Long time ago, a severe hurricane struck the earth. It rooted out trees. Seas and rivers burst their banks. Mountains collapsed. The hurricane caused a lot of destruction. All the living creatures escaped, seeking for refuge. Only the wolf did not fear the hurricane. The wolf alone resisted the hurricane. The hurricane wounded the wolf, but was unable to move it.
Finally, the wind stopped blowing, the sun began to shine, and the earth became peaceful.
Animals gathered together, came to the wolf and said, "Wolf, when the wind was rooting out trees, the earth was covered with water, the rocks were collapsing, and everyone was seeking for a refuge, you were alone who did not move."
The wounded and bleeding wolf was sitting in a dignified manner, looking into the distance. It replied, "The earth on which I am standing is my fatherland. And whatever calamity I have here, I will never leave it."
These words made the animals think. They felt shameful and left.
The wounded wolf stayed at the same place, looking at the leaving animals.
The wolf had no other fatherland...
The fatherland is only one.
Friday, January 18, 2013
The Song about Turpal Nokhcho
There is a famous Chechen folk song which is usually called The Song about Turpal Nokhcho. Although Turpal Nokhcho is a proper name, both words have a meaning. "Turpal" means "(epic) hero," "Nokhcho" means "Chechen." So, Turpal Nokhcho can be literally translated as "hero Chechen." Turpal Nokhcho is sometimes called Turpal Nakhcho. This variant of pronunciation is older.
This song is about the origin of Chechens. Turpal Nokhcho is considered to be the legendary ancestor of Chechens.
There are, at least, two variants of this song in Chechen. The first of them is more popular. It seems that it was first collected by A. P. Berzhe in the 19th century. Its Russian translation was included into his book Chechnya and Chechens published in 1859. Its Chechen original was included into Zulai Hamidova's collection of Chechen tales. The second variant is less known. It was included into P. K. Uslar's book The Chechen Language published in 1888 and A. Schiefner's book Tschetschenzische Studien (Chechen Studies) published in 1864.
Here are English translations of both variants:
First variant:
Second variant:
The first part of the second variant may be rewritten this way:
One of the peculiarities of the Chechen language as well as many other Caucasus languages is that it often uses very long and complicated sentences, as can be seen from the second variant.
The expression "brave and noble men" in line 4 of the first variant and line 7 of the second variant is one word in Chechen. This is word is "qonakh." The same word is used in line 1 of the second variant with the word "brave" (in Chechen, "maira"). So, I translated this expression as "brave men."
In the last line of the second variant, the expression "hero Chechens" is actually plural form of Turpal Nokhcho.
Two lines (lines 7 and 8) from the first variant of this song were used in the anthem of the Chechen republic of Ichkeria (the independent Chechnya). However, there were some changes made. In the original song, the word for "we" is inclusive; that is, it means "we and you." In the anthem of Ichkeria, the word for "we" is exclusive; that is, it means "we without you." Apparently, the reason for this change is that the folk song was usually sang among fellow Chechens, but a state anthem is often sung to non-Chechens. There is also a folk song which is quite similar to the anthem of Ichkeria. It also contains these two lines.
Both versions mention wolf and lion. In principle, the two lines (about wolf and about lion) can be considered as parallelism. There are also other cases of parallelism in this song.
The Chechen concept of a wolf is completely different from many other peoples. Wolf is not viewed as a symbol of cruelty or aggression. For Chechens, it is a symbol of freedom, dignity and courage. Wolf (in Chechen, "borz") is the most respected animal for Chechens. This is why wolf is considered as a symbol of Chechnya and was put on the state flag of Ichkeria.
Lion can be considered as a symbol of freedom, dignity and strength. Sometimes lion is also considered as a symbol of courage. However, there is another opinion. Some say that unlike a wolf, a lion attacks only weaker animals. Due to this reason, they do not consider a lion as a symbol of courage.
There are two problems related to the lion (in Chechen, "lom") in this song. There are no lions in Chechnya, although some people say that they may have occurred there a long time ago. It seems that Asiatic lions did live in Chechnya very long time ago (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiatic_lion#Former_range and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lion_distribution.png).
Another problem is that in Russian translations of this song, "lom" is often translated as "leopard." However, in the modern Chechen language, "lom" means "lion," and there is another word for snow leopard - "tsoqberg" or "tsoq."
All the modern Chechen dictionaries give only one translation of "lom." However, P. K. Uslar, who studied Caucasian languages (including Chechen) in the 19th century, wrote: "Lom is lion, but Chechens use this word to denote leopard or tiger which they know." And also: "Lom means lion, but since Chechens never saw lions, they use this word for tiger or leopard that they say sometimes come to the middle of the Caucasus mountains, though it is not clear how they get there."
As for the last part of Uslar's comment, there is Caucasian leopard (also known as Persian leopard). Although it is endangered now, it still might appear in Chechnya now. According to many reports, Caucasian leopards were common on the Northern Caucasus in the past. Caspian tiger which is now critically endangered or extinct, also might have appeared in Chechnya in the past.
So, it seems that the meaning of the word "lom" might be changed during the time as it happens in many languages and that in the 19th century this word still meant not only "lion," but also "leopard."
Unlike lions and leopards, wolves are still quite common in the Northern Caucasus, including Chechnya.
Below is the Chechen original of the first variant of this song in three scripts: the Cyrillic script used since 1938, the Latin script used from 1925 to 1938, and the Latin script used in 1990s:
This song is about the origin of Chechens. Turpal Nokhcho is considered to be the legendary ancestor of Chechens.
