SCHLEICHER’S FABLE IN PROTO-INDO-EUROPEAN AND ITS MAIN PROTO-LANGUAGES (Version 8, 07/3/2008)

« The Sheep and the Horses. A sheep that had no wool saw horses, one pulling a heavy wagon, one carrying a big load, and one carrying a man quickly. The sheep said to the horses: “My heart pains me, seeing a man driving horses”. The horses said: “Listen, sheep, our hearts pain us when we see this: a man, the master, makes the wool of the sheep into a warm garment for himself. And the sheep has no wool”. Having heard this, the sheep fled into the plain. »

 

PROTO-INDO-EUROPEAN II, 3500 BC

PROTO-ANATOLIAN, 2500 BC

PROTO-INDO-EUROPEAN III, 2500 BC

 

1

Xowis ʔékwōs-qe.

Háwis áswes-ki.

Ówis ékwōs-qe.

1

2

Χowis, qesjo wl̥ʔneħ ne ʔest,

Háwis, kuis húlana na est,

Ówis, qésio wl̥̄nā ne (é)est,

2

3

ʔékwoms spekét,

áswus spekét,

ékwoms spekét,

3

4

ʔóinom cr̥χum wóghom wéghontm̥,

ānan wurhún wágan wéganzam,

óinom carúm wóghom wéghontm̥,

4

5

ʔóinom-qe mégeħm bhórom,

ānan-ki mékan báran,

óinom-qe mégām bhórom,

5

6

ʔóinom-qe dhʔghmónm̥ ʔoʔkú bhérontm̥.

ānan-ki teggánam āku báranzam.

óinom-qe ghmónm̥ ōkú bhérontm̥.

6

7

Xowis nu ʔékwobhjos wewqét:

Háwis nu áswaz hwewkét:

Ówis nu ékwobh(i)os (é)wewqét:

7

8

“Kr̥d ħéghnutoi ʔmoí,

“Kart áknuta(ri) mai,

“Kr̥d ághnutoi moí,

8

9

ʔékwoms ħégontm̥ ʔrom wídn̥tei”.

áswus ákantun wíran wítanzi”.

ékwoms ágontm̥ wrom wídn̥tei”.

9

10

ʔékwōs tu wewqónt: “Kludhí, χówi!

áswes tu wewkúnz: “Klutí, háwi!

Ékwōs tu wewqónt: “Kludhí, ówi!

10

11

kr̥d ħéghnutoi n̥sméi wídn̥tbhjos:

kart áknuta(ri) anzás wítantaz:

kr̥d ághnutoi n̥sméi wídn