Current Lakota spelling: Basic. Switch to: | ||
NetSiouan spelling | Basic spelling | Traditional spelling |
Father! até, atéwaye kin, my father, my father's brother (niyáte, your ~; atkúku kin, his ~; atéyA, to have as father, atéwaye, he is my ~).
See also papá, Lakota parents
A child (micínca kin, my ~; nicínca kin, your ~; unkícinca kin, our (mine and my spouse's) child(ren); cincáyA, to have for a child, adopt as a child, cincáwicawaye, they are my children).
See also wakánheja
Son!, a son, a man's brother's son, a woman's sister's son (cinkshí, micínkshi, my ~; nicínkshi, your ~; cinkshítku kin, cinhíntku kin (B&D), his/her son; cinkshíyA, to have as son, cinkshíwaye, he is my ~).
See also Lakota sons & daughters
A man's elder brother, my elder brother; male cousin from the father's side older than oneself (ciyé, ciyéwaye kin, my ~; nicíye, your ~; ciyéku kin (Santee cíncu), his ~; ciyéyA, to have for a ~, ciyéwaye, he is my ~).
See also Lakota sisters & brothers
Daughter!; a daughter; a man's brother's daughter, a woman's sister's daughter (cunkshí, micúnkshi, my ~; nicúnkshi, your ~; cunwíntku kin, his/her ~; cunkshíyA, to have as daughter, cunkshíwaye, she is my ~).
See also Lakota sons & daughters
A woman's elder sister, female cousin from the mother's side older than oneself (cuwé, cuwéwaye kin (Santee cunwé, micún), my ~; nichúwe, your ~; cuwéku kin (Santee cunwéku, cúnku), her ~; cuwéyA, to have for a ~, cuwéyaye, she is your ~).
See also Lakota sisters & brothers
"A man's/woman's elder/younger sister" (Buechel); "his sisters and female cross-cousins, her brothers and male cross-cousins" (Boas&Deloria) ( mahákata, my ~; nihákata, your ~; hakátaku kin, his/her ~; hakátayA, to have for a sister, hakátawaye, she is my ~).
See also Lakota sisters & brothers, thawinoxtin
Man's sister-in-law = 1) a sister of: wife / sibling's spouse / cousin's spouse; 2) a wife of: sibling / cousin; (hankán, hanká, hankánwaye kin, my ~; nihánkan, nihánka, your ~; hankáku kin, his ~; hankáyA, to have for a ~, hankáyaye, she is your ~).
See also Lakota in-laws
A man's female cross-cousin -- blood aunt's/uncle's daughter; (hankánshi, hankánshiwaye kin, my ~; nihánkanshi, your ~; hankáshitku kin, his ~; hankáshiyA, to have for a ~, hankáshiyaye, she is your ~).
See also Lakota uncles, aunts, etc
Husband (no address form except wicáxca!, old man!) (mihíngna, my ~ (very formal, B&D) also wicásha mitáwa; mitáwicasha is used jokingly for "my fellow"); nihíngna, your ~; hingnáku kin, her ~; hingnáyAn, to have as husband, hingnáwaye, he is my~; hingnátun, to have a husband, be married, hingnáwatun, I am married).
See also thawícu
An ancestor; hunkáke, an ancestor, an immediate relative (mihúnkake, my ~; hunkákeyA, to have for an ancestor, hunkákewaye, he is my ~); Hunkálowanpi, a ceremony of Making of Relatives; hunkáyA, to consider & honor as a hunka, hunkáwaye, he is my hunka
Brother (mihúnkawanji, my ~; hunkáwanjitku, his ~; hunkáwanjikiciyapi, brotherhood).
See also Lakota sisters & brothers
His/her mother. See iná
Mother!, mother's sister (Also iná cikala little mother, iná ixa`han make believe mother, terms for mother's sister.) (iná, ináwaye kin, my ~; nihún, your ~; húnku kin, his/her ~; ináyAn, to call her "mother", have as mother, ináwaye, she is my ~).
See also mamá!
Granddad! See also tunkáshila
Friend!, man's friend (mitákola, my ~; nitákola, your ~; takólaku kin, his ~; koláyA, to have as ~, koláwaye, he is my ~; kolákiciyapi, friendship, they are friends). Syn. kicúwa (out-fashioned). Woman's female friend is máshke, washé.
