personal narratives

Arčar 1

2 (a) i ot kɤdè na kɤdè č ìdem də gim pràim tovà

Why should I go all over the place to do [the work] for them?

3 (a) onìja ne sɤ̥̀ si svrɤšìle ràbotḁtḁ kɤdè sa leglàta na kràvite

Those [others] didn’t finish their job! In the place where the cow beds are

4 (a) padnàle onìja tṛbì ottùk takà è du onovà

those pipes fell off, from here all the way to over there.

5 (a) jà otìvam za drùga ràbota ònija vìka pravète tovà čèkaj be

I go there on another job, and they say “Do that!” “Wait a minute” [I say]

6 (a) jà kɤ̀f sɤm jà pòčvam da mèrim da zaglàime

“Why should I [do that]?” So I begin to take measures so we can wedge it in

7 (a) betonìrame du ubèt tovà i pòslem otidème da čìneme žìto

We cemented it before noon, and then we went off to clean the grain.

28 (a) slət tovà ìdva gòre u fèrmata i jà otìvam

So then he comes up to the farm, and I go off

29 (a) da rèžem na džòni dṛ̀va gòre u brèja kràsi ìde vìka

to cut wood for Johnny, up in the hills, and Krasi comes along and says

30 (a) pòčvaj tovà vìkam čèkaj òn vìka às ti plàštam

“Start this.” “Wait a minute,” I say. “I’m paying you,” he says.

31 (a) a nìe ne smè se razbràle z džòni kvò trèbva da bɤ̀de

But Johnny and I hadn’t worked out how things were supposed to go.

33 (a) i jà mu sɤ ozɤ̀bi pòsle vìkam àjde dobrè ema

So I stood up to him after that. I said “Well, OK [if you want], but

34 (a) jà ne znàm za kvà e ràbotata vìkam à be džòni

I don’t know what this is all about.” And I said, “Well Johnny, my man,

35 (a) ònija izbèga natàm tòo izbèga natàm i jà kvò pràim sɤ̀gḁ

one guy ran off here and the other one there, and what am I doing now?

36 (a) jà də mu pràim leglàta na kràvite̥ onò tṛbì debèli

Am I the one that’ll make these cow beds for him? With these thick pipes,

37 (a) ednì gṛdìčki tɤkìva a onìja znàaš kvò ne sɤ̀ gi betonìrale

these flimsy beams." And you know what these other guys did? They didn’t cement them!

38 (a) a sa fṛlìle ednò mater’àl sùx tɤkòvo kɤdè ostànalo pèsɤk i takòvo

Instead they just threw in some dry stuff, leftover sand, and this ersatz

39 (a) i cimènt zaglàdile onò padnàlo pa kràvite kato bìjɤt i onò padnàlo

cement, and smoothed it off. And it fell off. The cows bumped against it and it fell off.

41 (a) a be nè e napràeno natàm si e zdràvo

Well it just wasn’t done! Elsewhere [in the building] it was fine, [but here]

42 (a) emi šès li sèdem tṛbì svalì gi jà nanòu

six – or seven was it – pipes were damaged. I took them down,

43 (a) s onovà momčènce razglòbime

and disassembled them [together] with that kid.

44 (b) da betonìrate̥

So as to cement it [properly].

45 (a) iščìstime dùpkite dokàraa cimènt odnèkɤde gotòf [laughter]

We cleaned out the holes, and they brought ready-made cement from somewhere. [laughter]

Babjak 4

1 (b) ja utìduf tàm ìməše təkìə l'ùde dètu mi pròba: glasɤ̀

[So] I went there. There were these people who were testing my voice

2 (b) s termutòne lì gu kàzvaa

with a thermo-fork ( = tuning fork), I think they call it.

3 (b) aha termatòne màj i tìja vìka: slùšaj mumčè

Hm, probably a thermo-fork. So these people said, “Listen, fellow,

4 (b) tì si ut pruvìncijàtə i mòže də tè e sràm

you’re a country boy, so maybe you are feeling shy.”

5 (b) vìkəm əmi smuštàvəm se sràm me e nəlì vìkəm

“Well,” I said, “I’m a bit confused, so I guess I’m feeling shy,” I said.

6 (b) əmə nàs ni trebùva təkɤ̀f glàs kətu tèbe

“But,” [they said], “we need the kind of voice you [have]. ”

7 (b) i pòsle mi rèkuə da da revà kat magàre vìkə še nəberèš

And then they told me to – to bray like a donkey. [One] said, “Take

8 (b) təkɤ̀f vɤ̀zdux v gɤrdìte tə sə sè.ednò revèš

this much air into your lungs, and then [let it] all [out] just as if you’re braying

9 (b) məgàre tì si sèlski čuvèk znàaš kàk revè məgàre

[like a] donkey. You’re a country person, you know how a donkey brays.”

10 (b) əbe jà i bɛ̀h vɛ̀rnu bɛ̀h mnògu gul'àm stò i trì kilugràmə

Well, I was – I was really very big. A hundred and three kilos

11 (b) bɛ̀h gòl i glàs ìmah gràdi ìmah

buff naked, I was – and I had [a big] voice. I had [strong] lungs.

