The Taa-laa-wa Dee-ni' Summer Language Institute 2018
Tolowa Dee-ni' Summer Institute Syllabus
College of the Redwoods
Crescent City CA
3:00 – 5:00 pm Room DM 29
July 17, 2018 The Tolowa Dee-ni' Language
The Historical Dené (Athabaskan) Language Family
Tolowa Dee-ni' Language
Grammar, The Bones of the Language
Grammar, The Rules of a Language
Grammar Study verses Speaking the Language
The Alphabet
1968 – 1993 The Unifon Alphabet
1993-1997 The Practical Alaphabet
1997 The Tolowa Dee-ni' Alphabet
Word Classes
Article, Number, Noun, Pronoun, Adjective, Postposition, Adverb, Verb.
Conjunctions, Interjections.
Syntax, Word Order
SOV
Verbal Morphology, Verbs, Taa-laa-wa is a Verbal Language
Verb Root
Thematic Prefixes
Adverbial Prefixes
July 18, 2018 The Pronoun, Persons and the Paragraph and Tense
Independent Pronouns, page 100-101.
shii, nvn, hii, etc.
Dependent Pronouns, Page 117.
1s sh-, 2s n-, 3s Ø-, etc.
Verb Symbols
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1s, 2s, 3s, etc.
Tense Page 112.
Present Ø-
Past sh-, n-, gh-.
Future -te.
Independent and Subordinate Clauses Page 111.
July 19, 2018 Wee-ya' for Today, Nominalization, Making Nouns
Nominalizer -ne / -ni
nalh-daa-ne
Onomatopoeia, From the Sound
t'uu-'tuu-ni
Passive Pronoun Nouns
tvtlh-xvt
Noun Modifying Nouns
xwvn'-xee-nvs
Verbal Root Nouns
tvlh
Phonological Shifted Nouns
'ee-pvlh
Calquing, The Etymology of a Word
taa-xee-de'
Cross-Family Borrowed Nouns
'ee-lhts'u
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1.0 The Pre-Historic Pacific Coast Dené Languages The Pacific Coast Dené (PCD) language family lies along the Pacific Northwest Coast in southern Oregon and in northern California. Following Genesis, the Dené dispersed across nineteen river drainages along the Pacific coast.
After drawing by Victor Golla 1.1 The Algonquian Arrival Lucy Thompson, a Yurok author and historian in 1916, described the arrival of the Algonquian language to the west coast along the Klamath River and the Humboldt Bay making the Division of the California Pacific Coast Languages. Their arrival formed an enduring remoteness between
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PCD that formed the two non-mutually intelligible languages of the Oregon and California PCD languages.
1.2 The Oregon Pacific Coast Dené languages (OPCD) languages are the; Tolowa, Chetco, Tututni, Galice Creek, Applegate River, Upland Takelma, Umpqua and the Siletz Dee-ni'. The OPCD languages formed a mutually intelligible speech community.
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1.3 The California Pacific Coast Dené (CPCD) languages are the Hupa, Chilula, Whilkut, Mattole, Cahto, Bear River, Wailaki, Sinkyone, Nongatl and Lassik. The CPCD languages formed a mutually intelligible speech community.
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2.0 The Tax-ne Nes-ya~ account of Genesis foretells of the dispersion of the Dené Language.
1. In the beginning there was darkness. Three of them existed living aloft in the Sweathouse of Knowledge. Baby Sender, Thunder and Daylight come to consciousness and begin to converse. Daylight agrees and slides the door open and fills the void with light. Hii-ne Sheslh-‘i~ ‘Aa-wvtlh-ts’it hii-me’ ghvtlh-xat-la.
They Sweathouse of-Knowledge in-there they-lived, was-so. Srii-naa-‘vn’-t’ii-na’-‘a, ‘In’-srxii-yvlh-‘a, Yvtlh-xay hii nes-ya~.
Thunder, Baby-Sender, Daylight they exisited. “See tvtlh-shvt le’ k’ee-num-ti~sh.”
“First the-sliding-door now open-it.” Waa-'vn-t'e Yvtlh-xay nast-li~. That-way Daylight became.
