THE LANGUAGE BOOK ISIPIKISKWEHK MASINAHIKAN NWT Cree Language Program DEDICATED TO THE FOLLOWING KISKISIWIN Vina Chalifoux Irene Sanderson and Jack Desjarlais And all language speakers across the country. Kahkiyaw pekiskwehk nêhiyawêw askiy mamawi mina Introduction Nakayaskamohtahiwewin Tawaw’ welcome to the NWT Cree Language Program’s pekiskwewin masinahikan “Language Book”. This book is comprised of different dialects and sections on the Michif language, which is a language made up of Cree and French that is spoken by a small number of elders. The Program hopes this book will serve as a good tool and guide for learning the different dialects and languages. Included as well are stories of legends and Cree songs. Cree has a large language family tree in Canada and spoken dialects differ from each region Fort Smith has several dialects spoken in Cree. Work has been done with different speakers to bring you a diverse dictionary to have and learn from. The book covers a wide range of conversation. It offers alphabet charts, along with a syllabics chart. The Program hopes to revitalize the language in many ways. Please enjoy using this book as an everyday tool for learning the many dialects of the Cree language. Its compatibility size makes it great to carry and bring with you anywhere. Vance Sanderson NWT Cree Language Manager 5 Michif Language Lesson Pêtos Pîkiskwewin Kiskinohamakewin Michif Consonant/Vowel Blend Michif Bush Cree Sht ....................................... oshtiwàn........................... ostikwan Shp ...................................... ishpatinaw ....................... amacowemow Zh ......................................... ròzh .................................... mistatim Nd ......................................... tànde .................................. tânte Ch ......................................... pichi ................................... pchi/apisâsin Sh ......................................... kêshpin ............................. âsha/asây Nn ......................................... farinn ................................. askipahkwesikan Ndo ...................................... ndototàn ........................... nipetotan ohci Nda ...................................... ndawàpamaw ................. niwêtitow wapamaw Lw ......................................... pàpiw ................................. pâhpow Eu ......................................... deu ...................................... nîso Oeu ...................................... boeur ................................. tohtôsapôwipimiy Uy ......................................... kekwuy .............................. kîkway Oe ......................................... doeteur ............................. maskihkîwyiniw Aw ........................................ vawntr ............................... matay 6 Michif Verbs: Prefixes, Suffixes and Tenses English verb Michif Prefix Root Suffix To come ................................ pètikwe ...................... - ..........pètikwe ............. - He/She is coming in ....... pètikwew ................... - ..........pètikwe ............. w They are coming in ......... pètikwewak .............. - ..........pètikwe ............. wak They came in...................... kêpètikwewak ......... kê .......pètikwe ............. wak They will come in ............. tapètikwewak .......... ta ........pètikwe ............. wak To walk .................................. pimote ........................ - ..........pimote .............. - He/She is walking ............ pimotew ..................... - ..........pimote .............. w They are walking .............. pimotewak ................ - ..........pimote .............. wak They walked ....................... kêpimotewak ........... kê .......pimote .............. wak They will walk .................... tapimotewak ............ ta ........pimote .............. wak To cry .................................... matò ............................ - ..........matò .................. - He/She is crying ............... matòw ......................... - ..........matò .................. w They are crying ................. matòwak .................... - ..........matò .................. wak They cried ........................... kêmatòwak ............... kê .......matò .................. wak They will cry ....................... tamatòwak ................ ta ........matò .................. wak To work ................................. atoshkewin ............... - ..........atoshkewin ..... - He/She is working ........... atoshkewinw ........... - ..........atoshkewin ..... w They are working ............. atoshkewinwak ...... - ..........atoshkewin ..... wak They worked ....................... kêtoshkewinwak .... kê .......atoshkewin ..... wak They will work ................... tatoshkewinwak ..... ta ........atoshkewin ..... wak 7 Michif Vowel Pronunciation The A in ashtam (come) sounds like the A in about. The Á in ásha (already) sounds like the A in father. The E in set (seven) sounds like the E in met. The É in awéyak (someone) sounds like the EE in free. The I in michin (medicine) sounds like the I in sit. The O in kotik (someone) sounds like the OO in book. The Ó in rózh (red) sounds like the OO in food. The U in ashum (feed him/her) sounds like the U in hut. 8 Cahkipêhikan-nikamowin Syllabics Song (ta-kî-nikamohk tâpiskôc "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star") 9 Bush Cree Alphabet Letters English Accent Cree Accent Translation a stuck tepwata call it ā rat sakāhk bush c change kitocikun guitar e deep iskwesis girl ē bed kēhtehīya elder h how peho wait i hit ispimihk up ī sheet nīpīy water k get mahkesis fox k kick kikway what m metal pisim sun o look ohci for ō over ōta here p please pekiskwewin voice s stay sikāk skunk t try atik caribou u us paskisikun gun w west iskwahtem door y yellow chēkiyikun axe 10 Sound Combinations In Cree there seems to be vowel/consonant sounds that work together. In linguistics we call these vowel combinations 'diphthongs'. Diphthongs are any vowel/consonant combinations that show a noticeable change during their production. For example, in English, the vowel/consonant combinations of [ew] or [ue], like in 'flew' or 'blue' can sound more like a [u] sound then a [e] or [w] sound on its own. Similarly an [ow] sound in English, like in the words 'bow' or 'house', is very different than either the [o] or [w] sounds standing on their own. In Cree then, it is proposed that there are also 'diphthongs' or vowel/consonant combinations. The following are some examples of some of the vowel combinations found to be similar to the English diphthongs. In English the diphthongs [ow] or [ou] in words like 'cow' or 'house' show a vowel/ vowel or vowel/consonant combination. In Cree, the word 'white' also shows a similar pattern. 'wapskow' also shows a vowel/consonant combination. Pluralization In English, an [-s] is added to mark something that is more than one. Similarly, and in most basic terms, Cree too adds an ending. In Cree, the ending [-ohk] is added to mark plurals. For example the word for 'cat' in Cree is 'menos' and 'cats' is 'menosohk', This is a simplified look at the pluralization patterns in Cree and although there is a lot more that could be said about the way number is used in Cree. New Cree learners should always listen and ask native Cree speakers about how they should say something that is more than one. Animacy vs.Inanlmacy In Cree, generally speaking, anything that is not living is inanimate and anything living is animate. Also such things as fire, earth, water and wind are considered to be animate, due to the nature of their meaning and significance within the Cree culture. Finally, in dis- cussions of animacy with the Cree speaker, things like pipes and drums, are inanimate if they are standing on their own, but if they are smoked or played they become animate. The linguistic cues for animacy and inanimacy are complicated and very detailed. Fur- ther work with a native speaker by the student could help to identity these. Furthermore, referencing other dictionaries and linguistic analysis can further portray the notion of ani- macy to the Cree speaker. As for English there is no distinction, structurally, for animacy. 11 Eating, utensils and food Micisowin Âpacikana Mîcisowin Utensils English Michif Bush Cree Bowl/cup ........................... bol ....................................... mîcimâpo-oyakan Butcher knife .................. gran koutó ....................... mistihkomân Fork ..................................... fourshet ............................ cîstahtispwâkan Knife ................................... koutó .................................. môhkomân Plate .................................... nasyet ................................ oyakan Saucer ................................ nisop .................................. aspascikanis Spoon ................................. chouyer ............................. emihkwanis Food English Michif Bush Cree Bacon ................................................................................ kookosi'weyin Baking powder .............................................................. opêhkus'ikun Bannock ............................gallet................................... pahkwêsikan Barley ................................................................................ iskwesisikanis Blueberry......................................................................... enimina Bread ..................................paen ...................................