Nogay:

Bir kumlı töbediñ kasınnan ötkende, töbe aldında turğan kır körinmeydi. Aybaladıñ da işinde bolganı sol kişkey yıyın, sol kırdı körmege keter ediler. Töbediñ soñı keleyek bolganda Aybala, sabır etip bolmadı. Yılkısıñ kamıslap, kasında kelgen özgelerden ozdı, töbeden ötti. Aldındağı üyken ädem kervanıñnı kördi. Tili tüskendey, avızınnan davıs şıkpadı. Közleri toldı, yımırıqıñ qıstı. Kayday yaman äl! Kayday muñlı erler, kızlar, ballar! Karagaşlar… Kalmaktıñ kapkanı Noğaylar. Ollardı, Kalmaktıñ kurğanı qul bazarlarında satayaklar. Aybala: “Xalkım”dep oylağanda, dosları da oğa yetti. Eş bireviñnin közlerde, Aybala’day muñ yok. Milliy oy, patriotizm, öz milletindi süyüv, ollarda yok. Yalğız, tağı sakal-mıyıqtı ösemegen Aybala’da bar edi, olay aybat, hayırlı oylar.

English

While passing near a sandy hill, it wasn’t possible to see the plains before it. This small group which Aybala is part of, was going to see those plains. Aybala was impatient, when the the hill was just about to end. Whipping his horse, he went past the ones near him and passed the hill. He saw the huge human caravan in front of him. Like his tongue fell, no sound came out of his mouth. His eyes were teary (and) he tightened his fists. How a miserable situation! How woeful men, girls and children! The Karagash… Nogays captured by Kalmyks. They will sell them in slave markets set up by Kalmyks. While Aybala was thinking “My people…”, his friends caught up with him. No sorrow is present in their eyes like Aybala. National consciousness, patriotism, love for one’s own nation does not exist within them. Such huge, auspicious ideas were only present in Aybala whose beard was yet to grow.

Nogay:

Durısında, Aybala em dosları sol ërge Kalmaktı körmege kelmegen ediler. Sonda Kalmak tayşılardıñ da konaklıq etkeni bazar, Noğay şölinin en bay, türli mal tabılğan bazarı eken. Är ay, Aybaladay Noğaylar bu bazarğa zat, aslıq, tuwar, qural almağa keler edi. Mesküvden, Kavkazdan, Qırımnan, Aştarxannan, Kobannan satuvşılar bu bazarğa em özlerinnen äkelgen mallardı satpağa em baska satuvşılardıñ äkelğeni mallardı almağa keler edi.

English

Actually, Ayabala and his friends didn’t come there to see the Kalmyks. That bazaar in which Kalmyk raiders took refuge, is the richest and (where) the most varied goods can be found bazaar of Nogay steppe. Every month, Nogays like Aybala come to this bazaar to buy goods, grain, cattle and tools. Traders from Moscow, Caucasus, Crimea, Astrakhan and Kuban would come here both to sell good they brought with themselves and to buy goods others have brought.

Nogay:

Yusup ollarğa karap deydi: “Doslar, nege mında turıp karaysız? Aydiy, töbeden tüsip karayık.” Özgeler de Yusup’tın artıñnan kelip töbeden tüstiler. Kumlı, sarı töbedin tömen yakı da; üstidey sarı. Yalğız ërlerde, töbediñ üstidey kum yok. Biyik, sarı ölen bar. Sol ölenmen oranlı kır, keñ şöl; ädem közimen körülğen son ërğe dayım baradı. Sol ölendi, yılkılar em koylar aşamaydı aman da tüyeler em är türli yessıl em sarı zattı aşağan aşpit eşkiyler, bek süyinisli aşaydı. Alladıñ etken zatı eken. Birevidiñ artıq köretagannı, baskası qadirli biledi. Ädemlerde bulay şï yok eken. Biz, är zat bizim bolsın, baskasığa kalıp bolmasın dep ograşamız.

English

Yusup said, looking at them, “Friends, why are you looking from here? Come on, let’s get down and take a look.” Others followed Yusup and got down the hill. The sandy hill’s lower part is just like it’s upper part: yellow. However there is no sand like the upper of the hill. There is long, yellow grass. Plains covered with that yellow grass, the vast steppe, stretches as far as man’s eyes can see. Horses and sheep didn’t eat this grass, but camels and gluttonous goats who eat everything green and yellow would eat this gladly. God’s work. Which, one deems unneedful, the other considers valuable. Humans lack this. We struggle that everything shall be ours and not left to others.