The word kola is included in the list because it has the form thakólaku "his friend" with a kinship -ku suffix.
His/her mother-in-law. See uncíshi.
Paternal grandmother (kunshíwaye kin, my ~; nikúnshi, your ~; kunshítku, kúnshitku kin, his/her ~; kunshíyA, to have as ~, kunshíwaye, she is my ~).
See also uncí
Mother's brother -- blood uncle, my ~. One's father's brother is called ate (lekshí, lekshíwaye kin, (Yankton, Santee. also midékshi B&D), my~; nilékshi, your ~; lekshítku kin, his/her ~; lekshíyA, to have for an uncle, lekshíwaye, he is my ~).
See also Lakota uncles, aunts, etc
Uncle by marriage -- mother's/father's sister's husband (R&T) (lekshílayA, to have as ~; lekshílawaye, he is my ~).
See also Lakota uncles, aunts, etc
Male's brother-in-law. Designates particular companionship. ( mashéyA, to have as ~, mashéwaye, he is my ~).
See also tanhan, washé, kolá
Female friend of a woman. ( mitámashke, mashkéwaye kin, my ~; nitámashke, your ~; thamáshkeku kin, her ~ (Buechel); mashkéyA, to have as ~, mashkéwaye, she is my ~).
See also washé, mashé, kolá
Mom! See also iná
My little brother! See sunká
My relatives!. See takúyA
My wife. See thawícu
The two fathers of husband and wife call each other by this title; and the mothers as well. (omáwahitun (mitáwa), my ~; nitómawahitun, omáwahitun nitáwa, your ~; tómawahitunku kin, his/her ~). This is a term of direct address, used regardless of sex between the parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents of a person, when speaking of/to his/her spouse's parents, uncles, aunts, and grandparents (omáwahitunkiciyapi, they have each other for omáwahitun: omáwahitununkiciyapi, we have..., omáwahitunyeciyapi, you have...; omáwahitunyAn, to have for ~, omáwahitunwaye, he/she is my ~)
Dad! See also até
Stepmother. (shankéyA, to have as ~, shankéwaye, she is my ~).
See also thawágan.
Woman's sister-in-law -- 1) a sister of: husband / sibling's spouse / cousin's spouse; 2) a wife of: sibling / cousin; (cépan, scépan, shcépan, j^épan (s)cépanwaye kin, my ~; nicépan, niscépan, nishcépan, your ~; cépanku / scépanku / shcépanku kin, her ~; (s)cépanyAn, j^épanyAn, to have as ~, (s)cépanwaye, she is my ~).
See also Lakota in-laws
Woman's female cross-cousin -- blood aunt's/uncle's daughter ((s)cépanshi, (s)cépanshiwaye kin, my ~; ni(s)cépanshi, your ~; (s)cépanshitku kin, her ~; (s)cépanshiyA, to have as ~, (s)cépanshiwaye, she is my ~).
See also Lakota uncles, aunts, etc
Woman's brother-in-law -- 1) a brother of: husband / sibling's spouse / cousin's spouse; 2) a husband of: sibling / cousin; (shicé, shicéwaye kin, my ~; nishíce, your ~; shicéku kin, shicécu kin, her ~; shicéyA, to have as ~, shicéwaye, he is my~).
See also Lakota in-laws
Woman's male cross-cousin -- blood aunt's/uncle's son (shicéshi, shicéshiwaye kin, my ~; nishíceshi, your ~; shicéshitku kin, her ~; shicéshiyA, to have as ~, shicéshiwaye, he is my ~).
See also Lakota uncles, aunts, etc
Misún! my younger brother! (man/woman speaking), man's younger cousin from the father's side, woman's younger cousin from the mother's side ( misún(kala), my ~; nisúnka(la), your ~; sunkáku kin, his/her ~; sunkáyA, to have as ~, sunkáwaye, he is my ~).
See also Lakota sisters & brothers
To have somebody for a relation, takúwaye, he/she is my relative; takúkiciyapi, they are relatives, takúunkiciyapi, I and you are relatives, takúyeciyapi, you are relatives; takúye, a relative, his relative (mitákuye, my ~, mitákuye oyásin, all are my relatives; nitákuye, your ~; unkítakuyepi, our ~), otákuye, brotherhood, relations, kinship (otákuye táwa, his consanguinal/affinal relatives (group term)); títakuye, the immediate relatives (mitítakuye, my ~; nitítakuye, your ~).
