Sketch of Grammar of the Chippeway Languages

Title: Sketch of Grammar of the Chippeway Languages

Author: John Summerfield

Release date: November 14, 2006 [eBook #19807] Most recently updated: July 22, 2010

Language: English

Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19807

Credits: Produced by Louise Hope, C. J. Lippert, David Starner and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions (www.canadiana.org))

This is an updated version of an e-text originally produced in November 2006; see end of text for notes.

The e-text consists of two separately published books:

Spellings for the Schools in the Chipeway Language Sketch of Grammar of the Chippeway Language

In the first book (Spellings...), the hyphen - is used to separate syllables. In the second book (Grammar...) the hyphen seems to represent the glottal stop.

In the word lists of the first book, the first entry in each column was sometimes— but not consistently— capitalized. This capitalization has been retained, whether or not the e-text layout replicates the original.

A few punctuation marks in the paradigms and vocabulary lists have been supplied or regularized. Other errors and anomalies are noted with mouse-hover popups. Bracketed text is in the original.

Spelling Grammar Notes on Updated Text

Contents (added by transcriber)

Spellings for the Schools

Spellings

Prayers

Sketch of Grammar

Nouns, Pronouns

Adjectives (including Numbers)

Verbs

Conjugation of "to love" (active)

Conjugation of "to be"

Conjugation of "to be loved" (passive)

Participles, Adverbs, Prepositions, Conjunctions, Interjections

A Fable

Formation of Words

Vocabulary

CHIPEWAY LANGUAGE.

Ah-ne-she-nah-pay, Oo-te-ke-too-we-nun; Kah-ke-ke-noo-ah-mah-ween-twah e-kewh, Ka-nah-wah-pahn-tah-gigk Mah-ze-nah-e-kun.

YORK, U. CANADA:

Printed for the Canada Conference Missionary Society.

1828

SPELLINGS.

Words of one Syllable.

Words of two Syllables accented on the second.

Words of two Syllables, accented on the second.

Words of two syllables accented on the 1st & 2nd.

Words of three syllables accented on the 1st & 2nd.

Words of three Syllables, accented on the second and third.

Words of three Syllables, accented on the second and half accent on the third.

Words of three Syllables accented on the first and third.

Words of three syllables accented on the last.

Words of three syllables accented on the last.

Words of four syllables, accented on the second and fourth.

Words of four syllables accented on the sixth.

Words of five syllables, a full accent on the last, and half accent on the second.

Words of five syllables, accented on the first, the third and last.

Accented on the two first and last.

Too toosh pim me tay

Words of six syllables accented on the third and last.

Accented on the second and last.

Accented on the third and two last.

Accented on the 4th and last.

Ahn e me tah koo zin.

THE LORD'S PRAYER.

Ke-sha-mun-ne-too Oo-que-son Oo-tah-nu-me-tah-koo-se-win.

Neeng-ke-che noo-se-non, Ish-pe-ming a-yah-yun. Ka-che-mun-ne-too-we-ne-kah-soo-yun. Ke-ke-che-ke-too-ke-mah-we-win pe-tah-we-she-nom. A-na-ne-me-wong-kane oo-mah-ke-zhe ah-keeng ne-kah-e-she-wa-pe-se-min; tah-pe-schooch a-she-wa-buk e-we-ty Ish-pe-ming. Me-she-she-nom ka-ne-tah-soo ke-she-kuk me-chim pe-mah-te-se-win. Ki-ya pa-kah-shah-wa-ne-me-she-nom che-sah-ke-che-wa-pe-nah-mah-we-yong mah-che-ah-ye-e-wish, nah-sahb-e-koo a-she shah-wa-ne-mong-ke-twah oo-kooh kah-pah-tah-e-yah-me-ke-chik, ki-ya keen e-she-shah-wa-ne-me-she-nom. Ka-goo we-kah ing-koo-chee ah-ne-e-she-we-she-she-kah-kane che-nah-ne-sah-ne-se-yong; mah-noo sah-koo kah-ke-nah shah-koo-te-nah-mah-we-she-nom mah-che-ah-ye-e-wish. Keen-mah-ween ke te-pain-tahn ke-che-oo-ke-mah-we-win, ki-ya euh ke-che-e-she-wa-pe-se-win, ki-ya euh ah-nah-me-ah-win ka-che-me-nwa-tah-quok, kah-ke-nik ki-ya kah-ke-nik.—Amen.

