Speak Your Roots

Tag: speakyourrootschallenge

  • Ki Rukom Ïaid /Different Ways of Walking

    Ïaid-khning-khning ka dei haba ïaid kynjing lem bad ki khohwah kiba rit i kum ban kheiñ noh/ to walk tip toe with legs that are so thin they look like they will break.

    Ïaid-khrup-khrup ka dei kaba ïaid kyrdem da ki juti halor ka madan/ to walk with thumping stomps.

    Ïaid-kjik-kjik ka dei haba ïaid ba pynsting ïa ka met, i kumba ym i kwah pyndei khyndew ïa la ki kjat / to walk while trying to lighten the weight of the body, appearing not to want the feet to touch the ground.

    Ïaid kniah-kniah ka dei haba ïaid bhabriew, i kumba ym i kwah ïakren briew shuh/ the walk of someone who feels so beautiful or handsome that they don't seem to want to talk to anyone anymore.

    Ïaid-knip-knip ka dei haba ïaid dkoh i kumba shon maw rit iba nep ha ki pohjat/ to walk with a limp as if there is a small stone poking the foot.

    Ïaid rynthew ka dei haba ïaid khlem da klum ne syndong ïa la ki jaiñ kiba noh/ to walk carelessly without gathering one's clothes around one's body.

    Ïaid shutïew ka dei haba ïaid suki than eh bad ïaid khlem rah ki kjat / to walk in an extremely slow manner without lifting the feet.

    Ïaid pawang ka dei haba ïaid kyreit bad pawang la ki kti haba ïaid, i kumba ym suitñiew briew/ to walk pompously not seeming to be bothered about other people.

    Here's a collection of different kinds of walks 🚶🏃🕺💃😂😂 There are still so many more but these are all we can "walk" with right now..phew! 😅

    Phi mynjur ne em ba tang na ka rukom ïaid lah ithuh ïa ki jinglong jong ngi? Can others guess how we are just by the way we walk? 😄🤔

    🟡 Source: Rev. Dr. Ïarington Kharkongor

    🟡 English translation by @speakyourroots

  • Another list of Khasi words

    Very young – Jawlia

    Why not – Haw

    Perchance – Tyndi Tynda

    Overcoat – Ka Blub

    Issues – Ki Matiïatei

    Interpreter – Dubasia

    Excitement – Ka Saw Ka Sian

    Another list of Khasi words that we can start using again so they become part of everyday speech 😀😀

    🟡 Source – Ka Dienshonhi: The Khasi Encyclopaedic Dictionary by Rev. Dr. Ïarington Kharkongor

  • Jngai na pyrthei da i Bhu Ianz

    JNGAI NA PYRTHEI KHLEM JINGKHUSLAI – NGAN SUH BEIT

    WIAW SHABA NGEN U BNAI

    KHLEM ARTATIEN NE JINGPYRWA – LA STANG NE RBEN KA PLA

    BAN LAIT NA JINGTYRHA MYNSIEM – HA PNEH RAM-EW AI

    NGAN SUHSIENG

    KHOP KHOP HA LA JINGLONG SHI SUR – NGAI LYNGNGAI HA

    JINGMUTDUR

    NGAN KLET LUT KHOIT IA SPAH BAD PHEW – TANG

    JINGKYNMAW BA NGAN KYNSHEW

    JNGAI NA BAROH RUH NGAM SNGEWPHER – JINGDIAW NGAN

    PIAM HA LA KI SNER

    LAIT TANG JINGMUT HA SUIÑ BAN PER – SET SLUNG LADE

    SHA KI HAJAR MER

    "Jngai na pyrthei" an original Khasi poem by @bhu_ianz ✒️📃 Thank you for the poem! 🙏

    The poem expresses a brave yearning for an escape and a freedom from the human world ☀️🌙💫

  • Wang Bam Im and Wang Kushu

    Wang bam im

    Kine ki kyntien ki thew ïa ki briew kiba jemnud than eh haduh ba kiwei pat ki shim kabu ïa ki namar ba kim kheiñ briew shuh ïa ki. Kine ki jait briew ki ïa syriem ïa ka jait wang kaba lada shet ruh long bad lada bam im ruh kam buid satia. Kiwei pat ki wang hap ban da shet shuwa ban bam bad lada bakla shet ruh ki pynbuid ïa ka shyntur baroh kawei.

