K18AA — Pregnancy from touch.

A girl becomes pregnant without her knowledge through contact with the bodily secretions of a male character or with objects that he has touched (i.e. not as a result of sexual intercourse, not as a result of the simple desire of the father of her future child, and not through mystical contact with a deity). The story ends with the happy union of the girl and the father of her child.

Berezkin category: Adventures: Acts of heroes

K18.  A boy is born whose father (rarely mother) is unknown. He chooses his true father (mother), who usually occupies the lowest social position. Usually, a group of men or women gather together, each of whom wants the boy to choose him or her.
K18a.  The boy's father is recognised as the man whose bow or arrows he chooses. See motif K18.
k18aa.  A girl becomes pregnant without her knowledge through contact with the bodily secretions of a male character or with objects that he has touched (i.e. not as a result of sexual intercourse, not as a result of the simple desire of the father of her future child, and not through mystical contact with a deity). The story ends with the happy union of the girl and the father of her child.
K18b.  Men or women approach the little boy one after another or take him in their arms. The person who makes the boy stop crying is recognised as his parent. See motif K18.
K18c.  The man in whose arms the boy urinates will be recognised as his father. See motif K18.
K18d.  A young man releases or saves a fish (frog, snake, supernatural creature), it grants his wishes, and he marries a princess. {References to ATU are not entirely reliable. In particular, Uther 2004 includes a Corsican variant (Massignon 1984, No. 66), in which the main part of the plot is missing. References to Balkan variants probably correspond to the definition of the plot, since it does exist among the Bulgarians}.

This motif has been recorded in 45 traditions: Numfoor, Warope, Wamesa (Wandamen, Windesi), Batak (Toba, Dairi), Northern Luzon: Apayao, Bontoc, Nabaloi (Ibaloi), Ifugao, Igorot (highland people, not specified), Ilocan, Ilongot, Isneg, Kalinga, Kankanay, Tingian (Tinggian, Bilongan Itneg); Ibanag, Kasiguran Agta, Keley-i Kallahan, Southern Taiwan: Rukai, Paiwan, Puyuma, Saaroa, Ketangalan, Bahnar, Bana, Sedang, Por, Mon, Khmu (Kammu), Puoc, Gondi (mostly Northern Gondi), Meo (Hmong) of Thailand, Laos and Northern Vietnam, Tats, Svans, Reindeer Koryak, Maritime Koryak (Alyutor), Beaver, Nootka (Nu-chah-nulth), Makah, Western Ojibwa (Chippewa), Eastern Ojibwa (Missisauga, Timagami and other groups in eastern Ontario), Northern Ojibwa (=Severn Ojibwa, Sandy Lake Cree), Western Woods Cree, Eastern Cree, Naskapi, Montagnais, Pawnee, Wichita; Spiro Mound iconography, Plains Cree, Plains Ojibwa, Shuswap, Thompson (Nlaka'pamux), Lushootseed (Puget Sound: Puyallup, Nisqualmi, Snuqualmi, Duwamish, Muckleshoot, Snohomish, Skagit), Lower Chehalis, Upper Chehalis, (Lower) Cowlitz, Western Sahaptin (Upper Cowlitz, Klikitat, Tenino, Umatilla, Yakima, Wallawalla), Nez Perce, Okanagon, Sanpoil, Kutenai, Tupinamba, Lima dep: Costa and adjacent Sierra (Spanish, Kechua, and Jacaru-speaking communities, mostly in Pachacamac, Cajatambo, Canta, Huarochirí; Spanish sources of XVI-XVII centuries), Chipaya, Tacana, Kuikuro, Kalapalo, Calapalo, Bororo, Mocovi; Kechua of Santiago del Estero with probable Guaikuruan substratum; Abipon, Mataco, Toba (incl Pilagá), Upper Chinook: Wasco, Wishram, Clackamas, Kathlamet, Lao