GRACE BEFORE MEAT.

Ah-noo-shoo-tah-mah-ka-win, che-pwah-we-se-ningk.

O Ke-sha-mun-ne-too Ish-pe-ming a-yah-yun, Shah-wain-tah-mah-we-she-nom mahn-tdah me-chim-pe-mah-te-se-win, 12 kah-pah-ke-te-nah-mah-we-yongk; me-tdush ka-oon-je-mah-skah-we-se-yongk che-ah-noo-ke-tah-koo yun; me-owh Jesus Christ a-spa-ne-moo-yongk. Amen.

GRACE AFTER MEAT.

Ah-noo-shoo-tah-mah-ka-win, kah-e-squah, we-se-ningk.

O Ke-sha-mun-ne-too, neeng-keche Noo-se-non, me-quaich wa-wa-neh kah-we-se-ne-yongk noo-koom, ki-ya ain-tah-soo-ke-she-kuck shah-wain-ne-me-yongk; me-sah-owh Jesus Christ kah-ke-nigk ka-ah-pa-ne-moo-yongk. Amen.

CHIPPEWAY LANGUAGE,

TO WHICH IS ADDED

A VOCABULARY

Of some of the most common Words.

BY JOHN SUMMERFIELD, alias, SAHGAHJEWAGAHBAHWEH.

Cazenovia:

PRESS OF J. F. FAIRCHILD & SON.

1834.

ADVERTISEMENT.

The following pages were written as an exercise for my leisure hours, while attending the Oneida Conference Seminary during the past winter. As it is the first attempt that, to my knowledge, has ever been made to reduce the Chippeway language to any system, it cannot be expected to be otherwise than imperfect, and perhaps may hereafter be found to be, in some respects, erroneous. It is, however, as free from errors as my present means have enabled me to make it. It has been printed at the request of my friends, by a fellow student, at his own suggestion and expense.

J. SUMMERFIELD.

Cazenovia, April 10, 1834.

SKETCH OF GRAMMAR, &c.

The Letters used in the Chippeway Language, are twenty-one, viz. A, a; B, b; C, c; D, d; E, e; G, g; H, h; I, i; J, j; K, k; M, m; N, n; O, o; P, p; Q, q; S, s; T, t; U, u; W, w; Y, y; Z, z. F, L, R, V, and X, are not used.

There are, in the Chippeway Language, ten parts of Speech, namely, the article, the noun, the pronoun, the adjective, the verb, the participle, the adverb, the preposition, the conjunction, and the interjection.

OF THE ARTICLE.

There is but one Article, used definitely both in the masculine and neuter genders, viz. Owh, the, m.; Ewh, the, n.

OF NOUNS.

A Noun is the name of any person, place, or thing; as, Eneneh, man; Kahdahnahqueeng, Kingston; metig, tree.

Nouns are of two sorts, Common and Proper.

Common Nouns stand for kinds containing many sorts, or for sorts containing many individuals under them; as, Ahwaseeh, animal; eneneh, man; kegownh, fish; penaseh, bird.

Proper Nouns are the names appropriated to individuals, as, Charles, Cazenovia, Ganges. [N.B. Proper names, with a few exceptions, are the same as in English.]

To Nouns belong gender, person, number, and case.

GENDER.

Gender is the distinction of nouns with regard to sex.

Nouns have three genders, the masculine, the feminine, and the neuter.

The masculine gender denotes males; as, Eneneh, man.

The feminine gender is applied to animals, fishes, and birds; as, Nahbak, a she bear, &c.

The neuter gender denotes things without sex; as, Wewahquon, a hat.

NUMBER.

Number is the distinction of objects as one or more.

Nouns are of two numbers, the singular and the plural.

The singular number implies but one object; as, Mahzenahegun, a book.

The plural number implies more than one; as, Mahzhenahegahnun, books.

CASE.

Nouns have three cases, the nominative, the possessive, and the objective.