2. Golden Berries pelted the earth and filled the earth with water. ‘Alh si~s-xa xvm-nii-te waa-t’i hii tr’ee-nii~-shek.
Before the-ocean will-exist thus he spat-down. Hii mvlh lhchaa~-la, dee-lhts’u.
It with rain-was-so, gold-berries. Ghii si~s-xa dv-ghvtlh-ch’vt-dvn. The ocean poured-into-itself-then. Ghii nvn-nvst-‘a~ duu xvm-nii-dvn.
The earth did-not exist-then.
3. Dry land is pulled from the depths of the sea making Yan'-daa-k'vt, the axis mundi. Tee-hvn’ ‘ee me’-xu’lh-‘i~.
Deep land in-there-is-seen. Dii-ne nvn-‘e lhinlh-sa’-dvn shu’ see-’a~.
This-one earth at-the-center-of correct is-at-first. Hat-t’i yan’ mee-’vn’ xat tr’ee-nin-shvmt ghin-la.
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There-this south out-from an-expanse slid-out, did-so. Xwe’ shaa~ tr’ii-nii~-lhtii~-la. The-tracks alone were-brought-forth, was-so.
4. The White Redwood, the Ash Tree and foot prints rose out of the sea on new land. Lhvn day ghii k’wvt-ta naa-dii~-‘aa~-te.
Truly something that upon-ward it-will-stand. Mee-wi shin-nast-li~ xaa-ghi ch’aa-bay-yu’ tr’aa~-ghee-nvlh-te.
Every summer-season new flowers will-bud. Hii-chu k’vsh-chu-lhk’i k’wvt naa-dii~-‘a~.
Also the-white-redwood upon-there is-standing. Lha’ hii-du’ le’-sri~ mvlh duu naa-ghvtlh-k’vs-te.
One that-one very-tip-of with not the-tide-will-rise-over.
5. The salmon are released into the streams. The earth teemed with life. Lhuk mee-wi nii~-li~ hii min’-ta xwii-naa-lee-la.
Fish every stream in-to they-run, is-so. Ghii ch’ee-yash lhee-nes-ya~.
The birds swarm-together. Xwii-t’i le’ ghvtlh-dvlh-la.
Everyone now runs-forth, is-so.
6. The attempt to make First Human fails. A mass extinction occurs. Daylight's Milk is poured into the sea and new life arrives. Hat-sri~ see xvsh trvslh-sri~ tee-wvn.
Then-later the-first human was-created would-be. IV. Lhaa-‘ii-dee-ne’ lhan-t’i yee-dee-ghvt-na’-la.
One-day many-many-of-them were-dying-off, was-so. Yvtlh-xay ts’uu-see-ne’ si~s-xa min’ taa-nay-ghinlh-ch’vt-la.
Daylight’s milk ocean in was-poured-out, was-so.
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Xwii k’wee-daa-naa~-yaa-la.
All did-come-in, was-so.
7. First Woman and then, First-Man are made. Lha’ shaa~-k’vt-tr’e’ yvslh-sri~.
A beautiful-woman was-created. Srxii-yvlh-’a Yvtlh-xay ‘aylh-nvn, “Dii tr’aa~-xe nn-tr’aa-ne’-tee-la.”
Baby-Sender Daylight tells-him, “This woman your-wife-will-be, is-so.” Lhan srxii-xe nuu-xu’-lhtesh.
Many children you-two-have. Nvn xwii-t’i-ta’ nii~-lii~-te.
You everyone’s-father you-will-be. 8. Genesis foretells the dispersal of the Dené and the transformation of their languages. Dii nant-ne nee-san-k’wes-taa-nii-ch’aa-ta srxii-xe nuy-nii~-lhti~.
These two sixteen children had. Lhtaa-ne dan’-ta slh-xat-dvn.
Some-of-them northward they-live-at. Lhtaa-ne yan’-ta slh-xat-dvn.
Some-of-them southward they-live-at. Nvn nn-mvsr-xee-ye’ srdvn wee-ya’ naa-ch’uu-‘aa-te.
