Mealtime in Wyandotte
Bolded examples are those that are recorded.
Hungry: -oręhš– ‘breath’+ -ast- ‘to be hard’
Kwižuh šatǫręhšahstaˀ Are you hungry?
[kwee-zhooh]
šatǫręhšahstaˀ You are hungry (your breath is hard)
[shah-ton-renh-shah-stah-ah]
š- 2nd person singular agent ‘you’
-at- semireflexive voice
-oręhš– noun root ‘breath’
-ast- verb root‘to be hard, strong’
-aˀ habitual aspect
Hęh yatǫręhšahstaˀ Yes, I am hungry.
[henh]
yatǫręhšahstaˀ I am hungry (my breath is hard)
[yah-ton-renh-shah-stah-ah]
y- 1st person singular agent ‘I, my’
-at- semireflexive voice
-oręhš– noun root ‘breath’
-ast- verb root ‘to be hard, strong’
-aˀ habitual aspect
ąˀą teˀyatǫręhšahstaˀ No, I am not hungry.
[an-an]
teˀyatǫręhšahstaˀ I am not hungry.
[teh-eh-yah-ton-renh-shah-stah-ah]
teˀ- negative prefix
-y- 1st person singular agent ‘I, my’
-at- semireflexive voice
-oręhš– noun root ‘breath’
-ast- verb root ‘to be hard, strong’
-aˀ habitual aspect
To be hungry for[1]: -nǫma-
haˀwahtsanǫmas He is hungry for meat.
[hah-ah-wah-tsah-non-mahs]
ha- masculine singular agent ‘he’
-ˀwahts- noun root ‘meat’
-a- noun suffix
-nǫma- verb root ‘to be hungry for’
-s habitual aspect
yanęhanǫmas She is hungry for corn.
[yah-nen-hah-non-mahs]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent ‘she’
-nęh- noun root ‘corn’
-a- noun suffix
-nǫma- verb root ‘to be hungry for’
-s habitual aspect
yeˀndataranǫmas I am hungry for bread
[yeh-ehn-dah-tah-rah-non-mahs]
ye- 1st person singular agent ‘I’
-ˀndatar- noun root ‘bread’
-a- noun suffix
-nǫma- verb root ‘to be hungry for’
-s habitual aspect
Eating
To eat: -(y)-[2]
ayengyahay I am eating (food).
[ah-yen-gyah-hahy]
aye- 1st person singular patient ‘I’
-ngyah- noun root ‘food’
-a- noun suffix
-y verb root ‘to eat’ + stative aspect
ayengyaha I ate (food).
[ah-yen-gyah-ah-ha]
a- factual
-ye- 1st person singular agent ‘I’
-ngyah- noun root ‘food’
-a- noun suffix + verb root ‘to eat’ + punctual aspect
hangyahaš He eats often.
[han-gyah-hahsh]
ha- masculine singular agent ‘he’
-ngyah- noun root ‘food’
-š verb root ‘to eat’ + habitual aspect
To eat something: -yaž–
eyeˀndatarayažah I will eat bread.
[eh-yen-en-dah-tah-rah-yah-zhah]
e- future
-ye- 1st person singular agent ‘I’
-ˀndatar- noun root ‘bread’
-a- noun suffix
-yaž– verb root ‘to eat’
-ah punctual aspect
yeˀndatarayažahs I often eat bread.
[yen-en-dah-tah-rah-yah-zhahs]
ye- 1st person singular agent ‘I’
-ˀndatar- noun root ‘bread’
-a- noun suffix
-yaž– verb root ‘to eat’
-ahs habitual aspect
ayeˀndatarayažęh I am eating bread.
[ah-yeh-en-dah-tah-rah-yah-zhenh]
aye- 1st person singular patient ‘I’
-ˀndatar- noun root ‘bread’
-a- noun suffix
-yaž– verb root ‘to eat’
-ęh stative aspect
seˀndatarayažah Eat your bread!
[seh-en-dah-tah-rah-yah-zhah]
se- imperative + 2nd person singular agent ‘your’
-ˀndatar- noun root ‘bread’
-a- noun suffix
-yaž– verb root ‘to eat’
-ah imperative aspect
To eat enough, be satiated, full: -ahta-
ayahtahaˀ I have eaten enough.
