The “AnKati Naika Tikki Whiski” song is a great way to learn “silent IT”!

As sung by Skokomish elder Henry Ruben Allen (1864-1956) several decades ago, this song quickly teaches you how to use “silent IT”. (Symbolized by Ø here.)

Henry Allen (image credit: Family Search)

Fun incidental fact: Mr Allen could also speak some Lower Chehalis Salish — one of the “parents” of Chinuk Wawa — although it wasn’t his home language.

Okay, here are the lyrics, so you can sing along with the video:

Ankati naika tikki whiski,     (I used to drink alcohol,)
Ankati naika tikki whiski,
Ankati naika tikki whiski,
Pi alta naika mash Ø!             
(but now I’ve left it behind!)

Alta naika mash Ø!                   (Now I’ve left it behind!)
Alta naika mash Ø! 

Ankati naika tikki whiski,      (I used to drink alcohol,) 
Pi alta naika mash Ø!               
(but now I’ve left it behind!) 

Whiski mimaloos tilihum,     (Alcohol kills people,) 
Whiski mimaloos tilihum,
Whiski mimaloos tilihum,
Pi alta naika mash Ø!               
(And now I’ve left it behind!)

 

In the video, this song starts at 11:26 (click that blue time stamp).

Bonus fact:

Go read the couple of articles I’ve written here about the same song!

𛰅𛱁‌𛰃𛱂 𛰙𛱁𛱆‌𛰅𛱁 𛰃𛱄𛰙‌𛰃𛱄𛰙? qʰáta mayka tə́mtəm? kata maika tumtum?  Qu’en penses-tu?  What do you think? And can you say it in Chinuk Wawa?