Author: Mark Araujo-Levinson
Synopsis: Many different communities work tirelessly to preserve their identities. While some efforts gain recognition, others remain hidden. One such case is one European language, Dalmatian – a language once lost in an explosion, now being revived by a small group dedicated to its return.
Wii’wanin viklisuntwichi’ newerrewe’niktti’ ‘amatunga’.
‘Ivi’vu’ werrafkt Krowêysha’nu’ qac.
Qay’ hami’ ‘iviy werrafktti’ ‘amatunga’ werrawerra’n
Qayvu’ haypa’n ‘ava’kiwet.
Qayvu’ wuuwerham taaqtam ‘iviy werrafktti’ werrawerra’n.
‘Ivi’vu’ werrafkt Laatiina’twichi’ penu’ huchk.
‘Amêrrikaanu’yam ‘iviy howpk Romance werrafktti’ tewa’nkinaym.
‘Uviht, patvu’ howpk wercershc ‘atewan Tuone Udaina.
Kwenevu’ ‘akii Viklap qac hamukpi’ ‘ivi’ tervac ‘atewan Krkti’ amay’.
‘Ivi’ tervac ‘akutkutki’ piipsh Krowêysha’ qac.
‘Ama’vu’ Ddalmêyshentu’ hamukpi’ ‘ama’vu’ ‘atewan viklisuntwich.
‘Ama’vu’ taaqt heecwi’t qac.
Kwenemu’ werh’ wercerham qac, ‘aamemmu’ wii’wan ‘iviy werrafktti’ pee’enaniktti’.
Howpk wercershc, ‘atewanvu’ Antownyo Ayvi ‘ami’ huwac wercershcvu’ ‘atewan Mattêyow Vartowli.
Werhan wercerham peyixka’ Tuone Udaina’ werrawerra’nim maqayeewp ‘ama’vu’ werrafktti’ ‘enan.
Wercershc Udainavu’ peyixka’ Wercershc Ayvi wuuwert werrafktti’ teer, warrêngk ‘ama’vu’ qay’ wuuwert parfcanim ‘ah’aav.
Wercershc Udainavu’ peyixka’ Wercershc Vartowli tum hiiti’ mermerher’ teer.
‘Ama’vu’ ‘amay ‘iim werrafktti’ tavunin: Haminat – Bun Dai, Netewan – Mi naum sant…, Wii’wanin neviklisuntwiktti’ – Ju blai a favular Veklisun, Hakup ‘a’ay – Grez, ‘ayee’ayee’.
Wercershc Udainavu’ chiishk ‘awerrafktti’.
Wercershc Udainavu’ peyixka’ Wercershc Vartowli ‘iviy teer: “Pavaypa’nu’ kwahkit qac, Neka’ti’ peyixka’ viklisuntu’aynu’. ‘Ama’venu’ ‘iviy werrafp werrawerra’n, warrêngk neye’ ‘ami’ nena’ petaqayka’ werrawerra’n ‘eh’eyewp. Qaymu’ ‘enan pemeka’ nemaacwiktti’. Qaymu’ ‘enan ‘aam ne’enaniktti’, warrêngk tum hiiti’ ‘enaninu’.”
‘Ama’vu’ nenyaam pemeka’ Viklisunp werrawerra’n ‘ami’ nehuun yawkvu’ ‘atuchinim ‘iviy werrafktti’ peewerrewe’niktti’.
Viklisuntwich qayvu’ ‘ava’kiwet qac.
‘Amay’ Krowêysha’ Slaavs peeki’ qac.
Wercershc Udainavu’ ‘awerrafp chaacu’ waha’.
‘Ama’vu’ peyixka’ Wercershci’ Ayvi’ti’ chaachi’ chaacu’
‘Ama’vu’ chaam Wercershci’ Vartowli’ti’ chaacu’ waha’.
‘Aamem chaam ye’aye’ankam.
Wercerham werhan ‘uushanim pee’uushaniktti’ wii’wanaymu’.
Wercershc Ayvi’ ‘anyu’ ‘uushanich ‘atewan Werrafkt ‘Atuchini penu’ Vêkliiya’ ‘ami’
Wercershc Vartowli’ ‘anyu’ ‘uushanich ‘atewan Vêkliiya’yam.