Son-/daughter-in-law (mitákosh, my ~; nitákosh(ku), your ~; takóshku kin, his/her ~; takóshyA, to have as ~, takóshwaye, he/she is my ~).
See also Lakota in-laws
Grandchild (takója, mitákoja, grandchild!, my ~; nitákoja, your ~; takójakpaku kin, his/her ~; takójayA, to have as ~, takójawaye, he/she is my ~)
Stepchild (tawáganwaye kin, my ~; nitáwaganku, tawáganyaye kin, your ~; tawáganku kin, his/her ~; tawáganyAn, to have for ~). (WEDD:) (Santee) atkúku / húnku / cinhíntku / cinyéku / táwinoxtin thawágan kin step- father / mother / son / brother / sister; tawáganyan cincá step-child.
See also shanké
His wife (mitáwin, mitáwicu, my wife; nitáwin, nitáwicu, your wife; tawícu kin, his ~; tawícuyA, to have as ~, tawícuwaye, she is my ~).
See also hingná, téya
Sister. See also Lakota sisters & brothers, hakáta
Man's brother-in-law -- 1) a brother of: wife / sibling's spouse / cousin's spouse; 2) a husband of: sibling / cousin; (tanhán, tanhánwaye kin, my ~; nitánhan, your ~; tanhánku kin, his ~; tanhányAn, to have as ~, tanhánwaye, he is my ~). The term mashé is used if bros-in-law are on very good terms.
See also Lakota in-laws
Man's male cousin -- blood aunt's/uncle's son (tanhánshi, tanhánshiwaye kin, my ~; nitánhanshi, your ~; tanhánshitku kin, his ~, tanhánshiyA, to have as ~, tanhánshiwaye, he is my ~).
See also Lakota uncles, aunts, etc
Woman's younger sister (mitán(kala), my ~; nitánkala, your ~; tankáku kin, Santee also tánku, her ~; tánkayA, to have as ~, tankáwaye, she is my ~).
See also Lakota sisters & brothers
Man's older sister (tanké, tankéwaye kin, mitánke, my ~; nitánke, your ~; tankéku kin (Santee tánku), his ~; tankéyA, to have as ~, tankéwaye, she is my ~).
See also Lakota sisters & brothers
Man's younger sister (tankshí, mitánkshila, my ~; nitánkshila, your ~; tankshítku kin, his ~; tankshíyA, to have as ~, tankshíwaye, she is my ~).
See also Lakota sisters & brothers
Cowife, another wife of her husband (téyakiciyapi, they are both wives of one man, they are "teya"s to each other; téyaku kin, her teya; téyayA, to have somebody for a teya, , she is my teya). Cowives call each other sister, cross-cousin, or mother of such and such a child.; téyawaye kin, téyaku mayukAn, I have her as a cowife is also used.
Woman's elder brother, woman's cousin from the mother's side older than herself (tibló, tiblówaye kin, mitíblo, my ~; nitíblo, your ~; tiblóku kin, her ~; tiblóyA, to have as ~, tiblówaye, he is my ~). See also Lakota sisters & brothers
A band/clan of blood relatives. The oldest living ancestor is the head of the thiyoshpaye. His wife, his children, grandchildren etc. with their spouses are the rest members of the clan.