You your-children different languages you-will-speak. Xwii-ne srdvn-‘a xee-she’ xvm-ghii~-nin’-te.
All-of-them differing humans will-come-to-be. Xaa-ma k’wii-daa-naa-ye’ nu’-lii~-te. For-them their-ancestors you-two-will-be.
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3.0 The Southern PCD Language Movements from Yan'-daa-k'vt This account describes a movement of Dee-ni’ to the south from Yan’-daa-k’vt to the Hoopa Valley. Xwes-day Naa-ghast-li~ Hupa They-Became
1. Fifty Dee-ni’ begin dancing while picking berries. Yan’-daa-k’vt-dvn srwee-la’-tvn-nee-san-ne naa-ghalh-yii-la
At-Yan’-daa-k’vt fifty-of-them were-out-playing, was-so. Ch’ee-taa-ghe moyn-xuu-dvn dee-chi yaa-chitlh-delh ‘vt dayn ‘aa-chvn, “Nee-ghit-dash.”
Forest edge-of berries they-are-picking when one said, “Let’s-dance.” Hii-ne nee-ghas-dash ‘vt duu-xuu-sri’-xvm-ni yaa-ghas-li~.
They danced until entranced they-became. Hii-ne ts’an’-chu ts’an’-chu yan’-ta taa-naslh-xat vt nan-ts’vn-chu ‘vn’ tr’inlh-xat. They farther farther southward they-went-into when a-big-mountain to they-came-out. Ghii dee-nvsh chee-ne’ xuu-ch’aa-‘i’ ch’ay-ninlh-ch’vlh-la.
The manzanita brush their-skirts had-tore-off, was-so.
2. A Headman’s daughter becomes estranged and is returned. Lhaa-‘i’ ch’ee-sii-ne xaa-mee-‘vn’ k’ee tash-la. One-of-the girls from-them away had-gone, did. Ch’ee-taa-ghee-ne Yan’-daa-kvt hii ‘vn’ nay-teslh-ti~. Hunters return her to Yan’-daa-k’vt.
3. The others come out in the Hoopa Valley and begin a new life. Hii-du’ yan’-‘vn’-ta nas-ya ‘vt xee-stin’ ‘vn’ tr’ee-nvtlh-xat. That-one southward went till Hoopa-Valley to came-out. Tv-xvm’-t’i ghii Xwes-day hat slh-xat dii-srii-nis. That-place the Hupa at they-live now.
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4. They marry and have many children. Hii-ne xwii-‘a’-ghii~-t’i~.
They all-married. Hii-nee-du’ srxii-xe lhan-day xee-nuy-nii~-lhti~. These-ones children many-many they-had. Tv-xvm’ slh-xat tee-wvn xee-yuslh-ts’it-la. There they-live would they-decided-to, was-so. Hii-ne lhan-ne yaa-ghast-lii~-la. They many-of-them they-became, did-so.
4.0 The Early Historic PCD Dené Movements The Dené civilization encountered Euro-American Spanish explorers following the founding of San Diego in 1769. The Spanish invasion advanced across southern and central California leaving northern California in peace. Spanish ships shot cannon balls into the Yurok village of Tsurai at Trinidad Bay in 1775. The Russians establish Fort Ross in on the central California coast in 1812. This account describes an early historic the Taa-laa-wa Dee-ni’ evacuation to relocate to the Hoopa Valley passing through Yurok territory. At the sight of the ship masts arriving at Yan’- daa-k’vt some Dee-ni’ feared the end of the world had come and left into the interior. Naa-xwvtlh-‘vn’ Xee-nvs Ghost Ship
1. Ghost ships arrive at Yan’-daa-k’vt. Yan’-daa-k’vt-dvn ghii naa-xwvtlh-‘vn’ xee-nvs see-nii~-xvsh-la. At-Yan’-daa-k’vt the ghost ship came ashore, had.
2. Some Yan’-daa-k’vt Dee-ni’ flee in fear to Hoopa Valley. Ghii Yan’-daa-k’vt dee-ni’ lhtaa-ne hii yii-nee-ghaslh-ch’vt-la.
