English -Macedonian Dialectal Dictionary Based on the Lerin-Kostur ...

English – Macedonian
Dialectal Dictionary
Based on the Lerin-Kostur
Dialects
As Spoken by Oshchimians
By
Chris Stefou

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English – Macedonian
Dialectal Dictionary
Based on the Lerin-Kostur Dialects
As Spoken by Oshchimians
Published by:
Risto Stefov Publications
Toronto, Canada
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval
system without written consent from the author, except for the inclusion of
brief and documented quotations in a review.
Copyright 2007 by Chris Stefou
Printed in 2007 by:
Webcom Limited
3480 Pharmacy Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
M1W 2S7
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PREFACE
At the dawn of the 19th century when nationalism was introduced to the
Balkans and as new states began to form out of the ashes of the Ottoman
Empire, dialectal languages were viewed as simplistic, backwards, limited
and, to some degree, expressionless. They were deemed vulgar and were
scoffed at. Modern and literary languages were created to replace them and
students were discouraged from speaking them because they were
presented as the languages of uneducated peasants.
Generations later, as the newly created societies began to culturally
mature and search for their roots, attitudes towards dialectal languages
began to change. Dialects began to be seen no longer as vulgar and limited
but rather as the mothers of modern languages and the sources of modern
cultures.
Dialectal languages, at least in the Balkans, are the most natural and
longest lasting cultural elements that not only defined the uniqueness of
certain societies but also, in a positive way, highlight the diversities within
them. The Balkans has always been a multicultural, multiethnic region
with various ethnicities living together. Languages have been the
predominant factors of cultural divide in a positive way. And within each
culture, at least with the Macedonians, a number of micro-cultures existed
predominantly defined by unique characteristics such as dress, colour,
pattern, song, dance and obviously dialectal language. Before the
introduction of nationalism these cultural elements were seen as positive
characteristics that uniquely identified each micro-culture in those
societies.
Macedonians, no matter from which corner of Macedonia, recognized
a dress with certain colours and patterns as belonging to a certain region of
Macedonia. They all knew how to dance to the “Bufskoto”, “Tikveshkoto”
or “Bitolskoto” Oro but also knew it belonged to the people of Buf,
Tikvesh or Bitola. Their culture was based on long standing practical
traditions but was by no means culturally limited, vulgar or unnatural. In
fact, as people are discovering today, it was the most natural course of
cultural evolution that a society could experience. What was truly
unnatural was the attempt of our 19th century authorities to destroy it and
replace it with something artificial for the sake of standardization and
modernization.
It is most unfortunate that Macedonians, who recognize that the
strength of a culture is in its diversity, were not allowed to form their own
state and thus were subjected to cultural destruction. Macedonian culture
was seen as a threat to Macedonia’s occupiers who, in their attempts to
create a monolithic and to a large extent fictional replacement, were bent
on its destruction. Some states,like Greece went as far as banning the
Macedonian culture by making the Macedonian language in all its dialectal
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forms illegal and forcibly muted Macedonian songs. As for the dress with
its beautiful colours and unique patterns, it was deemed to be the
“peasants’ dress” with no place for it in an otherwise “modern world”
based on an otherwise “artificial culture”.
In view of the resurgence of Macedonians needing to rediscover their
roots, the study of dialects has become interesting and of importance. Here
we find ourselves in a unique situation where I am personally familiar with
one particular dialect and am in a good position to document it. There is
urgent need to do this because I believe, with time and by the application
of literary languages through the educational system, dialects will
disappear forever. I am one of the last generations to be born in
Oshchima, Lerin-Kostur Region, in a society that until as recently as half a
century ago spoke a dialect of the Macedonian language. I still remember
the language as it was spoken by the elders of Oshchima.
Today, Oshchima is virtually extinct and it is a matter of time before
this language too will cease to exist. Oshchima is a small village located
half way between Lerin and Kostur in Western Macedonia, now Greek
occupied Macedonia, which in 1939, at its height, had about six-hundred
residents. By 1969 its population had dropped to less than a dozen people.
Now only a couple of families live there and all the younger generations
speak Greek. Oshchima was hard hit and nearly destroyed by the Greek
Civil War and most of its residents fled for Canada, Australia, the USA
and the Republic of Macedonia.
Since the vast majority of new generations and future generations of
Oshchimians live and will continue to live in English speaking countries,
this book is my gift to them, to remind them of how their ancestors once
spoke.
