Learning objectives
By the end of this set, you will be able to
1. identify patterns in the song «Коңгурой»
2. name five new words from the song
3. ask simple "where" questions
4. interpret the meaning of the song
Part 1. Noticing patterns
Listen to the recording of the song, read the original and translation below and notice patterns with the numerals and the question words which are highlighted in bold. Notice what numerals are used in the song and how they change from verse to verse. Pay attention to the position of the question word in a sentence. Write down your reflections on a piece of paper.
What does Konguroi (or Kongurei) mean? This word is not used in the Tuvan language except in this song, and according to Wikipedia, Kongurei is an ancient Kyrgyz name for a Kyrgyz state-like entity in the Southern Siberia which existed from the end of the 14th century to the beginning of the 18th century. While that Kyrgyz state disappeared 300 years ago, the melody and the lyrics have taken a life of their own in many different languages in the region.
Алдан четкен чылгымның
Алазы кайдал, Коңгурой?
Алды кожуун чонумнуң
Аалы кайдал, Коңгурой, Коңгурой?
Чеден четкен чылгымның
Челези кайдал, Коңгурой?
Чеди кожуун чонумнуң
Чери кайдал, Коңгурой, Коңгурой?
Алдан четкен чылгымның
Алазы кайдал, Коңгурой?
Алды кожуун чонумнуң
Аалы кайдал, Коңгурой, Коңгурой?
Чеден четкен чылгымның
Челези кайдал, Коңгурой?
Чеди кожуун чонумнуң
Чери кайдал, Коңгурой, Коңгурой?
Алдан четкен чылгымның
Алазы кайдал, Коңгурой?
Алды кожуун чонумнуң
Аалы кайдал, Коңгурой, Коңгурой?
Of the sixtyish horses in the my herd,
Where are the dappled ones, Konguroi?
Of my people from the six districts,
Where are their homes, Konguroi, Konguroi?
Of the seventyish horses in my herd,
Where are their tethers, Konguroi?
Of my people from the seven districts,
Where are their lands, Konguroi, Konguroi?
(The first two verses are repeated hereafter)
Of the sixtyish horses in the my herd,
Where are the dappled ones, Konguroi?
Of my people from the six districts,
Where are their homes, Konguroi, Konguroi?
Of the seventyish horses in my herd,
Where are their tethers, Konguroi?
Of my people from the seven districts,
Where are their lands, Konguroi, Konguroi?
Of the sixtyish horses in the my herd,
Where are the dappled ones, Konguroi?
Of my people from the six districts,
Where are their homes, Konguroi, Konguroi?
As you might have noticed, the two verses in the song have a parallel structure. Each line in a verse starts with the same letter (=head rhyme). The first word of each line changes, but the rest of the words in the line remain the same from verse to verse. The song uses the juxtaposition of numbers (60 and 6, 70 and 7) for poetic effect. The entire song consists of unanswered questions, and this structure makes the song sound nostalgic.
Please proceed to Part 2 Where? to learn how to ask where something or somebody is.