Didactic dialogues in CW dictionaries, Part 8B (Prosch’s 1888/1912 ms. dictionary
Dleit naika wawa masi kopa Alik Kod, yaka wawa kopa okok kopa naika web-sait.
Alex Code saw another item for our thick file on “Didactic Dialogues in Dictionaries of Chinuk Wawa“.
These teaching-oriented conversations can be quite a resource, so please click that link!
Today we get to the very obscure (and ill-fated) dictionary of Thomas W Prosch, out of Seattle.
Here’s the second part of Prosch’s “Conversation in Chinook” from page 106 of the 1912 manuscript version of his dictionary (yes, he also published the book in 1888, but most copies burned up). It’s both Settler “accented” and fluent; I’ll add to Prosch’s presentation style:
- Skokomish nika illahee, pee chahko kopa kanim. I’m from Skokomish, and came by canoe.
skokómish* nayka ílihi, pi cháku kʰupa kəním.
Skokomish my place, and come in canoe
‘My home is Skokomish, and (I) came here by canoe.’
Nika kloshe kumtux mahmoke iskum pish. I know how to catch fish.
nayka ɬúsh-kə́mtəks mamuk-ískam písh.
I well-know make-grab fish
‘I’m really good at fishing.’
Konsee mika potlatch nika kopa pish[?] How much will you pay?
qʰə́nchi mayka pátlach nayka kʰupa písh?
how.much you give me for fish?
‘How much will you give me per fish?’- Kloshe nika nanitch mika. I am glad to meet you.
ɬúsh [Ø] nayka nánich mayka.
good that I see you
‘It’s good meeting you.’
Spose mika tikkee ikt tahla pee sitkum ikt sun nika potlatch… I’ll give you a dollar and a half a day,…
spus mayka tíki íxt dála pi sítkum íxt sán, nayka pátlach [Ø]…
if you want one dollar and half one day, I give it…
‘If you want a dollar and a half, I’ll give it…’
…spose mika kloshe mahmoke kopa nika, mika mitlite mika kanim. …you furnishing your own canoe,…
…spus mayka ɬúsh mámuk kʰupa nayka, [Ø] mayka míɬayt mayka kəním…
…if you well work for me, [and] you have your canoe…
‘…if you do good work for me, and have your own canoe…’ Nika tumtum mika iskum tahtlum hias samun konaway sun. …but I will expect at least ten big salmon every day.
…nayka tə́mtəm [Ø] mayka ískam táɬlam háyás sámən kʰánawi sán…
…my idea that you take ten big salmon every day…
‘I’m thinking you’ll take ten big salmon a day…’
Spose mika klootchman tikkee mahmoke nika potlatch kahkwa chikamin kopa yahka. If your wife wants to fish I’ll pay the same price to her.
spus mayka ɬúchmən tíki mámuk(,) nayka pátlach kákwa chíkʰəmin kʰupa yaka.
if your wife want work, I give like.that money to her.
‘If your wife wants to work, I’ll pay her the same.’- Mika wawa kloshe kopa nika. Your offer is all right.
mayka wáwa ɬúsh kʰupa nayka.
your word good to me.
‘Your words are all right to me.’
Nika wawa nowitka. I accept.
nayka wáwa nawítka.
I say yes.
‘I agree.’
Spose mika potlatch nika, pee nika klootchman pee tenas ikt bit pee sitkum kopa samun,…
If you will give us fifteen cents a salmon, my wife, boy and I…
spus mayka pátlach nayka pi nayka ɬúchmən pi tənás íxt bít pi sítkum kʰupa sámən…
if you give me and my wife and child one dime and half for salmon…
‘If you’ll give me and my wife and kid fifteen cents per salmon…’
…nesika mahmoke tomahla, pee iskum hiyu kloshe pish. …will go to work tomorrow, and will bring you plenty of good fish.
…nsayka mámuk tumála, pi ískam ɬúsh písh.
…we work tomorrow, and take good fish.
‘…we’ll work tomorrow and get some good fish.’