The nominative case simply expresses the name of a thing, &c.; as, Owh quewesanceoobahkahmegezeh, the boy plays.

The possessive case expresses the relation of property or possession, and always ends with the letter o; as, Noosayo wegewaum, my father's house.

The objective case expresses the object of an action or of relation; as John owejeahn Charles, John assists Charles.

Nouns may be declined in the following manner:

OF PRONOUNS.

A Pronoun is a word used instead of a noun, to avoid repeating the same word; as, Pahpenatum eneneh, the man is happy; Pahpenatum, he is happy.

PERSONAL PRONOUNS.

There are three personal pronouns, viz. Neen, I; keen, thou; ween, he; with their plurals, Nenahwind, we; kenahwah, ye or you; wenahwah, they.

Personal pronouns have person, number, gender and case.

The persons of pronouns are three in each number, viz.

Number.—Pronouns have two numbers, the singular and the plural.

5 Case.—Pronouns have three cases, the nominative, the possessive, and the objective.

Pronouns cannot be declined. The cases of each person have the same form.

OF ADJECTIVES.

An Adjective is a word added to a noun to express its quality; as, quahnoj eneneh, a good man; menwawezheh eneneh, an industrious man.

Adjectives are not varied to agree with their nouns, nor do they have any regular comparison.

The following is a list of Numeral Adjectives:

Metahsweh ahshepazhick,

Nestahnah ahsheingoodwahsweh,

OF VERBS.

A Verb is a word which signifies to be, to do, or to suffer; as, Nedahyah, I am; Nedebahkoonewa, I rule; Nedebahkoonegoo, I am ruled.

Verbs are of three kinds, active, passive, and neuter.

A Verb Active expresses an action, and necessarily implies an agent and an object acted upon; as, Nezhahgeah James, I love James.

A Verb Passive expresses passion or a suffering or the receiving of an action, and implies an object acted upon, and an agent by which it is acted upon; as, Chezhahwane­ding, to be loved; John ooje­zhahwanemah neen, John is loved by me.

A Verb Neuter expresses neither action nor passion, but being or a state of being; as, Nenebah, I sleep; Nenahmahdub, I sit.

Verbs have number, person, mood and tense.

NUMBER AND PERSON.

Verbs have two numbers, the singular and the plural.

There are three persons in each number; as,

Nezhahwanega, I love.

Nezhahwane­gamin, we love.

Kezhahwanega, thou lovest.

Kezhahwane­gaim, you love.

Zhawanega, he loves.

Zhahwanegawug, they love.

MOOD.

The moods are five, Indicative, Subjunctive, Imperative, Potential, and the Infinitive.

The Indicative declares or affirms positively, or it asks a question; as, Zhahwanega, he loves; Zhahwaneganah? Does he love?

The Subjunctive expresses action or passion in a doubtful manner; as, Kespin zhahwane­gaid, if he loves.

The Imperative is used for commanding, exhorting, and entreating; as, Mahjahn keen, depart thou; Noodahmooyook, do thou listen.

The Potential implies possibility, liberty, power, will; as, Tahgemewan kahnahbuge, it may rain; Kegahwesenemin kiya kahmenequamin, we shall eat and drink.

The Infinitive simply expresses the signification of the verb; as, Cheezechegang, to do; Chegegedoong, to speak.

TENSE.

Verbs have six tenses, the present, the imperfect, the perfect, the pluperfect, the first and second future tenses.

The present tense represents a present action as taking place at the time in which it is mentioned; as, Nebop, I laugh; Newob, I see; Nedenadum, I think.

The imperfect tense denotes past action or event however distant, finished, but without defining the exact time of its completion; as, Oodanongezahbahneeg ahpe naquaskahwod, they were travelling to the town when he met them.

The perfect tense refers not only to what is past but also conveys an allusion to the present time; as, Ahzheh negegezhetoon nemahzhenahegun, I have finished my letter.

The pluperfect tense represents a thing, not only as past, but also as prior to some other point of time specified in the sentence; as, Ahzehnegegezhetonahbun letter chebwabedahgweshing, I had finished my letter before he arrived.