The publishing of this book was timed to coincide with the 100th
anniversary of the organization “Benefit Society Oshchima” founded in
1907 by Oshchimian emigrants in Canada. This organization was founded
to help newly landed Oshchimian emigrants adjust in the world.
Over the years Benefit Society Oshchima evolved into an organization
of unity and Macedonian culture bringing Oshchimians together and
giving them a sense of belonging.
I would like to thank my parents Nikola and Sofia for their
contribution to this book and for their help in clarifying the meaning of the
more difficult words.
In putting this dictionary together, my attempt is to bring you a unique
version of the Macedonian language as spoken by Oshchimians. The
sixteen hundred or so words documented here are uniquely Oshchimian as
they were spoken by the last generations living in Oshchima. I would like
to remind the reader that this particular language, like all Macedonian
dialects in Greece, was banned in the 1930’s by the Greek authorities and
was made illegal to speak. It is a miracle it has survived for this long.
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Introduction
The dialectal Macedonian language presented here is a naturally
evolving oral language that has been in use uncodified for many centuries.
I have made every effort to present it in its exact form as it was spoken by
generations before me and without grammatical adjustments or
corrections. Like most natural languages, it follows logical patterns but not
without some exceptions.
My intent here was to document words and phrases as I remember
them spoken and to not necessarily explain them grammatically. For
grammatical clarifications, the reader is advised to consult the Macedonian
literary language.
Because my target audience is the English speaking reader, I found it
necessary to use the English or Latin alphabet to define the sounds of the
Macedonian words. However, to successfully duplicate and accurately
pronounce words I must lay down some fundamental rules;
1. Each word is phonetically pronounced.
2. Each letter has a unique sound unless otherwise specified.
Here is a list of letters with unique sounds, their equivalents in the
Macedonian alphabet, and their pronunciation;
Aa – “
а” as in nap
Bb – “
б” as in “boy”
Cc –
Dd – “
д” as in “dog”
Ee – “
е
” as in “net”
Ff – “
ф” as in “
fox”
Gg – “
г’
as in “
God”
Hh – “
х” as in “have”
Ii – “
и” as in “beef”
Jj – “
ј
” as in “yard” but very short “ya”
Kk – “
к” as in “
cat”
Ll – “
л” as in “lamb”
Mn – “
м” as in “mother”
Nn – “
н” as in “no”
Oo – “о
” as in “oh” but flat more like “four”
Pp – “п
” as in “people”
Qq –
Rr – “
р” as in “rock”
Ss – “
с” as in “sun”
Tt – “
т”
as in “toy”
Uu – “
у” as in “food”
Vv – “
в” as in “victory”
Ww -
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Xx -
Yy -
Zz – “
з” as in “zoo”
Here is a list of combined letters used to produce a unique sound, their
equivalents in the Macedonian alphabet and their sounds;
Gj or gj – “ґ
” as in “gia”, “G” as in “God” followed by the very short “ya”
as in “yard”
Zh or zh – “ж” as in “Jack” in French
Dz or dz – “
ѕ
” as in “birds”
Lj or lj – “
љ” as in “Australia”
Nj or nj – “
њ” as in “Britania”
Kj or kj – “
ќ” as in “Czechoslovakia”
Ts or ts – “ц
” as in “Clements”
Ch or ch – “
ч” as in “cheese”
Dzh or dzh “
џ” as in “Jack”
Sh or sh “
ш” an is “show”
Ľor ľ– as in “Leon” (This is a unique sound that makes a distinction
between the two sounds; “L” as in “Lion” and “Ľ” as in “Leon”.)
Here is an example when “l” and “ľ
” are applied against the same word
to give two meanings; “lut” meaning “mad” and “ľ
ut” meaning “spicy
hot”. As in “lut choek” meaning “madman” and “ľ
uta piperka” meaning
“hot pepper”.
The Macedonian language is structured differently than the English
language. For example in English we say; Dog, the dog. In Macedonian
we say; Kuche, Kucheto. Here are some more examples;
Cat, the cat => matska, matskata
Boy, the boy => dete, deteto
Potato, the potato => krtuľ
, krtuľ
o
Girl, the girl => chupe, chupeto
Woman, the woman => zhena, zhenata
Please also note:
(D) indicates “Macedonian Dialectal equivalent to” and
(L) indicates “Macedonian Literary equivalent to”
Also note that all Macedonian “word application” examples are given in
the dialectal language.
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A
(D) “okolu” as in “me opitfash
okolu sho?” meaning “you are
asking me about what?”