The Yan’-daa-k’vt citizens some-of-them it they-feared, were-so. Lhan-ne Xee-sti~ ‘vn’ naslh-xat. Many Hoopa-Valley to they-went.
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3. The Dee-ni’ become Hupa Dee-ni’. Hii-ne Xwes-day naa-ghast-li~. They Hupa they-became. 5.0 Tolowa Dee-ni’ borrowed two words from the Spaniards.
gloss Spanish Taa-laa-wa Dee-ni’ potato camote ch’aa-muu-de’ mule mula muu-la
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6.0 The OPCD Homeland The Oregon Pacific Coast Dené language was maintained by sea going canoe travel along the coast and rivers and through mountain routes into the interior. The OPCD lived in polities having a capitol and a loyal citizenry. Fellow Dee-ni’ were identified by their speech dialect. The OPCD languages formed four mutually intelligible dialects. Along the coast the Tolowa-Chetco, and Lower Rogue River and in the interior the Upper Rogue River (including the Illinois River) and the Upper Coquille-Umpqua, not shown.
The OPCD homeland is bounded by; The Penutian Language to the north and northeast, The Hokan Language to the east and, The Algonquian Language to the south.
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7.0 These Swadesh terms illustrate the Oregon Pacific Coast Dené mutual dialects.
Gloss Taa-laa-wa Dee-ni’ T'uu-du' Dvn-ni I / me shii shii not duu duu blood dvlh dvlh tooth ghu’/ wu’ ghu / wu fire xwvn’ xwvn swim na’-t'u na’-t’u walk naa-gha naa-gha eat ch’aa~ / yaa~ ch’aa / yaa good / correct shu’ shu’ language wee-ya' wee-yan
7.1 The Voiceless and Voiced Alternation Gloss Taa-laa-wa Dee-ni’ T'uu-du' Dvn-ni water tvtlh-xvt tvl-xvt know yvlh-ts’it yvl-ts’it make yvlh-sri yvl-sri
7.2 The Affricate Alternation Gloss Taa-laa-wa Dee-ni’ T'uu-du' Dvn-ni this dii jii / chii man ch’vs-ne dis-ne / dvs-ne
7.3 Nasal Variance Gloss Taa-laa-wa Dee-ni’ T'uu-du' Dvn-ni many lhan lhaa dog lhin’ lhi’ cold weather xvm-sk’e’s xus-k’vs
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The Taa-laa-wa Dee-ni' Summer Language Institute 2018 woman tr’aa~-xe tr’aa-xe
7.4 The long and Short Vowel Variance Gloss Taa-laa-wa Dee-ni’ T'uu-du' Dvn-ni person / citizen dee-ni’ dvn-ni eye naa-ghe’ nv-ghe egg ch’aa-ghee-she’ ch’v-ghee-she
7.5 Nominal Variation Gloss Taa-laa-wa Dee-ni’ T'uu-du' Dvn-ni tomorrow xash-mvlh ‘aa-xwvn creek tr’ee-ghii~-li~ srxut
7.6 Consonant Variation Gloss Taa-laaa-wa Dee-ni’ T'uu-du' Dvn-ni rump / butt end t’a’ tl’a’ itchy xii~-ghis kin-ghes
8.0 The Military Displacements of the California and Oregon Dené Langage
1. The California-Oregon Dené Tee-‘vn’-naa-nelh-yaa-chu (Holocaust) began in California in 1851 and ended in the Oregon Territory in 1856.
2. The OPCD numbered 10,000 citizens. Euro-American clashes in northern California and southwest Oregon began with the arrival of "Americans" following the 1849 Gold Rush in California and the 1851 gold strike on the Rouge River in the Oregon Territory. The first California legislature passed the Indian Act in 1850 for indentured slavery.
3. In January 1851 California Governor Peter Burnett declared the genocide of the California Indians. “A war of extermination will continue to be waged between the two races until the Indian race becomes extinct.” Most Dené communities were pushed to near extinction. The Holocaust in California ended in 1855. Ninety percent of the Tolowa Dee-ni’ were decimated.