[ah-yah-tah-hah-ah]
a- factual
-y- 1st person singular agent ‘I’
-ahta- verb root‘to eat enough’
-haˀ inchoative root suffix + punctual aspect
teˀayahtahaˀ I have not eaten enough.
[teh-eh-ah-yah-tah-hah-ah]
teˀ- negative
-a- factual
-y- 1st person singular agent ‘I’
-ahta- verb root ‘to eat enough’
-haˀ inchoative root suffix + punctual aspect
Kwižuh aˀsahtahaˀ Have you eaten enough?
ahšahtahaˀ You have eaten enough.
[ah-shah-tah-hah-ah]
a- factual
-hš- 2nd person singular agent ‘you’
-ahta– verb root ‘to eat enough’
-haˀ inchoative root suffix + punctual aspect
Cooking
To Cook in a Pot, boil: -yanyǫ-
ayayanyǫˀ She cooked (it[3]).
[ah-yah-yan-yon-on]
a- factual prefix
-ya- feminine-zoic singular agent ‘she’
-yanyǫ- verb root ‘to cook’
-ˀ punctual aspect
uyayanyǫˀ She is cooking (it).
[oo-yah-yan-yon-on]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘she’
-yanyǫ- verb root ‘to cook’
-ˀ stative aspect
ǫwayanyǫˀ She is cooking it for us.
[on-wah-yan-yon-on]
ǫwa- feminine-zoic singular agent + 1st person plural patient ‘she to us’
-yanyǫ- verb root ‘to cook’
-ˀ stative aspect
seyanyǫˀ Cook it.
[seh-yan-yon-on]
se- imperative + 2nd person singular agent ‘you’
-yanyǫ- verb root ‘to cook’
-ˀ imperative aspect
ahayanyǫˀ He cooked it.
[ah-hah-yan-yon-on]
a- factual prefix
-ha- masculine singular agent ‘he’
-yanyǫ- verb root ‘to cook’
-ˀ punctual aspect
ahaˀwahtsayanyǫˀ He cooked meat.
[ah-hah-ah-wah-tsah-yan-yon-on]
a- factual prefix
-ha- masculine singular agent ‘he’
-wahts- noun root ‘meat’
-a- noun suffix
-yanyǫ- verb root ‘to cook’
-ˀ punctual aspect
seˀwahtsayanyǫ Cook (the) meat.
[seh-eh-wah-tsah-yan-yon-on]
se- imperative + 2nd person singular agent ‘you’
-ˀwats- noun root ‘meat’
-a- noun suffix
-yanyǫ- verb root ‘to cook’
-ˀ imperative aspect
To Cook (Corn) in Ashes, Coals: -ateˀnyǫ-
awateˀnyǫˀ She cooked corn in ashes, coals.
[ah-wah-ten-en-yon-on]
-aw factual prefix
-ateˀnyǫ- feminine-zoic singular agent + verb root ‘to cook corn in ashes, coals’
-ˀ punctual aspect
unyǫhšaˀ awateˀnyǫˀ She cooked squash in ashes, coals.
unyǫhšaˀ squash, pumpkin
[oon-yonh-shah-ah]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-nyǫhš- noun root ‘squash, pumpkin’
-aˀ noun suffix
uteˀnyǫˀ She is cooking corn in ashes, coals, barbecuing.
[oo-ten-en-yon-on]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘she’
-(a)teˀnyǫ- verb root ‘to cook corn in ashes, coals’
-ˀ stative aspect
uˀwahtsaˀ huteˀnyǫˀ He is cooking meat in coals, barbecuing.
uˀwahtsaˀ meat, flesh
[oo-oo-wah-tsah-ah]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-ˀwahts– noun root ‘meat, flesh’
-aˀ noun suffix
huteˀnyǫˀ He is cooking in coals, barbecuing.
[hoo-ten-en-yon-on]
hu- masculine singular patient ‘he’
-teˀnyǫ– feminine-zoic singular agent + verb root ‘to cook corn in coals’
-ˀ stative suffix
To Bake (to put into fire): -ǫt-
eˀndaˀtarǫtęh I will bake bread, cake.
