Learning objectives:
By the end of this set, you will be able to
1. identify patterns in the song «Кочегар»
2. name your family members and their occupations
3. interpret the meaning of the song
4. write two or three sentences about your family
Part 1. Noticing patterns
Listen to the recording of the song, read the original and translation below. Pay attention to the bolded sentences. How do you name your family members in Tuvan? How do you describe people's occupations? Write down your reflections on a piece of paper.
Khoomei Beat is an ethno-rock fusion band. They often upload their music videos on YouTube. You can check out stunning Tuvan landscapes in their songs Khovu cherge (Wandering the Steppe) or Chazyn erte (Early in the Spring). The current song is about a кочегар, a person who adds coal to a furnace, or a furnace stoker. Кочегар is a Russian word which is widely used in Tuvan.
Дагылгалыг одувус
Даӊза акcы өжүрбес.
Хоорай, суурлар тыныжы дег
Хоолайларлыг кочегарлар.
Мээӊ акым кочегар,
Мергежилдиг кочегар.
Орай кежээ кышкы дүне
Оду-көзү чайыраан,
Чылыг-чымчак оран-сава
Чылыг берип уян кылган.
Мээӊ даайым кочегар,
Разрядтыг кочегар.
Амыдырал-чуртталга дээр,
Аал-оран ажы-төл дээр,
Аал-чурттуӊ баштаӊчызы,
Мээӊ ачам кочегар,
Күрүне ажылдакчызы кочегар.
А вы знаете, мой брат работает кочегаром.
Кстати, твой дядя тоже кочегар.
Я тоже кочегар.
Мой батя кочегар,
Государственный кочегар.
Мээӊ акым кочегар.
Мээӊ даайым кочегар.
Мээӊ ачам кочегар.
Мен база кочегар,
Бажыӊымда кочегар.
Our blessed fire
Does not let a pipe go out.
They are like breaths of towns and villages,
Furnace stokers with their chimneys.
My brother is a furnace stoker,
An experienced furnace stoker.
Late at night in the winter,
The fire and flames flicker.
A comfortable home
Gives warmth and solace.
My uncle is a furnace stoker,
A qualified furnace stoker.
He is fighting for our lives,
He is fighting for his home and children,
He is the head of the household,
My father is a furnace stoker,
A furnace stoker working for the state.
[In Russian]
You know, my brother is a furnace stoker.
By the way, your uncle is also a furnace stoker.
I am a furnace stoker too.
My dad is a furnace stoker,
A furnace stoker working for the state.
[In Tuvan]
My father is a furnace stoker.
My uncle is a furnace stoker.
My father is a furnace stoker.
I am a furnace stoker too,
A furnace stoker in my own house.
Being able to light fire and keep it alive is instrumental for survival in Tuva, a region with long cold winters. Consequently, everybody, in some way or another, becomes a furnace stoker, either in their own houses or in state institutions like schools or kindergartens.
While the structure of this song is not as transparent as the preceding two songs, it contains several similar sentences which indicate occupations of family members. Please proceed to Part 2 Family members and occupations to check whether you have identified the patterns in the song correctly.