1885 ad: Spose mika tikeh iskum iktas
From “a paper for the times” in the late frontier era, a Chinuk Wawa advertisement…
Spose mika tikeh iskum iktas, kla-
tawa kopa Yeaton’s makook house.
Hiu iktahs mitlite, pe konaway hias
tenas makook. Delate wawa.
— from the Snohomish City (Washington Territory) Eye of August 15, 1885, page 3, column 2
This is perfectly good Chinook Jargon:
Spose mika tikeh iskum iktas,
spus mayka tíki ískam íkta-s,
‘If you want to pick up some stuff,’
klatawa kopa Yeaton’s makook house.
łátwa kʰupa yéytəns* mákuk-hàws.
‘go to Yeaton’s store.’
Hiu iktahs mitlite,
háyú íkta-s míłayt,
‘There are lots of good things there,’
pe konaway hias tenas makook.
pi kʰánawi hayas-tənəs-mákuk.
‘and it’s all very low-priced.’
Delate wawa.
dléyt wáwa.
‘It’s true.’
