Amphibians
Frog tsindeˀskyah[1]
[tseen-deh-eh-skyah]
Toad ketǫhskwaˀyęh
[keh-tonh-skwah-ah-yeh]
ǫmahšutaʼa She is grandparent to us[2].
[on-mah-shoo-tah-ah]
ǫma- feminine-zoic singular agent + 1st person plural patient – she – us
-hšuta- verb root – be grandparent to
-ˀ- stative aspect
-a diminutive aspect suffix
Jump teundaʼskwatih It is jumping, has jumped have jumped.
[teh-oon-dah-ah-skwah-teeh]
te- dualic
-u- feminine-zoic singular agent – it
-ndaˀskwat- verb root – jump
-ih stative aspect
Croak atakyahs It talks, croaks.
[ah-tah-kyahs]
ataky- feminine-zoic singular agent – it + verb root – talk
-ahs habitual aspect
[1] It is translated in Barbeau’s Narratives as ‘it stoops’ but that would seem to be a folk etymology, and therefore not an accurate translation.
[2] The toad is called this because a female toad successfully dove for earth to put on the back of the great turtle.