The first future tense represents the action as yet to come, either with or without respect to the precise time when; as, Owh kezis tahbemookahum wahbung, the sun will rise to-morrow.

The second future tense represents a future action that will be accomplished before another future action; as, Negahwesenenahbun nahwahquaig, I shall have dined at twelve o'clock.

A Verb is conjugated in the following manner:

TO LOVE.—indicative mood.

1. Nege­zhahwane­gamin,

2. Kege­zhahwane­gaim,

1. Ahzehnege­zhahwanega,

2. Ahzehkege­zhahwanega,

3. Ahzehke­zhahwanega,

1. Ahzehnege­zhahwane­gamin,

2. Ahzehkege­zhahwane­gaim,

Ye or you have loved.

3. Ahzehke­zhahwane­gawug,

1. Ahzehnege­zhahwane­ganahbun,

2. Ahzehkege­zhahwane­ganahbun,

3. Ahzehke­zhahwane­gabun,

1. Ahzehnegezhawanegaminahbun,

2. Ahzehkege­zhahwane­gamwahbun,

3. Ahzehke­zhahwane­gabahneeg,

I shall or will love.

Thou shalt or wilt love.

He shall or will love.

1. Negah­zhahwane­gamin,

We shall or will love.

2. Kegah­zhahwane­gaim,

You shall or will love.

3. Tahzhahwane­gawug,

They shall or will love.

1. Negah­zhahwane­ganahbun,

2. Kegah­zhahwane­ganahbun,

Thou wilt have loved.

3. Tahzhahwane­gabun,

1. Negah­zhahwane­gaminahbun,

We shall have loved.

2. Kegah­zhahwane­gamwahbun,

You will have loved.

3. Tahzhahwane­gabahneeg,

They will have loved.

IMPERATIVE MOOD.

1. Tahgahneenega­zhahwanega,

2. Zhahwanegain, or Kezhahwane­ganah,

Love thou, or do thou love.

3. Tahgahween tahzhahwanega,

1. Tahgahnenahwind gahzhahwane­gamin,

2. Zhahwanegayook, or Kezhahwane­gaimnah,

Love ye or you, or do you love.

3. Tahgahwenahwah tahzhahwane­gawug,

POTENTIAL MOOD.

1. Nedah­zhahwane­gamin,

2. Kedah­zhahwane­gaim,

3. Tahzhahwane­gawug.

1. Nedahge­zhahwanega,

2. Kedahge­zhahwanega,

1. Nedahge­zhahwane­gamin,

2. Kedahge­zhahwane­gaim,

3. Tahge­zhahwane­gawug,

1. Nedahgewe­zhahwanega,

2. Kedahgewe­zhahwanega,

Thou mayst have loved.

3. Tahgewe­zhahwanega,

1. Nedahgewe­zhahwane­gamin,

2. Kedahgewe­zhahwane­gaim,

3. Tahgewe­zhahwane­gawug,

They may have loved.

1. Nedahgewe­zhahwane­ganahbun,

2. Kedahgewe­zhahwane­ganahbun,

Thou mightest have loved.

3. Tahgewe­zhahwane­gabun,

He might have loved.

1. Nedahgewe­zhahwane­gaminahbun,

We might have loved.

2. Kedahgewe­zhahwane­gamwahbun,

You might have loved.

3. Tahgewe­zhahwane­gabahneeg,

They might have loved.

SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD.

Kespin zhahwane­gayaun,

Kespin zhahwane­gayun,

Kespin zhahwahnegaid,

Kespin zhahwane­gayong,

Kespin zhahwane­gayaig,

Kespin zhahwane­gawod,

INFINITIVE MOOD.

PARTICIPLES.

Conjugation of the Verb TO BE.

INDICATIVE MOOD.

Nedahgeweahyahnahbun,

Kedahgeweahyahnahbun,

Thou wilt have been.

Negahgeahyahmenahbun,

Kegahgeahyahmwahbun,

They will have been.

IMPERATIVE MOOD.

Be thou or do thou be.

Be ye or you or do you be.

POTENTIAL MOOD.