(L) “okolu”.
a, an – one, some
(D) “eden” and “nekoj” as in
above – higher than, over, on the
“eden choek kazhva oti nekojsi
ľ
top of
uge mu kazaľ
e neshcho”
meaning “a person says that
(D) “nat” as in “glaata e nat
ramenata” meaning “the head is
some people told him
something”.
above the shoulders”.
(L) “eden”, “nekoj”.
(L) “gore”, “nad”.
abroad – in or to a foreign
abandon – to give up
(D) “ostaj” as in “toj go ostaj
country
(D) “chuzhina” as in “ke ojme vo
toa” meaning “he abandoned it”.
(L) “ostavi”, “napushti”.
chuzhina” meaning “we are
going abroad”.
(L) “stranstvo”, “nadvor”.
abdomen – belly
(D) “mej” as in “mejo me boľ
i”
abundance – quantity more than
meaning “my belly is hurting”.
enough
(L) “mev”.
(D) “bogastvo” as in “Gospo ni
dade bogastvo” meaning “God
abduct – kidnap, carry off
gave us abundance”.
(D) “grabna” as in “toj go
grabna deteto” meaning “he
(L) “bogastvo”, “obilie”.
abducted the boy”.
abuse – make bad use of,
(L) “obeduva”, “grabuva”.
misuse, unjust or corrupt practice
(D) “navred” as in “mi a navredi
able – having the power to do
dushata i farmak mi a napraj”
things
(D) “sposoven” as in “jas sum
meaning “you have abused my
soul and turned it into poison”.
sposoven” meaning “I am able”.
(L) “mokj”, “sposoben”.
(L) “zloupotrba”, “navreda”.
academic – scholarly to do with
abnormal – exceptional,
deviating from a type
learning
(D) “izuchen” as in “toj e
(D) “ne tokmu” as in “toj e ne
izuchen” meaning “he is learned
tokmu” meaning “he is
abnormal”
as in he is an academic”.
(L) “akademik”.
(L) “ne normalen”.
about - pertaining to, in
accurate – precise, conforming
exactly to a standard
connection with
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(D) “tokmu” as in “se soglasvam,
(D) “stra” and “upla” as in “mi e
toa e tokmu” meaning “I agree,
stra ot mechkata” meaning “I am
it is accurate”.
afraid of the bear” and “upla me
(L) “tochno”, “pravno”.
fati ot mechkata” meaning “I was
frightened by the bear”.
acknowledge – agree to the
(L) “uplashen”, “plashi”.
truth, admit it as true, express
appreciation or understanding
after – later, following in time
(D) “priznaa” as in “toj si ga
(D) “posľ
e” as in “ke te vida
priznaa greshkata” meaning “he
posľ
e vechera” meaning “see
acknowledges his error”.
you after supper”.
(L) “priznava”, “potvrduva”,
(L) “potoa”, “zad”, “posle”.
“zablagodaruva”.
afternoon – time from noon to
acorn – fruit of oak
evening
(D) “zhir” as in “zhirjeto ne
(D) “po pladne” and “po ruchok”
padve po daľ
eku ot dmbo”
as in “oroto ke bidi po pladne i
meaning “the acorns don’t fall
musikata ke fati po ruchok”
too far from the oak tree”.
meaning “the dance will take
(L) “zhelad”.
place in the afternoon and the
music will begin after lunch”.
across – from side to side of, on
(L) “popladne”
the other side of
(D) “preku” as in “preku
again – another time, once more
planina” meaning “across the
(D) “pa ope” as is “pa ope
mountain”.
kazhimi” meaning “tell me
(L) “preku”, “sproti”, “niz”.
again”
(L) “povtorno”, “pak”.
advice – opinion given in
regards to future action
against – in opposition to
(D) “sovet” as in “ti se moľ
am
(D) “protif” as in “ti si protif
daimi sovet, neznam sho da
mene” meaning “you are against
pram” meaning “please give me
me”.
advice, I don’t know what to do”.
(L) “protiv”.
(L) “sovet”, “soopshtenie”.
age – length of time a person or
aflame – in flames
thing has existed
(D) “vo plamen” as in “drvoto e
(D) “staros” as in “kucheto ti
vo plamen” meaning “the wood
psojsa ot staros” meaning “your
is in flames”
dog died of old age”.
(L) “vo plamen”, “zapalen”.
(L) “vozrast”, “starost”.
afraid – alarmed, frightened
agree – of same opinion
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(D) “soglas” as in “sme vo
(D) “sekogash” as in “sekogash
soglas” meaning “we are in
imam pari” meaning “I always
agreement”.
have money”.
