Palåbran 07/23/2012: Kalaktos

Kalåktos (ka-LUCK-tus): Sharp, keen, acute.

Uses:
"Adahi sa' kalåktos ennao na se'se'." = "Be careful because that knife is sharp."
"Hu guåsa' i fesiños sa' ti kalåktos." = "I sharpened the hoe because it wasn't sharp."
"Usa fan i mås kalåktos na machete." = "Use the sharpest machete."

Usually, kalåktos is reserved specifically for the keen edge of something, but I've also heard it used in another way:

"Gof kalåktos i palabrå-mu." = "Your words are sharp/to the point/harsh."

Kåntan Chamoru: Kao Guåhu Ya-mu (J.D. "Crutch")

Thanks to Sue Quitano who did the bulk of the work figuring out the lyrics and translating them. The chords I put here are very simple and not exactly what you hear in the recordings, but they're close enough to sing along to.


Kao Guåhu Ya-mu
as J.D. "Crutch"



    [G]                   [C]                    [G]
Ai neni, ya-hu lokkue' na un na'klåru
      [G]                       [D]       [G]
kao guåhu ya-mu pat guåha otru,
(Oh baby, I'd like you to make it clear
if it's me you like or if there's another,)

   [G]                                [C]               [G]
Sa' hu tungo' na hagas lokkue' i payon-mu
    [G]                                   [D]                     [G]
an håfa para un cho'gue, un cho'gue malago'-mu,
(Because I know it's been your habit that
if you're going to do something, you'll do what you want,)

       [G]                             [C]     [G]
Lao, neni, komprende fan nai på'go
     [G]                  [D]               [G]
sa' esta ha' guåha, neni, asaguå-mu.
(But, baby, now please understand
because you already have a husband, baby.)

         [G]                        [C]                  [G]
Ya hu tungo' ha' ta'lo na makkat para hågu
   [G]                 [D]                 [G]
para un tulaika, neni, siniente-mu,
(Again I know that it's hard for you
to change, baby, your feelings,)

     [G]                         [C]           [G]
Sa' guåhu, magåhet, hågu hu guaiya
    [G]                      [D]         [G]
ya eyu yo', neni, na matulalaika.
(Because me, really, it's you I love
and that is why, baby, I've been changing.)

       [G]                  [C]            [G]
Pues hasso neni ya un komprende
     [G]                     [D]                [G]
na debi ha', neni, di guåhu un atende,
(So remember, baby, and understand
that it's me, baby, that you should be with,)

     [G]                       [C]             [G]
Sa' guåhu ilek-mu, neni, asaguå-mu,
    [G]                   [D]                  [G]
ya guåhu ai hågu, neni, guinaiya-ku.
(Because it's me you said, baby, your husband,
and me, oh it's you, baby, my love.)

        [G]                         [C]                    [G]
Pues puedi ha' mohon, neni, un komprende
        [G]                       [D]             [G]
na siakåsu yo' lachi munga ma'atende,
(So I hope, baby, that you understand
that if I'm wrong just ignore it,)

     [G]                   [C]             [G]
Sa' hågu, neni, yo' muna'pininiti,
     [G]                          [D]                   [G]
ya' gos makkat, neni, para hu komprende.
(Because it's you, baby, that hurt me,
and it's hard, baby, for me to understand.)

      [G]                            [C]              [G]
Lao guåhu masångan lokkue' asaguå-mu,
     [G]                      [D]               [G]
ya hunggan, neni, hågu i mås ya-hu.
(But also, me, your so-called husband,
and yes, baby, it's you I love the most.)

     [G]                      [D]               [G]
Ya hunggan, neni, hågu i mås ya-hu
     [G]                      [D]               [G]
ya hunggan, neni, hågu i mås ya-hu.
(And yes, baby, it's you I love the most,
and yes, baby, it's you I love the most.)

Leksion Chamoru: Yanggen/anggen/an/annai (If and when)

In Chamorro when we want to say "when" we have a few different ways to say it. There is the word "ngai'an," but that is strictly used in questions, and we can discuss it in another post. For now let's focus on the words "annai" and "anggen."

"Annai" simply put is "when."

• Maigo'ñaihon yo' annai umåsson yo' gi sofå.
  
  •  I took a nap when I laid down on the sofa.
• Annai humånao yo' para i tenda hu fåhan i pån.
• When I went to the store I bought the bread.
• Taigue hao gi gimå'-mu gi annai måtto yo' guihi.
• You weren't at home when I arrived there.

Chamorro (English as well) has another form of the word, namely "anggen." Many times we translate this word to "if" in English, but it is really the conditional, uncompleted form of "when" ("annai"). All that means is that when you want to say "if," or "when" in the future, you use "anggen," or it's shortened form "an." If we alter the examples above we can begin to see the difference.

• Bai maigo'ñaihon, anggen umåsson yo' gi sofå.
  (Bai maigo'ñaihon, an umåsson yo' gi sofå.)
• I will take a nap if/when lay down on the sofa.
• Anggen humånao yo' para i tenda, bai fåhan i pån.
  (An humånao yo' para i tenda, bai fåhan i pån.)
• If/when I go to the store, I will buy the bread.
• Para un taigue gi gimå'-mu gi anggen måtto yo' guihi.
  (Para un taigue gi gimå'-mu gi an måtto yo' guihi.)
• You will not be at home if/when I arrive there.

 The word "anggen" also shows up in other ways, "yanggen" and "an." Fortunately, "yanggen" is just the form of "anggen" that connects phrases or clauses, and can even be thought of as the contraction of the phrase "ya anggen." Also, "an" is once again the shortened form of "yanggen."

• Ågang gue', yanggen ha oppe hao, kuentusi gue'.
  (Ågang gue', an ha oppe hao, kuentusi gue'.)
• Call her, and if/when she answers you, talk to her.
• Yanggen para un hånao mågi, sangåni yo' fine'nana
  (An para un hånao mågi, sangåni yo' fine'nana.).
• If/When you are going this way, tell me first.
• Chule' yanggen malago' hao.
  (Chule' an malago' hao.)
• Take it if/when you want.