8. Concerning the Otchibwe Language

Familiar phrases

to facilitate conversation in the Indian language.

(Wikwemikong, 1872)

8. Concerning the Otchibwe Language.

I wish to know well the Otchibwe Language.

Apegish weweni kikendaman wi Otchibwemoian.

[Apegish weweni gikendamaan wii-ojibwemoyaan.]

The Ojibwe Language is very difficult.

Kitchi sanagad Otchibwemowin.

[Gichi-zanagad ojibwemowin.]

I can speak it a little.

Pangi nin gashkiton wi-otchibwemoian.

[Bangii ningashkitoon wii-ojibwemoyaan.]

You will soon speak it better if you endeavor.

Waiba nawatch weweni ki gad otchibwem kishpin wikwatchitoian.

[Wayiiba nawaj weweni gigad-ojibwem giishpin wiikwajitooyan.]

I endeavor indeed, but I can effect nothing.

Nind ano wikwatchiton kawin dash nin gashkitossin.

[Nindano-wiikwajitoon, gaawiin dash ningashkitoosiin.]

I think it will be long before I learn to speak well otchibwe.

Wika ganabatch nin ga gashkiton weweni tchi otchibwemoian.

[Wiikaa ganabaj ninga-gashkitoon weweni ji-ojibwemoyaan.]

I will always speak otchibwe, when I speak to you if you wish.

Nin gad otchibwem mojag genoninanin, kishpin minwendaman.

[Ningad-ojibwem moozhag genooninan, giishpin minwendaman.]

Thank you, friend, do that and so I shall know it sooner.

Migwetch, nidji, mi ge dodaman mi dash geget waiba nawatch tchi kikendaman.

[Miigwech, niijii, mii ge-doodaman mii dash wayiiba nawaj ji-gikendaman.]

Speak slowly, my friend, you speak too fast.

Beka nawatch gigiton, nidji, osam ki dadatabi.

[Bekaa nawaj giigidon, niijii, onzaam gidadaatabii.]

I cannot even understand a half of what you say.

Kawin ganage abita ki nissitotossinon ekitoian.

[Gaawiin ganage aabita ginisidotoosiinoon ekidoyan.]

How do the Indians call this?

Anin aw ejinikadamowad anishinabeg?

[Aaniin a'aw ezhinikadamowaad anishinaabeg.]

This is called...

Ejinikade ow...

[Izhinikaade ow...]

And this how is it called?

Ow dash anin ejinikadeg?

[Ow dash aaniin ezhinikaadeg?]

It is called...

Mi ejinikadeg...

[Mii ezhinikaadeg...]

I will write down these words.

Nin gad ojibianan iniw ikitowinan.

[Ningad-ozhibii'aanan iniw ikidowinan.]

I will write all the otchibwe words, by this means I shall learn the otchipwe language.

Nin wi ojibianan mi ima ge ondji kikendaman otchibwemowin.

[Niwii-ozhibii'aanan mii imaa ge-onji-gikendamaan ojibwemowin..]

Have you nobody, that would teach you constantly?

Kawin na awiia kid aiawassi ge kikinoamokiban mojag?

[Gaawiin na awiiya gidayaawaasii ge-gikinoo'amookiban moozhag?]

No, I have nobody yet but I will employ somebody to teach me.

Ka mashi awiia nind aiawassi, ni gad anona awiia ge-kikinoamawid.

[Gaa mashi awiiya nindayaawaasii, ningad-anoonaa awiiya ge-gikinoo'amawid.]

I will employ you, if you will teach me and you will come every day to give me lessons.

Kin ki gad anonin, kishpin wi kikinoamawiian endasso-gijigak dash ki ga bi-kikinoamaw.

[Giin gigad-anoonin, giishpin wii-gikinoo'amawiyan endaso-giizhigak dash giga-bi-gikinoo'amaw.]

Yes, I promise you, I will come every day to teach you; we will begin to-morrow.

E, ki nakweton sa, endasso-gijigak ki ga bi kikinoamon; wabang ki ga madjitamin.

[En', ginakwetoon sa, endaso-giizhigak giga-bi-gikinoo'amoon; waabang giga-maajitaamin.]

I would be very happy, if I could soon speak the otchibwe language, in order to speak to the Indians.

Nin da kitchi minwendam, waiba tchi kikendaman tchi otchibwemoian, gwaiak tchi wi-ganonagwa anishinabeg.

[Nindaa-gichi-minwendam, wayiiba ji-gikendamaan ji-ojibwemoyaan, gwayak ji-wii-ganoonagwaa.]

Do you understand all I say when I am speaking to you?

Ki nissitotaw na kakina minik ekitoian genoninani?

[Ginisidotaw na gakina minik ekidoyaan genooninaan?]

Certainly I understand you well.

E nange ka, ki nissitoton weweni.

[Enange go, ginisidotoon weweni.]

Do you understand every Indian?

Kakina na anishinabeg ki nissitotawag?

[Gakina na anishinaabeg ginisidotawaag?]

I don't understand every one, I understand some of them.

Kawin kakina nin nissitotawasig, bebejig eta nin nissitotawag.

[Gaawiin gakina ninisidotawaasiig, bebezhig eta ninisidotawaag.]

But some speak too quick to me and I don't know what they say.

Anind dash osam dadatabiwag genojiwadjin, kawin dash nin kikendansin ekitowagwen.

[Aanind dash onzaam dadaatabiiwag genoozhiwaajin, gaawiin dash ningikendanziin ekidowaagwen.]

When they are speaking to each other, do you understand them well?

Api dash ganonidiwad, ki nissitotawag na weweni?

[Apii dash ganoonidiwaad, ginisidotawaag na weweni?]

When they are speaking to each other, I don't undertand them much.

Api ganonidiwad, kawin gwetch nin nissitotawassig.

[Apii ganoonidiwaad, gaawiin gwech ninisidotawaasiig.]

I understand them better, when they speak to me.

Nin nissitotawag awashime api genojiwadji.

[Ninisidotawaag awashime apii genoozhiwaajin.]

You will soon know it, endeavor, don't be discouraged.

Ki ga kikendan waiba, aiangwamissin, kego jagwenimoken.

[Giga-gikendaan wayiiba, ayaangwaamizin gego zhaagwenimoken.]

I am not discouraged and I will not give up.

Kawin nin jagwenimossi, kawin gaie nin wi anijitansi.

[Gaawiin nizhaagwenimosii, gaawiin gaye niwii-aanizhiitanzii.]