Spoken Beltös

Listen to three different linguists read formal Beltös. Follow along with the IPA. Since none of us are native speakers of the language, our pronunciation differs slightly. Unfortunately, none of the recording of indigenous speakers have survived.

Formal Greeting to a Traveler

As read by Jeffrey Brown

As read by John Quijada

As read by Joey Windsor

Ja žbaltazzam, šetëdažajaš žeša jaden bos žeš t́atöhṕoṕos žešam. Glinnimmo ‘elompëzdazëš žetim, šetëjazbeš žeša si‘em jateš ‘ent́agazman jöh‘ažžilli si‘em ja ‘eṕessazož, ‘en šetëdelžen‘e jaten ‘ozzen žeš siḱideždaš žešam si‘em ‘ebent́izëš ‘en ‘em‘amazmaš ‘en žeš sizas‘amän siböhzanäm žešam ‘en žeš so‘et́a‘än sijišäm žešam. Ja ṕessaz, ja‘e šema‘e‘o maš žešëna, ‘en šetëmennašta dälle žeša jaden, ždonnis tinglä šedengiš ja‘e mas‘abilbiš t́ažassam‘emëš ‘allijon žammašli bos žeš ‘intazazmaš žešam. Si‘em jateš ja‘o ‘esollašazma Ja‘o ‘Azzam.

ja ˈʐbal‑taz‑zam, ʂɛ‑tɛ̥‑ˈda‑ʐa‑jaʂ ʐɛ‑ʂa ja‑dɛn bos ʐɛʂ tʰa‑ˈt₍o̥o̥₎‑pʰo‑pʰos ʐɛ‑ʂam ˈglin‑nim‑mo ʔɛ‑ˈlom‑pɛ̥z‑da‑zɛ̥ɛ̥ʂ ʐɛ‑tim, ˈʂɛ‑tɛ̥‑jaz‑bɛʂ ʐɛ‑ʂa si‑ʔɛm ja‑tɛʂ ʔɛn‑ˈtʰa‑gaz‑man jo̥o̥‑ˈhaʐ‑ʐil‑li si‑ʔɛm ja ʔɛ‑ˈpʰɛs‑sa‑zoʐ, ʔɛn ˌʂɛ‑tɛ̥‑ˈdɛl‑ʐɛn‑ʔɛ ja‑tɛn ʔoz‑zɛn ʐɛʂ si‑ˈkʰi‑dɛʐ‑daʂ ʐɛ‑ʂam si‑ʔɛm ʔɛ‑ˈben‑tʰi‑zɛ̥ɛ̥ʂ ʔɛn ʔɛm‑ˈʔa‑maz‑maʂ ʔɛn ʐɛʂ ˈsi‑zas‑ʔa‑mḁn ˈsi‑bo̥o̥‑za‑nḁm ʐɛ‑ʂam ʔɛn ʐɛʂ ˈso‑ʔɛ‑tʰa‑ʔḁn ˈsi‑ji‑ʂḁm ʐɛ‑ʂam. ja pʰɛs‑saz, ja‑ʔɛ ʂɛ‑ˈma‑ʔɛ‑ʔo maʂ ˈʐɛ‑ʂɛ̥‑na, ʔɛn ʂɛ‑tɛ̥‑ˈmɛn‑naʂ‑ta dḁl‑lɛ ʐɛ‑ʂa ja‑dɛn, ʐdon‑nis tin‑glḁ ʂɛ‑dɛn‑giʂ ja‑ʔɛ ma‑ˈsa‑bil‑biʂ ˌtʰa‑ʐas‑ˈsam‑ʔɛ‑mɛ̥ɛ̥ʂ ˈʔal‑li‑jon ʐam‑maʂ‑li bos ʐɛʂ ʔin‑ˈta‑zaz‑maʂ ʐɛ‑ʂam. si‑ʔɛm ja‑tɛʂ ja‑ʔo ˌʔɛ‑sol‑ˈla‑ʂaz‑ma ja‑ʔo ʔaz‑zam.

O honored guest, we welcome you to our humble village. In spite of its humbleness, we offer you the hospitality worthy of a “high status gentleman”, and give to you our houses for rest and protection, and the fruits of our trees and the grains of our rice. O honored gentleman, come with us, and let us feed you, because you are hungry after a long and hot journey to our humble abode. Unto you be the highest blessing of The Highness.

