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Tlowana Ya Go Rata Go Tseba
Indlovu Eyayithanda Izinto
Indlela Iindlovu Ezafumana Ngayo Imiboko Emide
Curious Baby Elephant
Judith Baker
Wiehan de Jager
Atteridgeville Pilot Teachers
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Batho ka moka be ba tseba gore tlou e na le nko ye telele.
Siyazi ukuthi indlovu inomboko omude.
Sonke siyayazi into yokuba indlovu inomboko omde.
Everyone knows that the elephant has a very long nose.
Mehleng ya kgale tlou e be e na le nko ye kopana ya go nona. Bjale ka seeta mo gare ga sefahlego.
Emandulo umboko wendlovu wawumfishane. Wawubukeka kabi.
Kodwa kudala umboko wendlovu wawumfutshane kakhulu futhi utyebile okwesihlangu esibekwe ebusweni bayo. Wawuyimpumlo nje eqhelekileyo.
But a long time ago, the elephant’s nose was short and fat. Like a shoe in the middle of its face.
Bjale tlowana ya go rata go tseba ya tswalwa. E be e na le dipotšišo go diphoofolo ka moka.
Kwazalwa inkonyane eyayithanda izinto. Yayihlala inombuzo ngezinye izilwane.
Ngenye imini kwazalwa ithole lendlovu. Lalinomdla ngayo yonke into. Lalisoloko linombuzo kwisilwanyana ngasinye.
One day a baby elephant was born. She was curious about everything. She had a question for every animal.
E ile ya botšiša Thutlwa, “Naa goreng o na le molala o mo telele?”
Yahlangana nendlulamithi. “Kungani unentamo ende?”
Lalilangazelela ukwazi ngendlulamthi. “Kutheni unomqala omde?” labuza kwindlulamthi.
She was curious about Giraffe. “Why do you have a long neck?” she asked.
Ya botšiša Tšhukudu. “Naa goreng lenaka la gago le na le nhla ye bogale?”
Ngakusasa yahlangana nobhejane. “Kungani unophondo olucijile?”
Lalilangazelela ukwazi ngomkhombe. “Kutheni uneempondo ezitsolo?” Labuza kumkhombe.
She was curious about Rhino. “Why does your horn have a sharp point?”
Ya botšiša Kubu, “Naa goreng o na le mahlo a ma kubedu?”
Yaphinde yahlangana nemvubu. “Kungani unamehlo abomvu?”
Lalilangazelela ukwazi ngemvubu. “Kutheni unamehlo abomvu nje?” Labuza kwimvubu.
She was curious about Hippo. “Why do you have red eyes?” she asked.
Ya nyaka go tsibišisa kudu ka Kwena, “Naa Kwena e lalela ka eng?”
Ngoba yayithanda izinto, yafuna ukwazi ngengwenya. Ngabe ingwenya idlani ngesidlo sakusihlwa?
Kanti lalilangazelela KAKHULU ukwazi ngengwenya. ”Ingwenya itya ntoni ngesidlo sangokuhlwa?”
And she was VERY curious about Crocodile. “What does Crocodile eat for dinner?” she asked.
“O seke wa tsoga o botsišitše potšišo ya go swana bjalo ka yeo!” gwa realo mmagwe. Ya tloga e nyenyebetše.
“Ungalokothi ubuze umbuzo onjalo!” kusho umama wayo. Yahamba inyukubele.
“Ungakulinge uphinde ubuze umbuzo onjalo!” watsho umama walo. Waze wahamba engatyhilekanga.
“Never ask a question like that!” said her mother. Then she walked off, frowning.
Legokobu la mahlajana la re kapela, “Ntšhale morago nokeng. Ke mo o tla bonang gone Kwena e ja eng.”
Ngokushesha igwababa landizela phansi, lahlala eduze kwendlovu. Lathi, “Ngilandele siye emfuleni, uzobona-ke ukuthi ingwenya idlani kusihlwa.”
Kodwa ngokukhawuleza kwafika uNomyayi owayekrelekrele wathi, “Ndilandele siye emlanjeni. Apho uza kutsho ubone ukuba ingwenya itya ntoni ngesopholo.”
Quickly Crow flew down to baby elephant. “Follow me to the river. There you will see what Crocodile eats for dinner,” squawked Crow.
Tlowana ya šala legokubu morago go ya nokeng.
Nangempela indlovu yalandela igwababa.
Ngenene ithole lendlovu lalandela unomyayi ukuya emlanjeni.
So the baby elephant followed Crow down to the river.
Ya swahla mahlaka, ya ema leribeng la noka. Ya lebelela ka meetsing. Ya re Kwena e kae?
Indlovu yazimpintsha yangena emhlangeni yama osebeni lomfula. Iphi ingwenya pho?
Lazinyanzela ezingcongolweni laze lema enyeleni yomlambo. Lajonga emanzini. Yayiphi ingwenya?
She pushed through the reeds and stood on the bank. She looked into the water. Where was Crocodile?
