su tía Eftalía, todas esas escrituras se habrían perdido.
Αν η μαμα μου δεν ηταν σαβουρομαζωχτρα σαν την προθεια τησ την Ευταλια, ολεσ αντεσ οι γραφεσθα ειχαν χαθει, θα ειχαν τσακιδιαστει δια παντοσ σε κανενα σκουπιδοτενεκε
η μαμα μου - my mother δεν ηταν σαβουρομαζωχτρα - was not a hoarder σαν την προθεια τησ την Ευταλια - like the great aunt hers the Euthalia ολεσ αντεσ οι γραφεσ - the whole lot of writing θα
ειχαν χαθει - would have disappeared θα ειχαν τσακιδιαστει - would have been crapped, crushed, destroyed δια παντοσ - forever σε κανενα σκουπιδοτενεκε- in some garbage, waste, trashcan
Αν μαμα δεν ηταν, οι γραφεσ θα
ειχαν χαθει if mama hadn't been, the writing would have vanished αν - if, whether η - or, the μαμα - mum μου - my, me δεν - no, not ηταν - was 3rd sg σαβουρομαζωχτρα - thing collector? hoarder? something like that. σαν - like, as, as if, την προθεια - the great aunt τησ - her Ευταλια - Euthalia όλες - all, whole, entire, complete (acc. fem, pl.) αντεσ - idiomatic injection - clear off, go on, come on, hurry up, seriously, let's οι γραφεσ - writing (γραφή) θα - particle - would ειχαν - 3rd person plural imperfect form of έχω - have, be χαθει - χάνομαι - vanish, disappear, perish - 3. sg simple future τσακιδιαστει - crash? - τσακίδια seems to be crap, bugs to be crushed, trash δια - for, by παντοσ - everything, all σε - in κανενα - nobody/anybody κανένας acc. σκουπιδοτενεκε - trashcan σκουπιδοτενεκές acc sg
Wäre
meine Mutter nicht genauso eine Trödelsammlerin, wie ihre Grosstante
Eftalia es gewesen war, dann gäbe es alle diese Schriften längst nicht
mehr.
If my mother wasn't... then this would have happened.
Jos äitini ei olisi ollut tavarankerääjä, kuten isotätinsä Eutalia, kaikki nämä kirjoitukset olisivat kadonneet, heitetty menemään jo kauan sitten.
In Finland, we call hoarders hamsters, and the verb "to hamster" means "to hoard"
Sandıkta değerli taşlardan ya da eşyadan eser yoktu. Sadece koyu renkli deri ciltlerle kaplı kitaplar ve defterler vardı. Annem sandığa şöyle bir göz attıktan sonra mutfağa gitti. Deri kaplı kitaplardan birini açtım. Yatık harflerle P ve O yazıyordu, iksirlerin, aşk büyülerinin ve şifalı su tariflerinin yazılı olduğu sayfalar kalın sarı bir iple özensizce dikilmişti. Sanki ip yerine sayfaları birbirine tutturmak için kuru bağırsak kullanılmıştı. Kitabı ters çevirdiğimde, yazıların böyle de okunabildiğini fark ettim. Sayfalarda mumla çizilmiş değişik şekillerde resimler vardı: Düğümler, tırpanlar, bitki yapraklan, mezarlar, haçlar, kemirgenler ve anlaşılmayan kelimeler. "Ne bunların hepsi böyle? Büyü mü?" Başka bir cildi aldım elime. Bana daha yeniymış gibi geldi; bu da bir defterdi. Yüz için salatalık suyu, cold cream. Altında da tarifler... Sandığın içinde kocaman, tuhaf bir kitap daha vardı. İnce deriden sayfalarında isimlerin alt alta yazılı olduğu bir soyağacı bulunuyordu. Her ismin yanına bilmece gibi, bazı işaretler konulmuş. İsimlerin bazıları Yunanca yazılmış. Ne çeşit bir nanca bu böyle? Bir de her ismin yanında bir yıldızla beraber güneş ve üç gezegen vardı; belli bir tarihi simgeliyormuş gibi. Kim yılları yıldızlarla sayar ki? Altın rengi yaldızla yazılmış bazı isimler parlıyordu. Çıkıyor mu diye denemek için yaldızları tırnağımla kazıdım. Bu soyağacı nerede bitiyor diye diğer sayfalara baktım. Yazılmayı beklermişçesine bomboştu sayfalar. Listenin sondan altıncı sırasında izmirli Katına yazıyordu. İsminin yanındaki sembol, iki çizgi arasında sanki köşeleri eksik bir yıldız gibi duran "x"ti. Kitapların hepsi çok ağırdı. Bunları İzmir'den nasıl getirmişti teyzem? Birden Egina Adası'ndaki eski evi dolduran yemek takımını, yatakları, altın işlemeli bibloları, gümüşleri, tabloları, büfeyi, yemek masasını, ağır ve büyük mobilyaları düşündüm. Her şeyi oradan getirmişti. Peşkirlerinden el işi masa örtülerine, Doğu işi halılarından gece lambasına kadar hepsini İzmir'den getirmişti. Ama nasıl?
En la caja no había ni rastro de piedras preciosas u otros objetos devalor. Sólo libretas y libros, atados con una piel oscura. Mamá echó unvistazo y se fue a la cocina. Me quedé hojeándolos. En uno ponía «ERRE»en cursiva. «Imprecaciones, Amores, Agua.» Tenía las hojas amarillentas,duras y desiguales, cosidas con hilo. Esto no parece hilo, parece una tripaseca. Le di la vuelta. También se podía leer. Dentro, las páginas teníanformas de imágenes extrañas, dibujadas a mano. Nudos, hoces,encrucijadas, tumbas, roedores, palabras incomprensibles.
—¿Qué es todo esto? ¿Magia?