Traditional Marriage Vow

As read by Jeffrey Brown

Ja‘o ‘Elḱäh‘an ‘A‘azzali ‘Amjimli Zdenni, ja‘oṕen sika‘ol siḱido daljaz, ‘ejalsaṕëm zem‘azzižom dlim niz t́edeböx! ‘Ataǧ šeš ja ‘embaṕäh‘om ‘en ja zembaṕähṕassom ‘en ja zembaṕähbanom ‘en ‘ataǧ šeš ja ‘emmammäh‘om ‘en ja zemmammähṕassom ‘en ja zemmammähbanom, ‘ejalsaṕëm zem‘azzižom dlim niz t́edeböx!
Jannizë šen daljaz ḱa‘ol zim‘a: Šiṕamže niz bäh‘azziz žbäs‘inna, šilaljol‘a niz žalna žbäs‘inna, ja ‘eṕessaz niz ‘en ja ‘ejezzas niz zdenni žbäs‘inna ṕalkë!
Ḱedosollaš zim‘a Ja‘o ‘Elḱäh ja ‘enjalsaṕemën maš zebos‘assož t́ejez ‘en maš zepon‘essož t́ejez. Ḱedosollaš zim‘a Ja‘o ‘Elḱäh ja ‘enjalsaṕemën ‘ozzen ja ‘ežbammazdaš šimelzgossëm ‘en sizas‘amäm ‘en siḱidom daljaz si‘em denaš ‘ižbi žeš t́ambaždasëš niz ja ‘ejäh‘emëm ‘en ja ‘ezamganëm. Ḱedosollaš zim‘a Ja‘o ‘Elḱäh ja ‘enjalsaṕemën ‘ozzen ‘elojagomëš ‘amižja daljaz bos Ja‘o ‘a‘Elḱäh‘až ‘A‘azzali ‘Amjimli Zdenni!
Šen ja‘o žoḱam žeš šinbloge‘ëm, žežim sika‘ol siḱido daljaz ‘ižbi giš gitën, ḱedeböx zim‘a ja t́amšanzašëm ḱit́am‘e bäh‘azziz žbäs‘inna ṕalkë!
Zdezza ‘en Dlemjin, ‘edëja žbäs‘inna ‘ePessaz ‘en ‘eJezzas ṕalkë. Šetëgo zim‘a ‘edëja las‘o nomjo zazziž dlim šanzašli ‘en šetëdadäždes ‘edëja jäzbisli ‘ozzen ja ‘igäzmamsomëš ‘en ja ‘inga‘omëš ‘en ja ‘o‘idlazgamäš!

