Swearing and “yes”
The “i” here in Chinuk Pipa spelling is northern-dialect “é” for ‘Yes’…
…which I seem to recall is mentioned in Father JMR Le Jeune’s great little “Chinook Rudiments” book.
Image credit: Yarn
The “suir” is a then-new borrowing from locally heard English ‘swear’, which I like because I’ve often noted the connections between Chinook Jargon ‘n’ cussin’…
(I don’t think it’s so much about swearing oaths in Chinuk Wawa, which is another big subject on my website.)
<9.> ShK wiht wawa kopa tilikom: “Tlus wik msaika
‘9. Jesus also told the people: “Don’t’suir, wik msaika iskom ST iaka nim pi ST ilihi iaka
‘swear, don’t take God’s name or God’s land’s’nim pus msaika mamuk skukum msaika wawa. Tlus pus kopit
‘name to strengthen your words. What you should just’kakwa msaika wawa: I*, nawitka, wik, wik…
‘say is: “Yes; it’s true; no, no…” ’
— “Kamloops Wawa” #126 (March 1895), page 41 (Bishop Durieu’s New Testament)