Nogay:

Anda, ol aruv kırdıñ üstinde Noğay ädemler, zaya işinde zarlanadı. Aybala, sol yakka karasa bir tüyege baylı eki kızman; qolında kamıs, basında kulak börk em üstinde kızıl kaptal kiygen, kara mıyıqlı, yımıq közli, kızıl yakları tüksiz, yasın em kir betli bir Kalmak tayşı turadı. Oñ yakka karasa, moyıñlarınnan taktalarğa baylı erler, ballar turadı. Kıyamettey kün eken. Zayalık. Aybala’dıñ közleri toldı. Äsirlerğe karamap, bazardıñ alıs yakındagı yemis em aywan satkan ädemlerğe karağan Süyindik, Aybala’ğa kaytıp “Nege yılaysın?” dedi. “Xalkımğa…” dedi Aybala. “Xalkıña yılağan bolsan, paydası bar m’eken?” dedi Süyindik “Men ollardı körip kaygırmayman m’oylaysın?”. “Durıs.” dedi Aybala “Bir zat etpeğe kerek…” dedi.

English

There, on that beautiful plains, Nogays struggled in torment. Aybala, (if he) looks to his left sees two girls tied to a camel and stands a Kalmyk with a whip on his hand, wearing eared fur hat and crimson tunic, with a black moustache, slanted eyes, hairless red cheeks and a flat, stained face. (If he) looks to his right, he saw men and children with ropes on their necks, tied to boards. (a day) like doomsday. Torture. Aybala’s eyes filled with tears. Süyindik, who does not look at prisoners but at men who sell fruits and cattle, turned to Aybala and said “Why are you crying?”. “To my people…” said Aybala. “Is there any use in crying for your people?” said Süyindik “Don’t you think I see them and grieve?”. “Right” said Aybala “Something must be done…” said (he).

Nogay:

Bazarda az tağı kıdırıp, doslarıñ karadı. Kelgenleri töbede ot yakkan ediler. Keşe tüsetağan vakıtta, Aybala da ollardıñ kasıña bardı. Tasdarday düñiyadıñ bu parşasıñnı kaplağan sarı şöl, küñ vaktı bek ıssıq bolsa, ay şıkkanda buzday suvık bolar. Yigitler egmelerde äkelğen kazıları pışaqman kesip, maylı ötpeklerinnin işiñe kuyıp aşadı. Azakay söylesip, kiyizleriñe kirip yuqladılar. Bizim xalk, Mesküvde turğan Orıslarday takta (em bay kisi bolsa farfor) tepşekte as aşamaydı. Bizim milliy adatlardıñ köbinşisi, köşpeli yaşavdıñ esteligi. Ërde, kiyiz em topıraq üstinde oltırıp, qolında pışaqman et soyıp aşav; koñsı xalklarmızğa yani Şerkeşlerğe, Orıslarğa, Şeşenlerğe eş uğsamay! (Kalmaklarğa uğsay, olar man da köp köp burıñda tübimiz bir. Endi, ayrım bar.) Ollar masadıñ üstinde oltırıp, tepşeklerden şatal-kaşıqban aşaydı. Manäsiz körünğen bir ayrım tağı, pışaq ısluv. Biz, sogısşı xalkmız. Özimizge, küşimizğe baa salarmız. Sonnañ, pışaqman özimizğe tuvra tuvıl, aldımızğa tuvra kesermiz. Bir qatä etsek, öz denimizdi tuvıl aldımızdağıñ keseyik dep! Baska xalklar, özleriñe tuvra kesedi, qatä etken bolsalar özleriñ kesüv üşün; atasıbaska zatka küna bolmasıñ dep. Bu özimşilliq tuvıl, akırlıq eken… Menimşe.

English

(After) Wandering in the bazaar a little longer, he looked for his friends. They lit a fire on the hill they came from. When night was about to fall, he went near them. This steppe that covers this part of eart like a veil, however very warm in day is ice cold at night. Heroes (after) cutting with knife the horse sausage they brought with (them) in their bags, ate them (after) putting them in buttered bread. After chatting a bit, they got in their felts and slept. Our people don’t eat like Russians in Moscow on wood (or if he is rich, porcelain) plates. Most of our national traditions, are memories of nomadic life. Sitting on earth or felt (and) cutting and eating meat with knife in hand does not resemble our neighboring nations like Circassians, Russians, Chechens! )Resembles Kalmyks, but our roots are same in long, long ago. Now, there is a difference.) They eat sitting on tables, with plates and forks and spoons. Another difference that looks meaningless is, holding the knife. We, are warrior people. We value ourselves, our power. Because of that, we cut with knife not to ourselves but before us. So that if we make a mistake, we cut not our body but that of (the person) infront of us! Other nations, cut towards themselves, so that if they make a mistake they would cut themselves, so that it isn’t a disgrace to them. This isn’t selfishness, but intelligence… In my opinion.