ja‑ʔo ˈʔɛl‑kʰḁḁ‑han ʔa‑ˈʔaz‑za‑li ˈʔam‑jim‑li zdɛn‑ni, ˈja‑ʔo‑pʰɛn ˈsi‑ka‑ʔol ˈsi‑kʰi‑do dal‑jaz, ˈʔɛ‑jal‑sa‑pʰɛ̥m zɛm‑ˈʔaz‑zi‑ʐom dlim niz ˈtʰɛ‑dɛ‑bo̥o̥x! ʔa‑taɣ ʂɛʂ ja ʔɛm‑ˈba‑pʰḁḁ‑hom ʔɛn ja ˌzɛm‑ba‑ˈpʰ₍ḁḁ₎‑pʰas‑som ʔɛn ja ˌzɛm‑ba‑ˈpʰ₍ḁḁ₎‑ba‑nom ʔɛn ʔa‑taɣ ʂɛʂ ja ʔɛm‑ˈmam‑mḁḁ‑hom ʔɛn ja ˌzɛm‑mam‑ˈm₍ḁḁ₎‑pʰas‑som ʔɛn ja ˌzɛm‑mam‑ˈm₍ḁḁ₎‑ba‑nom, ˈʔɛ‑jal‑sa‑pʰɛ̥m zɛm‑ˈʔaz‑zi‑ʐom dlim niz ˈtʰɛ‑dɛ‑bo̥o̥x!
jan‑ni‑zɛ̥ ʂɛn dal‑jaz kʰa‑ʔol zim‑ʔa: ʂi‑pʰam‑ʐɛ niz ˈb₍ḁḁ₎‑haz‑ziz ˈʐb₍ḁḁ₎s‑ʔin‑na, ʂi‑ˈlal‑jol‑ʔa niz ʐal‑na ˈʐb₍ḁḁ₎s‑ʔin‑na, ja ˈʔɛ‑pʰɛs‑saz niz ʔɛn ja ˈʔɛ‑jɛz‑zas niz zdɛn‑ni ˈʐb₍ḁḁ₎s‑ʔin‑na pʰal‑kɛ̥!
kʰɛ‑ˈdo‑sol‑laʂ zim‑ʔa ja‑ʔo ʔɛl‑kʰḁḁ ja ʔɛn‑ˈjal‑sa‑pʰɛ‑mɛ̥n maʂ zɛ‑ˈbos‑ʔas‑soʐ tʰɛ‑jɛz ʔɛn maʂ zɛ‑ˈpon‑ʔɛs‑soʐ tʰɛ‑jɛz. kʰɛ‑ˈdo‑sol‑laʂ zim‑ʔa ja‑ʔo ʔɛl‑kʰḁḁ ja ʔɛn‑ˈjal‑sa‑pʰɛ‑mɛ̥n ʔoz‑zɛn ja ʔɛʐ‑ˈbam‑maz‑daʂ ˈʂi‑mɛl‑zgos‑sɛ̥m ʔɛn ˈsi‑zas‑ʔa‑mḁm ʔɛn ˈsi‑kʰi‑dom dal‑jaz si‑ʔɛm dɛ‑naʂ ʔiʐ‑bi ʐɛʂ tʰam‑ˈbaʐ‑da‑sɛ̥ɛ̥ʂ niz ja ˈʔɛ‑jḁḁ‑hɛ‑mɛ̥m ʔɛn ja ˈʔɛ‑zam‑ga‑nɛ̥m. kʰɛ‑ˈdo‑sol‑laʂ zim‑ʔa ja‑ʔo ʔɛl‑kʰḁḁ ja ʔɛn‑ˈjal‑sa‑pʰɛ‑mɛ̥n ʔoz‑zɛn ˌʔɛ‑lo‑ˈja‑go‑mɛ̥ɛ̥ʂ ˈʔa‑miʐ‑ja dal‑jaz bos ja‑ʔo ʔa‑ˈʔɛl‑kʰḁḁ‑haʐ ʔa‑ˈʔaz‑za‑li ˈʔam‑jim‑li zdɛn‑ni!
ʂɛn ja‑ʔo ʐo‑kʰam ʐɛʂ ˈʂin‑blo‑gɛ‑ʔɛ̥m, ʐɛ‑ʐim ˈsi‑ka‑ʔol ˈsi‑kʰi‑do dal‑jaz ʔiʐ‑bi giʂ gi‑tɛ̥n, ˈkʰɛ‑dɛ‑bo̥o̥x zim‑ʔa ja ˈtʰam‑ʂan‑za‑ʂɛ̥m ˈkʰi‑tʰam‑ʔɛ ˈb₍ḁḁ₎‑haz‑ziz ˈʐb₍ḁḁ₎s‑ʔin‑na pʰal‑kɛ̥!
zdɛz‑za ʔɛn dlɛm‑jin, ˈʔɛ‑dɛ̥‑ja ˈʐb₍ḁḁ₎s‑ʔin‑na ˈʔɛ‑pɛs‑saz ʔɛn ˈʔɛ‑jɛz‑zas pʰal‑kɛ̥. ˈʂɛ‑tɛ̥‑go zim‑ʔa ˈʔɛ‑dɛ̥‑ja las‑ʔo nom‑jo zaz‑ziʐ dlim ˈʂan‑zaʂ‑li ʔɛn ˈʂɛ‑tɛ̥‑da‑dḁʐ‑dɛs ˈʔɛ‑dɛ̥‑ja jḁz‑ˈbis‑li ʔoz‑zɛn ja ˌʔi‑gḁz‑ˈmam‑so‑mɛ̥ɛ̥ʂ ʔɛn ja ʔin‑ˈga‑ʔo‑mɛ̥ɛ̥ʂ ʔɛn ja ˌʔo‑ʔi‑ˈdlaz‑ga‑mḁḁʂ!

