Nuer – Nyaluak kɛnɛ guec (Nyaluak and the giraffe)

Collected and written by Michael Thilyang Gatkek With special thanks to Fr Christian Carlassare and pastoral team of Holy Trinity Parish (Old Fangak) (for English translation see their great book: Nuer Folktales, Proverbs and Riddles)

Kɛ cäŋ kɛl, cu Nyaluak jiɛn wɛɛ gua̠th in ca ley diaal yiɛn thin. Cuɛ guec mi diit jek mi tekɛ

ŋuäk mi bäär ɛlɔ̠ŋ. Cu Nyaluak guec thiec i, ɛ ŋu bär ŋuäkdu ɛlɔ̠ŋ inɛ mɛ? Cu guec ɛ luoc i,

mëëdan kɛ gua̠a̠th ee ci wä, ciɛk ŋuäkdä. Duŋdɛ ɣöö kɛ cäŋ kɛl cä wä rɛy ruɔ̠ɔ̠p mi nɔ̠a̠n

mi te kɛ kak jiɛɛn mi diit, kä näkɛ ɣä ɛ buɔth ɛlɔ̠ŋ. Cuɔ kacik nɛn mi tekɛ dɔw jiaath mi

caamɛ. Cuɔ jɛ thiec kɛ ɣöö bɛ ɣä moc tha̠a̠ŋdɛ.

Cu kacik ɛ lo̠k. Cu lɔcdä jiäk ɛlɔ̠ŋ kɛ ɣöö

göörä lia̠a̠ kɛ buɔth. Mëë ta̠a̠ jäl rɛy ruɔ̠ɔ̠p cuɔ

jiath mi bäär nɛn mi tëë kɛ ji̠th kɛl ni wicdɛ

nhial. Cuɔ jɛ ɣɔ̠n i bɛ cam. Duŋdɛ ɣöö /Ka̠ jɛ cop

kɛ ɣöö ciɛk ŋuäkdä. Mëë cɛ wi̠cdä yi̠c, cuɔ

Kuoth thiec kɛ ɣöö bɛ ɣä moc ŋuäk mi bäär. Cu

Kuoth palä liŋ. Cu ŋuäkdä bär. Cuɔ ji̠th

jiaath cop. Amäni tämɛ thilɛ jiath mi leny ɣä kɛ bär. Cu Nyaluak wee i cäätdu gɔaaɛ kä cu

lɔcdɛ tɛɛth kɛ guec.

Nuer – Nyaluak kɛnɛ guec (Nyaluak and the giraffe)

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