Translating Oral Narratives from Mixe to Spanish for Linguistic Purposes

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Translating Oral Narratives from Mixe to Spanish
for Linguistic Purposes

• Carmen Jany
• California State University, San Bernardino
• cjany_at_csusb.edu

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Introduction

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

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Mixe Language

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

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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)

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Mixe Language
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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

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San Juan Bosco Chuxnabán, 2008
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San Juan Bosco Chuxnabán, 2008
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Familia Canseco, 2008
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My room, 2008
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At work, 2008
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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

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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)

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Transcription and Translation

• Transcription/Translation Example

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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

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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

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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)

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Transcription and Translation

• Discourse Markers (pues, entonces, así)
• Do not contribute to the meaning of the story,
  but may be relevant linguistically (nëntuun
  así evidentials ntiijmëch así dicen)
• Solution Write discourse markers

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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

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Transcription and Translation

• Vocabulary Same word-different translations
• ko como, cuando
• jää el, ellos, estoy, era
• jamp en, allí, a
• jap en, allí
• Solution Need linguistic analysis to determine
  function/meaning note translation provided by
  consultant

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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

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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

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Transcription and Translation

• Vocabulary Taboo words
• Words that consultant does not feel comfortable
  translating
• ixchaa nalgas (donde se sentó)
• yaatëëny cagar (desechar)
• Solution Be insistent/ask for explanation

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Transcription and Translation

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

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Conclusions

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

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Dios kujuuyëp!

• Gracias!