Woman's nepew -- brother's son / husband's sibling's son (toshká, toshkáwaye kin, mitóshka, my ~; nitóshka(la), your ~; toshkáku kin, his ~; toshkáyA, to have as ~, toshkáwaye, he is my ~). See also Lakota uncles, aunts, etc
Woman's niece -- her brother's daughter / husband's sibling's daughter (toján, tojánwaye kin, mitójan, my ~; nitójan(la), your ~; tojánku kin, his ~; tojáyA, tojányAn, to have as ~, tojánwaye, she is my ~). See also Lakota uncles, aunts, etc
Grandfather!, (mitúnkashila, tunkáshila kin, my ~; nitúnkashila, your ~; tunkáshitku kin, his/her ~; tunkáshilayA, to have as ~, tunkáshilawaye, he is my ~). See also kaká
Father-in-law and other men in his generation, who are relatives of the spouse; my ~ (mitúnkan(shi), tunkánshi, tunkáshi, my ~; nitúnkan, nitúnka, your ~; tunkánku kin, tunkáku kin, his/her ~; tunkányAn, tunkánshiyA, to have as ~, tunkánwaye, tunkánshiwaye, he is my ~). See also Lakota in-laws
Man's nepew -- sister's son / wife's sibling's son (tunshká, tunshkáwaye kin, (mitúnshka), my ~; nitúnshka(la), your ~; tunshkáku kin, his ~; tunshkáyA, to have as ~, tunshkáwaye, he is my ~). See also Lakota uncles, aunts, etc
Father's sister -- blood aunt, my ~ (mitúnwin, my ~; nitúnwin, your ~; tunwíncu tunwícu kin, his/her ~; tunwínyAn, tunwícuyA, to have as ~). See also Lakota uncles, aunts, etc
Aunt by marriage -- father's/mother's brother's wife (tunwínlayA, to have as ~, tunwinlawaye, she is my ~). See also Lakota uncles, aunts, etc
Man's niece -- sister's daughter / wife's sibling's daughter (tunján, tunjánwaye kin, (mitúnjan), my ~; nitúnjan(la), your ~; tunjánku kin, his ~; tunjáyA, tunjányAn, to have as ~, tunjanwaye, she is my ~). See also Lakota uncles, aunts, etc
Maternal grandmother (uncíyA, to have as maternal grandmother, uncíwaye, she is my ~). See also kunshí
Mother-in-law and other women of her generation who are relatives of the spouse; my ~ (uncíshi, uncíshiwaye kin, my ~; nikúnku, uncíshi nitáwa, your ~; kúnku kin, his/her ~; uncíshiyA, to have as ~; uncíshiwaye, she is my ~). See also Lakota in-laws
Child, children. See also cincá
Female friend of a woman; used only for tose who are very intimate; often used by cross-cousins (mitáwashe, my ~; nitáwashe, your ~; thawáshetku, her ~; washéyA, to have for a friend; washékiciyA, to have each other for special friends). Cf. mashé.
Old man!, sometimes wives address so their husbands; wicáxcala mitáwa kin, my old man. See also winúxca
My husband; my lover. Mitáwicasha is used jokingly for "my fellow". See also wínyan mitáwa
A son-in-law, my son-in-law (lit."the man who is staying owing to attraction") (wicáwoxa nitáwa kin, your ~; wicáwoxayA, to have for ~, wicáwoxawaye, I have him for ~).
See also wiwóxa kin, mithakosh
Old woman!, sometimes husbands address so their wives; winúxcala mitáwa kin, my old lady. See also wicáxca
Our daughter-in-law (lit."the woman who is staying owing to attraction"). A woman who lives with her husband's relatives.
See also wicáwoxa kin, mithakosh
("very formal", B&D) My wife; my lover. "It is customary to say wínyan mitáwa my wife, not mitáwin because the latter points to sexual relations" (B&D). See also wicásha mitáwa
Terms of relationship take the possessive pronouns expressing inseparable possession, mi-,ni-, unki-. In addition take the suffix -ku; after terminal i,and in, -tku or -cu for the third person. The first personpossessive is omitted in many terms. On account of the numerous irregularities we give thelist of terms according to their forms.
Address | 1st person possessive | 2d person possessive | 3d person possessive | |
(his) elder brother | ciyé | nicíye | ciyéku (1) | |
(his) elder sister | tanké | nitánke | tankéku | |
(her) elder sister | cuwé | nichúwe | cuwéku | |
(her) brother's son | toshká | toshká, mitóshka | nitóshka(la) | toshkáku |
(his) sister's son | tunshká | tunshká, (mitúnshka) | nitúnshka(la) | tunshkáku |
(his) sister-in-law | hanká | nihánka | hankáku | |
(her) husband | (wicáxca) | mihíngna(2) | nihíngna | hingnáku |
(his) brother-in-law | tanhán, mashé (3) | tanhán | nitánhan | tanhánku |
(her) sister-in-law | shcepán | shcépan | nishcépan | shcepánku |
(her) elder brother | tibló | nitíblo | tiblóku | |
child-in-law | takósh | mitákosh | mitákoshku (kin) | takóshku |
his sisters & female cross-cousins her brothers & male cross-cousins |
| mihákata | mihákata | hakátaku(4) |
(1) Santee cíncun.
(2) mihíngna is very formal. It is customary to say wínyan mitáwa, mywife, not mitáwin because the latter points to sexual relations; also wicáshamitáwa my husband. Mitáwicasha is used jokingly for "myfellow".