[en-en-dah-ah-tah-ron-teh]
e- future +1st person singular agent ‘I’[4]
-ˀndaˀtar– noun root‘bread, cornbread, cake’
-ǫt- verb root ‘to put into fire’
-ęh punctual aspect
yaˀndaˀtarǫtah She bakes bread, cakes.
[yan-an-dah-ah-tah-ron-tah]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent ‘she’
-ˀndaˀtar- noun root ‘bread’
-ǫt- verb root ‘to put into fire’
-ah habitual aspect
ayaˀndaˀtarǫtęh She baked bread, a cake.
[ah-yan-an-dah-ah-tah-ron-tenh]
a- factual prefix
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent ‘she’
-ˀndˀtar- noun root ‘bread’
-ǫt- verb root ‘to put into fire’
-ęh punctual aspect
Food, Meal: -kw-
ayekwaˀ my food, meal
[ah-yeh-kwah-ah]
aye- 1st person singular patient ‘my’
-kw- noun root ‘food, meal’
-aˀ noun suffix
sakwaˀ your (s) food, meal
[sah-kwah-ah]
sa- 2nd person singular patient ‘your’
-kw- noun root ‘food, meal’
-aˀ noun suffix
tayekwǫˀ Give me food[5]
[tah-yeh-kwon-on]
t- imperative
-aye- 1st person singular patient ‘me’
-kw- noun root ‘food’
-ǫ- verb root ‘to give’
-ˀ imperative aspect
tawakwǫˀ Give us food.
[tah-wah-kwon-on]
t- imperative
-awa- 1st person inclusive plural agent ‘us’ (but excluding you)
-kw- noun root ‘food’
-ǫ- verb root ‘to give’
-ˀ imperative aspect
deka ukwayawih This food tastes or smells good.
deka this, here
[deh-kah]
ukwayawih food tastes or smells good
[oo-kwah-yah-weeh]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-kw- noun root ‘food’
-a- noun suffix
-yaw- verb root ‘to smell or taste good’
-ih stative aspect
utǫrǫtǫˀ ukwaˀ There is plenty of food.
utǫrǫtǫˀ There is plenty.
[oo-ton-ron-ton-on]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-(a)tǫrǫtǫ- verb root ‘to be plenty’
-ˀ stative aspect
ukwaža There is little food. It is a little food, a snack.
[oo-kwah-zhah]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-kw- noun root ‘food’
-a- verb root ‘to be such a magnitude’
-ža stative aspect + diminutive aspect suffix
ukwuwanęh It is a large meal.
[oo-kwoo-wah-nenh]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-kw- noun root ‘meal’
-uwanę- verb root ‘to be large’
-h stative aspect
Meat, Flesh -ˀwahts-
uˀwahtsaˀ meat, flesh
[oo-oo-wah-tsah-ah]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-ˀwahts- noun root ‘meat, flesh’
-aˀ noun suffix
tayeˀwahtsǫˀ Give me meat, flesh
[tah-yeh-eh-wah-tson-on]
ta- imperative
-ye- 1st person singular agent ‘me’
-ˀwahts- noun root ‘meat, flesh’
-ǫ verb root ‘to give’
-ˀ imperative aspect
deka uwahtsayawih This meat tastes or smells good.
uˀwahtsayawih meat tastes or smells good
[oo-oo-wah-tsah-yah-weeh]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-ˀwahts- noun root ‘meat’
-a- noun suffix
-yaw- verb root ‘to taste or smell good’
-ih stative aspect
kwiskwis uˀwahtsaˀ pig meat, pork
kyutǫhuskwerǫt uˀwahtsaˀ cow meat, beef
kwehsęˀ uˀwahtsaˀ chicken (the meat)
Bread -ˀndaˀtar-
uˀndaˀtaraˀ bread, cornbread, cake
[oo-oon-dah-ah-tah-rah-ah]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-ˀndaˀtar- noun root ‘bread, cornbread, cake’
-aˀ noun suffix
uˀndaˀtarižaˀih She is cutting bread, cake.
[oo-oon-dah-ah-tah-ree-zhah-ah-eeh]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘she’
–ˀndaˀtar- noun root ‘bread’
-ižaˀ- verb root ‘to cut’
-ih stative aspect
uˀndaˀtarawęnǫdih It is round bread, cake.