Koonemah-nedahahyah,

Koonemah-kedahahyah,

Koonemah-nedahahyahmin,

Koonemah-kedahahyaum,

Koonemah-dahahyahwug,

Koonemah-nedahgeahyah,

Koonemah-kedahgeahyah,

Koonemah-tahgeahyah,

Koonemah-nedahgeahyahmin,

Koonemah-kedahgeahyaum,

Koonemah-tahgeahyahwug,

Koonemah-nedahgeahyahnahbun,

Koonemah-kedahgeahyahnahbun,

Thou mayst have been.

Koonemah-tahgeahyahbun,

Koonemah nedahgeahyahminnahbun,

Koonemah kedahgeahyahmwahbun,

Koonemah tahgeahyahbahneeg,

Koonemah nedahgeweahyahnahbun,

Koonemah kedahgeweahyahnahbun,

Thou mightest have been.

Koonemah tahgeweahyahbun,

Koonemah nedahgeweahgahmenanbun,

Koonemah kedahgeweahyahmwahbun,

You might have been.

Koonemah tahgeweahyahbahneeg,

They might have been.

SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD.

Kespin ahyahyahbaun,

Kespin ahyahyongebun,

Kespin ahyahyaigoobun,

INFINITIVE MOOD.

PARTICIPLES.

Conjugation of the Passive Verb TO BE LOVED.

INDICATIVE MOOD.

Nezhahwane­megoonahbun,

Kezhahwane­megoonahbun,

Nezhahwane­megoomenahbun,

Kezhahwane­megoomwahbun,

Thou hast been loved.

Nege­zhahwane­megoomin,

You have been loved.

They have been loved.

Nege­zhahwane­megoonahbun,

Kege­zhahwane­megoonahbun,

Thou hadst been loved.

Nege­zhahwane­megoomenahbun,

Kege­zhahwane­megoomwahbun,

Kezhahwane­mahbahneeg,

They had been loved.

Negah­zhahwane­megoomin,

Kegah­zhahwane­megoom,

Negahge­zhahwane­megoo,

I shall have been loved.

Kegahge­zhahwane­megoo,

Thou wilt have been loved.

He will have been loved.

Negahge­zhahwane­megoomin,

We shall have been loved.

Kegahge­zhahwane­megoom,

You will have been loved.

Tahge­zhahwane­mahwug,

They will have been loved.

IMPERATIVE MOOD.

Tahgahnenegah zhahwane­megoo,

Tahgahkegah zhahwane­megoo,

Be thou loved or do thou be loved.

Tahgahween tahzhahwanemah,

Tahgahnenahwind negah­zhahwane­megoomin,

Tahgahkenahwah kahzhahwane­megoom,

Be you loved or do you be loved.

Tahgahwenahwah tahzhahwane­mahwug,

POTENTIAL MOOD.

Nedahkoonemah­zhahwane­megoo,

Kedahkoonemah­zhahwane­megoo,

Thou mayest be loved.

Tahkoonemah­zhahwanemah,

Nedahkoonemah­zhahwane­megoomin,

Kedahkoonemah­zhahwane­megoom,

Tahkoonemah­zhahwane­mahwug,

Nedahgekoonemah­zhahwane­megoo,

Kedahgekoonemah­zhahwane­megoo,

Thou mightest be loved.

Tahgekoonemah­zhahwanemah,

Nedahgekoonemah­zhahwane­megoomin,

Kedahgekoonemah­zhahwane­megoom,

Tahgekoonemah­zhahwane­mahwug,

They might be loved.

Nedahgekoonemahke­zhahwane­megoo,

I may have been loved.

Kedahgekoonemahke­zhahwane­megoo,

Thou mayest have been loved.

Tahgekoonemahke­zhahwanemah,

He may have been loved.

Nedahgekoonemahke­zhahwane­megoomin,

We may have been loved.

Kedahgekoonemahke­zhahwane­megoom,

You may have been loved.

Tahgekoonemahke­zhahwane­mahwug,

They may have been loved.

Nedahgekoonemahke­zhahwane­megoonahbun,

I might have been loved.

Kedahgekoonemahke­zhahwane­megoonahbun,

Thou mightest have been loved.

Tahgekoonemahke­zhahwane­mahbun,

He might have been loved.

Nedahgekoonemahke­zhahwane­megoomenahbun,

We might have been loved.