    This phrase symbolically refers to people who are too gentle and gullible to the point that people take advantage of them and completely disregard them. People with these qualities are likened to a type of "wang" plant called "Wang bam im" which can easily be cooked or eaten raw too, without causing any itching in the throat. In general, "wang" has to be cooked properly so that it does not cause any itching. On the other hand, there are other kinds of "wang" which even after being cooked properly still cause an itchy throat.

    Wang kushu

    Kine ki kyntien ki thew ïa ki briew ki bym ju hun, kiba thut biej wat ïa i daw barit eh ruh. Kine ki jait briew ki ïa syriem ïa ka jait wang khlaw kaba buid hi lada shet makna katno katno ruh.

    This phrase symbolically refers to people who are never content or satisfied; who become irritated or annoyed with the slightest reason. People with these qualities are likened to a wild variety of the "wang" plant called "wang kushu" which causes an itch in the throat even if it is cooked well. Thus, just like the plant, no matter how much anyone does, what they do is not going to be enough.

    From what we have read, "Ka Wang" may be categorised as Taro stems which are the young leaf stalks of the Taro plant. The Taro stems in the pictures are similar to what we call in Khasi as "ka wangpanai". The plant known for its starchy tuber has much to offer in its edible shoots, stems and leaves. The stems are typically from the young, new-growth leaves. Among the Southeast Asian cultures, the young, as-yet unrolled leaves and stems are cooked in vegetable dishes or soups.

    Taro stems are fibrous, so they are peeled prior to cooking. The tough outer layer is removed to reveal a more tender stalk within. Just like the leaves and corms, the stems contain an irritant called calcium oxalate, which can cause itchiness and swelling in the mouth and throat. Cooking the stems can remove the effect.

    If there any ethno-botanists please tell us more! 🌿🌿

  • Ka Rangkylliaw

    Look at this beautiful moment when the mist transforms what we see and know 🤩🤩🤩💚💚💚 Thank you @dapp_theguyfromthehills for sending another series of enchanting pictures!

    He says: "Ïa kane ka jaka ki ong Rangkylliaw. Ka hap ha ka shnong Mawrah bad ïa kane ka jingkieng la shna da ki nong Mawrah. Ka Mawrah ka don ha ka Khatarshnong–Laitkroh Block, East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya."

    This place is called Rangkylliaw. It falls in the village of Mawrah and the bridge has been built by the people of Mawrah. Mawrah village is located in Khatarshnong-Laitkroh Block, East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya. Mawrah is situated 8 km away from Khatarshnong-Laitkroh and 32 km away from Shillong.

  • Ki Thylliej Ding (Flames) from “Ka Ding Bad ki Deiriti U Hynñiewtrep Ha Ka Meirisawkun”

    Ki Thylliej Ding

    Haba ka ding ka meh bad pyning ïa ki tyllaw ka pynmih ïa ka jingkhaleh kaba ki ong ki thylliej ding. Kine ki thylliej ding ki don lai rukom ki rukom khaleh ba la tip kum ka pyning, ka lap lap bad ka jliah.

    Ka Pyning: Kane ka long u thylliej ding ba pyning ïa ki tyllaw. Ka dei ka bording banyngkong ba pyning ïa ki tyllaw.

    Ka Laplap: Kane ka long ka bynta ba ar jong ki thylliej ding kaba ai lad ïa ka pyning ban ïaineh ding ha ki tyllaw.

    Ka Jliah: Ka long ka bynta ba ha khlieh duh jong ka ding kaba shuiñ ïa ka lyer na trai khiew ba shet jingshet bad ka long ka bynta kaba lah ban pur ding sha kiwei ki tyllaw.

    Types of Flames

    When a fire alights and touches a firebrand, it grows in degree and produces what we call flames. Flames have three ways in which they function and intensify. These are Ka Pyning, Ka Laplap and Ka Jliah.

    Ka Pyning is the first flame that burns a firebrand.

    Ka Laplap is the second part of a flame which allows Ka Pyning to sustain the fire in the wood.

    Ka Jliah is the topmost part of a flame which touches the air, which strikes the bottom of the pot while cooking. Ka Jliah is also the part of the flame that will spread the fire to other pieces of wood.