Cogí otro. Este parece más nuevo, es una libreta. «Agua de pepino parala cara. Cold Cream.» Y debajo, las recetas... Otro libro más, igual de extraño que el anterior. Enorme. Ese se cerraba con una cerradura dehierro. Lo llevé como pude hasta la mesa. ¿Qué demonios hay aquí dentro? ¿Piedras? Había nombres. Una lista interminable de nombresordenados genealógicamente. Las páginas eran de cuero. Al lado de cadanombre había un símbolo y algo escrito. Un rompecabezas. ¡Mira, estosestán en griego! ¿Pero qué clase de griego es este? Al lado de cadanombre había también unos astros. Dos soles, tres planetas. En elsiguiente, dos soles, una luna menguante, tres planetas. Como si fueranfechas. ¿Quién cuenta los años con astros? Algunos nombres de la listabrillaban, estaban escritos en oro. Rasqué con la uña para ver si salía.¿Dónde termina esto? Fui a las hojas del final. Las últimas páginas estabanen blanco, como si estuvieran esperando a que alguien las llenara. En lasexta línea empezando por el final, decía: «Catina Ismirin». El símbolo deal lado eran dos líneas dentro de una equis, como si fuera un astroinacabado al que le faltaran las puntas.
Los libros pesaban mucho. ¿Cómo hizo para cargar con todos ellosdesde Esmirna? De repente me paré a pensar en la vajilla, las camas conlos corazones de angelitos dorados, los objetos de plata, los cuadros, losaparadores, las mesas de comedor; pensé en el gran volumen deexistencias de la vieja casa de Egina. Se lo había traído todo de allí.Incluso toallas, manteles bordados, alfombras orientales, lámparas demesa... ¿Cómo lo había hecho?
κανενα ιχνοσ απο πετραδια η αλλα πολυτιμα δεν υπηρχε στο κουτι. Μονο τετραδια και βιβλια, χοντροδεμενα με σκουρο δερμα. Η μαμα εριξε μια ματια και πηγε στην κουζινα. Τα ξεφυλλισα. ΠΩ εγραφε με πλαγια γραμματα ενα. Αππιμανιεσ, Ερωτεσ, Νερα. Τα φυλλα του ηταν κιτρινα, σκληρα και ακανονιστα, ραμμενα με νημα. Σα να μην ειναι νημα αυτο. Σαν ξερο αντερο μοιαζει. Το γυρισα αναποδα. Διαβαζεσ κι απο κει. Μεσα οι σελιδεσ ειχαν σχηματα απο περιεργεσ εικονεσ, ζωγραφισμενεσ με το χερι. Κομποι, δρεπανια, φυλλα απο βοτανα, σταυροδρομια, ταφοι, τρωκτικα, λογια ακαταλαβιστικα. "Τι ειναι ολα αυτα; Μαγια;" 'Εοθασα αλλο. Σα νεοτερο μου φαινεται αυτο, κι ειναι τετραδιο. Αγγουρονερον για το προσωπον. Κολδ Κριμ. Κι αποκατω οι συνταγεσ... Κι αλλο περιεργο βιβλιο. Τεραστιο. Αυτο εκλεινε με σιδερενια κλειδαρια. Το κουβαλησα με κοπο στο τραπεζι. Τι διαοο! Πετρεσ εχει μεσα; Ειχε ονοματα. Ονοματα σε κατεβατο και γενεαλογικα. Οι σελιδεσ του ιταν απο πετσι. Διπλα σε καφε ονομα ειχε ενα συμβολο και εγραφε διαφορα. Φριφοι. Να, αυτα εδω ειναι στα ελλγνικα! Τι ειδουσ ελληνικα ειναι αυτα; Διπλα σε καφε ονομα ειχε και κατι αστρα. Δυο ηλιοι, τρεισ πλανητεσ. Το αμεσωσ επομενο δυο μλιοι, μια ζαση, τρεισ πλανητεσ. Σαν ημερομηνιεσ. Ποιοσ μετραει με αστρα τα χρονια; Μερικα ονοματα μεσα στισ σειρεσ ελαμπαν γραμμενα με χρυσο. 'Ετριψα με το νυχι μου να δω αν ξυνεται. Που τελειωνει αυτο; Γυρισα στα πισω φυλλα. Οι τελεθταιεσ σελιδεσ ηταν αγραφεσ σα να περιμεναν να συμπληπωθουν. 'Εξι σειρεσ απο το τελοσ εγραφε: Katina ismirin. Το συμβολο διπλα ηταν δθο γραμμεσ μεσα δε ενα "χι", σαν ενα ατελεσ αστρο που του λειπουν οι γωνιεσ. Το καθε βιβλιο ηταν βαρυ. Πωσ τα κουβαληοε απο τη Σμυρνη; Ξαφνικα αναλογιστικα και τα σερβιτσια, τα κρεβατια με τισ χρυσεσ αγγελουδενιεσ καρδιεσ, τα ασημικα, τουσ πινακεσ, τα μπουφε, τισ τραπεζαριεσ, τιν ογκωδη πραματεια στο παλιο σπιτι τησ Αιγινασ. 'Ολα τα 'φερε απο κει. Ακομη και πεσκιρια, τραπεζομαντιλα κεντητα με κοφτο, ανατολιτικα χαλια, πορτατιφ... Πωσ;
In der Truhe fand sich keine Spur von Edelsteinen oder anderen Wertgegenständen. Nur Hefte und Bücher, gebunden in festes, dunkles Leder. Meine Mutter warf einen kurzen Blick darauf und ging dann in die Küche. Ich begann zu blättern. Auf einem der Bände stand in geschwungener Schrift der griechische Buchstabe Rho. Darunter: Verwünschungen, Liebe, Wasser. Die Blätter waren vergilbt, rau und faserig, zusammengeheftet mit einem Faden, der dick war wie eine Darmsaite. Ich drehte den Band um. Auch die auf dem Kopf stehenden Seiten konnte man lesen, sie enthielten seltsame, handgemalte Abbildungen: Knoten, Sicheln, Blätter und Kräuter, Kreuzwege, Gräber, irgendwelche Nagetiere, unverständliche Worte. "Was ist das? Zaubersprüche?" Ich griff nach einem andered Bändchen. Dies schien ei Heft jüngeren Datums zu sein. Gurkenwasser fürs Gesicht. Coldcream. Darunter die Rezepturen... Und noch so ein bizarres Buch. Riesengross. Mit einem Metallschloss. Mühsam wuchtete ich es auf den Tisch. Waren da Ziegelsteine drin? Nein, bloss Namen. Eine ununterbrochene Folge von Namen und Stammbäumen. Die Seiten waren aus Pergament. Neben jedem Namen standen ein Symbol und ein Kommentar. Rätselhaft. Daneben waren