There are, at least, two variants of this song in Chechen. The first of them is more popular. It seems that it was first collected by A. P. Berzhe in the 19th century. Its Russian translation was included into his book Chechnya and Chechens published in 1859. Its Chechen original was included into Zulai Hamidova's collection of Chechen tales. The second variant is less known. It was included into P. K. Uslar's book The Chechen Language published in 1888 and A. Schiefner's book Tschetschenzische Studien (Chechen Studies) published in 1864.
Here are English translations of both variants:
First variant:
Youth is leaving, though the heart is unwilling,
Old age is coming, though the heart is unwilling.
I will sing our song about noble Turpal Nokhcho,
Brave and noble men, listen!
Like sparks are scattered from a steel sword,
We were scattered in the world from Turpal Nokhcho.
We were born at night, when the wolf was whelping.
We were given our names in the morning, when the lion [or leopard] was roaring.
In this way, we came out from Turpal Nokhcho.
If there is no black cloud on the blue sky,
There will be no rain to give our land to drink.
If there is no black sorrow in the steel heart,
There will be no drop of water to water our eyes.
If we do not trust in God with our soul in everything,
We will have no success in any matter.
I ask, let us never lose in the world
[The honor of] the name of Turpal Nokhcho, the forefather of all of us.
Second variant:
The song is sung, which I sing to you, brave men.
Like unpleasant old age is coming,
Like pleasant youth is leaving,
Like a spark came out from a steel sword,
Being born by mothers at night, when the wolf was whelping,
Being given names in the morning, when the lion [or leopard] was roaring,
Chechen brave and noble men came out from the forefather Turpal.
If there are no clouds on the sky,
There will be no rain.
If there is no sorrow in the heart,
Eyes will not cry.
If heart does not trust in God,
Fight will not be successful.
Only trust in God brings victory.
Our hero Chechens fight, trusting in God.
The first part of the second variant may be rewritten this way:
I am singing a song to you, brave men.
Like unpleasant old age is coming,
Like pleasant youth is leaving,
Like a spark came out from a steel sword,
Chechen brave and noble men came out from the forefather Turpal.
Mothers gave them birth at night, when the wolf was whelping.
They were given their names in the morning, when the lion [or leopard] was roaring.
One of the peculiarities of the Chechen language as well as many other Caucasus languages is that it often uses very long and complicated sentences, as can be seen from the second variant.
The expression "brave and noble men" in line 4 of the first variant and line 7 of the second variant is one word in Chechen. This is word is "qonakh." The same word is used in line 1 of the second variant with the word "brave" (in Chechen, "maira"). So, I translated this expression as "brave men."
In the last line of the second variant, the expression "hero Chechens" is actually plural form of Turpal Nokhcho.
Two lines (lines 7 and 8) from the first variant of this song were used in the anthem of the Chechen republic of Ichkeria (the independent Chechnya). However, there were some changes made. In the original song, the word for "we" is inclusive; that is, it means "we and you." In the anthem of Ichkeria, the word for "we" is exclusive; that is, it means "we without you." Apparently, the reason for this change is that the folk song was usually sang among fellow Chechens, but a state anthem is often sung to non-Chechens. There is also a folk song which is quite similar to the anthem of Ichkeria. It also contains these two lines.
Both versions mention wolf and lion. In principle, the two lines (about wolf and about lion) can be considered as parallelism. There are also other cases of parallelism in this song.
The Chechen concept of a wolf is completely different from many other peoples. Wolf is not viewed as a symbol of cruelty or aggression. For Chechens, it is a symbol of freedom, dignity and courage. Wolf (in Chechen, "borz") is the most respected animal for Chechens. This is why wolf is considered as a symbol of Chechnya and was put on the state flag of Ichkeria.
Lion can be considered as a symbol of freedom, dignity and strength. Sometimes lion is also considered as a symbol of courage. However, there is another opinion. Some say that unlike a wolf, a lion attacks only weaker animals. Due to this reason, they do not consider a lion as a symbol of courage.
There are two problems related to the lion (in Chechen, "lom") in this song. There are no lions in Chechnya, although some people say that they may have occurred there a long time ago. It seems that Asiatic lions did live in Chechnya very long time ago (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiatic_lion#Former_range and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lion_distribution.png).
Another problem is that in Russian translations of this song, "lom" is often translated as "leopard." However, in the modern Chechen language, "lom" means "lion," and there is another word for snow leopard - "tsoqberg" or "tsoq."
All the modern Chechen dictionaries give only one translation of "lom." However, P. K. Uslar, who studied Caucasian languages (including Chechen) in the 19th century, wrote: "Lom is lion, but Chechens use this word to denote leopard or tiger which they know." And also: "Lom means lion, but since Chechens never saw lions, they use this word for tiger or leopard that they say sometimes come to the middle of the Caucasus mountains, though it is not clear how they get there."
As for the last part of Uslar's comment, there is Caucasian leopard (also known as Persian leopard). Although it is endangered now, it still might appear in Chechnya now. According to many reports, Caucasian leopards were common on the Northern Caucasus in the past. Caspian tiger which is now critically endangered or extinct, also might have appeared in Chechnya in the past.
So, it seems that the meaning of the word "lom" might be changed during the time as it happens in many languages and that in the 19th century this word still meant not only "lion," but also "leopard."
Unlike lions and leopards, wolves are still quite common in the Northern Caucasus, including Chechnya.
Below is the Chechen original of the first variant of this song in three scripts: the Cyrillic script used since 1938, the Latin script used from 1925 to 1938, and the Latin script used in 1990s:
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