Anyone know Quechua?

[Dr Sardonicus]

I have a CD, Music of the Andes (Volume One) by Inkari. The last song, Tata Quillacas, intrigued me. You can listen to it here.

I had absolutely no idea what it was about. I also wasn't sure what language it was in, but I think it's Quechua.

I found the following on Google Books, from Latin American Peasants edited by Tom Brass:

Santuario de Quillacas is a municipality of principally Aymara-speaking subsistence farmers and pastoralists located on the Southern Bolivian altiplano at an altitude of 3,800 metres (12,500 feet) in the Southern Bolivian Department of Oruro. As is evident from the name itself, the community of Santuario de Quillacas is known to Bolivians not only as a small municipality but also as a major religious sanctuary. Each year on 14 September, people from all over the Bolivian Highlands and from as far away as northen Argentina and Chile descend on the municipal capital of Quillacas, on pilgrimage to celebrate the feast of Señor de la Exaltación. The local image of Christ Crucified, known as Tata Quillacas, is held to be a miraculous suma miriku, or a doctor with exceptional curative powers.

So at least I have some idea what the song is about.

I found a transcription of the first verse (which is repeated) here. I made a correction, changing "Ñanitay" to "Ñañitay."

Chayanta chaya sumpuni
Tata Quillacas mampuni
Ñañitay pahuancuspa
Tata Quillacas mampuni

Can any of you linguists translate the lyrics into English?

[xilman]

Originally Posted by Dr Sardonicus

I have a CD, Music of the Andes (Volume One) by Inkari. The last song, Tata Quillacas, intrigued me. You can listen to it here.

I had absolutely no idea what it was about. I also wasn't sure what language it was in, but I think it's Quechua.

I found the following on Google Books, from Latin American Peasants edited by Tom Brass:

So at least I have some idea what the song is about.

I found a transcription of the first verse (which is repeated) here. I made a correction, changing "Ñanitay" to "Ñañitay."

Chayanta chaya sumpuni
Tata Quillacas mampuni
Ñañitay pahuancuspa
Tata Quillacas mampuni

Can any of you linguists translate the lyrics into English?

It is possible that I may be able to help.

One of my friends is trying to learn a Mesoamerican language. Unfortunately I don't know whether that is Quecha or Mayan or something else.

I will contact her.

[xilman]

Originally Posted by xilman

It is possible that I may be able to help.

One of my friends is trying to learn a Mesoamerican language. Unfortunately I don't know whether that is Quecha or Mayan or something else.

I will contact her.

Mail sent.

[rudy235]

I would try these people. https://amlq.org.pe/

If you can write a decent Spanish I suggest you write them in Spanish.

[xilman]

Originally Posted by Dr Sardonicus

I have a CD, Music of the Andes (Volume One) by Inkari. The last song, Tata Quillacas, intrigued me. You can listen to it here.

I had absolutely no idea what it was about. I also wasn't sure what language it was in, but I think it's Quechua.

I found the following on Google Books, from Latin American Peasants edited by Tom Brass:

So at least I have some idea what the song is about.

I found a transcription of the first verse (which is repeated) here. I made a correction, changing "Ñanitay" to "Ñañitay."

Chayanta chaya sumpuni
Tata Quillacas mampuni
Ñañitay pahuancuspa
Tata Quillacas mampuni

Can any of you linguists translate the lyrics into English?

My friend replied:

yes, this is Quechua. I learned it in University when I studied American history, for awhile. But I forgot almost all of it. Still have a textbook.

She did not give a translation, sorry, but I will try asking again.

[rudy235]

“Tata” in Quechua is father, high priest, or male with a family.

[Dr Sardonicus]

Originally Posted by rudy235

“Tata” in Quechua is father, high priest, or male with a family.

That makes perfect sense. It corresponds to the Spanish El Señor de Quillacas. The quote I posted earlier said the Tata Quillacas was the Image of Christ Crucified in the church at Quillacas.

I also found a Spanish-language opinion piece about the Quechua expression Ñañitay, but my Spanish is quite limited, so it's been slow going.

I have not as yet been able to transcribe the other verses of the song (each sung twice), but they all contain the line

Ñañitay pahuancuspa

There is also one line that is spoken once rather than sung. I've gotten nowhere with that one.

[xilman]

Originally Posted by Dr Sardonicus

I also found a Spanish-language opinion piece about the Quechua expression Ñañitay, but my Spanish is quite limited, so it's been slow going.

Does Google Translate help?

[Dr Sardonicus]

Originally Posted by xilman

Does Google Translate help?

Yes.

[Dr Sardonicus]

After listening to short passages from the song repeatedly, I decided the transcription was not phonetically correct.

"Chayanta chaya sumpuni" should be Chayay tachayay sumpuni

And lo and behold, "chayay" is a Quechua word!

chayay = arrival

Apparently -puni is a Quechua suffix which indicates "in every case," determination, or certainty.

The refrain (third line in every verse sung) transcribed as "Ñañitay pahuancuspa" should be Ñañitay pahuancusca, and perhaps "pahuancusca" should be divided, giving Ñañitay pahuan cusca

From the Spanish-language piece about "Ñañitay" (and an assist from Google Translate)

"Ñañitay" is a symbiotic expression of affection, brotherhood, sincerity, and above all, of love for others.

Phonetically rewriting "cusca," I found "kuska" is a Quechua word:

kuska = joined

So perhaps the refrain is something about being joined in brotherhood and love for others.

I have made some progress phonetically transliterating the remaining sung verses, but as of yet haven't found any Quechua words corresponding to my transliterations.


UPDATE: This is the best phonetic transcription of the sung verses of "Tata Quillacas" I could manage. I finally decided that "pahuan kuska" should be tahuan kuska.

Each verse is repeated. Words that sound different in the repetition have the different pronunciation in parentheses.

I use "k" to indicate all "hard c" sounds (except in "Quillacas").

"ay" is pronounced like "eye" (long i).

Chayay tachayay sumpuni
Tata Quillacas mampuni
Ñañitay tahuan kuska
Tata Quillacas maopuni

Yayay (Chayay) tahuakas kamuzu
Poko chakima ñakuznu
Ñañitay tahuan kuska
Bendicionita boanzu

Kuchay michangis (michakis) pichispa
Kuki michista savespa
Ñañitay tahuan kuska
Musi kosay takuti musu

[xilman]

Originally Posted by xilman

My friend replied:

yes, this is Quechua. I learned it in University when I studied American history, for awhile. But I forgot almost all of it. Still have a textbook.

She did not give a translation, sorry, but I will try asking again.

sure, you can have it. I kept it all the years for that reason.
I last used it hatunyachaywasipi ;= hatun= big, yachay= knowledge; wasi= house, pi in; the big house of knowledge= university. Some words are influenced by the spaniards like
mayistru= teacher.
In my book tayta means father, or also used to Mister; like tayta Miller
Tiyo means uncle tiya aunt, again influences by spanish. Para means rain, seems that the word Paraguay stems from that. Uru means bugs, Uruguay? Very likely.
My book is Quechua German. Well, you will get thru.

I'll pick it (the text book) up when next in La Palma. Indeed I can read German well enough. My copy of the Papyrus of Anu is translated into Czech, which is rather more difficult for me but still useful.

Hope the vocabulary above is helpful.