Himmelskörper abgebildet, zwei Sonnen, eine Mondsichel, drei Planeten. So etwas wie Stichtage. Wer zählt mit Sternen die Jahre? In einigen Seilen schimmerten die Namen in goldenen Lettern. Mit dem nagel kratzte ich daran, um zu sehen, ob die Farbe abging. Wo war das Heft zu Ende? Ich bätterte bis zu den letzten Seiten. Sie waren leer, als warteten sie auf eine Fortsetzung. Sechs Zeilen vor dem Ende stand: Izmirli Katina. Das Symbol daneben bestand aud den zwei Linien des Buchstabens Chi - X - und sah aus wie ein unvollendeter Stern. Jedes einzelne Buch war für sich schon schwer. Wie hatte sie die nur alle aus Smyrna hierhergeschafft? Plötzlich fielen mir auch das Geschirr, die Betten mit den goldenen Engeln und Herzen ein, das Silberzeug, die Gemälde, die Anrichten, die Essgruppe, das umfangreiche Inventar, das jetzt in dem alten Haus auf Ägina stand. Alles hatte sie von dort mitgebracht. Sogar die Handtücher, die Tischdecken mit Ajourstickerei, Orietteppiche, Stehlampen... Wie bloss?
There were no jewels or other valuables in the chest, just books bound in dark leather. My mom took a look at the chest and went to the kitchen.
I opened one of the book and leafed through it. On the cover was written with slanted letters "ΠΩ; Curses, love spells, water". The pages were yellow, hard and uneven, stitched together with a thick thread that looked like gut string. When I turned the book over, I realized one could read it upside down, too. There were strange, handpainted images in it; knots, sickles, leaves and flowers, tombs, crossroads, rodents, incomprehensible words.
"What is this? Magic?"
I picked up another book. This one looked newer. It was a notebook. "Cucumber water for the fae. Cold Cream".
Under the recipe book there was yet another book in the chest. Just as strange as the first one. This one was huge and had iron locks. I lifted it to the table with difficulty. What on earth was in there? Bricks?
No, just names. An endless list of names and genealogy. The pages were parchment. Each name had symbols and something written, like riddles. I frowned, then I realized it was Greek, but what kind of Greek? Next to the names there were stars and suns drawn. Next to one two suns and three planets. The next name had two suns, a waning moon and three planets. It looked like a date. But who counts the years with stars? Some names were written in gold. I scraped the gilt a little to see if it came off. I scrambled to see where the list ends. The last pages were blank, as if waiting for someone to fill them.
Sixth name from the end was Katina Ismirin. The symbol next to it was an X, the letter Chi. It looked like an unfinished star.
The books were all very heavy. How did my aunt bring them from Smyrna? Suddenly I thought of the dishes, the beds with gilded engravings, silverware, paintings, buffets, dining tables, all the heavy furniture that filled the old house on Aegina. She brought it all from there. She brought everything from Smyrna, the towels, embroidered tablecloths, oriental rugs, lamps... How had she done that?
Kirstussa ei ollut jalokiviä eikä muutakaan arvokasta, vain kirjoja, sidottu tummaan nahkaan. Äiti katsoi kirstuun ja meni keittiöön.
Otin kirjan ja selasin sitä. Kanteen oli kirjoitettu "ΠΩ; kirouksia, rakkausloitsuja, taikajuomia". Sivut olivat kellastuneet, kovaa ja karheaa paperia, ja kirja oli ommeltu kokoon paksulla nyörillä joka näytti enemmän suolilta kuin langalta. Kun käänsin kirjan ympäri, huomasin että sitä pystyi lukemaan ylösalaisin. Kirjassa oli kummia piirroksia; solmuja, sirppejä, lehtiä ja yrttejä, hautoja, tienristeyksiä, rottia ja tuntemattomia sanoja.
"Mitä ihmettä tämä on? Noituutta?"
Otin toisen kirjan. Tämä näytti uudemmalta. Se oli muistikirja. "Kurkkuvettä kasvoille. Cold Cream."
Reseptivihkon alla oli toinen kirja, aivan yhtä outo kuin ensimmäinenkin. Tämä oli suunnaton ja siinä oli rautainen lukko. Vaivalla nostin sen pöydälle. Mitä sen kansien välissä oli, kiviä? Ei, vain nimiä. Oli kuin sukukirja. Sivut olivat pergamenttia. Jokaisen nimen perässä oli symboleita ja kummaa kirjoitusta, kuin koodausta. Yritin tulkata tekstiä ja tajusin että se oli kreikkaa, mutta mitä kreikkaa? Symbolit olivat taivaankappaleita. Yhden nimen perässä oli kaksi aurinkoa ja kolme tähteä. Toisen nimen perässä oli kaksi aurinkoa, kuu ja kolme tähteä. Se vaikutti olevan päivämäärä, mutta kuka laskee vuosia tähdillä? Jotkut nimistä oli kirjoitettu kullalla. Raaputin vähän kultausta josko se lähtisi irti. Selasin kirjan loppuun nähdäkseni missä nimilista päättyi. Viimeiset sivut olivat tyhjiä, kuin odottaen että joku täyttäisi ne. Kuudes nimi lopusta oli Katina Ismirin. Sen nimen vieressä oli vain X, kreikan kirjain Chi. Se näytti tähdeltä jota ei ollut piirretty valmiiksi.