“Dumela,” gwa realo leswika leo le lego kgauswi le leriba la noka. “Dumela,” gwa realo Tlowana. “Mohlomongwe o ka mpotša gore Kwena e lalela ka eng?”
“Sawubona,” kusho itshe ngasosebeni lomfula. “Yebo,” kuphendula indlovu. “Ungangitshela ukuthi ingwenya idlani ngesidlo sakusihlwa?”
“Molo,” kwatsho ilitye elalingakwinyele yomlambo. “Ewe,” laphendula ithole lendlovu. “Ungandichazela ukuba ingwenya itya ntoni ngesopholo?”
“Hello,” said a stone near the river bank. “Hello,” said Baby Elephant. “Can you tell me what Crocodile eats for dinner?” she asked.
“Inama ke tla go botša” gwa realo leswika. Gape, gape Tlowana ya inamela fase go fihlelela.
“Lalela-ke, goba ngizokutshela,” kuphendula itshe. “Goba futhi, futhi,” kuqhubeka itshe. Nangempela indlovu yehlela phansi yaze.”
“Goba uze ezantsi ndizokukuxelela,” laphendula ilitye. “Yehla, yehla, kwakhona.” Ngenene ithole lendlovu lagoba, lehla, laphinda lehla laze.
“Bend down and I will tell you,” said the stone. “Lower, lower,” said the stone. So Baby Elephant bent down lower, and lower.
“Photho!” ya ba nkoya tlowana eka ganong ya Kwena. “Ba tla lalela ka wena!” gwa realo Legokobu.
“Ngqi!” Ikhala layo lase lise mhlathini wengwenya. “Helele! Izodla wena ingwenya ngesidlo sakusihlwa!” kutswininiza igwababa.
“Xhakamfu!” Impumlo yethole lendlovu yabe sele isezindlathini zengwenya. “Ingwenya iza kutya wena ngesopholo!” Wakhala watsho unomyayi.
Then suddenly, “Snap!” Baby Elephant’s nose was caught in Crocodile’s jaws. “Crocodile will eat you for dinner!” squawked Crow, and flew away.
Tlowana ya tseparela fase ka maoto a morago ya goga, ya goga, ya goga. Eupša Kwena ya se lese.
Indlovu yazabalaza ngemilenze yayo yangemuva eqinile, yadonsa, yadonsa, yadonsa. Ingwenya ayizange iyidedele. Ikhala lendlovu ladonseka, ladonseka, ladonseka. Dalakaxa! Yawa yashayeka ngomhlane odakeni.
Ithole lendlovu laxhathisa ngemilenze yalo yangemva eqinileyo, latsala, latsala, latsala. Kodwa ingwenya ayatsho ukuliyeka.
Baby Elephant sat back on her strong legs and pulled. She pulled, and pulled. But Crocodile did not let go of her nose.
Nko ya Tlowana ya tamologa, ya tamologa, ya tamologa go fihlela “Pooo!” ya wa ka mokokotlo.
Tshobe ingwenya emanzini. “Ngaze ngaphuthelwa ukudla okumnandi!”
Impumlo yethole lendlovu yanwebeka, yanwebeka, yanwebeka laze. “Dudlu!” lawa labetheka ngomqolo.
Baby Elephant’s nose stretched, and stretched, and stretched. Then, “Thud!” she fell on her back.
Kwena ya gagabela ka meetsing e befetšwe.
Indlovu yabheka umboko wayo. “Maye! Ikhala lami leli, elide kangaka?”
Ngokudikwa kukuphuncukwa sisidlo, ingwenya yatshona phantsi kwamazi.
Crocodile sunk back into the water. He was cross about losing his dinner.
Tlowana ya lebelela nko ya yona. E be e sa bone gore e felela kae.
Lalilide kangangoba lalikwazi ukufinyelela emagatsheni aphezulu esihlahleni.
Ithole lendlovu lajonga impumlo yalo. Kodwa lalingakwazi ukubona apho yayiphela khona!
Baby Elephant looked at her nose. It was stretched very long. She could not see where it ended!
Nko e be e le ye telele e kgona le go fihlelela dienywa mehlareng.
Indlovu kwayisiza lokhu. Yayisikwazi ukuzigeza umhlane wayo ngamanzi uma ilanga lishisa.
Impumlo yalo yayinde kangangokuba yayinokukwazi ukukha iziqhamo emasebeni aphezulu emithi.
Her nose was so long she could pick fruit from high branches.
Le go ihlapiša ka mokokotlong. Le go fihla lehono ditlou di na le dinko tše telele tša go ba le mohola.
Kusukela ngalelo langa, zonke izindlovu zinemiboko emide elusizo kuzona.
Impumlo yalo yayinde kangangokuba yayinokukwazi nokuhlamba umqolo walo ngamanzi. Ukusukela ngaloo mini, zonke iindlovu zaba nemiboko emide eluncedo.
Her nose was so long she could shower her back with water. From that day, all elephants had long and useful trunks.
Written by: Judith Baker
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Atteridgeville Pilot Teachers