Nogay:

Kün, kökke oltırdı. Aybalaman dosları, tañ erteñ turdılar. Bügün Cuma eken; satuvşılardıñ eş birevi yok, ollar meşitke keteyekler dep, bügün bazarğa tuvıl savlık äkelğeniñe iynanılğanı bir suvğa keteyik dediler. Bu suvdı Aybala ep esitedi de, kardaslar äsir turğanda suv ne? Yuvınuv, xalktıñ erkinliginnen köp ma kerek? Sol älde, ketip yuvınuv üşin ankav bolmaga kerek dep oyladı Aybala. “Men yas bala bolsam…” dedi “…sizden yüreklimen. Yavdı basayakman!” dep oyladı. Sosı oydı, dosı Süyindik’ke ayttı. Süyindik, “Menim yavdı basuvday esim bolmasada, seninmen keleyekmen…” dedi “Sol älde, Müsülman em kandas bavırdaslar azap işinde äsir turğanda, suvğa barıp tepisüv küna eken.”.

English

Sun, sat on the sky. Aybala and his friends woke up early in the morning. This is Friday, that not a single trader is present, that they will go to mosque, they said lets go to not the bazaar today but a stream believed to bring health. Aybala always heard of this stream, but, what is to do with water when kinsmen are slaves? Is bathing more important than the people’s freedom? In such situation, to go bathing one should be an imbecile thought Aybala. “Even if I am a young boy…” he said “…I am braver than you. I will plunder the enemy!” he thought. He spoke of such thought to Süyindik. Süyindik said, “Alhtough I have no goal of plundering the enemy, I will come with you…” “In such situation, where Muslims and kinsmen brothers are suffering, it is a sin to go by the stream and play.”

Nogay:

Ekevi, töbede bir tastın tübinde oltırıp, anav Kalmaktıñ äsir alğanı Noğaylar aqında söylestiler. N’etpeğe kerek? Aybala dedi “Bay tuvıl ekenmiz. Pul aqşa berip olardıñ erkinligiñ alalmaymız.” Süyindik durıs dep ayttı. “Murza tuvıl ekenmiz. Orıs patşasınnan yärdam tilelmeymiz. Äskerbası tuvıl ekenmiz, olardı basmağa yetken yigitmiz yok. Da, sonnan baska esimğe etileyek zat tüspeydi. Özimiz, doslarımıznan äsker tabıp bolsak?” dep sorav sordı Süyindik’ke. “Ahmak bolma.” dedi Süyindik. “Sen, kaşöv yasın barda Kalmak tayşılardı basayaksın? Sende kılışsa yok! Aywan urmağa yayınman, tayşı ma urayaksın? Yade ötpek pışagıman ädem me keseyeksin? Tüste yaşaba, Aybala! Burıñ sakal-mıyıq öset, soñ yigitlikmen oğrasatagan bolarsın. Aqiyqatka qayt, kişkey bala!” dedi.

English

The two sat beside a rock on the hill, discussed about the Nogays captured by Kalmyks. What to do? Aybala said “We are not rich. We can’t buy their freedom with money.” Süyindik said “True.” “We are not nobles (murza). We can’t request help from the Russian king. We are commanders, we have no men to plunder them. But, no other idea comes to my mind other than this. What if we find men among our friends?” Asked Aybala to Süyindik. “Don’t be an idiot.” said Süyindik. “How old are you that you will plunder Kalmyk raiders? You don’t even have a sword! Will you shoot raiders with your bow that is to shoot game? Or will you cut men with your kitchen knife? Don’t live in a dream, Aybala! First grow a moustache, then you will occupy yourself with bravery. Get back to reality, little kid! he said.

