Dialogue: Weather
Sarah:
silak Kanuivâ inigijatsini? Kannivâ?silak Kanuivâ inigijatsini?How's your weather there? Is it snowing?
Johnny:
auka, Kanningilak. pitsilivâ Hopedalimi?auka, Kanningilak. pitsilivâ Hopedalimi?No, it's not snowing. Is there a blizzard in Hopedale?
Sarah:
auka, siKinigâvuk mâni ullumi.auka, siKinigâvuk mâni ullumi. No, it’s sunny here today.
Johnny:
âhai, piuvuk.âhai, piuvuk. Okay, good.
Vocabulary
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âa
yes
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auka
no
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silak
weather; the environment; outdoors
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silak Kanuivâ
What's the weather like?
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silak Kanuivâ inigijanni?
How's the weather where you are?
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siKinik
sun
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siKinigâjuk
sunny (it's...)
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siKinigânngituk
sunny (It is not ...)
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silakKisuak
beautiful weather
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allaKijuk
clear skies
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silalujuk
rains (it...)
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Kannivuk
snowing (it's...)
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Kannivâ?
snowing (Is it...?)
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natiguvivuk
blizzard (there is a...)
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natiguvivâ?
blizzard (Is there a...?)
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natiguvinngituk
blizzard (there is not a...)
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nuvujavuk
cloudy (it is...)
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nuvujak
cloud
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nillatâttuk
cold weather
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Kisigijuk
drizzling (it's...)
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anugijuk
windy (it's...)
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anuginngilak
wind (There's no...)
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tattujuk
foggy (it is)
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akKunak
stormy weather
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Grammar
9 » The Negative
The affix -nngi- can be inserted between the root of a word and the ending to express the negative (he/she is not...):
| mingutu + nngi + lak = | |
| mingutunngilak | He/she is not tired. |
| Kuviasuk + nngi + tuk = | |
| Kuviasunngituk | He/she is not happy. |
The negative affix -nngi- is often followed by a veb ending that starts with -la:
| Kannik + nngi + lak = | |
| Kanninngilak | It is not snowing. |
| anuigik + kKau + nngit + lak = | |
| anugikKaungilak* ullâk | It was not windy this morning. |
* Remember the rule of double consonants. -nngi shortens to -ngi after the double kK sound.
Here is a complete set of these endings:
| tukisianngilanga | I do not understand. |
| tukisianngilatit | You do not understand. |
| tukisianngilak | He/she does not understand. |
| tukisianngilaguk | We (2) do not understand. |
| tukisianngilatik | You (2) do not understand. |
| tukisianngilâk | They (2) do not understand. |
| tukisianngilagut | We (3+) do not understand. |
| tukisianngilasi | You (3+) do not understand. |
| tukisianngilat | They (3+) do not understand. |
Note that the negative affix -nngi- deletes a consonant sound that comes immediately before it :
| silalu + lât + nngi + lak = | |
| Kauppat silalulânngilâk | It will not rain tomorrow. |