(3) mashé designates particular companionship. Compare washéfemale friend of a woman.
(4) hakátaya he (she) has for his (her) sister (brother) or female (male)cross-cousin.
Address | 1st person possessive | 2d person possessive | 3d person possessive | |
Ending -tku | ||||
grandfather | tunkashilá(4a) | tunkáshila | nitúnkashila(4b) | tunkáshitku |
(his) young sister | tankshí | tankshí (mitánkshila) | nitánkshila | tankshítku |
(her) female cross-cousin | cepanshí | cépanshi | nicépanshi | cépanshitku |
(his) male cross-cousin | tanhanshí | tanhánshi | nitánhanshi | tanhánshitku |
(his) female cross-cousin | hankashí | hankáshi | nihánkashi | hankáshitku |
(her) male cross-cousin | shiceshí | shicéshi | nishíceshi | shicéshitku |
mother's brother | lekshí | lekshí (5) | nilékshi | lekshítku |
Ending -cu | ||||
father's sister | tunwín | nitúnwin | tunwíncu | |
wife | (winnúxca) | (mitáwin) (5a) | nitáwin | thawícu |
(his) elder brother | ciyé | cíncu (6) | ||
(his) brother-in-law | shicé | nishíce | shicécu |
(4a) Western Oglala children tunkála.
(4b) rarely a nasalized.
(5) Yankton and Santee use both dekshí and midékshi.
(5a) wínyan mitáwa kin very formal,
(6) (Santee). Teton ciyéku.
Address | 1st person possessive | 2d person possessive | 3d person possessive | |
father | até | niyáte | atkúku | |
(his/her) younger brother | misún | misún(kala) | nisúnkala | sunkáku |
father-in-law | tunkanshí(7) | tunkánshi | nitúnkan | tunkánku |
son | cinksh (8) | micínkshi | nicínkshi | cinhíntku |
daughter | cunksh (8) | micúnkshi | nicúnkshi | cunwíntku |
mother | iná (9) | nihún | húnku | |
grandmother | uncí, kúnshi | nikúnshi | kúnshitku | |
mother-in-law | uncishí | uncíshi | nikún | kúnku |
her younger sister | mitán | mitán(kala) | nitánkala | tankáku |
grandchild | takojá | takója | nitákoja | takójakpaku |
(his) sister's daughter | tunján | tunján, (mitúnjan) | nitúnjan(la) | tunjánku |
her brother's daughter | toján | toján, mitójan | nitójan(la) | tojánku |
(7) Also tunkáshi, nitúnka, tunkáku.
(8) Western Oglala cinkshí and cunkshí.
(9) Also iná cikala little mother, iná ixa`han make believemother, terms for mother's sister.
When the form in address occurs in course of conversation the terms are witoutaccent; when the address is used as a call, the last syllable bears astrong accent.
For the use of the article with terms of relationship, see page 134.
The first person dual and plural is not expressed by means of thepossessive pronoun, but by the verbal expression unyan` pi kin the one we havefor:
ciyéunyan` pi kin our (plural) elder brother.
For the first person dual of mitákosh my child-in-law, the prase
Plurals formed with pi express the plural as related to several individuals.
tojánkupi kin the daughter of the brother of several women
tunkáshitkupi kin their (of a group of brothers, cousins) grandfather.
When the relatives (here brothers, grandfathers) are also plural an adjective like"all, many, several" must be added. If the possessor is singular the forms with -yato have, are used:
toján-wica`waye cin tose I have for nieces (woman speking)
The same may also be expressed by the possessive form, if a definite or indefinitenumeral is added:
mitójan iyúha all my nieces (woman speaking)
or by adding pi to the verb:
mitójan kin glípi my nieces have come back; when known to the personaddressed kin is omitted.
The third person plural possessive:
takólakupi kin hánske their friend is tall
takólakupi kin hánskaskapi their friends are tall.
The terms with wica (given by Riggs, p.16) are not possessive but refer tothe terms as belonging to human beings: wicácinca children of man (not ofanimals), wicáatkuku (not wicíatkuku, Riggs) father of humans, wicáhunkumother of humans.
Here belong also wicówe children of one family, wicóicagegeneration.
More distant affinal relationship terms, and a few others expressing a close relationbased neither on consanguinity nor affinity take the ending ku and also theprefix tha expressing separable possession.
