That Is Money . . . Told by Willie Longbone (1867 - 1946) to linguist Carl Voegelin in 1939. Original title was First Money, and it is copied from an old phonograph record. This anecdote was transcribed by Jim Rementer, and re-edited by linguist Ives Goddard.
English:
A long time ago when I was a boy
Lenape:
Nìke lòmëwe ènta pilaechëchiane
English:
and also my older brother and I went to gather pecans.
Lenape:
òk naka naxansa ènta kansèmheenkw.
English:
Then an old man came there. He had a long beard.
Lenape:
Na ìka pòn hilusës. Ahkònitunaye.
English:
We really did not know who he was.
Lenape:
Ta ku nuwahaiwëna awèn ta.
English:
My older brother could not understand him.
Lenape:
Tòla pëntaoo naka naxansa.
English:
He told me something, that he wants to trade.
Lenape:
Kèku ta ntëlkwën, kahta ashùntèsu.
English:
He wanted to buy those pecans from us.
Lenape:
nkata mhalamakunen nèk kansèm.
English:
Then I told my older brother, "OK, he wants these pecans from us."
Lenape:
Na ntëlan na naxans, "Na ta nën, katatamakunen ta yuk kansèm."
English:
He told me, "Alright." He bought them from us.
Lenape:
Ntëlùkw, "Yuh." Na nëmahëmalakunèn.
English:
He gave me two pieces of money.
Lenape:
Nisha phake moni nemilùkw.
English:
And these other older brothers of mine were also given money.
Lenape:
Ok yuk takòkik naxansàk, òk nèk milaok moni.
English:
We gave him all the pecans we had.
Lenape:
Wèmi nëmilanèn kansèm entxi wëlataenk.
English:
And then he left.
Lenape:
Na òk wënchi machin.
English:
Then soon after that we went home.
Lenape:
Na wèmi mètxàki na machinèn.
English:
When I came to our house I told my grandmother, "Look at this."
Lenape:
Ika peaa në wikienk, nuhëma ntëlan, "Pëna yushe kèku."
English:
"Oh, " she said to me, "that is good, that is money.