Kaikki kirjat olivat painavia. Mitenkä tätini toi ne Smyrnasta? Äkkiä tuli mieleeni posliini ja pöytähopeat, kullatut, kaiverretut sängyt, maalaukset, senkki ja ruokapöytä, ja kaikki muut painavat huonekalut jotka täyttivät vanhan talon Aeginassa. Hän toi sen kaiken tänne Smirnasta. Ja pyyheliinat, pöytäliinat, itämaiset mator, lamput... miten hän pystyi siihen?
Let's parse a little
Altında da tarifler... Sandığın içinde kocaman, tuhaf bir kitap daha vardı.
altında - under da - as well, too, also tarifler - recipes (definite plural - recepterna) sandığın - the crate, chest (genitive, the nominative is sandık) içinde - in, within, inside (in its inside) kocaman - huge tuhaf - strange, curious, unusual, precious bir - one kitap - book daha - more, still, yet, in addition vardı - it had
vardı is not a verb, it is an adjective. Now, adjectives can come before or after nouns. if it's before it's "beautiful girl", if after it's "the girl is beautiful". Adjective after the noun becomes a statement. "var" means kind of "existing, present". So "kitap var" "the book is, exists, is present, there is a book". "kitap vardı" - "there was a book".
So, kocaman, tuhaf, bir are adjectives the describe the book, daha and vardı are adjectives that describe the state of the book. (Though daha isn't an adjective, it's an adverb, that expresses there's more to it - like... er... books were more existing, existinger... uh... the state of there being books in the chest is bigger, morer :-D)
Y debajo, las recetas... Otro libro más, igual de extraño que el anterior.
and under, the recipes... other book more, same of strange that the previous
y - and
debajo - under, below (de bajo - bajo - low)
las - the
recetas - recipes
otro - other
libro - book
más - more
igual - same
de - of
extraño - strange, surprising, bizarre
que - that
el - the
anterior - previous
Darunter die Rezepturen... Und noch so ein bizarres Buch
darunter - underneath, below it (dar-unter, dar-über die - the Rezepturen - recipes (die Rezeptur) und - and noch - still, yet, more so - so noch so - another ein - one, a bizarres - bizarre (bizarr) Buch - book (das Buch)
Reseptien alla oli toinen kummallinen kirja
reseptien - recipes (resepti - accusative pl.)
alla - under (postposition in Finnish)
oli - was (olla - to be, 3.sg imperfect)
toinen - another, second
kummallinen - odd, weird, strange
kirja - book
Κι αποκατω οι συνταγεσ... Κι αλλο περιεργο βιβλιο. and under the recipes - and another curious book.
κι, και - and αποκατω - under, below, underneath (από - from, at, by, since, with, out of + κάτω - below ) οι - the pl. (ο) συνταγεσ - recipes (συνταγή) άλλο - else, another (nominative, accusative and vocative singular neuter form of άλλος) κι άλλο - more περιεργο - curious, strange, peculiar (neuter of περίεργος) βιβλιο - book Some notes about pronunciation 1) συνταγεσ - the last s is very soft, almost voiceless - sintayöss 2) περιεργο - peri-ervo, not ergo 3) βιβλιο - vivlio, not biblio
"Bana iyilik yap da kendi evinle ilgilen! Benim eşyama da karışma; onları istiyorum." Örümcek ağlarının arasından altı delik bir leğen çıktı. "Bunu neden saklıyorsun?" "O dedenin lazımlığı." "Dedem öleli yirmi yıl oluyor anne!" Daha diplere doğru ilerledim. "Bulamıyorum." "Bulursun. Oraya, içeriye koymuştum. Sol tarafa bak." "Nasıl bir şey olduğunu hatırlıyor musun?" "Bildiğin sandık işte." Görünürde sandık falan yoktu. "Yoksa burada gizli bir depo daha mı var? Kesin vardır!" "Ben ölünce istediğini yapar, hepsini atıp kurtulursun. Ama yaşadığım sürece olmaz." "Ama sen ölmezsin ki anne. Bu eski püskü şeylerin bekçiliğini yapmak için hortlarsın. İşte gördüm. Burada, arkada!"
—¡Haz el favor, María! En tu casa haz lo que quieras, pero no te metasen mis cosas. ¡Lo quiero guardar y punto!
Entre las arañas apareció una palangana con el fondo roto.
—¿Esto también lo quieres?
La moví para captar su atención y luego, como no contestaba, la tiré enun rincón del pasillo.
—¿Esto qué es?
—La cuña del abuelo.
—Pero si el abuelo murió hace veinte años, mamá. —Me metí másadentro—. ¡No lo encuentro!
—Que sí, lo metí ahí dentro. Mira más a la izquierda.
—¿Te acuerdas de cómo era?
—Un baúl pequeño.
Allí no había ningún baúl pequeño.
—¿No será que tienes otro almacén escondido ahí dentro? Seguro quesí.
—Cuando me muera haz lo que quieras, deshazte de todo. Pero nomientras yo viva.
—¡Si tú no te vas a morir, mamá! ¡Te convertirás en un vampiro parapoder guardar todos esos trastos! ¡Míralo! ¡Ahí está! Ahí detrás.
