Story telling

[wesley]

In English many oral story tellers begin with "once upon a time".
Is there a comparable phrasing structure in Somali... beside the obvious (for S neters) "listen up, a-holes"

[Demure]

"Hada ka hor waxaa dhacday..." I think would best describe "Once upon a time"

My dad uses that often when he tells a story.

[Bagamundo]

Once upon a time=Beri hore.

[zulaika]

maalin maalmaha ka mid ah waxaa jidhey......(i think this would be the equivlent of "once a upon a time..dontcha think?)

[gedo_gurl]

Its 'beri waxaa jirri jirrey' in English 'there was once a...' Cos it usually starts with some animal and its friend/foe. Or an evil woman, or some form of half-man that eats girls.

[Niya]

An adult will start a children's story by saying "sheeko sheeko" (translates into story, story) and the kids will eagerly respond "sheeko xariir" ( literal trans = silk story, but means good story) and the story begins............

[gedo_gurl]

Lol @ Niya, and for some reason a bird would be bottom burping too.

[wesley]

Thanks for the postings! Apparently the audiences' age counts with the introduction of the story.

[PragmaticGal]

How does the rest of it go?

Sheekooy sheeko
Sheeko xariir
Shimbir baa dhuustay
Shaah bay karisay
...?