Address | 1st person possessive | 2d person possessive | 3d person possessive | |
parent of my child's spouse | omáwahitun | nitómawahitun | tómawahitunku | |
stepchild | --- | tawáganwaye cin | nitáwaganku, tawáganwaye cin | tawáganku (1) |
her cowife | (2) | téyaku | ||
consanguinal relative | --- | mitítakuye | nitítakuye | títakuye |
consanguinal/affinal relative | mitákuyepi (4) | mitákuye | nitákuye | otákuye-tawa (group term) |
male friend of a man | kolá | mitákola | nitákola | takókaku |
female friend of a woman | washé (5) | mitáwashe | nitáwashe | tawáshetku |
master (of a pet animal or guardian spirit) | --- | tíxinyetku (5) |
(1) Santee nunkás, nunkásku, obsolete in Riggs' time. tawágan-wayecin, the one whom I have as a stepchild.
(2) Cowives call each other sister, cross-cousin, or mother of such and such a child; téyawayecin the one whom I have as a cowife; téyaku mayúkan (her) cowifeexists for me, i.e., I have her as a cowife is also used.
(3) from tí household and takúye, relative.
(4) This term is included here altough it lack the prefux ta because thetheme is identical with the preceeding. The address is always plural.
(5) Used only for tose who are very intimate; often used by cross-cousins. Compare
The term kicúwa, comrade, from kuwá, to pursue, s going out ofuse. Riggs (p.15) gives the possessive form thakícuwa.
...Terms of relationship in first and second person possessive have generally noarticle.
All the Dakota terms embrace more than one individual. Those distantly related,particularly when personally unknown, are given the article in the first personpossessive.
até glí my father came home
até kin glí one whom I call father because he married one whom I callmother (except my own father) came home
For consanguineal relative the article is not used. Therefore the last example couldnot be used for father's brothers. When my father is not known to the persons addressed Imight say wicásha wan atéwaye cin a certain man the one whom I have formy father.
The only exception is micínca kin my children.
For affinal relatives the article is used particularly when they are not known ornot well known to the persons addressed. For mihíngna and mitáwicu myhusband, my wife, both forms are used
nitáwicu kicí ú or nitáwicu kin kicí ú comewith your wife!
The expression nishcépan kicí ú come with your sister-in-law, wouldmean that the sister-in-law is a well-known, long-established member of the family; nishcépankin kicí ú would mean that she is the youngest sister-in-law, or quiterecently married and not yet well known.
The example mihíngna kin léciya mni-áglagla yankáhe my husband issitting there by the water implies that the people addressed have never seen him.
In the third person possessive the article is generally used:
atkúku kin heyá his father said
títakuye nan hunkáke kin épi her near relatives and her parents theywere
When the third person possessive is not followed by an article it is to be conceived asa verbal expression.
húnku hípi it is a parents-coming
atkúku glí-unspe`shni he does not know (how to act on) father-returning
ciyéku glípi tkásh wáncak owícakiyake but on his brother'sreturn at once he told them.
For this reason the article is often omitted when the term of relationship is object ofan active verb.
húnku okíle or contracted hunk-ókile he looks for hismother
húnku kin okíle his mother looks for him, or: he looks for his mother and notfor anybody else
cuwéku únshikila she loves her elder sister
However we find also:
ciyéku kin él étowicakshu his brothers he piled up ther
lekshítku kin thiwókshan wicáunpa he had laid his uncled around in thetipi
tunkáshitkula kin mató tawícu kin ektá yeshí he ordered hisgrandfather to go to the bear's wife.
The use of the indefinite specific article wan 'a (certain)' with possessedkin terms versus a Stripped Noun [noun witout any article, C.H^.] allows for animportant semantic contrast. In (127a), the implication is that he killed one of hiswives; this is to be compared to (127b), in which there is no such implication. Likewise,(128), with wan, implies that the speaker had other wifes.
(127a) tawícu wan kikté he killed [one of ] his wife
(127b) tawícu kikté he killed his wife
(128) wínyan wan makíte a woman of mine died.