12 (b) nìtu pìeh nìtu pùših čiz glàs be

I neither drank nor smoked, [so I had] a clean, pure voice.

13 (b) i kətu zèməh kət se izrevà vɤ̀tre kət məgàre tìjə jà rèvə

So when I let go and brayed like a donkey, [but] indoors, these – I was braying

14 (b) kət məgàre tàm zàlətə kuìtu xòrə se b’àə sɤbràli

like a donkey there in this hall – and these people who'd gathered,

15 (b) i mɤžè i ženì ut tanc'òretu tèə rìpa: tòlku visòku

men and women from the dance troupe, they are jumping so high.

16 (b) i jà si mìslə nə əkɤ̀lə vìkəm jà səm ùləf

And I thought to myself, I [may] be a fool

17 (b) šò vi rèvə kət məgàre əmə i tìjə

to be braying to you [all] like a donkey, but these people

18 (b) ne sɤ̀ mnògu ìtri što skàča:

who jump around [a lot] aren't very smart [either].

19 (d) [laughter]

[laughter]

20 (b) i i nə drùgijɤ dèn vednàga zìma: rešènie də me usvubòda:

Well, [already] the next day, they decided to release me

21 (b) ut təvà pudelènie də me pràta: də ùčə də ìdə də ùčə

from my [military] unit and send me to study, to go and study

22 (b) s'è.ednò muzikàlnə əkədèmijə də də me pràta:

at some kind of music academy. They [wanted] to – to send me

23 (b) də ùčə vednàgə vɤf vɤf učìlišč'e də me ùča:

right off to study in – in a school where they would teach me

24 (b) də stànə təkɤ̀f òperen pev'èc i tòə čuvèk sɤ̀štijə pɤk

to become some sort of opera singer. And this man, the same one

25 (b) ud gràdevu bɛ̀še punèže bɛ̀še naš zeml'àk i bɛ̀še mnògu

from Gradevo, he was, you know, from our area, and he was really

26 (b) merəklìjə càlijɤ živòt č’e pumìneš rəhàt

keen [on the idea]. “You’ll live in comfort the rest of your life,” [he said]

27 (b) i aku ne mè uslùšəš segà da se izùčiš

“and if you don’t do what I say now, if you don’t go off to study,

28 (b) càl živòt k’e stràdəš i təkà si stənà

then all your life you’ll be sorry.” And that’s what happened.

29 (b) ne gò slušàx čuvɛ̀kə amà

I didn't listen to the man. Well – [what can you do?]

Bansko

223 (a) mòe sìn tòo šo è dòlu

My son – the one that’s down [in the city] –

225 (a) aga bɛše studènt ta ležà nɛ̀štu fnògu lòšu bɛ̀še bòlen fnògu

when he was a student, he was very sick with something. He was very ill.

226 (a) nɛ̀štu apandesìt naednàž go zabolɛ̀ ta stanà na peretonìt

Something like appendicitis. He fell ill all at once, and it went to peritonitis,

227 (a) ta se puknàl apandesìtu tə utvòrena rànata tə bɛ̀še takà

the appendix burst, [there was] this open wound – and such.

228 (a) a pa ìskḁše ìmaše da ùči òšč'e̥ ìskaše da ùči

But he wanted – his studies weren’t done, and he wanted to continue,

229 (a) pa e bòlen pa jà mu vìkam dž'òre bre dž'òre gu vìkame

But he was sick, and I said to him, “Dzhoro my boy,” – we called him Dzhoro –

230 (a) nemòj učì pa pò le è skàpu uč'èn'etu ut ә zdràvetu

"Don’t go on studying. Is studying really more valuable than health?

231 (a) nèka pòčini enà gudìna tòj rèče nè ne pučìvam

[You should] take a year to rest.” [But] he said, “No. I'm not going to rest.

232 (a) ta pa mi re rèkua takà sàmu ut svìncka màs

Instead, I've heard it said that all [I need] is some rendered pig fat

233 (a) da màža na felìa svìncka màs

to spread on slices [of bread]. Rendered pig fat (lard).”

235 (a) ta mu pràš'č'ajme f sòfia ùč'eš'e̥ pràš'č'ejmè mu

And so we sent him – to Sofia [where] he was studying – we sent him –

236 (a) bɛ̀jme zaklàli dvɛ̀ prasèta pa f kutìi mu pràš'č'ejme svìncka màs

we'd slaughtered two pigs, so we sent him containers of of lard

237 (a) ta tàm da si màže za zakùska i gà mu se priedè sè

so he could have it there for breakfast, and for whenever he felt like eating it.

238 (a) tə mu bɛ̀še vikàl dòktoro kàž'i vìka ut š'čò sè si upravìl

And the doctor kept asking him, “Tell [me],” he said, “What [made] you get well

239 (a) tòlkua bɤ̀rže tòj rèkal mi ut mi ut svìncka màs

so fast?” And he said. “Well, it was lard.

240 (a) mi tovà e vìka nàj sìlnata xranà

And that,” he said, “is the most powerful food of all.”

242 (a) ta si ozdravɛ̀

And he got well.