‘Iim ‘uushanim werhan hakup ‘atuchini’.
‘Iim ‘uushanim ‘iviy ‘awerrafp chikc qac.
Wercershc Udaina qayvu’ howpk wiihtavec.
‘Ama’vu’ ‘atamer’ wachkovikya’ wahmarc pehpa’ wacha’
Kwenevu’ howpk taamyat, Wercershc Udainavu’ wê’qc nemey.
Kiti’mu’ wercerham perqp tehtey.
Wercershc Udainavu’ piipsh pemeka’ nemey.
Xhiitivu’ perqp vuhitk perqatki’ik.
‘Amatunga’ Wercershc Udaina meme’vu’ pana’.
Wercershc Udaina ‘amayham yaanamayvu’, warrêngk Tuonevu’ qay’ ‘aam ‘awerrafktti’ tavunin.
‘Ivi’ werrafktvu’ Wercershc Udaina pemya’ ‘empkcu’.
‘Amay’ taaqtam ‘iim werh’ ‘uushanim yaanamaym
‘Iim ‘uushanim hakup ‘ater’am.
Taaqtam tum hayp mermerher’ Wercershc Udaina ‘awerrafktti’ ‘enanaym.
Taaqtam chiishk ‘iviy werrafktti’.
Qaym taaqtam wuuwerham ‘enan, warrêngk kiti’m taaqtam ‘iviy werrafktti’ ‘enan.
Nahtehteyi’am Krowêyshap peehun qay’ hiit peehuunav ‘iviy werrafktti’.
Qaym hami’ ‘enanpav tavunin.
Pat huwac werrafkt ‘atewan Istriot, ‘ivi’ werrafkt piipsh peyxika’ Viklisuntwich qac.
Paahi’ hernerka’ taaqtam Istriotiv werrawerra’naym.
Taaqtam wii’wanaym ‘amay peepuhcatwiktti’.
‘Aamem taamyap ‘amay peepuhcatwiktti’ tehtey.
‘Amay’ qay’ hami’ Viklisuntwichi’ werrawerra’n mutu’.
Taaqtam peewerrewe’niktti’ naacu’aym hamek.
‘Aamem ‘iim werh’ ‘uushanim yerhyer’.
‘Aamem peetaqayka’ ‘uushan ‘ami’ werrawerra’n ‘iviy werrafp.
‘Aamem yawaminaym.
Ne’n Viklisuntwichi’ ‘enan.
Taamyap, ‘iviy werrafktti’ newerrewe’niktit’ naacu’ayn.
Ne’n netaqayka’ ‘awerrafp werrawerra’n.
‘Amay’nu’ Yaaviap qac.
Ne’nu’ ‘amay nepuuyu’ti’ peyixka’ werrawerra’n.
‘Ama’ Chiinarru’tu’, warrêngk ‘ama’venu’ qay’ kwa’ ‘enan.
‘Ama’ qayvu’ Viklisuntwichi’ ‘enan.
Pavaypa’nu’ Marrêngatwichi’ ‘enan, Yuuvuka’nu’ nepk ‘ami’ netaqayka’ werrawerra’n waha’.
Nenahtavuniniac howpk wiihtavec tewa’nkinvenu’.
‘Amatunga’ta’ taaqtam viklisuntwichi’ ‘enaniv mutu’.
Howpk vuhitkich qayt ‘aam chener’kiv.
‘Ami’ qayt ney chener’kiv
Nehuunav ‘ivi’ werrafkt ‘ater’ac yawaminayn.
Cheehun txa’ tum hiiti’ werrafktti’ yawk.
‘Ichamch txa’ tum hiiti’ werrafktti’ puhca’.
‘Anyi’i’ werrafkt hamukpi’ werrafkt ‘ater’ac, nachich ‘aam puhca’.
Cheepuuyu’ Wercershc Tuone Udaina, ‘ahuunt hitihiti’nka’ qaciv.
Nachich werrawerra’n. Nachich ‘enan. Nachich puhca’.
‘Ivi’ qay’ hiit huwac nehaka, ‘ama’ ‘ayee’. Grez.