(L) “se slozhuva”, “soglas”.
(L) “sekogash”.
aim – give direction to weapon
am – be
(D) “nameri” as in “nameria
(D) “jas si” (I am), “ti si” (you
pushkata” meaning “aim the
are), “toj e” (he is), “taa e” (she
rifle”.
is), “nie sme” (we are), “vie ste”
(L) “tsel”, “nasoka”.
(you are), “tie se” (they are).
air – mixture of gas we breathe
amend – correct error in, make
(D) “veter” as in “disha veter”
minor alterations in
meaning “I breathe air”.
(D) “isprai” as in “isprai go
(L) “vozduh”.
pisanjeto” meaning “make
amends to the writing”.
akin – related by blood, alike
(L) “isprava”, “podobruva”, “se
(D) “soj” as in “nie sme soj”
poprava”.
meaning “we are akin”.
(L) “sroden”, “blizok”.
among – surrounded by, in the
category of
alive – living, active, aware
(D) “megu” as in “se naodvam
(D) “zhif” as in “ti si bil ushche
megu priateľ
i” meaning “I am
zhif” meaning “you are still
among friends”.
alive”.
(L) “pomegju”, “megju”, “sred”,
(L) “zhiv”, “pretpazliv”,
“od”.
“osetliv”.
ancestry – one’s family descent
all – the whole of, everyone of
(D) “potek” as in “jas potekvam
(D) “tsel” and “svite” as in “go
ot Makedontsi” meaning “my
izedu tsel peshnik ľ
ep” meaning
ancestors are Macedonian”.
“I ate all of the loaf of bread”
(L) “pretsi”, “poteklo”.
and “svite ľ
uge si ojdoa doma”
meaning “all the people have
ancient – of times long past
gone home”.
(D) “aro” as in “a bre aro Gospo
(L) “tsel”, “se”, “sekoj”.
da te prosti” meaning “hey you
ancient may God forgive you”
alone – single, solitary
(L) “dreven”, “drevni”
(D) “sam” as in “sam si doma”
meaning “I am home alone”.
and – connecting words,
(L) “sam”, “osamen”.
implying progression
(D) “i” as in “ti i jas” meaning
always – at all times, on all
“you and me”.
occasions
(L) “i”.
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(L) “mrava”.
angel – attendant or messenger
of God
any – one, no matter which of
(D) “angel” as in “ti si moi
several
angel” meaning “you are my
(D) “nekoj” as in “nekoj ot
angel”
nimu” meaning “any of them”.
(L) “angel”
(L) “koj”, “nekoj”, “nekakov”.
anger – extreme or dispassionate
apology – regretful
displeasure
acknowledgement of offence or
(D) “ľ
ut” as in “zashcho si
failure
ľuten?” meaning “why are you
(D) “prosti” as in “da me
angry?”
prostish za toa” meaning “my
(L) “lut”,
apology for that”.
(L) “izvinuvanje”.
animal – living being other than
human
appeal – make earnest formal
(D) “pravdo” as in “toa pravdo e
request
kon” meaning “that animal is a
(D) “moľ
ba” as in “naprai mu
horse”.
edna moľ
ba” meaning “make an
(L) “zhivotno”.
appeal”.
(L) “apelatsija”, “molba”,
ankle – joint connecting foot
“apelira”, “baranje”.
with leg
(D) “gľ
uzh” as in “mi se shina
appear – become or be visible,
gľ
uzho” meaning “my ankle was
give certain indication
sprained”.
(D) “se javi” as in “kucheto se
(L) “gluzhd”.
javi” meaning “the dog has
appeared”.
another – additional, one more
(L) “se pojavi”, “se pojavuva”,
(D) “drug” as in “ke se vidime vo
drug den” meaning “we will see
appendix – small tube attached
each other another day”.
to intestine
(L) “drug”, “ushte eden”.
(D) “suvo tsereo” as in “suvoto
tsereo me boľ
i” meaning “my
answer – something said or done
appendix is hurting”.
in reaction to a question
(L) “slepo tsrevo”.
(D) “odgovor” as in “odgovori
mi” meaning “answer me”.
apple – a round, firm fruit
(L) “odgovor”, “reshenje”
(D) “jabolko” as in “jabolkoto
ima mnogu jabolka ovaa
ant – wingless insect
godina” meaning “the apple tree
(D) “mraa” as in “mraata me
has many apples this year”.
ksna” meaning “the ant bit me”
(L) “jabolko”.
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