Sakatda

Barry Garcia

Ng Awit Ha Nga Hanla

Sayanlija ng awit ha nga hanla ga nga sagijing ka kawa
Bayantyo ng tagak ang nga balaibo isa ga ulan ha umaga
Sakanba ng hinla ang nga bituin ga gabi
Sito banintitdihat ng sataha ka udii ha nga ibon ba?

The song of starlings speaks of heroic deeds
The heron washes its feathers in the rain of morning
The lark worships the stars at night
Who is able to understand the true character of birds?

Sayanlija ng  awit ha nga hinla    ga nga sagijing ka  kawa
Speaking  Sb. song of Pl. starling of Pl. heroic   Ad. deed
(actor focus - continuing aspect)

Bayantyo ng  tagak ang nga balaibo isa ga ulan ha umaga
Washes   Sb. Heron Ob. Pl. feather its in rain of morning
(actor focus - continuing aspect)

Sakanba  ng  hinla ang nga bituin ga gabi
Worships Sb. lark  Ob. Pl. star   at night
(Continuity Focus - continuing aspect)

Sito banintitdihat ng  sataha ka  udii   ha nga ibon ba?
Who  to understand Sb. true   Ad. nature of Pl. bird QP.
(Abilitative Focus -  infinitve form)

Notes

Sakatda Ka Kadomo doesn't have words for Starling and Lark, but they would borrow the words, as I have. The Jakautdok wouldn't have any real problems pronouncing the words for the two foreign bird names.

In the third line, the verb for "worships", sakanba, is an example of what happens in Sakatda Ka Kadomo when n and m come together. N wins out, usually. In this case, it also helps to preserve the focus affix of kan, without having to change it. The infinitive is kansamba (to worship habitually/continually).

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