[The priest picks up a censer, walks around the bride and groom, and lets the incense of the aromatic herbs waft over the couple. He then shakes a rattle thrice.]
By the One True Highest God, who sees all things, this couple is united! In front of the eyes of the father and paternal-uncles and maternal-uncles, and in front of the eyes of the mother and paternal-aunts and maternal-aunts, this couple is united!
[The priest blows smoke upon the couple three times: once for the bride, once for the groom, and once for the yoke of marriage]
Let all eyes see: These hands are now tied together, these minds are now united, this man and this woman are now one!
[The priest shakes a rattle thrice]
May God bless their union with many sons and with many daughters. May God bless their union with the bountifulness of all the animals and fruits and things for us in this land of peace and happiness. May God bless their union by their ever approaching closer to the One True Highest God!
[The priest again walks around the bride and groom with the censer, and lets the incense of the aromatic herbs waft over the couple]
Let the eyes of the spirits of the wild-lizards, who see all things in the darkness, observe that the knot of marriage is now bound!
[The priest shakes a rattle thrice]
Boy and Girl, you are now Man and Woman. Go hence as a married couple and live together in romantic-love and benevolent-love and divine-love!
[The priest again blows smoke upon the couple three times: once for the bride, once for the groom, and once for the yoke of marriage]

Babel Myth (or, the equivalent for Beltös)

As read by Jeffrey Brown

As read by John Quijada

Gojezgojezme, ‘emmenzem ja ‘oponnam ‘en ja ‘ot́aš šetamkan zillažžä, ‘ebeltös ḱedezgëjaba sat́agi‘issen žam‘a sesë. Ja ‘edaž‘an‘i ‘en ja ‘eläzdembas zetamkan maldambalža. ‘Ebeltös ḱeṕadeba. Päzzelsom ḱi ḱedengiša. Ja sat́ašanzašäh sikamkan dlinžiš. Žeš zen‘inni ‘adlinžeš.
‘Ebeltös ḱedazmädezimma ‘iǧ ‘a da šetëda bam‘a t́anlëmmasën? Šiti šetëždasseba ‘apët́o ja zelbäh‘ož. Šiti šetëždasseba ‘apët́o ja zebimglišoz. Šiti šetëždasseba ‘apët́o ja ‘ilsam das‘eli.
Ja das‘eli šetëdasabiba si‘em ja ‘emamṕizgëmaš. Ja sat́agi‘i jatitima sikamkan žam‘e se‘im jašiti šetëdezes‘azimma täzne siḱizes‘amän. Jašiti šetëdizina ‘iǧ zazziž ‘imzemmalžan šetëdabäskazdan ‘apët́o ja žoḱaš ja žoblamdam ždonnis ja žoblamda sešëdlazjaždin ja ‘ola‘an ‘en las‘o ja ‘o‘ila‘aš sat́agi‘i sikëma‘e‘o sesë.
Zazziž ‘imzemmalžan setëdasabiba jäzbisli. Šiti šetëdabäskazdanimma ‘aṕompëh ḱediblilkimmimma mamsi‘e ‘en ‘aṕompëh ḱedigitënimma mamsi‘e. Šiti šetëdabäskazdanimma ‘aṕompëh ḱediblilkimmimma t́ejez.
Ja žoblamda sešëzgazjišimma ‘azamdaš ‘en ‘at́ejoz. Nizë ja žoḱa ja žoblamdam sikëdezgëjabilbabimma. Ja žoḱa ja žoblamdam sikëždassebilmaba ‘iǧ ‘a da šetëda bam‘a t́anlëmmasën? Ja‘o ‘oblamda dapa‘az–ponnam–le šizṕamba ‘iǧ žeš zazziž ‘imzemmalžam šetëdezgëja bam‘a žeš sat́agi‘issen žalna. Ja‘o ‘oblamda gannepel–le ‘en ja‘o ‘oblamda ‘ambaždas–le ‘en ja‘o ‘oblamda dajamma–ponnam–le sešëdadaž‘an‘iba. Ja‘o žoblamda sešëzgažjasa ‘enamli sešembidimba sat́agi‘issen t́ähmaz bos ‘ebeltösož.
Žbäz‘inna ‘ebeltös ḱedezgëja sat́agi‘issen žalna. Šiti šetëdazamgan. Ja ‘ežbammazda žeš ‘idožbamäm t́edatiš. Ja ‘ežbammazda ja ‘inga‘omëm t́edatiš. Ja ‘ežbammazda žeš zem‘en‘innissom zamganli t́edatiš. Žbäs‘inna ‘ebeltös ḱezožbadäx maš ja ‘ebazbamëš baz.

