OLAC Record: Shatan nhkan n mai ai (Why Coconuts Are Like Human Heads) with English translation

OLAC Record
oai:paradisec.org.au:KK1-2327

Metadata

Title: Shatan nhkan n mai ai (Why Coconuts Are Like Human Heads) with English translation

Access Rights: Open (subject to agreeing to PDSC access conditions)

Bibliographic Citation: Keita Kurabe (collector), Keita Kurabe (depositor), Gareng Magu Naw Awng (speaker), 2019. Shatan nhkan n mai ai (Why Coconuts Are Like Human Heads) with English translation. EAF+XML/MPEG/WAV. KK1-2327 at catalog.paradisec.org.au. https://dx.doi.org/10.26278/5fa1783d1cb27

Contributor (compiler): Keita Kurabe

Contributor (depositor): Keita Kurabe

Contributor (speaker): Gareng Magu Naw Awng

Coverage (Box): northlimit=27.331; southlimit=23.137; westlimit=95.335; eastlimit=98.498

Coverage (ISO3166): MM

Date (W3CDTF): 2019-01-29

Date Created (W3CDTF): 2019-01-29

Description: Translation (Rita Seng Mai) Once upon a time, there was a country ruled by a king. The king announced, "Anyone who gossips or slanders must not stay in my country." There were two women who often gossiped and slandered others. They spread rumors and made other people upset and argue. They gossiped with one person about another, then carried the words back and caused them to argue. They usually did that. Then the country had become unstable, and many issues arose because of them. The king said, "Why has our country become unstable and disunited?" He wanted to know the cause. Later, he learned that it was all because of the two women. He ordered, "Kill them!" Earlier, the king had announced, "Anyone who slanders or gossips about others will be killed!" The king looked for the cause. In the end, he learned that it was all because of the two women. Then he ordered his servants to kill them. The two women were beheaded, and their heads were pierced with a sharp, long stick. And their heads were shown on the big road. However, the two heads still gossiped when people walked past them, even though they were already dead. One of the villagers said to the king, "Those two severed heads still talk badly about other people. They also say that the king has been unfair to them and the citizens. They say the king is not righteous." The man heard what they were saying, so he reported it to the king. The king said, "It's impossible for the dead to talk! It must be you! You are the one saying that!" One day, the king announced, "It's impossible for the dead heads to talk. It is impossible! But if they do, kill me!" He was scared to go there alone, so he took his servants with him. When they arrived, they secretly listened to what the two heads were saying. The two heads really spoke. They were talking about the king. The king heard with his own ears that they could really speak. Other people who came to check whether it was true also heard the two dead heads talking. The citizens beheaded the king and buried his head along with the two women's heads. The king's head and the two gossiping women's heads were buried together. Seven days later, a tree was growing from there. When it grew tall and big, it produced coconuts as large as a human head. The coconut tree grew on the land where the two gossipers' heads were buried, so it produced fruits as large as a human head. When we want the coconut meat inside, we have to break it open as if we were breaking a human head. The coconut tree grew on the land where the gossipers' heads were buried. Therefore, when we break open coconuts, it is like breaking a human head. People who often slander others face bad consequences even after death. The two women also met a fate like their heads being broken open. It is said that this is how the coconut tree grew. Transcription (La Ring) Moi shawng de e Hkaw Hkam up ai mungdan langai mi nga ai da. Ndai mungdan ndai kaw gaw ndai Hkaw Hkam wa gaw shi gaw amik amik dai hku na htuk pyan ai e "Ngai na mungdan hta gaw e shatan ai shatan nhkan ai nmai nga ai" ngu na ndau dat ai da. Rai yang gaw hpawmi lahkawng gaw masha hpe htingbu wa hpe masha hpe manaw manang hpe grai.. shatan ja ai hpawmi lahkawng nga ai da. Ndai hpawmi ndai ni gaw masha wa