"Να μου κανεισ τι χαρη, Μαρια! Κουμαντο στο νοικοκυριο σου. Μην πειραξεισ τα δικα μου πραγματα. Τα φελο." από τις αραχνεσ βγηκε μια λεκανη με σκισμενο πατο. "Κι αυτη τη φελεισ" Τησ την κουνμσα επιδεικτικα, και μετα, σα δεν απαντουδε, τησ εδωσα μια για την ακρη του διαδπομου. "τουτο τι ειναι" "Η παπια του παππου" "Ο παππουσ εχει πεθανει εδω και εικοσι χρονια, μαμα", Χώθηκα πιο μεσα. "Δεν το Βρισκω!" "Φα το βρεισ. Εκει μεσα το 'χω βαλει. Κοιτα πιο αριστερα". "Θυμασαι πως ηταν" "Μπαουλακι" Μπαουλακι δεν υπηρχε. "Μπασ κι εχεισ και αλλη αποθηκη εδω μεσα, κρυφη; ζιγουρα τα 'χεισ" "Οταν πεθανω, κανε ο, τι θεσ. Ξεφορτώσου τα ολα 'Οχι οδο ζω" "Αμ δεν προκειται να πεθανεισ, μαμα! Θα βρικολακιασεισ, για να φυλασ, ολη αυτη την παλιαζουπια! Να το! Το βλετω! Δω πισω!"
"Tu mir bitten den Gefallen, Maria! Kümmere dich um deinen eigenen Haushalt. Lass meine Sachen in Ruhe. Die brauche ich noch!" Unter den Spinnweben kam eine Waschschüssel mit gesprungenem Boten zutage. "Wozu brauchst du die?" Ich wedelte mit der Schüssel und schubste sie, als keine Antwort kam, über den Boden ans Ende des Flurs. "Was ist das denn?" "Opas Urinflasche." "Opa ist seit zwanzig Jahren tot!" Ich kroch noch ein Stück weiter hinein. "Ich kann nichts finden!" "Doch, ich habe es dort heineingetan. Schau mal weiter nach links." "Weisst du noch, was es war?" "Eine kleine Truhe." Hier wa weit und breit keine kleine Truhe. "Gibt's hier drin vielleicht noch eine Geheimkammer? Wie ich dich kenne, ganz bestimmt!" "Wenn ich tot bin, kannst du hier schalten und walten, wie du willst. Dann kannst du alles wegwerfen. Aber night, solange ich lebe." "Aber Mama, du und sterben! Wie Graf Dracula wirst du über diesen ganzen Trödel wachen! Ha, da ist sie! Ich seh sie! Da hinten."
"Bulamıyorum."
¡No lo encuentro! "Δεν το Βρισκω!" "Ich kann nichts finden!"
"I can't find it!"
"Jag kan inte hitta det!"
"En löydä sitä!"
"Do me a favor, Maria. In your house you do what you want, but don't touch my things. I want to keep them, and that's it.
From the cobwebs came a bowl with broken bottom
"And this thing?"
I shook the bowl, and when she didn't answer, I shoved it across the floor to the end of the hall.
"What is that?"
"It's grandfather bedpan"
"Grandfather has been dead for twenty years, Mom," I got deeper in. "I can not find it!"
"You find it, I put it in there. Look more to the left."
"You remember what it was?"
"A small chest"
There was no chests in sight.
"Do you have another secret storage here where you have more stuff? I'm sure you do..."
"When I die, do what you want. Get rid of everything. But not as long as I live!"
"You are not going to die, Mom! You will become a vampire, to watch over all this junk! Oh, there it is! I see it! Back there!"
Finnish:
"Tee minulle palvelus, Maria. Omassa kodissasi voit tehdä kuten haluat, mutta älä koske minun tavaroihini. Minä haluan pitää ne, ja sillä siisti."
Hämähäkin verkoista tuli esille rikkinäinen lasikulho.
"Ja tämä?"
Ravistin kulhoa, ja kun en saanut vastausta, heitin sen nurkkaan.
"Mikä se edes on?"
"Isoisän virtsapullo."
"Mutta isoisähän on ollut kuollut jo 20 vuotta, äiti!" Kaivoin syvemmälle. "En löydä!"
"Kyllä löydät, laitoin sen sinne. Enemmän vasemmalle!"
"Muistatko mikä se oli?"
"Pieni kirstu".
Näkyvissä ei ollut minkäänlaisia kirstuja.
"Onko sinulla salainen varasto täällä jossakin? Sinut tuntien on varmaan..."
"Kun kuolen, niin voit tehdä mitä haluat. Heitä kaikki menemään. Mutta et niin kauan kuin elän!"
"Et sinä kuole, äiti! Sinusta tulee vampyyri ja jatkat tavaroidesi vartioimista. Tuolla se on! Näen sen! Tuolla takana!"
Swedish:
"Gör mig en tjänst, Maria. I ditt eget hem kan du göra som du vill, men rör inte vid mina saker. Jag vill behålla dem och därmed basta."
Bland spindelväven kom det fram en glasskål som var sönder.
"Och det här med?"
Jag skakade på den, men när jag inte fick något svar, kastade jag den i hörnet.
"Vad är det?"
"Farfars urinflaska."
"Men farfar har varit död i tjugo år, mamma!" Jag gick djupare in. "Jag kan inte hitta det!"
"Ja, det gör du. Jag lade den dit. Titta mer på vänster."
"Kommer du ihåg vad det var?"
"En liten kista."
Det fanns inga kistor.
"Har du ett hemligt förråd här någonstans, med mer saker? Helt säkert."
"När jag dör kan du göra som du vill. Kasta allt bara. Men inte så länge jag lever!"
"Du kommer inte att dö, mamma. Du blir en vampyr och fortsätter att vakta över alla saker. Där är den! Jag ser den! Där bak!"
I'm reading the Turkish, the Greek, the German and the Spanish version side by side. As far as I know, this book has not been translated into English. I only know German well enough to actually understand SOMETHING of the book, and Spanish, maybe I could manage, but Turkish and Greek are... well... Greek to me :-D I hope I'm learning something.
(BTW, you might want to get the Finnish translation as well. I mean, as I am going to translate the book sentence by sentence, I can just as well do it in Finnish as well. And Swedish, perhaps?)