Bela 1

35 (a) kət se pensionìrax i stàrec ә stàreca bèše sàm ostànal tùka

When I retired, and the old man was alone here,

36 (a) vèče bòlen ne mòže mɤžɤ̀ mi go pensionìra tovà bèše pokràj prevràta

already ill and unable. They pensioned my husband off just before the changes,

37 (a) i òn se pensionìra mlàt dojdè tùka cɤ jà òšte rabòteše

he retired young and came here, alas. I was still working,

38 (a) dòjdem si u pètɤk večertɤ̀ štò na pednèvna kogà u sɤ̀bota

I’d come Friday evening because I was on a five-day schedule. So on Saturday –

39 (a) ò znàeš li če sɤm se cenìl za ofčàr abe kәg bòže

[he said] “You know, I got hired as a shepherd.” “Ah, my God,

40 (a) kakɤ̀f ofčàr če bɤ̀deš tì be tàm edìn čovèk mu dàl

what kind of a shepherd will you be?” A man there had given him

41 (a) ednà ofcà i àgne da mu xòdi na redɤ̀

a ewe and a lamb [and asked him] to take his turn

42 (a) nə uf za ofcìte za ofčàr što onìja dṛ̀t

as shepherd for the sheep, because that one [was] old

43 (a) i ne mòže i mu dàl tàa ofca i àgneto

and couldn’t [manage]. So he gave him that ewe and the lamb.

44 (a) dobrè dojdò drùgata nedèl’a tàa ofcà bilà imàla bliznèta

Fine. I came the following Sunday and that ewe had birthed twins

45 (a) tòj kupìl i drùgoto àgne da nè e àgneto sàmo

He bought the other lamb too, so it wouldn’t be just one lamb,

46 (a) da sa dvè àgənca što ofcàta u zarèdata tàm àgneto dòm bleì

so there’d be two lambs, with the ewe out on rounds and the lamb home bleating.

47 (a) dvè zavɤ̀di tovà dojdò si otìšɤl u četvṛ̀tɤk na pazàr

So he made it two. I came, and he went on Thursday to market

48 (a) i kupìl čètiri prasèta [laughter] ne ednò ne čètiri onì mɤ̀nenki

and bought four piglets. Not one, not – but four! And tiny.

49 (a) onì dvè umrèe dvè ustànae i otogàva vèče ne kupùva òn prasè

Two of them died, two remained. And after that he never bought pigs again.

50 (a) jà òdim tì idì i kupì prasè e kvò da pràim vìka

I go. “You go and buy a pig!” “Well, what am I going to do?” he said –

51 (a) no òn mlàt pensionèr kvò da pràim da sedìm tùka te tekà

he’s young and retired. “What should I do? Just sit here like that

52 (a) da nìšto da se ne zanimàvam ugovòril s ednà mòja bratofčètka

and not have anything to do?” He came to an agreement with a cousin of mine –

53 (a) onìja ìmat žènsko telè če go kùpi da glèda kràva

they keep a cow – that he’d buy it and raise cows.

54 (a) sìčkite togàva razvàlia tèkezesètata i nazìmae no kràvi no òfci

They broke up all the collective farms then, and people got cows, sheep,

55 (a) no sìčko svèkɤr mi ne dàva i dùma da ne stàva

[a bit of] everything. My father-in-law wouldn’t allow it. “No way!

56 (a) vìe nèma da zìmate a sme dàle unèle u tèkezesèto

You’re not going to get [them]. We gave it all over to the collective farm,

57 (a) i kràva i junìca i nè i dùma da ne stàva ne dàva

both the cow and the heifer – No! No way.” He wouldn’t allow it.

58 (a) ako sàkate da me umòrite tovà ne mòže da bɤ̀de tekà

“If you want to kill me, it can’t be this way.”

59 (a) òn ne vèrvaše če se razvàli tèkezesèto i če stàne

He didn’t believe that the collective farms would fail, and that things would be

60 (a) kvò e segà i mòja mɤ̀ž zemà telèto če čùvame go tùka

the way they are now. So my husband bought the calf, and we’re raising it here.

61 (a) òn jà slet čètiri gòdini se pensionìra tamɤ̀n kad dojdò

He – Four years later I retired, and just when I came [home]

62 (a) no golèma junìca če se zaplòdi kàe sɤ̀ga i če se otèli

“The heifer’s big; it will [soon] be bred,” he said, “and now it will calve.”

63 (a) i če ìmame mlèko dobrè i če pràat obòra ja

and we’ll have milk.” Fine. They’ll make a stable. I –

64 (a) tì č ìdeš da go pasèš da go pasèm tàm na

“You’ll go pasture it.” So I’ll pasture it there

65 (a) nadi lìnijata na košàrata mu vìkame ama rèče tì se vàrdi

above the railway track, at the sheepfold, as we call it. “But watch out,” he said

66 (a) što onò pokìmva da te ne zbodè abè hә ә vàn’o

that it doesn’t gore you, because it shakes [its head].” “Ah, but – Vanyo,

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personal narratives

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Babjak 4

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Bela 1

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Arčar 1

Babjak 4

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Bela 1

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