ˌgo‑jɛz‑ˈgo‑jɛz‑mɛ, ˈʔɛm‑mɛn‑zɛm ja ˈʔo‑pon‑nam ʔɛn ja ʔo‑tʰaʂ ˈʂɛ‑tam‑kan zil‑laʐ‑ʐḁ, ʔɛ‑bɛl‑to̥o̥s kʰɛ‑ˈdɛz‑gɛ̥‑ja‑ba ˌsa‑tʰa‑ˈgi‑ʔis‑sɛn ʐam‑ʔa sɛ‑sɛ̥. ja ʔɛ‑ˈdaʐ‑ʔan‑ʔi ʔɛn ja ˈʔɛ‑lḁz‑dɛm‑bas ˈzɛ‑tam‑kan mal‑ˈdam‑bal‑ʐa. ʔɛ‑bɛl‑to̥o̥s kʰɛ‑ˈpʰa‑dɛ‑ba. pḁz‑ˈzɛl‑som kʰi kʰɛ‑ˈdɛn‑gi‑ʂa. ja ˌsa‑tʰa‑ˈʂan‑za‑ʂḁḁ ˈsi‑kam‑kan dlin‑ʐiʂ. ʐɛʂ ˈzɛn‑ʔin‑ni ˈʔa‑dlin‑ʐɛʂ.
ʔɛ‑bɛl‑to̥o̥s ˌkʰɛ‑daz‑mḁ‑ˈdɛ‑zim‑ma ʔiɣ ʔa da ˈʂɛ‑tɛ̥‑da bam‑ʔa ˈtʰan‑lɛ̥m‑ma‑sɛ̥n? ʂi‑ti ʂɛ‑tɛ̥ʐ‑ˈdas‑sɛ‑ba ˈʔa‑pɛ̥‑tʰo ja ˈzɛl‑bḁḁ‑hoʐ. ʂi‑ti ʂɛ‑tɛ̥ʐ‑ˈdas‑sɛ‑ba ˈʔa‑pɛ̥‑tʰo ja zɛ‑ˈbim‑gli‑ʂoz. ʂi‑ti ʂɛ‑tɛ̥ʐ‑ˈdas‑sɛ‑ba ˈʔa‑pɛ̥‑tʰo ja ʔil‑sam ˈdas‑ʔɛ‑li.
ja ˈdas‑ʔɛ‑li ˌʂɛ‑tɛ̥‑da‑ˈsa‑bi‑ba si‑ʔɛm ja ʔɛ‑ˈmam‑pʰiz‑gɛ̥‑maʂ. ja sa‑ˈtʰa‑gi‑ʔi ja‑ˈti‑ti‑ma ˈsi‑kam‑kan ʐam‑ʔɛ sɛ‑ʔim ja‑ʂi‑ti ˌʂɛ‑tɛ̥‑dɛ‑zɛs‑ˈʔa‑zim‑ma tḁz‑nɛ si‑ˈkʰi‑zɛs‑ʔa‑mḁn. ja‑ʂi‑ti ʂɛ‑tɛ̥‑ˈdi‑zi‑na ʔiɣ zaz‑ziʐ ʔim‑ˈzɛm‑mal‑ʐan ʂɛ‑tɛ̥ da‑ˈb₍ḁḁ₎s‑kaz‑dan ˈʔa‑pɛ̥‑tʰo ja ʐo‑kʰaʂ ja ˈʐo‑blam‑dam ʐdon‑nis ja ˈʐo‑blam‑da sɛ‑ʂɛ̥‑ˈdlaz‑jaʐ‑din ja ˈʔo‑la‑ʔan ʔɛn las‑ʔo ja ʔo‑ˈʔi‑la‑ʔaʂ sa‑ˈtʰa‑gi‑ʔi si‑kɛ̥‑ˈma‑ʔɛ‑ʔo sɛ‑sɛ̥.
zaz‑ziʐ ʔim‑ˈzɛm‑mal‑ʐan ˌsɛ‑tɛ̥‑da‑ˈsa‑bi‑ba jḁz‑ˈbis‑li. ʂi‑ti ˌʂɛ‑tɛ̥‑da‑bḁs‑kaz‑ˈda‑nim‑ma ˈʔa‑pʰom‑pɛ̥ɛ̥ ˌkʰɛ‑di‑blil‑ˈkim‑mim‑ma ˈmam‑si‑ʔɛ ʔɛn ˈʔa‑pʰom‑pɛ̥ɛ̥ kʰɛ‑di‑ˈgi‑tɛ̥‑nim‑ma ˈmam‑si‑ʔɛ. ʂi‑ti ˌʂɛ‑tɛ̥‑ˌda‑bḁḁs‑kaz‑ˈda‑nim‑ma ˈʔa‑pʰom‑pɛ̥ɛ̥ ˌkʰɛ‑di‑blil‑ˈkim‑mim‑ma tʰɛ‑jɛz.
ja ˈʐo‑blam‑da ˌsɛ‑ʂɛ̥z‑gaz‑ˈji‑ʂim‑ma ˈʔa‑zam‑daʂ ʔɛn ˈʔa‑tʰɛ‑joz. ni‑zɛ̥ ja ʐo‑kʰa ja ˈʐo‑blam‑dam si‑kɛ̥‑ˌdɛz‑gɛ̥‑ja‑bil‑ˈba‑bim‑ma. ja ʐo‑kʰa ja ˈʐo‑blam‑dam ˌsi‑kɛ̥ʐ‑das‑sɛ‑ˈbil‑ma‑ba ʔiɣ ʔa da ˈʂɛ‑tɛ̥‑da bam‑ʔa ˈtʰan‑lɛ̥m‑ma‑sɛ̥n? ja‑ʔo ˈʔo‑blam‑da ˈda‑pa‑ʔaz–pon‑nam–lɛ ˈʂiz‑pʰam‑ba ʔiɣ ʐɛʂ zaz‑ziʐ ʔim‑ˈzɛm‑mal‑ʐam ˈʂɛ‑tɛ̥‑dɛz‑gɛ̥‑ja bam‑ʔa ʐɛʂ sa‑tʰa‑ˈgi‑ʔis‑sɛn ʐal‑na. ja‑ʔo ˈʔo‑blam‑da ˈgan‑nɛ‑pɛl–lɛ ʔɛn ja‑ʔo ˈʔo‑blam‑da ˈʔam‑baʐ‑das–lɛ ʔɛn ja‑ʔo ˈʔo‑blam‑da ˈda‑jam‑ma–pon‑nam–lɛ ˌsɛ‑ʂɛ̥‑da‑daʐ‑ˈʔan‑ʔi‑ba. ja‑ʔo ˈʐo‑blam‑da sɛ‑ʂɛ̥z‑ˈgaʐ‑ja‑sa ˈʔɛ‑nam‑li sɛ‑ʂɛm‑ˈbi‑dim‑ba sa‑tʰa‑ˈgi‑ʔis‑sɛn tʰḁḁ‑maz bos ʔɛ‑ˈbɛl‑to̥o̥‑soʐ.