Das Erwachen der Hexe
το ξυπνημα της μάγισσας
Büyücünün uyanması
El despertar de la bruja
Ok... so la bruja is a witch, that I know. What is despertar?
(the dictionary tells me it's "awakening")
So to xypnima tis magissas - I suppose xypnima has something to do with hypnos, and magissa with magic. (So it is - the awakening of the witch. The masculine form of magissa is μάγος. "είστε ένας μάγος Χάρι...") Now, ύπνος is sleep in Greek and ξυπνώ to wake up - ἐξ ὕπνος - out of sleep :-D Clever. το is apparently the neutral definite article, and της the feminine, in genitive the awakening of the witch - pretty straighforward there. Here's about the Greek definite article
what about Turkish, then? The translation says "waking up the wizard", but it's büyücünün that is the witch, and uyanması that's the awakening... So...
(Sen bir büyücüsün Harry!)
(As far as I understand, falcisin is a fortune teller and imamsin is imam)
FI: Noidan herääminen (or herätys, if it's going to be passive - now, I would use Noita herää (The Witch Awakens) because we like to say things like that, and it's also a literary quote.)
----------------------------- Ägina, 1988 (neunzehnhundertachtundachtzig), am Tag der Kreuzerhöhung Christi, 100 Jahre danach. (hundert Jahre) Egina Adası, 1988 (bin dokuz yüz seksen sekiz). Haç Bayramı'nın bir gün öncesi. 100 yıl sonra. (yüz yıl) Again, Haç Bayramı'nın - Cross its feast. One day before. 100 year after.
Egina, 1988 (mil novecientos ochenta y ocho). Día de la cruz. 100 años después (cien años)
Αίγινα, 1988 (χίλια εννιακόσια ογδόντα οκτώ). Ανημερα του Σταυρου. 100 χρόνια μετά. (εκατό χρόνια)
Today of Cross. 100 years after.
EN: Aegina, 1988 (nineteen hundred eighty eight), on the Day of the Cross, 100 years later (hundred years)
FI: Aigina, 1988 (tuhatyhdeksänsataakahdeksankymmentäkahdeksan), Ristinpäivänä, 100 vuotta myöhemmin. (sata vuotta.) SE: Egina, 1988 (nittonhundraåttioåtta), på det heliga korsets upphöjelsedagen, 100 år senare. (hundra år)
"Du musst auch mal was wegwerfen, Mama. Sonst kriegen wir noch Wanzen hier drin..."
"Πέτα και τίποτα, μαμά. Φά πιάσονμε κoριoυσ εδω μεσά..."
—Ya podrías tirar algo de vez en cuando, mamá, que aquí nos vamos allenar de chinches...
"Bazı şeyleri de at be anne yoksa burayı pireler saracak."
EN: "Throw some things away, mom. We'll get bedbugs."
FI: "Heittäisit joskus pois tavaroita, äiti. Tänne tulee vielä lutikoita..."
SE: "Kasta ut saker någon gång, mamma. Vi kommer att få vägglöss..."
Bedbug - Cimex lectularius - la cinche - die Wanze - tahtakurusu - κοριός - en vägglus - lutikka
In the Turkish translation they used the word pireler.
Pire means a flea - la pulga - der Floh - kirppu - en loppa - ψύλλος - in Latin pūlex
Interesting thing here is that this animal is one of the few things that hasn't got a foreign name... Finns named mothers after the Proto-Germanic name, but fleas have still the Proto-Finnic name
Cimex in Latin means - a bug. And lectularius means bed. So it literally is a bed bug in Latin :-D
I have some problems with this way of dealing with this. I don't think I am learning anything. Turkish and Greek are just too different.
"Péta kai típota, mamá. Fá piásonme korioys edo mesá."
The only word I recognize as something is mamá.
peta means to throw away. Or lapel. kai is and tipota is nothing fa? I don't have the slightest idea of what this is... is it short of something? piasonme - we catch korioys - bedbugs edo - here mesa - inside, within
"Bazı şeyleri de at be anne yoksa burayı pireler saracak." Thi gives me nothing.
Bazı - some şeyleri - things, things, stuff, something (basic form şey) de - as well, too, also at - horse, knight (what?) be - interjection, hey! you! oh my! anne - mother yoksa - or burayı - here pireler - fleas saracak - it will embrace, wrap, surround, envelope (basic form sarmak)
Ich schob meinen Oberkörper in die kleine Abstellkammer unter der Treppe. Sie alten Balken knarrten bedenklich.
Merdiven altındaki küçük deponun kuytularına doğru ilerlerken, eski tahta döşemeler yerlerinden oynayarak gıcırdadılar.
Me metí hasta la cintura en el pequeño almacén de debajo de laescalera. Las viejas vigas crujieron de forma peligrosa.
χωθηκα ωσ τη μεση στο αποθηκακι κατω απο τη σκαλα. τα γερικα δοκαρια ετριξαν επικινδυα
Well... geriatric beams. *sigh*
EN: I shoved my upper body into the small storage room under the stairs. They old beams creaked alarmingly
SE: Jag sträckte mig inuti en liten förrådsutryme under trapporna. Gamla balkarna knarrade oroande.
FI: Kurotin pieneen säilytystilaan rappusten alla. Vanhat parret narisivat varoittavasti.
die kleine Abstellkammer unter der Treppe Merdiven altındaki küçük deponun kuytularına - stairs under small storage room
el pequeño almacén de debajo de laescalera αποθηκακι κατω απο τη σκαλα
the small storage room under the stairs
En liten förråd under trapporna
Pieni säilytystila rappusten alla (or portaiden alla)
Die alten Balken eski tahta döşemeler yerlerinden (old wooden/board flooring place)
Las viejas vigas τα γερικα δοκαρια
old beams
vanhat parret tai palkit
gamla balkarna
I just realized something. Yes, I know, really stupid of me, not to get it earlier, but better late than never, huh?