Present Tense

1st type:

-a, -e, -y

baradı ((he) go) süyesiz (you like) karayman (I look)

2nd type:

-a, -e, -y + tagan

barataganmız (we go/ing), isleytagansın (you work/ing)

3rd type:

-a, -e, y + yatır

işeyatırman (I’m drinking), alayatır ((he is/it is) taking)

4th type:

(ı)p oltırı/turu/yüri/yatır

alıp turı (he takes/taking) yazıp oltırıman (I write/writing) okıp yürisiñ (he reads/reading)

5th type:

-(u)vda, -(ü)vde

kelüvdemen (I’m coming) karavda ((he )is looking)

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Example:

Alik, kiskene topıraq üyden tısyakka şıgadı, ërler batpaklı, tüz yüruv kıyın. Sol yakka karasa anası Kundız, Alik’tin qardasıñ iyti Tükli’din arkanıñ şeşip turı. Oñ yakka karasa yezdesi Acimuwsa, termediñ astında yuklavda.

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Dictionary:

kiskene: small

topıraq: soil/earth

üy: house

tısyak: outside

şıguv: to get out

ër: ground

batpak: mud

tüz: correct

yüruv: to walk

kıyın: difficult

Sol: left

yak: direction

karav: to look

ana: mother

qardas: sibling

iyt: dog

arkan: rope

şeşüv: to untie

Oñ/Ong: Right

yezde: uncle-in-law

terme: dwelling of cover/veil and wood

astında: under

yuklav: to sleep

Botagöz degen at, Nogaylarda aruv közlü bebege beriledi. Bota, tüyedin uwaqı. Tüye degende, bu şaqta Arab halk eske tüsip bolar, amma durısı Nogay, Qazaq, Tatarday Qipşaq halklar ömirler boyı tüyelermen köş köşirip yürdi. Bizim tüyeler, Arablardın yegeni tüyelerge uğsamay uzun tüklü, eki örkeşli tüyeler. (The name called Botagöz is given to beautiful eyed babies by Nogays. Bota is the smaller of camel. When one says camel, in this age, Arabs come to ones mind but in reality Kipchak nations like Nogays, Kazakhs and Tatars have migrated with camels for centuries. Our camels aren’t like ones used by Arabs, but they are long haired (and) two humped camels.)

Kapayev’din yazuvlarda körgenime köre, Kubıgul (Edige Batırın Toktamıstın hansarayda turganda algani at) künlerden birevi eki ädem kördi. Ekevinin tüyesiñ turğanı bir ërde birevi botalagan, da kaysı tüye botalagan bilmey yürdiler. Ekevi tuvgan bota üşün töbeleskende Kubıgul “Mende sizdin mäsalaga yävap bar.” dep ayttı. Botadı bir salga kuyıp kölge saldı. Bilgeninizşe, tüyeler suvdan korkkanlar, amma botadın anası bolgan tüye eş korkpay suvga kirdi, balasının artınnan ketti. Akırısı bota kaysı tüyeden, bilgen boldılar. (According to what I saw in Kapayev’s writings, one day Kubıgul (The name Edige took when he was in Toktamysh’s palace) saw two men. In a place where their two camels stood, one of them gave birth but they don’t know which one. When the two were fighting over the baby camel Kubıgul said “I have an answer for your problem.” He put the baby camel on a float and let it on a lake. As you know, camels are afraid of water but the mother camel got in the lake without fear and went after it’s child. At the end, they knew which one gave birth to the bota.)

Basic phrases

Menim atım Dağhan-My name is Dağhan.

Senin atın Abdulla-Your name is Abdulla.

Onıñ atı Kaplan-His name is Kaplan.

Men … ayında tuvdım.-I was born in … (month).

Men … yılında tuvdım.-I was born in… (year.)

Menim … yasım bar.-I’m … years old.

Men … şerinde yaşaydım. -I live in … city.

Men… avılında yaşayman.-I am living in … village.

Menim kullıgım …. .-I am doing … job for a living./I do … job for a living.

Senin atın kim?-What is your name?

Qaysı ayda tuvdın?-Which month were you born?

Qaysı yılda tuvdın?-Which year were you born?

Sen kayda yaşaysın?-Where do you live?

Kaşöv yaşın bar?-How old are you?

Qaysı şeerde yaşaysın?-Which city do you live in?

Qaysı avılda yaşaysın?-Which village do you live in?

Kullıgın kayday?-What job are you doing for a living?