The word witout prefix/suffix usu. means "my": até kin (my father). The whole construction may usually consist of the following elements (note that in brackets are optional elements):
[Whose?] | Who? | [his/her] | [of many] | [Article] | [Demonstrative] |
Mary mi- "my" ni- "your" | tibló "younger sis" | -ku | pi | kin "the" wan "a, some" wanjí "a, any" (k)eyá "several" etán "any" | lé "this" lená "these" hé "that" hená "tose" |
Note that the word pi (called "plural enclitic") in e.g atkúkupi kin "their father" is used to denote the one father of manypeople, not fathers of one man. The plurality of fathers is shownusually on the verb: Niyáte the-ní-xila pi. "Your fathers love you(your-father love-you plur.)". You can also use the forms of -yA verbs, seethe full set of terms using either possessive affixes or -yA verbs (iyúhameans 'all'):
These are formed by the addition of the suffix -yA to the kinship term: ate+ yA = ateyA, etc. The meaning of these verbs is: "to have somebodyas one's relative", "to have one for...", for example atéwaye = ate+wa+ye= "father-I him-have.for", "he is my father". Followed with an article(kin, wan, wanjí) the whole construction is regarded a noun: atéwayekin "my father"; atéwaya wan "one of my fathers"; (youremember that Lakotas may have numerous fathers and mothers?!).
Note 1. -ya changes to -yan after nasal vowels /an/, /in/,/un/, and after pronominal affixes -ma- "me", -ni-"you", and -un- (we/us). E.g. Ináyan pi. She is theirmother. Ináyaya pi. She is your(pl.) mother. Inámayan pi. I amtheir mother / They have me for a mother.
Note 2. Uppercase A in -yA, -yAn means that the sound /a/or /an/ changes to:
1. /in/ before ktA, na, and nainsh: Hingnáwayinkte. "He will be my husband.";
2. /e/ in many positions, the most important of them are: before kinarticle (ináwaye kin "my mother"), at the end of a sentence (cinkshíciye."You're my son."), and before 'yelo': Atéyaye yelo."He's your father (man speaking)."
Note 3. In informal style of speech (ikcéya wóglakapi), some /w/,/y/, //, and /h/ are dropped. So Ináyaye yeló(She's your mother.) would turn into ináaeeló.
Just for case, I've put below the full paradigm of the verbs -yA (to havesomebody as (one's father, for example)):
\ | MY | OUR | YOUR | YOUR(pl.) | HIS/HER | THEIR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
I AM | --- | -ciyA | -ciyapi | -wayA | -wicawayA | |
I&YOU ARE | --- | -unyAn | -wicunyAn | |||
WE ARE | -unniyAn | -unniyanpi | -unyanpi | -wicunyanpi | ||
YOU ARE | -mayayA | -unyayapi | --- | -yayA | -wicayayA | |
YOU(pl.)ARE | -mayayapi | -yayapi | -wicayayapi | |||
HE/SHE IS | -mayAn | -unyanpi | -niyan | -niyanpi | -yA | -wicayA |
THEY ARE | -mayanpi | -niyanpi | -yapi | -wicayapi |
In Lakota society more people than in English one call each other "brother", "sister", "father", "mother", "son", and "daughter". This results from the fact that the brothers call each other's children sons and daughters, and the sisters also share their kids.
Let's fancy...Ten brothers love ten sisters from another clan. They get married and form ten families. Eventually each pair have got five sons and five daughters, giving 5x10=50 boys and 50 girls in total. Now look: Each man of the 10 brothers has 50 sons and 50 daughters. Each woman of the 10 sisters also has 100 kids in all. Each boy has 49 brothers, 50 sisters, 10 fathers, and 10 mothers. Each girl likewise has 50 brothers, 49 sisters, and 20 parents. This is Lakota extended family!
Another example. My mother has a sister and a brother. My father also has one sister and one brother. How should I call mom's/pop's sisters, brothers with their spouses and children? How do my relatives and my spouse address each other? Let's look at the table.
