4 silak Kanuivâ?

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

âa
yes
auka
no
silak
weather; the environment; outdoors
silak Kanuivâ
What's the weather like?
silak Kanuivâ inigijanni?
How's the weather where you are?
siKinik
sun
siKinigâjuk
sunny (it's...)
siKinigângituk
sunny (It is not ...)
silakKisuak
beautiful weather
allaKijuk
clear skies
silalujuk
rains (it...)
Kannivuk
snowing (it's...)
Kannivâ?
snowing (Is it...?)
natiguvivuk
blizzard (there is a...)
natiguvivâ?
blizzard (Is there a...?)
natiguvingituk
blizzard (there is not a...)
nuvujavuk
cloudy (it is...)
nuvujak
cloud
nillatâttuk
cold weather
Kisigijuk
drizzling (it's...)
anugijuk
windy (it's...)
anugingilak
wind (There's no...)
tattujuk
foggy (it is)
akKunak
stormy weather

Grammar

9 » The Negative

The affix -ngi- can be inserted between the root of a word and the ending to express the negative (he/she is not...):

mingutu + ngi + lak =  
mingutungilak He/she is not tired.
   
Kuviasuk + ngi + tuk =  
Kuviasungituk He/she is not happy.

The negative affix -ngit- is often followed by a veb ending that starts with -la:

Kannik + nngi + lak =  
Kanningilak It is not snowing.
   
anuigik + kKau + ngit + lak =  
anugikKaungilak ullâk  It was not windy this morning.

Here is a complete set of these endings:

tukisiangilanga I do not understand.
tukisiangilatit You do not understand.
tukisiangilak He/she does not understand.
tukisiangilaguk We (2) do not understand.
tukisiangilatik You (2) do not understand.
tukisiangilâk They (2) do not understand.
tukisiangilagut We (3+) do not understand.
tukisiangilasi You (3+) do not understand.
tukisiangilat They (3+) do not understand.

Note that the negative affix -ngit- deletes a consonant sound that comes immediately before it :

silalu + lâ+ ngi + lak =  
Kauppat silalulângilâk It will not rain tomorrow.