8. Concerning the Otchibwe Language
Familiar phrases
to facilitate conversation in the Indian language.
(Wikwemikong, 1872)
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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.]