hpa galaw nmai hpa nga nmai wo ra hpe hto ra de tsun, le ra de tsun rai na manaw manang ni hpe galaw shangun ngun di ai da. Dai ga shatan ai i ga shi htaw ai shatan ai e nding re ai da. Rai yang gaw lani na lani mi na nhtoi gaw ndai hpawmi lahkawng a shatan ai ning hkan e mungdan gaw nru nra mashuk mashak rai na npyaw n-ngawn rai byin ai da. Rai yang gaw ndai "Anhte mungdan ndai npyaw ai gaw hpabaw a majaw" ngu na dai hpe e tam ai.. mahtai tam ai shaloi gaw "Ndai hpawmi lahkawng a majaw re" ngu ai lam hpe chye lu ai hku rai nga. Rai yang Hkaw Hkam wa gaw, Hkaw Hkam wa gaw ndai hpawmi lahkawng hpe sat kau ai. Shawng de ma shatan ai, shatan ai wa hpe gaw "Dai zawn re shatan ai nmai nga ai ngai mungdan hta ndai zawn re shatan ai nga ai shaloi gaw sat kau na" ngu na ndau da ai re da. "Dai majaw hpang jahtum gaw mahtai tam nna kadai gara hku re ndai mungdan ngwi npyaw ai gaw dai lahkawng shatan ai a majaw re" ngu na dai hpe myi chyaw e dai hku mara mu nna she shan hpe gaw sat nna e sat nna nmaw lam kaba.. kaw dai hku na baw, baw lahkawng hpe dai hpun hte masen nna baw chyaw nna lam nmaw kaba kaw jun tawn da ai da. Jun tawn da ai dai shaloi gaw ndai baw ndai lahkawng gaw si chyalu rai di pyi gaw naw masha ni lai wa ai shaloi e "Dai wa dai hku nga ai wo ra hku nga ai" naw tsun ai da. Tsun tsun re ai da, rai yang gaw Hkaw Hkam wa hpe mung "Ndai nang, nang jun tawn da ai e baw ndai lahkawng ya ma naw ga shaga ai law, Hkaw Hkam wa dai hku nga ai mung masha a ntsa kaw dai hku ntara ai bungli galaw ai, mung masha hpe dai hku mung masha nra ai bungli galaw ai nga na ma tsun ai" ngu na tsun ai da. Dai hku tsun ai da rai yang gaw dai kaw lai ai ni, lai ai ni na ai majaw Hkaw Hkam wa hpe wa tsun ai. Rai yang gaw Hkaw Hkam wa gaw "Ah.. ndai si chyalu gaw ga gaw nshaga na re, nang.. nang mahtang shatan ai wa rai na re" ngu na Hkaw Hkam wa gaw tsun ai da ndai wa hpe ndai ga wa tsun ai wa hpe. Rai yang gaw Hkaw Hkam wa gaw lani mi gaw "E lama ndai si ai, si chyalu baw wa me dai hku ga shaga ai ngu gaw htung pyi nnga ai, gara hku ma nmai byin ai, nmai byin ai raitim mung ndai lama teng ai rai yang gaw ngai hpe sat marit nanhte mung masha ni" ngu nna tsun ai da. Rai yang gaw ndai Hkaw Hkam wa gaw lani mi na nhtoi hta e ndai teng nteng shi hkrai sa ma hkrit ai majaw shi na salung sala ni hte e kaga mung masha ni hte dai hku nna mayun nna dai baw nga ai makau kaw sa nna sa madat ai da. Kaja wa nan kaja wa nan dai hku tsun ai da dai baw dai gaw ga shaga ai le i. E ga shaga ai da, "Dai hku rai Hkaw Hkam wa dai hku re wo ra hku re" nga nna tsun ai da. Dai majaw ndai Hkaw Hkam wa ndai ma shi na kaw chyaw na sai, e dai na she e dai hpe teng nteng chye na matu hkan sa ai ni mung yawng na sai chye sai i. Chye sai re majaw Hkaw Hkam wa hpe gaw ndai mung masha ni yawng e shi hpe sat nna ndai mi na baw lahkawng hte dai baw masum di na ga langai mi kaw lup dat ai da. Ga langai mi kaw ndai Hkaw Hkam wa a baw ma dai mi na shatan ai baw ma baw masum di na lup dat ai shaloi gaw ndai lup ai hpang kade nna yang sanit ya nga kun na ai shaloi e dai kaw na hpun tu wa ai da. Hpun tu wa ai, ndai hpun ndai gaw kaba wa kaba wa kaba wa re shaloi gaw kawa wa ai shaloi gaw e ya na ma-un si i ma-un si ndai masha baw raw re ai si si wa ai da. E ndai ma-un si gaw ndai shatan nhkan re ai nkaja ai nhkru ai baw lup ai kaw na e tu wa ai ma-un hpun re nga. Dai majaw ma-un si hpe gaw e ya nkaja ai kaw na masha hpe shatan ai nkaja ai kaw na tu wa ai hpun re majaw mi na baw raw rai na asi ma si wa re majaw dai hpe gaw ya baw hpe e adup ai zawn abyen ai zawn di nna, gala na ga shaw ra ai da. Dai majaw ma-un, ma-un hpun gaw ma-un si gaw ndai masha hpe grai.. shatan ai grai nkaja ai baw hpe lup ai kaw na tu wa ai asi re. Dai majaw shi hpe ga yang ma ya na zawn baw hpe gala ai zawn byin wa ai. Dai majaw ya kadai rai timmung dai zawn rai nhkru ai nkaja ai masha hpe shatan ai htingbu hpe shatan ai e dai zawn re ai wa gaw si tim mung si wa tim mung bai paw pru tim mung e nkaja ai lam sha bai byin wa ai masha ni e dai hku adup ga ai e gala ra mat ai e ding re ni byin wa ai nga. Dai ma-un hpun gaw dai kaw na byin wa ai re nga na tsun ma ai. . Language as given: Jinghpaw

