Kanienkeha':Ka
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Kanienkeha':ka A Beginners Mohawk Language Course By: Candace Squire Ontario Native Literacy Coalition © Ontario Native Literacy Coalition, 2020. Written by Candace Squire Layout and design by Turtle’s Back Publishing Cover - Cornhusk Dolls created by Beverly Doxtator ISBN# 978-1-989431-27-6 Published by Turtle’s Back Publishing, a division of: Ontario Native Literacy Coalition P.O. Box 550 16 Sunrise Court, Suite 407, Ohsweken ON N0A 1M0 Telephone: 519-445-1539 ~ Toll Free: 1-855-368-3072 [email protected] ~ www.onlc.ca This Employment Ontario project is funded by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario and through the Canada-Ontario Job Fund Agreement. The views expressed in the publication are the views of the Recipient and do not necessarily reflect those of the Province. “The Government of Ontario and its agencies are in no way bound by the recommendations contained in this document.” Thank you to Heritage Canada, Aboriginals Peoples’ Program, Aboriginal Languages Initiative component. This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada. Ce project a été rendu possible en partie grâce au gouvernement du Canada. Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 Lesson 1- Sounds ........................................................................................................................... 2 Vowels ........................................................................................................................................ 2 Consonants................................................................................................................................. 3 Consonant Clusters ................................................................................................................... 4 Sound Charts ............................................................................................................................. 4 Exercise 1 ................................................................................................................................... 5 Lesson 2 - Pronoun Charts ........................................................................................................... 7 Lesson 3 – Kanonhweratónhtshera (Thanksgiving Speech) ................................................... 10 Understanding Language ....................................................................................................... 12 Let’s Practice Greeting Each Other ...................................................................................... 15 Our Clans Tsi niionkwen’tarò:ten .................................................................................. 17 Lesson 4 - Words to practice ...................................................................................................... 19 Family....................................................................................................................................... 20 Lesson 5 - Describing People ...................................................................................................... 27 Mental and Emotional Conditions ........................................................................................ 29 Creating sentences, translating and writing ......................................................................... 32 Exercise A ................................................................................................................................ 32 Exercise B ................................................................................................................................ 32 Exercise C ................................................................................................................................ 32 Assignment............................................................................................................................... 33 Lesson 6 - Physical Description in the Past .............................................................................. 33 Possession ................................................................................................................................. 36 Assignment 1............................................................................................................................ 38 Assignment 2............................................................................................................................ 38 Lesson 7 - Verb Study ................................................................................................................. 38 Communication ....................................................................................................................... 41 Assignment............................................................................................................................... 41 Lesson 8 - Weather Words ......................................................................................................... 46 Assignment............................................................................................................................... 49 Time .......................................................................................................................................... 50 Lesson 9 - Describing Where Someone Is ................................................................................. 51 Location ................................................................................................................................... 51 Body Parts................................................................................................................................ 52 Assignment............................................................................................................................... 55 Lesson 10 - Counting People and Animals ............................................................................... 55 Counting People ...................................................................................................................... 55 Animals .................................................................................................................................... 56 Amount..................................................................................................................................... 57 Questions .................................................................................................................................. 57 A Beginners Mohawk Language Course Introduction The following lessons are meant to introduce you to the Kaniakeha language. We must first have a look at sound structure so that you will be able to understand what you will be learning. Many individuals who already speak one language are able to start understanding and using another language. The parts of speech are nine as in other languages – the article, noun, adjective, pronoun, adverb, preposition, conjunction, interjection and the verb. These will be studied as they arise, and you are not expected to know all in this course. By the end of this introductory/beginners’ course, the learner will know the following: • The sounds of the language – the vowels and consonants and be able to read and write words using the double-vowel system of writing; • That the Kaniakeha language divides all objects into two classes animate and inanimate, both for nouns and verbs and also in the article, adjective and pronoun; • That there are two first person’s plural; • That there is no indefinite article ‘a’ the object is simply mentioned alone or with one; • That there is, however, a definite animate and definite inanimate article; • That Nouns have gender (animate and inanimate) and number (singular and plural), the diminutive ending (indicating smallness) derogative ending (term of endearment or derogatory), and locative – indicating location; • That the verb – a word that tells what the action is or the state of something, come in four types and that they can command and negate. And to use the verb, the earner needs to know the seven pronouns and how they are used, as well as the suffixes of the verb; • Develop their vocabulary pertinent to each lesson. Learners will also be aware of: • Adjectives – words that describe the noun • Adverbs – words that modify the verb There are many other aspects of the grammar that can be studied but as this is only an introductory/beginners’ course, further can be learned in intermediate and advanced classes. 1 A Beginners Mohawk Language Course The Kanienkeha':ka alphabet consists of: a e i o on en k n r s t w Lesson 1- Sounds In the Mohawk language there are vowels and consonants that make sounds you need to become familiar with: Vowels “A” sounds like the a in father. “A:” colon (a:) after the vowel makes it a long vowel. Áhskwa bridge À:are curtain Ahthén:no ball À:share knife Atókwa spoon À:there basket Atià:tawi dress/shirt Kanà:ta town “E” sounds like the e in they. “E:” colon (e:) make a long vowel. Short Vowel: É:so much Áhsire blanket Kaié:ri four Kà:sere car Ahseriiè:ta string Ká:iare bag Ohtè:ra roots Óhere corn stock “I” sounds like the i in ski. Short Vowel: Long vowel: Onékeri hay Í:se you Atén:nits cane Í:’I me/I Ó:kwire sapling Thí:ken that one Annitskwà:ra chair Kí:ken this one “O” sounds like the o in note. Short vowel: Long vowel: Oháhsera light/lamp Ohonró:ta tube/pipe Ohsón:kara board