    Have you ever stared into a fire? How it is made up of so many flames…the element which gave many civilisations the thrust to empower themselves 🔥🔥🔥

    Dr. Dondor Giri Nongkhlaw is a Geomorphologist who has written several books in Khasi which discuss the elements of the environment and their strong bond with Khasi life and culture.

    🟡 English translation by @speakyourroots

  • Kut ka speed

    "Kut ka speed" is a humorous phrase which is a combination of Khasi and English. "Kut" in Khasi means an end or a stop to something.

    So "kut ka speed" means the end of something that was looked forward to, like the cancellation of a picnic or the abrupt end to something which had promise like a failure in business. The use of the English word "speed" in the phrase emphasises the end or the stop to an action or event which was deemed to have momentum (in the literal and symbolic sense) but which met with an untimely end. The phrase also has the power of a warning, so as to caution someone, in case what they are doing will end up incomplete or as a failure.

    An example of the phrase in a sentence: "Ka bha ba phi mih kloi. Da mih kham sngi tang ka dheng kali ruh lah kut ka speed."

    This sentence can be translated as "You should leave early, otherwise the traffic will be kut ka speed". The phrase sounds unsuitable when the sentence is translated into English. It does not possess the same punch because it is meant to be a sentence in Khalish and not English. Further, the exact sense of the sentence is lost when we try to translate it.

    "Kut ka speed" is an interesting example of "Khalish", that is the combination of English and Khasi. The merging of indigenous languages with English is happening around the world and shows the development and evolution of language. This is present mainly in urban areas where people use English daily in their communication with others.

    Khalish in particular leads to funny phrases and jokes which have a distinct ring and flavour to them which is both indigenous as well as global. Though there will be many critiques, this phenomenon is here to stay and seems inevitable in the evolution of language.

    When you were planning to have that jadoh but when you reach the Kong says there's no more jadoh! Huuu…kut ka speed! 😂😂😂

    "Kut ka speed" is the Khalish equivalent of a buzz kill 😖 Don't deny it, especially the Shillongites 😅 Khalish has become a way of how we speak 😜

    Please comment with sentences having "kut ka speed" 😂😂

  • Ka Dopwai

    Ka Dopwái ka dei ka sla jong u dieng kwai. Ka dopwái ka dei ka sla kaba myntoi bha lada hap leit jingleit ne leitkai namar ïa ka dopwái ju pyndonkam ban song ja lane song jingbam.

    Lada ka ja ka long kaba khluit ruh kam lei lei lada song ha ka dopwái. Ka jingsyaid jong ka ja ka nang neh ha ka dopwái. Shuh shuh, ki jingbam kim ju da kham sniew lada song hapoh ka dopwái. Ka bam na ka dopwái ruh ka da bang shisha, khamtam ki ja tyrkhong ba khlem umshit. Kum ba long ka jingshngiam ka umpohliew ba ngim da lah eh ban batai bha ha kito ki bym pat ïoh dih ïa ka, kumta ruh ka jingbang haba bam na ka dopwái ruh ka long ha kajuh ka rukom, ynda lah bam hi ngin sa sngewthuh.

    Mynta ïa ka dopwái la shna da ki karkhana ha ka dur jong ki pliang. Ki ju pyndonkam ïa kine haba leitkai ne haba khawai ruh.

    "Ka Dopwái" is the leaf of the areca tree. "Ka dopwái" is a useful and versatile leaf because it is used to pack food. Even if the food is hot the leaf is not damaged and the warmth of the food is maintained inside the leaf. Also, food packed in ka dopwái does not get spoilt even after several hours.

    When eaten, the food from "ka dopwái" has a different taste and is really delicious, especially if it is dry rice without the soup or with only a little gravy. Just like we cannot describe the delicious taste of natural spring water, so too is the taste of food when eaten from "ka dopwái". Only those who have eaten from it will understand.

    Nowadays "ka dopwái" is marketed commercially as plates which can be taken to use on journeys, picnics and even during feasts.

    "Ka Dopwái" is a hygienic and sturdy packing for food! Mother Nature is the best 🌱🌱 Let's make an effort in being more eco-conscious and do everything in our power to protect our beautiful environment.