Format: Digitised: no Media: Audio

Identifier: KK1-2327

Identifier (URI): http://catalog.paradisec.org.au/repository/KK1/2327

Language: Kachin

Language (ISO639): kac

Publisher: Pacific and Regional Archive for Digital Sources in Endangered Cultures (PARADISEC)

Rights: Open (subject to agreeing to PDSC access conditions)

Subject: Kachin language

Subject (ISO639): kac

Subject (OLAC): language_documentation

text_and_corpus_linguistics

Table Of Contents (URI): http://catalog.paradisec.org.au/repository/KK1/2327/KK1-2327-A.eaf

http://catalog.paradisec.org.au/repository/KK1/2327/KK1-2327-A.mp3

http://catalog.paradisec.org.au/repository/KK1/2327/KK1-2327-A.wav

Type (DCMI): Sound

Type (OLAC): primary_text

OLAC Info

Archive: Pacific And Regional Archive for Digital Sources in Endangered Cultures (PARADISEC)

Description: http://www.language-archives.org/archive/paradisec.org.au

GetRecord: OAI-PMH request for OLAC format

GetRecord: Pre-generated XML file

OAI Info

OaiIdentifier: oai:paradisec.org.au:KK1-2327

DateStamp: 2026-05-08

GetRecord: OAI-PMH request for simple DC format

Search Info
Citation: Keita Kurabe (compiler); Keita Kurabe (depositor); Gareng Magu Naw Awng (speaker). 2019. Pacific and Regional Archive for Digital Sources in Endangered Cultures (PARADISEC).
Terms: area_Asia country_MM dcmi_Sound iso639_kac olac_language_documentation olac_primary_text olac_text_and_corpus_linguistics