I will never be a polyglot in the normal meaning of the word, because I don't have the tenacity. One just needs to look at this blog to get that. Last year I made two posts. TWO. I WAS SUPPOSED to take the 6-week challenge in Russian, but... that was about it. I think I managed one week this time around. :-D
(One thing that did me in was the Russian keyboard. I went to https://www.keybr.com/ and got it all set up nicely, but then the program had me typing the same 4-5 letters day after day, never gave me any new letters, and I gave up. Not fun.)
2016 I got into Korean. That lasted a couple of months, I think...
2015 I posted my 52 in 52 plan at the beginning of the year, but if you look at the entries, most of them are empty.
2014 was also a slow year.
One thing to notice about statistics is that I post mostly during January (New Year's promises... every year I wish I will do better and actually stick to something.) and April (Because of my birthday. Every year I am reminded of my "50 languages by 50" goal.)
It would be wonderful if I just had the determination and perseverance. I mean, one can learn anything in 15 minutes a day, if one just does it for a longer time, like a year or so. The longer one persists, the more one learns. And I have been studying languages for some 40 years now. Had I only stuck to it, it would be more probable than possible that I indeed spoke 50 languages by now.
I do love languages and I learn them easily enough...
I'm OK with my bad pronunciation (good enough to be understood, but is never going to be good enough to pass as a native.)
I am kind of proud of the Finnish influence in my language. I use languages as I use Finnish, and Finnish is very elastic. I know it's a bad habit, but... as long as I am not working with the language, like being an interpreter, translator, or teacher, I don't see the problem with that.
But, anyway, I have decided to allow myself to be just as "airy" as I am and not be serious with my languages. So I will be studying 20 languages side by side 2-3 times a year for 1-3 weeks, and what sticks, sticks, and that's good enough.
So, today's "20 languages" were:
Láadan (conlang)
Russian
Maltese
Spanish
French
High Valyrian (conlang)
German
Welsh
Chinese
Korean
Danish
Japanese
Turkish
Tegirenai or Tigerian (conlang)
Vulcan (conlang)
Walloon
Mari
Karelian
Toki Pona (conlang)
Hungarian
Arabic
Hebrew
I got irritated by the way someone pronounces Láadan, it sounds so... unnatural, forced, fake. So I studied about how to pronounce it.
Russian didn't get much love, I read the "word of the day", and that's it.
Maltese got more love. Still the same problem as every day. *sigh* I managed to find a forum, but it's a disgusting ultra-nationalist, racist forum, and I don't want to learn what they say. I want to learn nice things. I have also decided that I really need to learn the verb basics. This is too difficult, trying to figure out the verb forms without the support of grammar. :-D
Spanish got some proper studies, though if the studies at Duolingo count as that, I don't know.
I started reviewing my 5000 French words. I still remember pretty much, and the last time I looked at it was 2016! I had an experiment going on there, learning the 5000 most common words 100 words a day, and I got to 2900 words.
High Valyrian... it's mostly a joke. It is offensive that there is a course on High Valyrian on Duolingo, BUT NOT ON ARABIC.
I got some German brushed up. I know surprisingly much of German. On the other hand, I should. German is one of the languages I can actually read. It's still like B-level, but still.
Started brushing up my Welsh as well. Though I like the Goedelic branch more.
Continued with my Chinese. Right now that's about the most serious I am with languages. I decided to just jump in and so far it's going great. I am holding the reigns tight and not letting me go gathering information, it's really hard as it is, but I really want to learn the language and not just wish I knew.
I was reminded of how much I like Korean dramas and decided to brush up on my Korean as well. Relearned the letters.
Min mand er dansk, og jeg vil kunne tale dansk med ham. So I started the Danish course at Duolingo as well. I have given up on trying to pronounce it well, and just try to repeat it as it sounds in my Finnish ears. My husband has told me my Finnish accent is great for Danish. :-D The fact that Danish has more vowel sounds than Finnish has ANY sounds - bah. What ever. :-D
Now, that video with the woman speaking Korean, Chinese, and Japanese was inspiring, so I have added Japanese to my list as well. I am going to use Heisig's Remembering the Kanji, so I would like to learn the basics of Chinese and Japanese transcribed... At least until I know the letters. There's quite a lot of them. :-D It's not like with Korean or Hebrew.
Turkish I noticed was on Duolingo as well, and I like the Turkish TV dramas as well, so - let's brush that up a bit, too.
Now, the inventor of Tigerian was expressing himself on Láadan, and as tigers are my spirit animals, I went to see what this Tigerian is. I don't think it's going to get much attention from me in the future though.
They had Vulcan on Memrise, and because I identify myself with the Vulcans, I thought I could just as well learn the language :-D
They also had Walloon, and I suspect our family might have some Walloon roots, though... maybe not. I think I look a bit South European... could be possible.
I was just looking into Mari. It is a Finno-Uralic language, and it would be interesting to learn some of that, just for the nationalist streak in me - and to save the endangered languages
Karelian is on the list because I am writing in Swadesh lists of the Finnic languages on Memrise.
Toki Pona is still waiting. I don't think it will take much time to learn enough of this language to be able to use it. It fascinates me a lot.
I was rereading this blog again, and I just love Kati Wolf. So Hungarian.
I have such difficulties with Maltese, so I decided to learn Arabic to be able to learn Maltese. (Now, Arabic is one of the "brush up" languages, so it's not like I'm beginning from zero here either.)
And my Jewish husband is into his Jewish studies right now, so Hebrew got up on the list.
What I learned from this (in addition to the 7 tricks, some might be repeated ;-)):
- have a friend who is a native language speaker to practice with and to ask questions from. It is possible to find friends like this online and Skype with them
- gather all the materials you can: the twins said they had 25 books; it looks like they borrowed all the books from library about learning Turkish
- they also used the internet, different mobile apps and radio. There's plenty of resources available, and a lot of it free, magazines, newspapers, cooking shows, blogs, Wikipedia in several languages...
