Translating Oral Narratives from Mixe to Spanish for Linguistic Purposes

1. Translating Oral Narratives from Mixe to Spanish for Linguistic Purposes Carmen Jany California State University, San Bernardino cjany@csusb.edu

2. Introduction This talk • Mixe Language • Fieldwork and Speakers • Linguistic Fieldwork • Transcription and Translation • Data and Process • Challenges and Solutions • Conclusions

3. Mixe Language • Mixe Language • Mixe-Zoque Language Family • Spoken in Oaxaca & Veracruz, Mexico • Limited documentation => unclear how many languages, dialects, varieties (each village with different variety) • Ethnologue: 10 languages • Chuxnabán Mixe: 900 speakers

4. Mixe Language • Language Family Trees - Mixe-Zoque, Mixe • Mixe (10) • Eastern Mixe (6) • Mixe, Coatlán  [mco] (Mexico) • Mixe, Isthmus  [mir] (Mexico) • Mixe, Juquila  [mxq] (Mexico) • Mixe, Mazatlán  [mzl] (Mexico) • Mixe, North Central  [neq] (Mexico) • Mixe, Quetzaltepec  [pxm] (Mexico) • Veracruz Mixe (2) • Popoluca, Oluta  [plo] (Mexico) • Popoluca, Sayula  [pos] (Mexico) • Western Mixe (2) • Mixe, Totontepec  [mto] (Mexico) • Mixe, Tlahuitoltepec  [mxp] (Mexico)

5. Mixe Language

6. Fieldwork and Speakers • Preparation • Readings on other languages • Recording equipment • Plan for data collection • In the village • Ask for permission • Identify speakers/consultants • Find interpreters for monolinguals

7. San Juan Bosco Chuxnabán, 2008

8. San Juan Bosco Chuxnabán, 2008

9. Familia Canseco, 2008

10. My room, 2008

11. At work, 2008

12. Linguistic Fieldwork • Purpose of linguistic fieldwork • Document the structure (=grammar) and lexicon of the language • Archive original data for future reference • Examine and organize the data • Grammar • Dictionary • Scholarly articles (shape linguistic theory) • Educational materials for language preservation and/or revitalization • Conflicting interests • Community and Academia

13. Transcription and Translation • Data collection and Process • Collect and record oral narratives • Transcribe oral narratives (= write down each word) • Need for a transcription assistant • Translation • Two types = two lines • Word by word • Meaning of entire sentence (free translation)

14. Transcription and Translation • Transcription/Translation Example

15. Transcription and Translation • Challenges and Solutions • False Starts • Repetitions & Discourse Markers • Vocabulary • Cultural/regional lexicon • Same word-different meaning/translation • Verbs with no Spanish equivalents • Taboo words • Placenames

16. Transcription and Translation • False Starts • Could be linguistically significant (so, they have to be noted) • Consultant will notice error • Example: Cuento del sol y la luna • Solution: Note as False Start; Edit out for community archive

17. Transcription and Translation • Repetitions and Discourse Markers • Represent oral style/spoken language • Solution: Write narratives as heard; Do not alter/leave out words or repetitions (but may leave out words in free translation)

18. Transcription and Translation • Discourse Markers (pues, entonces, así) • Do not contribute to the meaning of the story, but may be relevant linguistically (nëntu’un = así; evidentials: ntiijmëch = así dicen) • Solution: Write discourse markers

19. Transcription and Translation • Vocabulary: Cultural/regional lexicon • Spanish Dialects: Which one do you choose? • Explanation of cultural/regional lexicon • Examples • topil = policía del pueblo • tlacuache = zarigüeya • tenate = canasta • guajolote = pavo • Solution: Write translation as noted by consultant

20. Transcription and Translation • Vocabulary: Same word-different translations • ko = como, cuando • jä’ä = el, ellos, estoy, era • jamp = en, allí, a • jap = en, allí • Solution: Need linguistic analysis to determine function/meaning; note translation provided by consultant

21. Transcription and Translation • Vocabulary: Verbs with no Spanish equivalent • Mixe is a polysynthetic language (=a lot of information encoded in verbs) • Mixe has a rich system of compounding (=combining words to form new ones) • Solution: Describe/summarize meaning

22. Transcription and Translation • Vocabulary: Verbs with no Spanish equivalent • Different concepts found in Mixe verbs and expressions • encontrar la muerte = morirse • encontrar el sueño = dormirse • cansarse de la mano = cansarse de aguantar • Solution: Use literal translation

23. Transcription and Translation • Vocabulary: Taboo words • Words that consultant does not feel comfortable translating • ixchaa = nalgas (donde se sentó) • yaatë’ëny = cagar (desechar) • Solution: Be insistent/ask for explanation

24. Transcription and Translation • Vocabulary: Placenames • Placenames with and without Spanish equivalent • Placename with special meaning • Solution: Note all information • Example: Narrative (handout)

25. Conclusions • Ongoing process • Revisions and refinements • Two types of translations • For the linguist • For the community • Third type? => Readers who are not linguists nor community members • General solution to translation challenges • Note everything consultant indicates • Don’t leave anything untranslated • Review & take note of inconsistencies • Maintain oral narrative style and do not alter main version to be archived

26. Dios kujuuyëp! ¡Gracias!