Inferred Metadata
Country: Myanmar
Area: Asia

http://www.language-archives.org/item.php/oai:paradisec.org.au:KK1-2327
Up-to-date as of: Wed Jul 8 7:29:47 EDT 2026

Metadata
Title:		Shatan nhkan n mai ai (Why Coconuts Are Like Human Heads) with English translation
Access Rights:		Open (subject to agreeing to PDSC access conditions)
Bibliographic Citation:		Keita Kurabe (collector), Keita Kurabe (depositor), Gareng Magu Naw Awng (speaker), 2019. Shatan nhkan n mai ai (Why Coconuts Are Like Human Heads) with English translation. EAF+XML/MPEG/WAV. KK1-2327 at catalog.paradisec.org.au. https://dx.doi.org/10.26278/5fa1783d1cb27
Contributor (compiler):		Keita Kurabe
Contributor (depositor):		Keita Kurabe
Contributor (speaker):		Gareng Magu Naw Awng
Coverage (Box):		northlimit=27.331; southlimit=23.137; westlimit=95.335; eastlimit=98.498
Coverage (ISO3166):		MM
Date (W3CDTF):		2019-01-29
Date Created (W3CDTF):		2019-01-29
Description:		Translation (Rita Seng Mai) Once upon a time, there was a country ruled by a king. The king announced, "Anyone who gossips or slanders must not stay in my country." There were two women who often gossiped and slandered others. They spread rumors and made other people upset and argue. They gossiped with one person about another, then carried the words back and caused them to argue. They usually did that. Then the country had become unstable, and many issues arose because of them. The king said, "Why has our country become unstable and disunited?" He wanted to know the cause. Later, he learned that it was all because of the two women. He ordered, "Kill them!" Earlier, the king had announced, "Anyone who slanders or gossips about others will be killed!" The king looked for the cause. In the end, he learned that it was all because of the two women. Then he ordered his servants to kill them. The two women were beheaded, and their heads were pierced with a sharp, long stick. And their heads were shown on the big road. However, the two heads still gossiped when people walked past them, even though they were already dead. One of the villagers said to the king, "Those two severed heads still talk badly about other people. They also say that the king has been unfair to them and the citizens. They say the king is not righteous." The man heard what they were saying, so he reported it to the king. The king said, "It's impossible for the dead to talk! It must be you! You are the one saying that!" One day, the king announced, "It's impossible for the dead heads to talk. It is impossible! But if they do, kill me!" He was scared to go there alone, so he took his servants with him. When they arrived, they secretly listened to what the two heads were saying. The two heads really spoke. They were talking about the king. The king heard with his own ears that they could really speak. Other people who came to check whether it was true also heard the two dead heads talking. The citizens beheaded the king and buried his head along with the two women's heads. The king's head and the two gossiping women's heads were buried together. Seven days later, a tree was growing from there. When it grew tall and big, it produced coconuts as large as a human head. The coconut tree grew on the land where the two gossipers' heads were buried, so it