    Khublei Shibun Miss @indariwarjri for your picture! 🤗🤗 Ka jingibang ïa phei ba phei bam ja na dopwái. Sa ïalam kai noh next taiñ! 😄😄😄

  • U Diengbah Ïam Briew (Excerpt from “Ka Jingphylla Ka Ri” by Sumar Sing Sawian)

    Ha ka shnong Nongkynrih ha Hima Khyrim, u ïeng uwei u dieng bah dieng san uba la rim bha. Haduh kine ki sngi ba mynta une u dieng uba la tip kum u dieng "Sping Wait", ju mih ka sur bad ka jingsawa kumba ïam briew, lada don kano kano ka jingïap briew tymmen lane kano kano ka jingïap mynsaw jong ki nongshong shnong. Ïa kane ka jingsawa ïam briew kaba mih na ka jngkhynñiuh jong ki sla jong une u dieng, ju ïohsngew da baroh kawei ka shnong.

    Ki ong ba ym ju bit ban pynthut ïa une u dieng ne pynmong ïa u. Ka la don ka sien, ba uwei u briew uba la sngew nang sngew stad, u la ong ba kane ka long tang ka jingngeit bieit. Kumta u la rah da ka wait bnoh bad khet ïa uwei na ki jyrmi kiba kyllaiñ ïa une u dieng. Hadien kane, la ïathuh ba uta u briew um shym la lait shuh ban leit pynjhieh, wat la u sam tyngeh. Kane ka la pynpisa bad pynlynga ïa uta u briew haduh katta katta, haduh ba um lah shah shuh, bad um banse ban leit pan map, na uta u dieng, bad u sa lait na kata ka sohsat kaba shyrkhei.

    In the village of Nongkynrih in Hima Khyrim, there stands a massive tree known as a "Sping Wait" tree, whose age is said to be very old. To this day, the voice and the sound of a weeping human being can be heard from it. This can be heard when there is the death of an elderly person or if there is a death caused by injury, with these persons being residents of the village. The weeping sound produced by the trembling leaves of the tree can be heard throughout the village.

    They say that the tree should not be disturbed nor hurt. There was once man who felt he had enough knowledge and know-how, so he declared the belief about the tree to be superstition. He took a "wait bnoh" which is a large bladed knife with a crooked head with the aim of cutting off one of the creeping plants that spread and grew on the tree. After this happened, it was told that this man could not urinate even when he desperately needed to. The man suffered horribly, that ultimately, he was forced to go to the tree and apologise to it so that he would be free of the affliction.

    "U Diengbah Ïam Briew" or "The Weeping Tree" feels like a cautionary tale of what can happen if we feel more powerful than nature. 🌲🌳

    The picture is of U Diengbah Ïam Briew located in Nongkynrih, Hima Khyrim. Khublei Shibun @bashngainrynjah for sending the picture!

    🟡 English translation by @speakyourroots

  • U Bahtympha

    U Bahtympha u dei u rishot pyngkiang uba la shna ban par sawdong ïa ka ïing bad ki ju pyndait ïa u ha syndah jong ka sad. U Bahtympha u dei uba kyrshan bad pynskhem ïa ki dingshyllangmat/ khanshi jong ka ïing.

    Nangta u khanglad ruh ba kan lait ka sad na ka lyer kaba jur bad u kyrshan ïa ka kynroh da kaba shim ïa ka jingkhia jong ka sad.

    Ka ktien "U Bahtympha" ka thew ïa u briew uba lah ban wallam ïa ka jingïasngewthuh jingmut hapdeng uwei bad uwei pat; u long u nongïalam uba lah ban shaniah.

    U Bahtympha or the wall-plate (lintel) is a flat and a physically load-bearing horizontal beam used in wooden building framing arrangement. It is the timber piece kept over the mortar on the top in the wall portion near the roof structure.

    The wall-plate supports and holds the rafters. The wall plate prevents against uplifting of the roof, caused by the wind which can blow under the roof. It also supports the wall by taking all the weight from the roof.

    The word "Bahtympha" also symbolically refers to an individual who has the wisdom to bring about understanding and harmony between people and this individual is also deemed to be a trustworthy leader.

    The Khasi word "U Bahtympha" symbolically refers to someone who is reliable and trustworthy, an individual who has the capability of being a leader. ✨✨✨

    🟡 Source: Rev. Dr. Ïarington Kharkongor

    🟡 English translation by @speakyourroots