- they studied at least 12 hours every day
- they started speaking from the first day, replacing simple words and sentences with Turkish, like "good morning", getting more and more complicated, trying to express oneself in Turkish, having imaginary discussions, writing diary etc. They thought of possible things to say and found out how it is said in Turkish.
- they used the native language speakers living in their home town, like restaurants and market, to practice with.
- they gave themselves challenges and prepared for them, like before going to market to purchase things, they studied the numbers and fruits and vegetables
- they challenged each other by saying things to each other and translating it
Their method reminds me of my own, Barry Farber's and AJATT
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Some support for watching Aşk-ı Memnu
Who are these people?
To me the Turkish names are difficult. I can't remember them and I can't even remember which is male and which is female. I know who Adnan is, and that's about it.
I just noticed there's a Turkish description under the video at YouTube :-D That helps. :-)
burada - here
Teşekkür ederim - Thank you
teşekkürler - thanks
anne - mother
also, they call Adnan Bey all the time...
Aşk is love in Aşk-ı Memnu - forbidden love
Pardon - excuse me
"In Turkey, many Turkish use this statement and hug each other; more secular and non-religious people say "Selam" as an equivalent to "Hello" or "Hi". This use has extended to the Internet with the abbreviated "slm" being commonly used amongst Turks on social networking websites."
The thing is that I don't understand much of Turkish, but I understand quite a lot about the series... And it's making Turkish interesting to me :-)
-------------------------
Now is the half-point of 6 weeks challenge, and I'm feeling like I'm desperately trying to swim, but there's no water... or something. It feels like I don't make any progress, I know nothing, all the hours I've been putting in studying have been wasted etc. etc. I haven't done even half of the things I should have done... and then I took the language level test, and received this:
I know it's not correct, but when I took the test 3-4 weeks ago, I got A1 :-D
I guessed practically every question wrong. I mean... how can one guess every question on a multiple choice questionnaire wrong? There must be SOMETHING one guesses right, n'est-ce pas?
I'm still not sure, it's not like with the English test, but - there it is, purple on white. C2.
Je ne sais pas qu'est-il qui a crée cette site, mais il pense je ne suis pas un idiot complet :-) And it feels quite nice :-)
What it is saying is that my sense for French is not bad, not bad at all... I chose the option that FELT best. Not the one I KNEW to be right, but the one that FELT best...
Turkish is really interesting, because there doesn't seem to be anything I recognize so that I could build upon it... nothing to fasten it to.
Sure, the numbers with beer-drinking jedis in dirt with Secky's doc-ooze... but it really doesn't make much sense.
After having watched an episode of Aşk-ı Memnu it is making more sense... sometimes it sounds like Russian, sometimes like Japanese and sometimes like nothing else :-D
Now, there's Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ's character... He's supposed to be some sort of a playboy, really attractive, everyone just falls for him... and I don't understand why anyone would find that a-hole in any way attractive... sure, he's handsome, but... he seems to be a total jerk. Tactless, mocking bully. Everything is a damn joke to him... he seems to be saying something nice and kind, and then one can see on the reaction that he was saying something really mean and hurtful, and then he just laughs...
And the girl's mother is like him, except that she's just stupid and glueless and mostly embarrassing.
Well...
1. episode I learned
Good morning: günaydın
good night: İyi geceler
big - büyük / small - küçük
yes - evet / no - hayır
2. episode
bana bak - look
Hello - Merhaba
Excuse me - Pardon
thank you - merci
hepsi - all
lütfen - please
I am having troubles in English, because my mind is getting "Frenchized" :-D I'm not at all certain of if I'm using an English syntax or not... ROTFLMAO!
Aranıyor sahibi ruhumun, tam yerine mi düştüm?
direniyor faili tutkunun, kızmış ve küçülmüş
aranıyor sahibi ruhumun, tam yerine mi düştüm?
direniyor, direniyor, direniyor…
bir yarım akıllı,
bir yarım deli dört yanım akıllı,
bir yanım deli
herkes akıllı, bir ben deli
bir ben deli,
bir ben deli…
Searching for my soul's owner, did I fall in the right place?
The perpetrator of passion is resisting, angry and deminished.
Searching for my soul's owner, did I fall in the right place?
He's resisting, resisting, resisting...
Bring me up, don't make me cry
Where’s the love you’re proud of?
Bring me up, don't make me cry
don't detain me with fake dreams
Half of me is sane,
half of me insane, four parts are sane,
part of me is insane
everyone is sane, I'm alone insane,
only me insane,
only me insane
I don't want to give up the 52/52 challenge... I want to have "a pie of all colors" at 6WC :-D
The thing is that I managed to study three foreign languages at the same time when I was 14. Why not now? Considering that I don't need to study other things, just do my work, and I don't have homework from my job :-D
So - I could assign 15 minutes to German, 15 minutes to the 52/52 a day, 15 minutes to other things and then some 4-5 hours to French. That should be enough.
So Turkish.
Turkish is spoken by over 83 million people worldwide.
As Turkish was the language of the Ottoman empire, there's quite a lot of Turkish influences in all the culture that were part of the Ottoman empire or in close contact with it, like Hungarian.
The Ottoman script was replaced with a phonetic variant of the Latin alphabet 1928 as one of Atatürk's reforms. There's undergoing work done to reform and standardize the language.
As far as I can see, there's 24 consonant phonemes and 8 vowel phonemes in Turkish. There's 29 letters in the alphabet.
The distinctive characteristics of Turkish are vowel harmony and extensive agglutination.
The basic word order is SOV.
There are no noun classes or grammatical gender.
The "politeness" rules are very strong and important.
Useful phrases in Turkish. Numbers in Turkish
(I suppose, depending on accent, they sound slightly different, but when I heard them the first time, it was like "beer, icky, ew-sh, dirt, besh, alter, jed-y, secky's doc-ooze on" - so if thinking about jedis drinking icky beer, that's close enough :-D)