produced fruits as large as a human head. When we want the coconut meat inside, we have to break it open as if we were breaking a human head. The coconut tree grew on the land where the gossipers' heads were buried. Therefore, when we break open coconuts, it is like breaking a human head. People who often slander others face bad consequences even after death. The two women also met a fate like their heads being broken open. It is said that this is how the coconut tree grew. Transcription (La Ring) Moi shawng de e Hkaw Hkam up ai mungdan langai mi nga ai da. Ndai mungdan ndai kaw gaw ndai Hkaw Hkam wa gaw shi gaw amik amik dai hku na htuk pyan ai e "Ngai na mungdan hta gaw e shatan ai shatan nhkan ai nmai nga ai" ngu na ndau dat ai da. Rai yang gaw hpawmi lahkawng gaw masha hpe htingbu wa hpe masha hpe manaw manang hpe grai.. shatan ja ai hpawmi lahkawng nga ai da. Ndai hpawmi ndai ni gaw masha wa hpa galaw nmai hpa nga nmai wo ra hpe hto ra de tsun, le ra de tsun rai na manaw manang ni hpe galaw shangun ngun di ai da. Dai ga shatan ai i ga shi htaw ai shatan ai e nding re ai da. Rai yang gaw lani na lani mi na nhtoi gaw ndai hpawmi lahkawng a shatan ai ning hkan e mungdan gaw nru nra mashuk mashak rai na npyaw n-ngawn rai byin ai da. Rai yang gaw ndai "Anhte mungdan ndai npyaw ai gaw hpabaw a majaw" ngu na dai hpe e tam ai.. mahtai tam ai shaloi gaw "Ndai hpawmi lahkawng a majaw re" ngu ai lam hpe chye lu ai hku rai nga. Rai yang Hkaw Hkam wa gaw, Hkaw Hkam wa gaw ndai hpawmi lahkawng hpe sat kau ai. Shawng de ma shatan ai, shatan ai wa hpe gaw "Dai zawn re shatan ai nmai nga ai ngai mungdan hta ndai zawn re shatan ai nga ai shaloi gaw sat kau na" ngu na ndau da ai re da. "Dai majaw hpang jahtum gaw mahtai tam nna kadai gara hku re ndai mungdan ngwi npyaw ai gaw dai lahkawng shatan ai a majaw re" ngu na dai hpe myi chyaw e dai hku mara mu nna she shan hpe gaw sat nna e sat nna nmaw lam kaba.. kaw dai hku na baw, baw lahkawng hpe dai hpun hte masen nna baw chyaw nna lam nmaw kaba kaw jun tawn da ai da. Jun tawn da ai dai shaloi gaw ndai baw ndai lahkawng gaw si chyalu rai di pyi gaw naw masha ni lai wa ai shaloi e "Dai wa dai hku nga ai wo ra hku nga ai" naw tsun ai da. Tsun tsun re ai da, rai yang gaw Hkaw Hkam wa hpe mung "Ndai nang, nang jun tawn da ai e baw ndai lahkawng ya ma naw ga shaga ai law, Hkaw Hkam wa dai hku nga ai mung masha a ntsa kaw dai hku ntara ai bungli galaw ai, mung masha hpe dai hku mung masha nra ai bungli galaw ai nga na ma tsun ai" ngu na tsun ai da. Dai hku tsun ai da rai yang gaw dai kaw lai ai ni, lai ai ni na ai majaw Hkaw Hkam wa hpe wa tsun ai. Rai yang gaw Hkaw Hkam wa gaw "Ah.. ndai si chyalu gaw ga gaw nshaga na re, nang.. nang mahtang shatan ai wa rai na re" ngu na Hkaw Hkam wa gaw tsun ai da ndai wa hpe ndai ga wa tsun ai wa hpe. Rai yang gaw Hkaw Hkam wa gaw lani mi gaw "E lama ndai si ai, si chyalu baw wa me dai hku ga shaga ai ngu gaw htung pyi nnga ai, gara hku ma nmai byin ai, nmai byin ai raitim mung ndai lama teng ai rai yang gaw ngai hpe sat marit nanhte mung masha ni" ngu nna tsun ai da. Rai yang gaw ndai Hkaw Hkam wa gaw lani mi na nhtoi hta e ndai teng nteng shi hkrai sa ma hkrit ai majaw shi na salung sala ni hte e kaga mung masha ni hte dai hku nna mayun nna dai baw nga ai makau kaw