I. How do I call my parents, uncles and aunts? | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mother's brother's wife | Mother's brother | Mother's sister's husband | Mother's sister | Mom | Dad | Father's brother | Father's brother's wife | Father's sister | Father's sister's husband |
tunwínla | lekshí | lekshíla | iná | até | tunwíla | tunwín | lekshíla | ||
II. How do I call my brothers, sisters, and cousins? (1. I'm a man; 2. I'm a woman) | |||||||||
Mother's brother's | Mother's sister's | Mom+Dad's | Father's brother's | Father's sister's | |||||
son | daughter | sons & daughters | son | daughter | |||||
1.tanhánshi 2.shicéshi | 1.hankánshi 2.scépanshi | These are my sisters and brothers | 1.tanhánshi 2.shicéshi | 1.hankánshi 2.scépanshi | |||||
III. How do my parents, uncles, and aunts call me? (1. I'm a man; 2. I'm a woman) | |||||||||
Mother's brother's wife | Mother's brother | Mother's sister's husband | Mother's sister | Mom | Dad | Father's brother | Father's brother's wife | Father's sister | Father's sister's husband |
1.toshká 2.toján | 1. tunshká 2. tunján | 1. cinkshí, "son" 2. cunkshí, "daughter" | 1. toshká 2. toján | 1.tunshká 2.tunján |
In Lakota extended family you may have more than one father (até) and more than one mother (iná). My father is not only my biological father, but also all his "brothers"). Likewise, my mother is my biological mom plus any of her "Lakota sisters").
In Lakota extended family not only all the sons of my father are my brothers, but also the sons of persons whom my father calls "brother" and which are my "fathers"). Therefore many English-style cousins become my brothers in Lakota extended family. Likewise, my sisters are tose who are daughters of my mothers and also the daughters of all her "sisters" which are my "mothers". As a result, it's very hard to become an orpan among Lakotas, as everybody typically has more than one father and more than one mother.
Other peculiarities: special terms for older and younger sister/brother, and different terms used by men and women. See the table below:
/ | Male's | Female's |
---|---|---|
Older brother | ciyé | tibló |
Younger brother | misún | |
Older sister | tanké | cuwé |
Younger sister | tankshí | tanká |
In Lakota extended family a man calls cinkshí, "son" not only hia biological sons but all the sons of his"brothers", and for a woman any daughter of her "sisters" is also regarded as her cunkshí, "daughter".
In Lakota extended family terms tunwín "aunt", lekshí "uncle", and tanhánshi / shicéshi / hankánshi / scépanshi "cousin" have narrower meaning as some English-style aunts and uncles are labeled mothers & fathers, and some English-style cousins are called sisters & brothers. Uncles and aunts by marriage are regarded as more distant relatives and possess a diminutive suffix -la (See Table of parents, uncles, and aunts).
The 4 terms of address for cousins are determined by the sex of a cousin and a sex of a person calling him/her:
/ | Male's | Female's |
---|---|---|
Son of a mother's brother / father's sister | tanhánshi | shicéshi |
Daughter of a mother's brother / father's sister | hankánshi | scépanshi |
Analogously there are 4 terms of address for nepews and nieces. See also
/ | Male's | Female's |
---|---|---|
Nepew | tunshká | tunján |
Niece | toshká | toján |
Traditionally, communication between parents-in-law and childrens-in-law is restricted. Rather, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law are expected to maintain a light-hearted, "joking" relationship (D.Rood & A.Taylor, 16:23).
/ | Husband's | Wife's |
---|---|---|
Father-in-law | tunkán(shi) | |
Mother-in-law | uncíshi | |
Son-/daughter-in-law | takósh | |
Brother-in-law | tanhán | shicé |
Sister-in-law | hankán | scépan |
Memorizing the kinship terms may help the rule that
bro/sis-in-law + -shi = cousin, and
parent-in-law = grandparent (+ -shi).
The similarity of some Lakota terms In-law In-law Lakota term Similar Lakota term Father-in-law tunkán(shi) tunkáshila, grandfather Mother-in-law uncíshi uncí, granmother Son-/daughter-in-law takósh takója, grandchild Husband's bro-in-law tanhán tanhánshi, male's male cousin Wife's bro-in-law shicé shicéshi, female's male cousin Husband's sis-in-law hankán hankánshi, male's female cousin Wife's sis-in-law scépan scépanshi, female's female cousin
1. Franz Boas, Ella Deloria (1941). "Grammar of Dakota".
2. Rev. Eugene Buechel (1939). "Grammar of Lakota"
3."A Dictionary - Oie Wowapi Wan of Teton Sioux. Lakota-English : English-Lakota.Lakota-Ieska : Ieska-Lakota. (With Consideration given to Yankton and SanteeDialects)". (1970, 1983). Compiled by Rev. Eugene Buechel, S.J. Edited by Rev.Paul Manhart, S.J.
4. John Poage Williamson (1902). "An English-DakotaDictionary".