Here is a taotaomo’na story from Luta about a taotaomo’na named Tangulu, which literally translates to “skull”. It’s a combination of the words to’lang (which means “bone”) and ulu (which means “head”). Have any of you heard of Tangulu? This story was completely brand new for me, so I’m excited for us to read this in our Saturday morning praktika this week.

This post includes the Chamorro text, English translation, and Chamorro narration by Jay Che’le. Happy reading!

Hu Li’e’ Si Tangulu

Ginen i “Lepblon Manaitai Para I Sinko Grådu”
Nina’huyong nu i Marianas District Education Media Production

Un tiempo eståba un påtgon na’ån-ña si Maria. Si Maria sumén bråbu na påtgon.

Un diha, humånao si Maria yan dos amigå-ña para u fanngayu. Annai manngangayu, manádingu i tres manamiga. Si Maria eståba na mungangayu gi un lobrigu na lugåt. Pues mientras sísigi si Maria di manutot håyu ha siente na guaha mómongmong gi fi’on-ña. Pumåra manutot håyu ya manatan. Ha hungok ta’lo na kulan guaha mamómokkat ya sigi palakpak mo’na. Ha bira gue’ ya ha fåna’ ayu na direksion annai guaha palálakpak. Gigon ha’ i fanatan-ña, ha li’e’ un dångkolon taotao, na mulåtútu ya kulang ayu i matai na hågon talisai kulot-ña i taotao.

Ilek-ña si Maria gi sanhalom-ña, “Tåya’ nai manli’e’ yu’ taiguini na dångkolon taotao. Håfa este na klåsen taotao? Ti taotao-ta este.”

Pues tumótohge ha’ si Maria ya ha á’atan i taotao. I taotao lokkue’ ha atan si Maria ya sigi humånao mo’na. Este na taotao humånao umé’egeng.

Ilek-ña ta’lo si Maria gi sanhalom-ña, “Håfa este na guahu yanggen para bai hu hånao dumídilok yu’ sa’ i ramas håyu siha. Guiya este na taotao, dångkolo’ ya ti ma’ó’otto gi hayu siha?”

Mampos nina’manman si Maria ya sigi ha’ ha atan i hinanao i taotao. Gigon ha’ måtto i taotao gi otro fina’lobrigu ta’lo na lugåt, malingu ha’ ensigidas. Ayu na muma’åñao si Maria ya ha ågang i dos amigå-ña ya ilek-ña, “Ai, fanmámaila’ ya ta fanhånao.”

Ha yute’ si Maria i nginayu-ña ya ha dingu i dos amigå-ña ya duru malågu asta i gima’-ñiha. Gigon måtto guatu ilek-ña as tatå-ña, “Båsta yu’ sa’ gof ma’åñao yu’.”

Ilek-ña si tatå-ña, “Ai i hagå-hu sa’ un li’e’ si Tangulu.”

“Si Tangulu ayu?” finaisen as Maria.

“Hunggan.” Ilek-ña si tatå-ña. “Un li’e’ i hagå-hu, si Tangulu.”

“Båsta ha’ yu’ ngumayu.” Ilek-ña si Maria.

I Saw Tangulu

From the “Reading Book for the 5th Grade”
Printed by the Marianas District Education Media Production

Once there was a child named Maria. Maria was an active kid.

One day, Maria went with two of her friends to gather firewood. While they were gathering wood, the three friends split up. Maria was collecting wood in an area that was heavily shaded by the trees. While Maria continued to cut wood, she felt something pounding near her. She stopped cutting wood and looked. She then heard a sound like someone walking with a crackling sound ahead. She turned to face the direction where there was a crackling noise. As soon as she looked, she saw a large person with very curly hair and skin the color of dead almond leaves.

Maria said to herself, “I’ve never seen a person this big before. What kind of person is this? This isn’t one of our people.”

Maria stood there, looking at the person. The person looked at Maria and continued walking. This person walked with a tilt.

Again, Maria said to herself, “Why is it that when I’m walking, I’m poked by the branches of the trees. This person is big, yet hi isn’t bumping into the trees?”

Maria was puzzled and continued to watch the person leave. As soon as they got to another densley shaded area, the person instantly vanished. That’s when Maria became scared and called her two friends, saying, “Oh, come and let’s go.”

Maria threw down the wood she had gathered and left her two friends and ran to their house. As soon as she got there, she said to her dad, “I stopped because I’m very scared.”

Her father said, “Oh, my daughter, you saw Tangulu.”

“That was Tangulu?” Maria asked.

“Yes.” Her father said. “You saw Tangulu, daughter.”

“I won’t gather firewood anymore,” said Maria.

Study Resources

References

Lepblon manaitai para i Sinko gradu. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands ROTA Project. 1976. Mariana Islands : Mariana District Education Media Production. 
oai:pacific.library.manoa.hawaii.edu:547387