ˈʐbḁz‑ʔin‑na ʔɛ‑bɛl‑to̥o̥s ˈkʰɛ‑dɛz‑gɛ̥‑ja sa‑tʰa‑ˈgi‑ʔis‑sɛn ʐal‑na. ʂi‑ti ʂɛ‑tɛ̥‑ˈda‑zam‑gan. ja ʔɛʐ‑ˈbam‑maz‑da ʐɛʂ ˈʔi‑doʐ‑ba‑mḁm ˈtʰɛ‑da‑tiʂ. ja ʔɛʐ‑ˈbam‑maz‑da ja ˈʔin‑ga‑ʔo‑mɛ̥m ˈtʰɛ‑da‑tiʂ. ja ʔɛʐ‑ˈbam‑maz‑da ʐɛʂ zɛm‑ʔɛn‑ˈʔin‑nis‑som ˈzam‑gan‑li ˈtʰɛ‑da‑tiʂ. ˈʐbḁḁs‑ʔin‑na ʔɛ‑bɛl‑to̥o̥s kʰɛ‑ˈzoʐ‑ba‑dḁḁx maʂ ja ʔɛ‑ˈbaz‑ba‑mɛ̥ɛ̥ʂ baz.

A long time ago, when the sun and the moon were young, the people spoke different words. Agreement and cooperation were difficult. The people were sad. Often they were hungry. Marriages were rare. Children were rarer.
The people wondered: What should we do? They asked the priests. They asked the shamans. They asked the old, wise ones.
The wise ones gathered for consultation. Their words were different but they could draw pictures. They decided that all the people must pray to the gods of the winds, as the winds are like breath, and it is from breath that words come.
All the people gathered together. They prayed all day long and all night long. They prayed for many days.
The winds blew more and yet more. This was the gods of the winds speaking with each other. The gods of the winds asked themselves: What should we do? The east wind said: All the people must speak the same words. The north wind and the south wind and the west wind agreed. The winds blew hard and brought good words to the people.
Now the people speak the same words. They are happy. There is much food. There is much love. There are many happy children. Now the people smile with gladness very much!

Audio recordings © 2018 by Jeffrey Brown, John Quijada, Joey Windsor, respectively