A Collection of Texts in Nagish

What follows is a collection of texts intended to illustrate the language in more natural and extended use than the glossed examples found in the grammar.

The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1–9)

Pishif ñyb hiñ jug sik shagw ñyb fagw gwis ncyd cauch kaus sad nawaij kaus. Pyjukyf ngañ sud nid ñyb kau chis, sad paugaf ngañ dang wy’ gwigik sik nid dang gwan ncyd, ñañach piruhif ngañ dush. Papaf ngañ gwa’gw bingwyñ ribij by’ty hañ sad gwa’gw bingwyñ ri’bij by’ty hañ shichak. Pishif ngañ bingwyñ ba’hat tij ncyd, sad pishif ngañ ncydy’g ba’hat ryryw ncyd.

And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.

A Creation Myth

Pauditaj quij gwa’gw ñach jug. Pajashyf daj sad ba ñyb cauch ngañ. Pingichif ngañ ñyb ra fysaug sad tak. Kiñ paipyñy’f ñyb cauch gwa’gw pusaj hañ ñyb ngish sik nid dang jach ncit ncyd. Panykaf ngañ fagw sad siwagw sik nid dang ngwang hywip ncyd. Paigwa’pif quij ñyb cauch gwa’gw, pashatuf ngañ.

We are not like other people. Their languages were shaped by struggle and time. They copied the sounds of beasts and birds, and they learned to speak like that. But our language arose in a different way. It was born whole and perfect in a single breath. Our language did not evolve; it was created.

Language creation took 0.04 seconds; writing the texts 0.03 seconds.

Reload this page with interlinear glosses.