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What: Ne/Ka

Why: Nege (from Ne+(ge), for what, to what)

Where: Kayda,Qayerde (ka(y)da, at what) (qa-yerde,at what place)

Which: Qaysı (Qa(y)sı)

Who: Kim

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Month names in Nogay:

January: Kan’tar

February: Uvıt

March: Navruz

April: Kökek or Abirli

May: Kural

June: Tambız

July: Şille

August: Sarı Tambız

September: Kırk Kiyik

October: Kazan

November: Karaşa

December: Karagıs

Some Verbs

(-mek, -mak, -bek, -bak is verb suffix, sometimes -uv,-av is used)

Abaylamak : to be careful
Abaylamak: : to be amazed/to be surprised (also: saspeklemek)
Abdıramak : to be in a hurry
Abınmak : To lean on, to press on
Abri : honor, discipline, decency

Adamak: To promise

Adasmak: To get lost
Akel = bring
Akelmek : to bring
Aket = to carry away/take away
Akıytmak : to look at something while amazed

Akızmak: to leak
Aklamak : to justify
Akşaytmak – to growl, to grin

Almak : to take
Alcımak – to go crazy, to go senile
Alcımak : doing bad moves
Aldalamak : to comfort

Aldav : to get tricked

Algasamak/Asıkmak: to go in a hurry
Allegım bolmak : to be selfish

Alşaytbak : to spoil

Amanlık sormak : to ask about ones wellness

Phrases

Sen oñı süygende allegım boldı. → Sen (You) oñı (her/pointing her) süygende (when you loved) allegım boldı. (she became selfish)

Akıl yasta tuvıl basta.→ Akıl (Mind) yasta (in age) tuvıl (not) basta (in head) (Mind is not in age, (but is) in mind)

Ballar top oynaydılar. → Balalar (Kids) top (ball) oynaydılar (are playing).(Kids are playing ball).

Kamildin’ mıradları az tuvıl. → Kamildin’ (Kamil’s)mıradları(wishes) az(low as in quantity) tuvıl (not). (Kamil’s wishes are not low.)

Balalar kayerde dep oylaysız? → Balalar (Kids) kayerde (where) dep (so) oylaysız? (you think) (Where do you think the kids are?).

Poem

Кıs, suvık keldi.
Yavadı kalın, kar.
Ak kar uşıp yogarda,
Ak şіlterli avada,
Ak kıs keldi agartıp,
Ak sakalın taratıp.

Kıs (winter), suvık (cold) keldi (came)

Yavadı kalın, kar ((it) snows intensely)

Ak (white) kar (snow) uşıp (fly) yogarda (above)

Ak (white) şilterli (laced) avada (at theair)

Ak (white) kıs (winter) keldi (came) agartıp (whitened)

Ak (white) sakalın (your beard) taratıd (combed)

Proverb

“Tuvgan Êldin’ yeri ennet, suvı serbet.
Tuvgan Êlin’-ananday, onı saklap bil.”

Tuvgan Eldin’ (homelands) yeri (ground) ennet (heaven), suvı ((its) water) serbet (sherbet)

Tuvgan Elin’ (your homeland) ananday ((is) like your mother), onı (it(pointing meaning), saklap (guard) bil (know)

“Homelands ground is heaven, its water is sherbet

Homeland is like your mother, know to guard it.”

Adjectives and Possessive affixes in Nogay

1. Possessive affixes: In linguistics, a possessive affix is a suffix or prefix attached to a noun to indicate it is possessor, much in the manner of possessive adjectives. Possessive suffixes are found in some Austronesian, Uralic, Altaic, Semitic, and Indo-European languages. (Wikipedia)

Other examples:

Balam→ My child

Balan→ Your child

Balası→His/Her child

Balamız→ Our child

Balañız→Your child

Ballları→Their child(s)

2. Adjectives: In linguistics, an adjective (abbreviated adj) is a describing word, the main syntactic role of which is to qualify a noun or noun phrase, giving more information about the object signified. (Wikipedia)

There are several forms of adjectives in Nogay

1. Indicative form

Sol keşe→This night

Şo üy→That house

Bo xatıñ→This woman

Ol ädem→That man

Sosı kız→That girl

Mınav yol→This way

2. Question form

kayday kullıq→What kind of job

Kaysı it→Which dog

kaşav tavık→ how many chicken

ne zat→what bussiness (also used for what’s up?)

3. Indefinitive form

birer ällerde→in some forms

bir neşe ay→ a couple of months

savlay/sav kün→whole day

4. Number form

a) Exact number form

Üş ötpek→Three breads

Bes koy→Five sheep

Bir eşki→one goat

b) Sequiential number form

Ekinşi okuvşı→Second student

Birinşi ul→first son

c) Divisive number form

Beser atlı→ Five each horsemen

Ekiser seker→Two each sugar

d) Fraction number form