A Collection of Texts in Nili

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)

Kuumeelalii ma kiikano ku tiini lakiinihoo niiniho lulma la niinihapawa lulma. Kuumeekilikii luuwo li lakiinihe, la kuumeelulii luuwo haho niinihiiqoqo hii lamiinihiimi, kaqaa kuumeekiiqaalii luuwo mo. Kuumeemeelii luuwo kuuneepalii loli niikanemeemo pakii la kuuneepaalii loli niikanemeemo pakii petiiwii. Kuumeelalii luuwo niinihemeemo woopo lamiinihitee, la kuumeelalii luuwo niinihiquute woopo lamiinihaakuukaa.

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

Kuulaqamee loli nii niikano. Kuumeemeemolii niinihoo la niinihihaa kakano luuwo. Kuumeepiiliilii luuwo kakano wokiikanooqeete la wokiikale. Qu kuumeenolaalii kiinihiili, kiti kuunokii hiiniho, hii tiipiiwaa lamiinihatu. Kuumeelikilii kukaa ni la haapeqi hii tiikita lamiinihuutaapi. Kuumeekaakomee hiiniho, kuumeepiihulii kukaa.

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.

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