sa nna sa madat ai da. Kaja wa nan kaja wa nan dai hku tsun ai da dai baw dai gaw ga shaga ai le i. E ga shaga ai da, "Dai hku rai Hkaw Hkam wa dai hku re wo ra hku re" nga nna tsun ai da. Dai majaw ndai Hkaw Hkam wa ndai ma shi na kaw chyaw na sai, e dai na she e dai hpe teng nteng chye na matu hkan sa ai ni mung yawng na sai chye sai i. Chye sai re majaw Hkaw Hkam wa hpe gaw ndai mung masha ni yawng e shi hpe sat nna ndai mi na baw lahkawng hte dai baw masum di na ga langai mi kaw lup dat ai da. Ga langai mi kaw ndai Hkaw Hkam wa a baw ma dai mi na shatan ai baw ma baw masum di na lup dat ai shaloi gaw ndai lup ai hpang kade nna yang sanit ya nga kun na ai shaloi e dai kaw na hpun tu wa ai da. Hpun tu wa ai, ndai hpun ndai gaw kaba wa kaba wa kaba wa re shaloi gaw kawa wa ai shaloi gaw e ya na ma-un si i ma-un si ndai masha baw raw re ai si si wa ai da. E ndai ma-un si gaw ndai shatan nhkan re ai nkaja ai nhkru ai baw lup ai kaw na e tu wa ai ma-un hpun re nga. Dai majaw ma-un si hpe gaw e ya nkaja ai kaw na masha hpe shatan ai nkaja ai kaw na tu wa ai hpun re majaw mi na baw raw rai na asi ma si wa re majaw dai hpe gaw ya baw hpe e adup ai zawn abyen ai zawn di nna, gala na ga shaw ra ai da. Dai majaw ma-un, ma-un hpun gaw ma-un si gaw ndai masha hpe grai.. shatan ai grai nkaja ai baw hpe lup ai kaw na tu wa ai asi re. Dai majaw shi hpe ga yang ma ya na zawn baw hpe gala ai zawn byin wa ai. Dai majaw ya kadai rai timmung dai zawn rai nhkru ai nkaja ai masha hpe shatan ai htingbu hpe shatan ai e dai zawn re ai wa gaw si tim mung si wa tim mung bai paw pru tim mung e nkaja ai lam sha bai byin wa ai masha ni e dai hku adup ga ai e gala ra mat ai e ding re ni byin wa ai nga. Dai ma-un hpun gaw dai kaw na byin wa ai re nga na tsun ma ai. . Language as given: Jinghpaw
Format:		Digitised: no Media: Audio
Identifier:		KK1-2327
Identifier (URI):		http://catalog.paradisec.org.au/repository/KK1/2327
Language:		Kachin
Language (ISO639):		kac
Publisher:		Pacific and Regional Archive for Digital Sources in Endangered Cultures (PARADISEC)
Rights:		Open (subject to agreeing to PDSC access conditions)
Subject:		Kachin language
Subject (ISO639):		kac
Subject (OLAC):		language_documentation
Subject (OLAC):		text_and_corpus_linguistics
Table Of Contents (URI):		http://catalog.paradisec.org.au/repository/KK1/2327/KK1-2327-A.eaf
		http://catalog.paradisec.org.au/repository/KK1/2327/KK1-2327-A.mp3
		http://catalog.paradisec.org.au/repository/KK1/2327/KK1-2327-A.wav
Type (DCMI):		Sound
Type (OLAC):		primary_text
OLAC Info
Archive:		Pacific And Regional Archive for Digital Sources in Endangered Cultures (PARADISEC)
Description:		http://www.language-archives.org/archive/paradisec.org.au
GetRecord:		OAI-PMH request for OLAC format
GetRecord:		Pre-generated XML file
OAI Info
OaiIdentifier:		oai:paradisec.org.au:KK1-2327
DateStamp:		2026-05-08
GetRecord:		OAI-PMH request for simple DC format
Search Info
Citation:		Keita Kurabe (compiler); Keita Kurabe (depositor); Gareng Magu Naw Awng (speaker). 2019. Pacific and Regional Archive for Digital Sources in Endangered Cultures (PARADISEC).
Terms:		area_Asia country_MM dcmi_Sound iso639_kac olac_language_documentation olac_primary_text olac_text_and_corpus_linguistics
Inferred Metadata
Country:		Myanmar
Area:		Asia