Kedahgekoonemahke­zhahwane­megoomwahbun,

You might have been loved.

Tahgekoonemahke­zhahwane­mahbahneeg,

They might have been loved.

SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD.

Kespin zhahwane­megooyaun,

Kespin zhahwane­megooyun,

Kespin zhahwane­mind,

Kespin zhahwane­megooyong,

Kespin zhahwane­megooyaig,

Kespin zhahwane­mindwah,

Kespin zhahwane­megooyahbaun,

Kespin zhahwane­megooyahbun,

Kespin zhahwane­mindebun,

Kespin zhahwane­megooyonggebun,

Kespin zhahwane­megooyaiggoobun,

Kespin zhahwane­mindwahbun,

INFINITIVE MOOD.

PARTICIPLES.

OF PARTICIPLES.

A Participle is a word derived from a Verb, and has the nature of a verb and also of an adjective.

Verbs have two participles, the present and the perfect.

The present participle denotes action or being continued, but not finished. It generally ends in ing, eng, or g; as, Tebahkooneding, Ruling, &c.

The perfect participle denotes action or being, finished. This can also be distinguished by its ending in ed or d; as Pahpid, laughed; Shoshomequanid, smiled.

OF ADVERBS.

An Adverb is a word used to modify the sense of a verb, &c.; as, Kagate quahnoj eneneh, a truly good man.

List of Adverbs:

1. Ingooding, once; neshing, twice; nesing, thrice.

2. Netum, first; Esquache, lastly.

3. Omah, here; ahnedeh, where; negoojee, somewhere; kahweenegoojee, nowhere; ishpeming nahkayah, upward; nesahye-ee nahkayah, downward; esquayong nahkayah, backward; negaun nahkayah, forward, &c.

4. Noogoom, now; chekezheguk, to-day; mawezhah, long ago; pejenahgooh, yesterday; noomahyah, lately; wahbung, to-morrow; bahmah, by and by; kahmahsheh, not yet; kahyahsekah, instantly; waweeb, immediately.

5. Pahgee, little; ahneenmenik, how much.

6. Koonemah, perhaps; mekahweh, perchance.

7. Kagate, verily; aahe, yes, &c.

8. Kah, no; kahweengahnahga, not at all.

9. Ahneen, how; ahneeshnah, why; ahnahpe, when.

10. Nahwuj, more; kagahkoo, most.

OF PREPOSITIONS.

Prepositions serve to connect words with one another and to show the relation between them; as, Cazenove angkeojemahjahkezhodt York, he went from Cazenovia to York.

List of Prepositions:

Pahzhejahye-ee, over; ahnahmahye-ee, under; shepahye-ee, through; ishpeming, above; nesahye-ee, below; keoonjee, from; peoonjee, from; ahwashema, beyond; chegahye-ee, near; negaun, before; Ishquayong, behind; wahsah, off; oogejahye-ee, on or upon; magwaahye-ee, among; ahzheh, after; ahpahgahjeahye-ee, against; ahgahmahye-ee, across; kewetahye-ee, around; nahwahye-ee, amidst; enahkayah, toward, &c.

OF CONJUNCTIONS.

A Conjunction is a word used to connect sentences, so as out of two to make one.

Conjunctions are of two sorts, the Copulative and the Disjunctive.

The following are some of the Conjunctions:

Cop. Kiya, and; Kespin, if; Owh, that; nahyanze, both; dushween, then; ahpe, since; mesah, therefore; ahnesh, wherefore.

Dis. Atah, but; ahzheh, as; dush, than; koone, though; mahmesahwahwah, unless; kespuge, except; pooch, yet.

OF INTERJECTIONS.

An Interjection is a word used to express the sudden emotions of the speaker; as, Tahwah! pemahdezewin 19 nelojegootoge! Alas! I fear for life! O neboowin! Ahneshekewesahgandahmoowin? O death! Where is thy sting?

List of Interjections:

Earnestness or Grief; O! ah! tahwah, alas!

Joy; Yahhahne! yahhahne! &c.

Wonder; Mahmahkahdahkahmig, strange! hahe, hah!

Aversion; Saih! ahwas, away!