Dee-ni Language Lesson
Sentence Structure:
Syntax means the order in which words appear in a
sentence. Every Language has its own syntax. The basic
sentence structure in Athabaskan is: Noun Verb or Noun
Predicate. A Predicate is an adjective that serves as the
verb in a sentence. Using the Articles "the" or "that" is
optional.
The horse runs/is running.
Ghii
The
(article)
lhin'-chu nalh-da.
horse
runs.
(noun) (verb)
A predicate functions as a verb.This happens when an
adjective is the verb.
The man is tall.
Ghii
The
(article)
dis-ne
nes.
man
tall.
(noun) (adj/pred)
Sentence Composition
The following is a list of basic sentence components. In
the following Lessons they will appear below the words
they identify in bold type and parenthesis.
Noun (noun)- a noun is a word that is used to name a
person, place or thing. They are words like man, bird,
valley, mountain, water or foods.
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Verb (verb)- Verbs are words that express action. They
are words like run, walk, talk and eat.
Postpositions (pp)- postpositions are words like along,
against, between, in, near or with.
Interrogatives (inter)- these words are used to ask
questions. They are words like how, what, where or why.
Adverbs (adv)- these are words that modify a verb. They
are words like already, barely, exactly, never and seldom.
Adjectives (adj)- these are words used to modify nouns.
They are words like big, little, tall, short, black and white.
Pronouns (pnoun)- these are words like him, her, us or
everyone.
Negation (neg)- the negative word in Athabaskan is "duu".
It means no or not. Example:
Duu-de
nothing or none
Duu-shu'
no good
Duu-wat-ch'a
garbage
The other word for negation is "lhaa", it means don't or
stop.
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Simple Sentences
Day-la
What are
(inter)
ch'aa~-ya~?
you eating?
(verb)
Saa-bee-li ch'ee-sha~.
Bread
I am eating.
(noun)
(verb)
Dee-lhat
Mussels
(noun)
ch'ee-sha~.
I am eating.
(verb)
Ghii
see k'wvt daa-svs-da.
The
rock upon I am sitting.
(article) (noun) (pp)
(verb)
'Ee
k'wvt daa-svs-da.
Ground on
I am sitting.
(noun) (pp)
(verb)
Daa-'ee-la haa~ dee-dint-nish?
How
huh you feeling?
(inter)
(verb)
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Shu' dee-dvsht-nish.
Good I am feeling.
(adv)
(verb)
Duu-wa
Bad
(adv)
dee-dvt-nish.
he is feeling.
(verb)
Hii-du' ghee
na'sh-'a.
Him/Her about I am talking.
(Pnoun) (pp)
(verb)
Duu-wa
na'-'a.
Bad
he is talking.
(adv)
(verb)
Duu-wa
Bad
(adv)
Xaa-wan'
Along there
(pp)
lhaa
don't
(neg)
naa-ch'ii~-'a.
you talk.
(verb)
naa-gha.
it is walking.
(verb)
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K'let
Night
(noun)
naa-gha.
he walks.
(verb)
Huu-chan
Blessings
(noun)
xuu
there
(pp)
Nan-ts'vn 'vn'
Mountain to
(noun) (pp)
naa~-gha.
as you go. (walk)
(verb)
nashlh-da.
I am running.
(verb)
Tee-ne xaa-wan'
nanlh-da.
Trail
along
you are running.
(noun)
(pp)
(verb)
'Ee
k'wee
Land
over
(noun) (pp)
San-chvn-tuu-'i'
Acorn soup
(noun)
nalh-da.
it runs.
(verb)
nash-talh.
I like.
(verb)
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Dee-lhat
Mussels
(noun)
nan-talh?
you like?
(verb)
Huu-chan
Good weather
(noun)
sh-'aa-me'
nay-talh.
my grandfather he likes.
(noun)
(verb)
Ch'ii svs Sv-let-si 'vn'
This day
Siletz
to
(art) (noun) (noun) (pp)
tee-see-ya.
I am going.
(verb)
Dee-dvn-la Yuu-ch'in 'vn' tee-saa~-ya?
When is it Eugene to you are going?
(inter)
(noun) (pp)
(verb)
Ghii
The
(art)
mvn' 'vn'
tes-ya.
house to she is going.
(noun) (pp) (verb)
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Gaa-be lhtaa
Coffee some
(noun) (adj)
'ushlh-te.
I want.
(verb)
Lhuk
'vmlh-te?
Salmon you want?
(noun)
(verb)
Ts'vt dii-hii-chu yulh-te.
Money always she wants.
(noun) (adv)
(verb)
Nuu-wee-ya' yulh-ts'it.
Our words she knows.
(noun)
(verb)
Nn-shee-ne'
Your songs
(noun)
'ushlh-ts'it.
I know.
(verb)
Dii-hii-chu shu'
Always
good
(adv)
(adv)
naa-dvtlh-nvsh.
she is working.
(verb)
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Ch'ii svs
staa
ghee naa-dintlh-nvsh.
This day
food about you are working.
(art) (noun) (noun) (pp)
(verb)
Ch'aa-mv shu'
Medicine good
(noun)
(adv)
Saa-bee-li
Bread
(noun)
'inlh-sri.
you are making.
(verb)
'vshlh-sri.
I am making.
(verb)
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