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4. The Coast Reservation at Siletz and Klamath Reservation at Klamath were established by executive order in 1855. By 1856 80 percent of the OPCD population was decimated.
8.1 The OPCD Ethnic Cleansing Period The Holocaust ended in the Oregon Territory in 1856. The removal of the Oregon Dené to the Coast Reservation at Siletz was completed in 1857. The OPCD language was removed to Salish country in the Siletz Valley. The Dené population comprised the largest internee at Siletz. The Dené formed the separate Chetco Council for their affairs.
9.0 The CPCD Ethnic Cleansing Period 1856 – 1862
1. The Dené were driven to the Round Valley reservation in Yuki territory in 1856. The failure of the Klamath Reservation spurred the creation of the Smith River Reservation in 1862. The last of the Eel River Dené warriors and the Wiyot citizens were driven to Smith River.
2. The Treaty of 1864 established the Hoopa Valley Reservation and was eventually confirmed by Executive Order in 1876.
3. In 1868 Congress annulled the Smith River Reservation. The internees were organized for removal to the Hoopa Valley Reservation. The Wailaki warriors instead, were executed. The Tolowa and Wiyot were driven to Hoopa. The internees were remanded to the Hoopa Valley until 1902. They resisted their displacement and persistently escaped to their former homelands throughout this period.
4. The failure of the reservation system brought the Landless California Indians Act to fruition in 1906 and created the Rancheria system in California. The Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation formerly the Smith River Rancheria and the Elk Valley Rancheria.
10.0 Dené Language Continues
1. The Tolowa and Hupa languages continue to be spoken languages.
2. The Tututni and Wailaki languages are undergoing restoration at Siletz and Round Valley.
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10.1 Contemporary Reservations and Rancherias in California and Oregon
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11.0 Conclusion
1. Language Obsolescence
- Dené Population, Culture and Language Colonial and Military Losses - Forced Assimilation – The Boarding Schools - Some Dené languages driven to alien lands for re-settlement underwent obsolescence - English Only Policies
2. Language Survival Perhaps Dené at Hoopa Valley and the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation remain spoken languages because they remained in their homelands. The language continued to have the support of the environs they emerged from during Genesis. Conceivably the languages undergoing restoration did not benefit from the natural home of their languages and their speech communities were faced with competing non-Dené reservation populations.
3. Language Revitalization Wailaki and Siletz Dvn-ni
- Indigenous Language Digital Archive (ILDA) - Archive Materials
4. Teaching and Learning Heritage Dené Language
- Orthographies - Data Recovery - Supporting or Developing a Speech Community - Linguistic Curriculum and New Nouns - Teacher Credentialing
5. Dené for the Today - The Work, Staying in the Language - Cross-Dené Linguistic Innovation
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Bibliography
Bommelyn, Loren Me’-lash-ne Xus We-ya’ - Tolowa Language The Tolowa Language Committee, Crescent City CA 1989 Bommelyn, Loren Me’-lash-ne Now You’re Speaking - Tolowa The Tolowa Dee-ni’ Wee-ya’ Committee, Smith River CA 1995 Bommelyn, Loren Me’-lash-ne Taa-laa-wa Dee-ni’ Wee-ya’ The Tolowa Dee-ni’ Wee-ya’ Committee, Smith River CA 2006 Drucker, Phillip The Tolowa and Their Southwest Oregon Kin University of California, Berkeley CA 1937 DuBois, Cora A. Unpublished Tututni Field Notes University of California, Berkeley CA 1934 Goddard, Pliny Unpublished Field Notes University of California, Berkeley CA 1903 Madley, Benjamin An American Genocide Yale University Press 2016 Spence, Justin D. Language Change, Contact, and Koineization in Pacific Coast Athabaskan University of California, Berkeley 2013 Thompson, Lucy To the American Indian: Reminiscences of a Yurok Woman Heyday Books Berkeley, CA (First Publication 1916) 1991 Tolowa Elder Contributors The Tolowa Language The Center for Community Development, Humboldt State University Arcata CA 1983
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