---
title: Hlakanyana said: “You have killed my calf, the calf that I received… — Kaffir folk-lore · tree and pragmatics
description: Hlakanyana said: “You have killed my calf, the calf that I received from the keepers of calves, the keepers of calves that killed my goat, the goat that I received from the boys that were tending goats, the boys that broke my pot, the pot that I received from the people who make pots, the people who
---

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[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Kaffir folk-lore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/) / [The Story of Hlakanyana.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/10/) / 237

# Kaffir folk-lore, The Story of Hlakanyana., sentence 237

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hlakanyana said: “You have killed my calf, the calf that I received from the keepers of calves, the keepers of calves that killed my goat, the goat that I received from the boys that were tending goats, the boys that broke my pot, the pot that I received from the people who make pots, the people who broke my digging-stick, the digging-stick that I received from my companion, my companion who ate my birds and left me with the heads.”

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**Who acts:** Hlakanyana, calves, that, boys, people, companion · **What happens:** say, kill, receive, tend, be, break · **To what, where:** You, calf, keepers, goat, tending goats, pot · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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This is a sentence of «Kaffir folk-lore» by George McCall Theal, The Story of Hlakanyana.. The page gives its syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause: who acts (Hlakanyana, calves, that, boys), what happens, when and where, as Mova's frames read it from the tree.

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**Mova's own parse.** This tree may be wrong.

## The tree {#tree}

```conllu
# sent_id = book:pg71335:10:237
# text = Hlakanyana said: “You have killed my calf, the calf that I received from the keepers of calves, the keepers of calves that killed my goat, the goat that I received from the boys that were tending goats, the boys that broke my pot, the pot that I received from the people who make pots, the people who broke my digging-stick, the digging-stick that I received from my companion, my companion who ate my birds and left me with the heads.”
1	Hlakanyana	Hlakanyana	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
4	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	killed	kill	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	calf	calf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	calf	calf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	appos	_	_
13	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	obj	_	_
14	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	received	receive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	_
16	from	from	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	keepers	keeper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	calves	calf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	keepers	keeper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	conj	_	_
24	of	of	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	calves	calf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	nmod	_	_
26	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	27	nsubj	_	_
27	killed	kill	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	25	acl:relcl	_	_
28	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	29	nmod:poss	_	_
29	goat	goat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	32	punct	_	_
31	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	32	det	_	_
32	goat	goat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	appos	_	_
33	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	35	obj	_	_
34	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	35	nsubj	_	_
35	received	receive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	32	acl:relcl	_	_
36	from	from	ADP	IN	_	38	case	_	_
37	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	38	det	_	_
38	boys	boy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	35	obl	_	_
39	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	42	nsubj	_	_
40	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	42	cop	_	_
41	tending	tend	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	42	amod	_	_
42	goats	goat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	38	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
43	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	45	punct	_	_
44	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	45	det	_	_
45	boys	boy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	42	conj	_	_
46	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	47	nsubj	_	_
47	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	45	acl:relcl	_	_
48	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	49	nmod:poss	_	_
49	pot	pot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	47	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
50	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	52	punct	_	_
51	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	52	det	_	_
52	pot	pot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	49	conj	_	_
53	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	55	obj	_	_
54	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	55	nsubj	_	_
55	received	receive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	52	acl:relcl	_	_
56	from	from	ADP	IN	_	58	case	_	_
57	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	58	det	_	_
58	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	55	obl	_	_
59	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	60	nsubj	_	_
60	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	58	acl:relcl	_	_
61	pots	pot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	60	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
62	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	64	punct	_	_
63	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	64	det	_	_
64	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	42	conj	_	_
65	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	66	nsubj	_	_
66	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	64	acl:relcl	_	_
67	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	70	nmod:poss	_	_
68	digging	digging	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	70	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
69	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	68	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
70	stick	stick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	66	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
71	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	75	punct	_	_
72	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	75	det	_	_
73	digging	digging	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	75	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
74	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	73	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
75	stick	stick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	70	conj	_	_
76	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	78	obj	_	_
77	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	78	nsubj	_	_
78	received	receive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	75	acl:relcl	_	_
79	from	from	ADP	IN	_	81	case	_	_
80	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	81	nmod:poss	_	_
81	companion	companion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	78	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
82	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	84	punct	_	_
83	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	84	nmod:poss	_	_
84	companion	companion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
85	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	86	nsubj	_	_
86	ate	eat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	84	acl:relcl	_	_
87	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	88	nmod:poss	_	_
88	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	86	obj	_	_
89	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	90	cc	_	_
90	left	leave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
91	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	90	iobj	_	_
92	with	with	ADP	IN	_	94	case	_	_
93	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	94	det	_	_
94	heads	head	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	90	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
95	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
96	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

## Pragmatics {#pragmatics}

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Hlakanyana |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **kill** *in a quote* | present · perfect · passive |  | You |  |  |  | my calf and my companion *obj* | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP ADJ»: subject=Experiencer calf=Result |
| 3 | **receive** *in a quote* | past | Hlakanyana | the calf |  | the keepers of calves and the keepers of calves |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent that=Theme from keeper=Source |
| 4 | **kill** *in a quote* | past | calves | my goat |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent goat=Theme |
| 5 | **receive** *in a quote* | past | Hlakanyana | the goat |  |  |  | from the boys | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent that=Theme from boy=Source |
| 6 | **tend** *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn caring-75.2-1-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |
| 7 | **is a** *in a quote* | past | that | tending goats and the boys and the people |  |  |  | the boys *conj*; the people *conj* | tree rules |
| 8 | **break** *in a quote* | past | the boys | my pot and the pot |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer pot=Patient |
| 9 | **receive** *in a quote* | past | Hlakanyana | the pot |  |  |  | from the people | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent that=Theme from people=Source |
| 10 | **make** *in a quote* | present | the people | pots |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pot=Product |
| 11 | **break** *in a quote* | past | the people | my digging stick and the digging stick |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer stick=Patient |
| 12 | **receive** *in a quote* | past | Hlakanyana | the digging stick |  | my companion |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent that=Theme from companion=Source |
| 13 | **eat** *in a quote* | past | my companion | my birds |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bird=Patient |
| 14 | **leave** *in a quote* | past |  |  | Hlakanyana |  |  | with the heads | vn fulfilling-13.4.1 «NP V NP-Fulfilling PP.theme»: agent=Agent i=Recipient with head=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

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**Text:** «Kaffir folk-lore» by George McCall Theal, Project Gutenberg book 71335 (public domain in the USA). **Tree:** Mova's own parse, Elamur Cosmic License. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), the chapter read in order.

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