[oo-oon-dah-ah-tah-rah-wen-on-deeh]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-ˀndaˀtar- noun root ‘bread, cornbread, cake’
-aˀ noun suffix
-węnǫdi- verb root ‘to be round’
-h stative aspect
uˀndaˀtaražuˀtęh It is soft bread, cake.
[oo-oon-dah-ah-tah-rah-zhoo-oo-tenh]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-ˀndaˀtar- noun root ‘bread, cornbread, cake’
-aˀ noun suffix
-žuˀtę- verb root ‘to be soft’
-h stative aspect
uˀndaˀtarayaste It is hard bread, cake.
[oo-oon-dayh-ah-tah-rah-yah-steh]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-ˀndaˀtar- noun root ‘bread, cornbread, cake’
-aˀ noun suffix
-yaste verb root ‘to be hard, firm’ + stative aspect
undatsaˀ uˀndaˀtarongyatih It is bread made of wheat.
undatsaˀ wheat
[oon-dah-tsah-ah]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-ndats- noun root ‘wheat’
-aˀ noun suffix
uˀndaˀtarongyatih Bread is made of it.
[oo-oon-dah-ah-tar-on-gyah-teeh]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-ˀndaˀtar- noun root ‘bread, bread, cake’
-ongy- verb root ‘to make’
-at- causative root suffix
-ih stative aspect
cornmeal, flour: -taˀihšr-
yataˀihšraˀ cornmeal, meal
[yah-tah-ah-ee-shrah-ah]
ya- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
–taˀi– verb root ‘to pound, grind’
-hšr- nominalizer
-aˀ noun suffix
ayetaˀit I ground, pounded corn, grain.
[ah-yeh-tah-ah-eet]
t- factual
-ye- 1st person singular agent ‘I’
-taˀi- verb root ‘to grind, pound’
-t causative root suffix + punctual aspect
yataˀihšraˀ uˀndaˀtarongyatih Bread is made of cornmeal, flour.
Corn Soup, Soup, Food -ngyah-
yangyahaˀ corn soup, soup, food
[yan-gyah-hah-ah]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent ‘it’
-ngyah- noun root ‘corn soup, soup, food’
-aˀ noun suffix
ungyahaˀtarihęh It is hot soup.
[oon-gyah-hah-ah-tah-ree-henh]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
–ngyah- noun root ‘corn soup, soup, food’
-aˀtarih- verb root ‘to be hot’
-ęh stative aspect
ungyahanduhstih It is cold soup.
[oon-gyah-han-doo-steeh]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
–ngyah- noun root ‘corn soup, soup, food’
-a- noun suffix
-ndust- verb root ‘to be cold (water)
-ih stative aspect
tayengyahǫˀ Give me some soup.
[tah-yen-gyah-hon-on]
t- imperative
-aye- 1st person singular patient ‘me’
–ngyah- noun root ‘corn soup, soup, food’
-a- noun suffix
-ǫ- verb root ‘to give’
-ˀ imperative aspect
uyaresaˀ ungyahongyatih It is soup made out of beans.
uyaresaˀ bean, beans
[oo-yah-reh-sah-ah]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-yares– noun root ‘beans’
-aˀ noun suffix
ungyahongyatih It is soup made out of something.
[oon-gyah-hon-gyah-teeh]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-ngyah- noun root ‘soup’
-ongy- verb root ‘to make’
-at- causative root suffix
-ih stative aspect
uyahkwętaˀ ungyahongyatih It is soup made out of peas; pea soup.
uyahkwętaˀ peas
[oo-yah-kwen-tah-ah]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-yahkwęt- noun root ‘peas’
-aˀ noun suffix
kwehsęˀ ungyahongyatih It is soup made out of chicken; chicken soup.
[kweh-sen-en]
[1] This verb root always incorporates a noun.
[2] This appears to be the sometimes apparent verb part of a structurally strange noun and verb combination.
[3] In the Narratives this is presented with a -w- rather than a –
y-, which does not fit with the other examples.
[4] The noun root for ‘bread’ is one of a few in which the -ye- of the 1st person singular agent is dropped.
[5] There is no word meaning ‘please’ in Wyandotte. The politeness lies in how the words are said, a request not a demand or a command.